Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus in MSI Laptop Stomps 285HX in Leaked PassMark Run

Intel’s yet-to-be-officially-launched Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has just shown up in a leaked PassMark benchmark running inside an MSI laptop, and the numbers are sure to spark interest among tech enthusiasts. Despite not being showcased at CES 2026, rumors suggest Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh mobile CPUs are coming soon, and if these leaked scores are any indication, Intel could be setting a new standard for mobile processing power in high-end laptops.

This new flagship chip from Intel, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, was reportedly benchmarked in a powerhouse MSI laptop configuration featuring an RTX 5090 graphics card along with 32GB of fast Samsung DDR5-5600 memory. The benchmark results are impressive: in single-threaded performance, the 290HX Plus edges out its predecessor, the 285HX, by roughly 7.5%, while its multicore performance jumps ahead by about 12.8%. If you thought that was close to desktop territory, you’d be right, as the Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits just 2% behind Intel’s recently released 285K desktop CPU in both multi-core and single-core tests.

On the design front, the new Ultra 9 290HX Plus sticks with an eight P-core and sixteen E-core layout, just like the previous 285HX model. That means brute multi-threaded strength paired with solid efficiency, though, to be honest, one potential limitation here is thermal management. Cranking this much power in a laptop can mean higher temperatures and throttling in compact designs, which remains a concern for users who want sustained, top-tier performance on the go.

This kind of processor is clearly meant for serious users—think professionals working with demanding applications, content creators needing mobile horsepower, or gamers who refuse to compromise on frame rates. With support for cutting-edge hardware like the RTX 5090, it’s the type of machine you’d want if your workflow is as heavy as it gets, whether that’s for simulations, 3D rendering, or the very latest games.

Looking at the UAE and Gulf region, where demand for high-end laptops is always on the rise, this release is especially relevant. While Intel hasn’t announced retail pricing yet, if similar high-end laptops sell abroad for about $4,000 (approx. AED 14,680), local tech enthusiasts should expect a similar ballpark. For those who need the absolute best, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus in an MSI package could soon be a top choice—provided they’re ready to manage the heat and the hefty price tag.