Intel Core Ultra 7 265K vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
Head-to-head CPU comparison: cores, clocks, cache, benchmarks, and value. Which belongs in your next build?
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
Strong productivity chip at a reasonable price. 20 cores chew through rendering and compilation. Gaming is solid but not class-leading.
Buy on Amazon →Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
Intel's mid-range Arrow Lake. 14 cores in a 125W envelope is impressive. Solid all-rounder when you want Intel.
Buy on Amazon →Spec Comparison
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 7 265K | Intel Core Ultra 5 245K |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $394 | $309 |
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 20 | 14 / 14 |
| Performance Cores | 8 | 6 |
| Efficiency Cores | 12 | 8 |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB | 24 MB |
| TDP | 125W | 125W |
| Socket | LGA 1851 | LGA 1851 |
| Memory Support | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-6400 |
| Process Node | TSMC 3nm | TSMC 3nm |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 35,600 | 24,800 |
| Cinebench R23 Single | 2,200 | 2,150 |
| Gaming Score | 78/100 | 73/100 |
| Productivity Score | 88/100 | 78/100 |
| Value Score | 76/100 | 78/100 |
The Verdict
Based on our benchmark database and scoring, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K wins on gaming by about 5 points, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K pulls ahead in productivity by 10 points. Overall the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K comes out ahead in this matchup, but the right pick depends on what you're actually building: gaming-first rigs favor higher single-thread and 3D V-Cache designs, while streaming and content-creation rigs benefit more from raw multi-core output.