Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra Gen 2 2025

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra Gen 2 packs a top-tier 24-core CPU, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage into a sub-4L box. It's a workstation for CPU-heavy work, not gaming or GPU tasks. At around $5,000, it's worth it only if you need this much compute in this small a space.

The Core Ultra 9 285 sits in the 93rd percentile for CPUs in our database, which puts it among the best chips you can get in a desktop right now. The 64GB of DDR5 lands at the 94th percentile and the 2TB SSD at the 92nd, so memory and storage are both top-tier. Multitasking across heavy datasets or running multiple VMs should feel effortless. The weak link is graphics. Integrated Intel Graphics ranks at the 52nd percentile, dead average, and gaming performance bottoms out at 16.8 out of 100. This machine was built for compute, not Call of Duty.

Stacked against the Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra, the ThinkStation holds its own on CPU and RAM but gets smoked on graphics and port selection. The HP OMEN GT22-3080 and Dell Area-51 are gaming-focused machines that'll crush it in any GPU-bound task, though they're much larger. The ASUS ROG GM700 and CLX SET are similar stories, built for frames per second rather than workstation reliability. The ThinkStation's real edge is size and CPU density. Nothing else in this lineup crams a 24-core chip into a box this small.

We don't have a confirmed price for this exact config, but one US listing shows $5,000. For that money, you're paying a premium for the small form factor and the Core Ultra 9 silicon. The RAM and storage are generous, but the integrated GPU makes this a tough sell at that price unless you specifically need a compact CPU monster. If your workflow doesn't demand the tiny chassis, you can get more graphics horsepower for less in a standard tower.

The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra Gen 2 is a tiny workstation that punches way above its weight class. You get a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285, 64GB of DDR5, and a 2TB NVMe SSD stuffed into a chassis under 4 liters. That's a serious amount of compute for something you could tuck behind a monitor.

But here's the catch. This config ships with Intel integrated graphics, not the optional NVIDIA RTX card Lenovo loves to mention in the marketing. For CPU-heavy work like code compilation, financial modeling, or AI prototyping on the NPU, it's a beast. For anything GPU-bound, you'll feel the pinch fast.

Skip this if you do any kind of 3D rendering, video editing with GPU effects, or gaming. The integrated graphics will frustrate you daily. Also skip it if you need lots of ports, the selection here is sparse even by small form factor standards. And if you're on a budget, there are far cheaper ways to get a 24-core CPU in a bigger box.

This is a niche machine for a niche buyer. If you're a developer, data analyst, or AI tinkerer who needs serious CPU power in a tiny footprint and you don't care about gaming or GPU acceleration, the P3 Ultra Gen 2 delivers. Everyone else should probably look at a standard tower or a Mac Studio, depending on your OS preference.