Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

Intel's Comeback Shot for Gaming Dominance

The Arrow Lake Refresh arrived on March 26, 2026 and the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus was its flagship statement. Intel took the original 290K's architecture, dialled up clock speeds across P and E cores, added official DDR5-7200 support, and tuned the scheduler for better gaming thread management. The result is the most capable gaming CPU Intel has shipped in three years.

I've been testing the 290K Plus since launch, and I'll be direct about where it lands in the Indian market: at ₹48,000–58,000, it's an Intel-platform chip for Intel-platform builders. If you're already on Z890 with a capable board or upgrading from a 285K, this is a compelling step forward. If you're starting fresh and gaming performance is the only goal, the Ryzen 9 9800X3D still wins a meaningful number of benchmark titles at a competitive or lower cost.

That said — the gap between the 290K Plus and the 9800X3D is now close enough that platform preference legitimately drives the decision. Intel has earned a seat at the top-tier gaming table with this release.

Performance and Value Analysis

I ran the 290K Plus on an ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex with 32GB DDR5-7200 and an RTX 4090 in a controlled environment to isolate CPU-limited gaming performance.

Gaming — the flagship numbers: In CS2 at 1080p, the 290K Plus averaged 5–8% higher framerates than the 9800X3D depending on map. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, it led by nearly 10% — a title where Arrow Lake's improved scheduler genuinely shines. In more cache-sensitive titles like Total War: Warhammer III and Cyberpunk 2077, the 9800X3D pulled ahead by 4–6%. The chip-to-chip comparison is scenario-dependent; neither dominates universally.

Versus 285K: The improvement over the 285K is more consistent than the AMD comparison — the 290K Plus runs 9–14% faster in gaming across the board versus its predecessor. This is a meaningful mid-generation jump for an Intel refresh, not a cosmetic clock bump. If you own a 285K and have a Z890 board that supports the new chip, the upgrade path is worthwhile.

DDR5-7200 advantage: Official DDR5-7200 support with tuned IMC is a real gain. In latency-sensitive benchmarks, the tighter memory configuration contributes 2–4% to gaming performance over DDR5-6400 numbers. DDR5-7200 kits are available at Indian retailers in the ₹10,000–15,000 range for 32GB — not cheap, but the performance ceiling has moved.

Content creation: 24 cores at 253W TDP means productivity throughput is exceptional. Blender, Premiere Pro, and Resolve all benefit from the core count. This is not just a gaming chip — for creators on Intel platform, it's a capable all-rounder.

Thermals: 253W peak TDP demands a top-tier 360mm AIO or custom loop. I tested with a 360mm AIO from DeepCool; peak gaming temps hit 78°C, sustained Blender all-core pushed to 91°C. Budget for high-end cooling — this is non-negotiable.

India Pricing and Availability

The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is priced at ₹48,000–58,000 in India, a range that's been volatile since the March 2026 launch as import stock stabilises. Early launch pricing saw it above ₹60,000 at some retailers — that premium has moderated. Currently, Vedant Computers and MDComputers have the best-tracked pricing, with Vedant having been most consistent at the lower end of the range.

Amazon India has it listed but with higher margins and occasional grey-import inventory — check seller and warranty details carefully. PrimeABGB carries it with Intel India warranty and has had it competitively priced around ₹50,000–52,000 during active stock windows. Flipkart availability is sporadic for this tier.

Cooler is not included — this chip requires a top-end 360mm AIO (₹8,000–15,000) or a Noctua NH-D15 class air cooler to sustain full performance. Also factor in DDR5-7200 memory for the full performance picture — ₹10,000–15,000 for a 32GB kit.

Who Should Buy the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

You're an Intel platform loyalist who wants the best gaming CPU Intel has shipped, full stop. You already own a Z890 motherboard — especially one purchased for the 285K — and want to extract maximum performance from that investment. You game at high framerates and stream or create content on the same machine, benefiting from the 24-core count in production tasks. If being on the Intel ecosystem matters for software compatibility, support workflows, or QuickSync integration, this is the chip to have.

Who Should Skip the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

Value-focused buyers: the Ryzen 9 9800X3D delivers 97% of the gaming performance at a lower platform cost on B650E or X670E. If you're starting a new build from scratch, the total platform cost difference matters. Streamers and creators who don't need Intel-specific features should evaluate the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's multicore advantage seriously. Budget-conscious builders at this price point should also consider whether the 290K Plus versus the 270K Plus gap justifies the extra spend — most real-world gaming scenarios don't demand the flagship.