Since its 2008 launch, Intel’s Core Ultra CPU model nomenclature has been substantially altered from the Core i7 series, which was in use for 14 generations. The Core Ultra 9 285K, positioned as the replacement for the Core i9-14900K, is the flagship model in the desktop Core Ultra 2-series “Arrow Lake-S” desktop processor family. A few concerns are raised by the decision to number the top SKU “285K” rather than, say, “290K,” which even led to the top Core Ultra 7 SKU being numbered “265K.” The most important one is whether Intel is making space for an SKU that will launch soon and use the code “295K.”

The numeral that comes after the first two in the traditional Intel Core series naming indicates a place in the product stack. In the case of the i9-14900K, for instance, “9” designates the top-spec SKU while “14” denotes the CPU generation. Turning back the clock to the 10th generation Core “Comet Lake,” there was a Core i9-10900K with the highest specifications, but there was also a Core i9-10850K. The sole difference between the unlocked 10-core/20-thread i9-10900K and i9-10850K is their factory clock speeds. Is it feasible that Intel’s best “Arrow Lake-S” component is the “295K” and that the Core Ultra 9 285K is a distant relative of the i9-10850K? Recently, Momomo_us discovered a subtle Intel Support website that enumerates Core Ultra desktop processors that come without a fan-heatsink. The Core Ultra 9 285K is mentioned on the page along with a “295K” SKU, which is most likely an error. This made us question whether the “295K” was set aside for the i9-14900KS replacement.