# Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Leaks on Geekbench — Nearly Matches Desktop CPUs

URL: https://technosports.co.in/intel-core-ultra-9-290hx-plus-leak-on-geekbench/  
Published: 2026-03-03  
Updated: 2026-03-03  
Author: Hardik Dhamija

A laptop chip almost matching a desktop processor is no longer a rare headline — but this one is still striking. The **Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus**, Intel’s upcoming [Arrow Lake](https://technosports.co.in/?s=Arrow+Lake) Refresh flagship for gaming laptops, has appeared on Geekbench inside an Acer Predator PHN18-I71, and the numbers put it alarmingly close to AMD’s best desktop CPU.

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Intel-Core-Ultra-9-290HX-Plus-1-1-1024x542.png)

## Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus: Benchmark Scores vs Competition

| CPU | Platform | SC Score (GB6) | MC Score (GB6) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus** | **Laptop** | **3,198** | **21,581** |
| Core Ultra 9 285HX | Laptop (prev gen) | ~3,025 | ~20,630 |
| Core Ultra 9 285K | Desktop | 3,202 | 22,580 |
| Ryzen 9 9950X3D | Desktop | 3,397 | 22,156 |
| **Uplift vs 285HX** | — | **+5.6%** | **+4.6%** |

## Same Cores, Higher Clocks — And That’s Enough

The 290HX Plus keeps the exact same 24-core (8P + 16E) layout as the 285HX. There are no new cores, no new architecture, no major redesign — this is purely an Arrow Lake Refresh, which means Intel is extracting more performance through higher clock speeds and microcode tuning alone. The leaked specs indicate a base clock around 3.10 GHz and a peak boost near 5.5 GHz, within touching distance of the desktop 285K’s boost region. TDP stays at 55W base with up to 160W turbo headroom.

![Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Intel-Core-Ultra-9-290HX-Plus-2-1-1024x532.webp)

What makes the result impressive is the comparison point. The desktop Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 3,397 in single-core and 22,156 in multi-core — meaning a laptop chip running inside an Acer Predator is now within single-digit percentages of AMD’s flagship desktop CPU. On PassMark, the story is even stronger: the 290HX Plus was delivering 15% higher multi-core performance vs the 285HX and was on par with the Core Ultra 9 285K desktop CPU.

As TechnoSports has noted, the Arrow Lake Refresh launch is expected in March or April 2026, and OEM laptops like [MSI](https://www.msi.com/index.php) Titan and Acer Predator are already in validation with RTX 5090 pairings.

One caveat: Geekbench scores fluctuate between runs, and laptop performance varies significantly based on each OEM’s power limits and cooling design. These are early pre-release numbers — treat them as directional, not definitive.

## FAQs

### **How much faster is Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus vs 285HX?**

Around 5–6% faster in single-core and 4–8% faster in multi-core on Geekbench, with PassMark showing up to 15% multi-core improvement.

### **When will the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus launch?**

Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh is expected to launch in laptops in March or April 2026.