1. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is an overclocked, higher-performance variant of the Core Ultra 9 275HX, which results in higher temperatures and power demands.
2. Under maximum load, the Core Ultra 9 Plus CPU in Alienware 16 reaches near its maximum junction temperature (~103°C), significantly warmer than other gaming laptops.
3. In real-world gaming scenarios, core temperatures for the Core Ultra 9 Plus typically hover in the low 80°C range, which is higher than regular models but generally manageable for most users.
Introduction of Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has been recently introduced and is now available on some high-end gaming laptops such as the Alienware 16 Area-51 and the Acer Predator PHN18. This chip shares the same platform as the Core Ultra 9 275HX but is an overclocked version, which means it demands moar power to achieve faster speeds and better performance. Because of this, it tends to run hotter than its less powerful counterpart.
Performance and Temperature Comparison
In the tests, two Alienware 16 SKUs were examined—one equipped with the Core Ultra 9 275HX and the other with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Both were tested under the same Prime95 load in Overdrive mode, which maxes out fan speed. The 275HX CPU hit 3.8 GHz at 92°C, but the 290HX Plus CPU pushed further to 4.1 GHz and reached around 103°C. Since many mobile CPUs max out around 105°C, 103°C is pretty much the limit, showing how hot it gets.
Comparison to Other Gaming Laptops
Most other gaming laptops tend to keep their CPU temperatures lower, but the Alienware PC’s temps are notably higher. For example, the CPUs in the MSI Vector 16 HX or Lenovo Legion 7 16IAX10 typically stop at around 82°C when subjected to similar loads, which is nearly 20°C cooler than the Alienware with the Core Ultra 9 Plus.
Real-World Usage and Temperature Management
Luckily, during everyday gaming or general use, the core temperatures of the Core Ultra 9 Plus in Alienware 16 stay in the low 80s Celsius rather than soaring past 100°C. Although still somewhat warm compared to the 275HX model, reaching 100°C is unlikely unless the CPU is running at full load constantly. So, while it runs warmer, it’s not too concerning for most gamers who don’t push their CPUs to the absolute max all the time.
Further Insights and Benchmarks
Additional detailed benchmarks and more in-depth comparisons are available in our review of the Core Ultra 9 Plus Alienware 16, providing users with a comprehensive look at its performance and thermal behavior.