Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus vs Intel Core 3 100U
79Single-core49.4
86.8Multi-core33.6
44.4Efficiencyspec-based75.3
60.5iGPU—
73.9Platformspec-based45.9
14 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus1 spec wins — Intel Core 3 100U
InnoReviews verdict
Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins this laptop processor face-off, 73.9 to 47, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+53) and single-core (+30). Intel Core 3 100U still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Stronger single-core score: 79 vs 49
- Stronger multi-core score: 87 vs 34
- 377% higher PassMark: 58,672 vs 12,302
- 300% higher cores: 24 vs 6
- 300% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 2
Reasons to pick the Intel Core 3 100U
- 73% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 55 W
General
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 100U |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2024 |
| Process | 3 nm+70% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | 55 W | 15 W+73% |
| Max TDP | 160 W+191% | 55 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 100U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 24+300% | 6 |
| Performance cores | 8+300% | 2 |
| Efficiency cores | 16+300% | 4 |
| Threads | 24+200% | 8 |
| Base clock | 2.7 GHz+125% | 1.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.5 GHz+17% | 4.7 GHz |
| L3 cache | 36 MB+260% | 10 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 100U |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) | Intel Graphics (64 EU) |
| iGPU clock | 2,000 MHz | 1,250 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 100U |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-5200 / DDR4-3200 / LPDDR5X-5200 / LPDDR4X-4267 |
| Max memory | 256 GB+167% | 96 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 100U |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,198+39%Top 11% | 2,295Bottom 35% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 21,581+211%Top 8% | 6,940Bottom 19% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 2,340Top 2% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 39,617Top 1% | — |
| PassMark | 58,672+377%Top 1% | 12,302Bottom 22% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | 1,855Top 37% | — |
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