Intel boosts Core Ultra 9 285K gaming performance by up to 21% via APO updates

A long-awaited update to Intel's APO program nets free performance for Core Ultra processors.

Intel has released a new batch of APO optimisations for 15 games, boosting performance by up to 21%. Users running an Intel Core Ultra 200 processor should see the highest gains, with older generations getting a smaller share of the benefits.

Here is the list of games that benefit from this APO update:

  • 7 Days to Die
  • Assetto Corsa
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
  • Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
  • Dyson Sphere Program
  • EA Sports FC 24
  • God of War
  • Kerbal Space Program 2
  • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
  • Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition
  • The Callisto Protocol
  • Wolfenstein Youngblood
  • World of Warships
  • 蜀山初章

APO (Application Optimisation) is a per-application performance tuning system from Intel that tweaks how the operating system assigns work to the CPU. It is part of Intel’s Dynamic Tuning Technology (DTT), offering application-specific profiles to optimise the scheduling and power/performance behaviour on supported games. The idea is to take full advantage of Intel’s hybrid core structure, optimising where possible for the highest frame rates.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K APO fps boost.

Intel claims that the average fps increase ranges from 3-14% depending on the title, with 1% lows jumping up more impressively by a whopping 5-21%. The latter is especially noteworthy as it could transform a game from a stuttery mess into an enjoyable experience.

Games that benefit most from new APO boosts are Dyson Sphere Program and Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, which each run 11-14% better. World of Warships’ 3% boost is nice, though not exceptional, considering the game’s low demands.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K APO 1_ fps lows boost.

Note however that APO is configuration dependent, meaning that these results can vary depending on your system. For its tests, Intel used a  Core Ultra 9 285K plus an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090. So, expect some variability depending on your hardware and software environment.

You’ll need a Core i5-14600K or newer to get the full benefits of APO. However, 12th and 13th Gen Core processors can enjoy some improvements via ‘Advanced Mode’ support.

Fahd Temsamani
Fahd Temsamani
Senior Writer at Club386, his love for computers began with an IBM running MS-DOS, and he’s been pushing the limits of technology ever since. Known for his overclocking prowess, Fahd once unlocked an extra 1.1GHz from a humble Pentium E5300 - a feat that cemented his reputation as a master tinkerer. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, his motto when building a new rig is ‘il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.’
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