Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx: Full Specs, Performance & Benchmark Comparison

If you are shopping for a high-end laptop in 2026, you have probably seen this exact question pop up everywhere: Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx. And honestly, it is a fair comparison. Both chips target powerful gaming and creator laptops, both sit in the premium “HX” class, and both can feel “too fast to fail” until you hit heat limits, power limits, or the exact workload that exposes the difference.

In this guide, I am going to break down Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx like a real buyer would: specs that actually matter, benchmarks that translate to real use, power and thermals, iGPU expectations, and which one makes more sense for gaming, content creation, and serious productivity. By the end, you should know exactly how Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx stacks up for your kind of laptop.

Quick verdict before we dive deep

If you just want the straight answer:

• Choose Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx if you care about modern platform features, efficiency improvements, and AI acceleration in a newer mobile platform. Its official specs show a 20-core, 20-thread design with a built-in NPU (Intel AI Boost) and a 55W base power rating.
• Choose Intel Core I9-14900hx if your priority is traditional brute-force throughput for heavily threaded workloads and you are okay with higher power draw under load. Intel lists 24 cores and 32 threads with a 55W base power rating and a higher peak boost behavior.

Now let’s earn that verdict with details.

Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx: what these CPUs are really built for

Both CPUs are aimed at big, thick laptops with serious cooling. That matters because the best CPU on paper can look average in a thin chassis that cannot hold turbo power for long.

• Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx is a newer Core Ultra mobile HX-class processor (mobile vertical segment) and Intel’s official specs list Arrow Lake as its former code name.
• Intel Core I9-14900hx is a 14th Gen Core i9 mobile HX CPU (also mobile segment), tied to the Raptor Lake family and designed for performance-first laptops.

So the core story of Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx is not just “which one is faster,” it is “which one stays fast in your laptop and does it with less drama.”

Full specifications comparison table

Here is the clean spec snapshot for Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx, pulled from Intel’s own product specification pages.

Sources: Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx specs and Intel Core I9-14900hx specs .

What jumps out from the table

The biggest “buyer-impact” differences in Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx are:

• Threads: 20 vs 32 is not a small gap. If your workload scales with threads (big renders, heavy compiling, large simulations), the i9 has more scheduling headroom.
• Memory speed and capacity: the Ultra 7 supports higher DDR5 data rates and higher maximum memory capacity on paper.
• AI hardware: Ultra 7 includes Intel AI Boost NPU specs on the product page; the i9 page does not list an NPU.

That is the “specs” layer. Now let’s talk performance the way you actually feel it.

Benchmark expectations: how Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx tends to perform

A good way to think about laptop CPU performance is to split it into three buckets:

1. Short bursts (snappy feel): opening apps, browser tabs, light photo edits
2. Sustained loads: long exports, long renders, multi-minute compiles
3. Mixed real-world: gaming while streaming, Discord, Chrome, recording, etc.

Single-core and “snappiness” performance

In many modern benchmark aggregations, single-core results for Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx land close. For example, CPU-Monkey’s comparison shows small single-thread differences in Cinebench 2026 and Geekbench 6 results between the two CPUs.

What that means in plain English: if your main concern is “will it feel fast,” both will.

Multi-core performance and heavy workloads

Multi-core is where Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx can separate, especially when the laptop cooling system is strong enough to hold high power.

• Intel’s spec sheet shows the i9 has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Ultra 7 has 20 cores and 20 threads. That usually favors the i9 in thread-hungry tasks, assuming the machine allows it to sustain turbo power.
• Third-party benchmark aggregations also often show the i9 slightly ahead in multi-core totals, though the exact margin depends heavily on test suite and laptop limits.

The key caveat: HX laptops are not standardized. A “160W capable” CPU does not mean your laptop will run it at 160W for long. Cooling, fan curves, BIOS power limits, and even the thermal paste job can decide who wins.

Real-world performance: gaming, creation, and productivity

Let’s translate Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx into scenarios you might actually care about.

Gaming performance

If you are pairing either CPU with a high-end discrete GPU (RTX 4070/4080/4090 class), the CPU difference often shows up in a few situations:

• Very high refresh competitive gaming (1080p, low settings)
• CPU-heavy titles (simulation, large open worlds with lots of AI or physics)
• Streaming or recording while playing

Because the i9-14900HX can push high clocks and has more threads, it can edge ahead in CPU-limited moments, assuming the laptop cooling is strong.

But here is the practical truth: if your GPU is the bottleneck at 1440p or 1600p (which is common on premium gaming laptops), the difference between Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx can shrink in actual FPS.

If you want a simple gaming buyer rule:

• Pick the laptop with the better GPU and better cooling first.
• Then worry about which CPU variant it ships with.

Content creation: video editing, 3D, and exporting

For creators, Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx is not just CPU cores. It is also platform features like media engines, memory support, and sustained power.

• The i9 has more threads, which can help on CPU-bound encoding and big multicore renders.
• The Ultra 7’s platform highlights include higher DDR5 data rate support and an NPU listed for AI workloads. If your workflow is starting to lean into AI features inside creative apps, that NPU can matter more over time.

A realistic workflow example:

• If you edit 4K footage and export once a day, either chip is plenty.
• If you batch-export multiple projects, render in the background, and run After Effects or Blender simultaneously, the i9’s thread count can help, but only if your laptop cooling can keep it from throttling.

Programming, compiling, and heavy multitasking

Developers tend to care about:

• build times (multi-core)
• responsiveness while builds run
• VM or Docker performance
• memory capacity and bandwidth

On paper, Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx is a fun split:

• i9 wins on raw thread count (helpful for parallel builds).
• Ultra 7 supports higher DDR5 speed and higher max memory capacity (useful if you run multiple containers, large databases, or heavy VMs).

If you are a .NET developer building large solutions, both chips will be fast. Your bigger “speed lever” will often be SSD performance and how aggressively your laptop sustains power without thermal throttling.

Power, thermals, and why laptop design decides the winner

This is the part most comparisons skip, but it is the part that makes you happy or annoyed six months after buying.

Intel lists both chips with a 55W processor base power, but their turbo behavior can climb much higher: Ultra 7 shows 160W max turbo power, i9 shows 157W max turbo power.

So what does that mean?

• In a thick laptop with strong cooling, both can boost hard and stay near the top of their performance curve.
• In a weaker chassis, both can bounce off thermal limits and then the “winner” becomes whichever one is tuned better by the OEM.

In other words, Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx is partly a CPU comparison and partly a laptop engineering comparison.

Quick signs you have a “good” HX laptop build

When you are checking reviews, look for:

• sustained power numbers (not just peak)
• CPU temperature under long loads
• fan noise profile
• performance consistency after 10 to 20 minutes

If a review only shows a short benchmark run, treat it like a trailer, not the full movie.

Integrated graphics and display features

Most buyers pairing HX CPUs will still use a discrete GPU. But iGPU capability still matters for battery life mode, quick troubleshooting, and media tasks.

• Ultra 7 255HX lists “Intel Graphics” and details like DP 2.1 UHBR20 and HDMI 2.1 FRL support, plus AV1 encode/decode and Quick Sync.
• i9-14900HX lists Intel UHD Graphics with 32 execution units and display outputs such as DP 1.4a and HDMI 2.1, plus Quick Sync.

If you are hoping to do serious gaming on the iGPU alone, neither is the ideal plan in an HX laptop class. Still, the Ultra 7’s iGPU spec details and platform generation can make it the more capable “fallback” graphics option, while most gaming laptops will rely on the discrete GPU anyway.

AI features: the NPU difference

A big modern talking point in Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx is AI acceleration.

Intel’s Ultra 7 255HX page explicitly lists:

• Intel AI Boost as the NPU
• 13 TOPS NPU peak performance
• overall peak TOPS (INT8) also shown on the page

The i9-14900HX page does not list an NPU section.

What this means in practice:

• If an application can offload AI tasks to the NPU, it can run those tasks with less CPU and GPU impact, which can help with responsiveness and sometimes power efficiency.
• If your apps do not use it, you will not feel it.

Right now, the “AI benefit” is real, but it depends heavily on software support. It is still a meaningful difference in the platform story of Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx.

Connectivity and platform expansion

This is where spec sheets quietly matter.

• Ultra 7 lists up to 24 PCIe lanes and includes Thunderbolt 4 on the spec page.
• i9 lists up to 20 PCIe lanes on its spec page.

For most people, that translates into “both are premium,” but the details can influence how OEMs wire storage and I/O, especially on workstation-class laptops with multiple SSDs.

Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx: which one should you buy?

Let’s make this simple, but still realistic.

Choose Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx if you want

• a newer Core Ultra HX platform with official NPU support listed (Intel AI Boost)
• higher supported DDR5 memory data rate and higher max memory capacity on paper
• a modern laptop platform that may age better as AI features become more common

Choose Intel Core I9-14900hx if you want

• maximum traditional multi-threaded CPU muscle, helped by 32 threads
• strong performance in CPU-heavy gaming and heavy production tasks, especially in well-cooled chassis
• more “old-school” confidence that brute force will carry workloads that do not benefit from NPUs

The hidden deciding factor: the laptop matters more than the CPU name

When someone asks me about Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx, my first question is not “which CPU,” it is:

• Which laptop model?
• What cooling system?
• What GPU?
• What power limits?

Because a well-tuned Ultra 7 laptop can beat a poorly tuned i9 laptop in sustained work, and the reverse can also be true.

Common questions (FAQ)

Is Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx better than Intel Core I9-14900hx for gaming?

For many GPU-bound gaming scenarios, the difference between Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx can be small, especially at higher resolutions. In CPU-limited cases and heavy multitasking while gaming, the i9 can pull ahead thanks to more threads, assuming the laptop cooling keeps it boosting.

Which is better for video editing, Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx?

If your editing workflow is CPU-thread heavy (exports, renders, parallel tasks), i9’s 32 threads can help. If your workflow leans into modern AI features supported by NPU acceleration, Ultra 7 has a clear platform advantage with Intel AI Boost listed on the CPU page.

Does Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx have Hyper-Threading?

Intel’s product page for Ultra 7 255HX shows 20 cores and 20 threads and explicitly lists Intel Hyper-Threading Technology as “No.”

How many threads does Intel Core I9-14900hx have?

Intel lists i9-14900HX with 24 cores and 32 threads and indicates Hyper-Threading support.

Which one runs cooler, Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx?

There is no universal answer because cooling depends on the laptop. Both are rated at 55W base power and can turbo far above that. The laptop design and OEM power limits decide real thermals more than the CPU name alone.

Which supports faster RAM?

Intel lists Ultra 7 255HX as supporting up to DDR5 6400 MT/s, while i9-14900HX supports up to DDR5 5600 MT/s (and also DDR4 3200 MT/s).

Does Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx include an NPU?

Yes. Intel’s Ultra 7 255HX product page includes an NPU section listing Intel AI Boost and NPU peak TOPS.

Is there a clear overall winner in Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx?

Not universally. The i9 usually has the edge in classic multi-thread throughput due to 32 threads, while the Ultra 7 has a newer platform story with higher DDR5 speed support and an NPU. The best pick depends on your workload and the exact laptop’s cooling and power tuning.

Conclusion

The most honest takeaway from Intel Core Ultra 7 255hx Vs Intel Core I9-14900hx is this: both are elite HX-class laptop CPUs, and either one can be a monster in the right chassis. If you want more traditional multi-thread horsepower and do not mind higher sustained power demands, the i9’s 24 cores and 32 threads are hard to ignore.

If you want a newer platform direction with official NPU support (Intel AI Boost), higher supported DDR5 speeds, and a premium feature set that is aligned with where laptops are going next, the Ultra 7 255HX is the smarter long-term bet.

And yes, if you are the type who reads CPU spec pages for fun, you will appreciate that this whole fight is really about hybrid architecture meeting real laptop cooling limits.