Intel · Updated June 2026
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K: price, specs & release date
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, released 2024-10. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: cpubenchmark.net verified verify in ledger
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is listed at $307.99 on cpubenchmark.net as of 2026-07-03, #5 cheapest of 17 CPUs (median $359); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Gold Deskmark — 67/100 pay-blind standing, #4 of 18 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Much easier to cool than prior-gen Intel; runs on mid-range air coolers; Strong single-thread and application performance; beats Ryzen 9 9900X in apps.
- Skip if Gaming is the weak spot; slower than Raptor Lake and behind AMD X3D parts is a dealbreaker.
Price history
$307.99How we know these prices
The curve above is one dated record of this product's price on its own source page — our own tracking combined with Internet Archive snapshots reaching back before we began. Every archived point links to the snapshot that proves it, so you can verify each one yourself.
Verify each point — 8 archived snapshots
- 2024-11-03 — $399.98 · snapshot ↗
- 2025-02-10 — $371.98 · snapshot ↗
- 2025-04-26 — $338.59 · snapshot ↗
- 2025-08-28 — $259 · snapshot ↗
- 2025-11-15 — $286.67 · snapshot ↗
- 2026-01-12 — $298.59 · snapshot ↗
- 2026-04-06 — $319.99 · snapshot ↗
- 2026-07-03 — $307.99 · snapshot ↗
Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K a good buy?
At $308, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is #8 cheapest of the 17 CPUs we track, where the median is $409. On the spec sheet, its cores of 20 is above the median of the 18, its base clock of 3.9 GHz is below the median of the 18, and its l3 cache of 30 MB is below the median of the 18. By release date, it is among the newer of the 18 we date.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 3
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 17
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 3
3 independent labs measured this product, logging 17 distinct physical metrics between them — avg application power, avg gaming power, application performance vs and 14 more. That is how much independent evidence stands behind any claim about it — not a rating of the product.
avg application power · avg gaming power · application performance vs · gaming vs 14700k · cinebench r23 multi-core · cinebench r23 single-core · cinebench 2024 multi-core · cinebench 2024 single-core · geekbench 6.4 single-core · geekbench 6.4 multi-core · 3dmark cpu profile · 7-zip total rating · y-cruncher pi 5 · pcmark 10 overall · thermal · peak power with · noise
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
All three hands-on reviews survived verification (TechPowerUp, StorageReview, Tom's Hardware). The 265K wins on efficiency, cooling, and single-thread/application speed but loses on gaming, where AMD's X3D chips and even Intel's own 14700K lead. The buy verdict hinges on price, which fell sharply after the Oct 2024 launch (~$390 RCP down to ~$300 street by mid-2026).
Based on 3 reviews · 3 lab-tested · 2024-10-24–2026-07-02
Tested by TechPowerUp, StorageReview, Tom's Hardware
Consistently praised
- Much easier to cool than prior-gen Intel; runs on mid-range air coolers · 3 sources
- Strong single-thread and application performance; beats Ryzen 9 9900X in apps · 2 sources
- Excellent power efficiency, drawing far less than the Core i7-14700K it replaces · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Gaming is the weak spot; slower than Raptor Lake and behind AMD X3D parts · 2 sources
- Peak temps still hit ~97C under unlimited power
- High launch price for a '7'-class chip plus platform/BIOS immaturity at release
Where reviewers disagree Value verdict shifted with price over time: at launch (Oct 2024) TechPowerUp called the ~$390 price 'a lot of money for a 7-class processor' and a tough sell for gaming, while StorageReview, testing in July 2026 at a ~$300 street price, calls it 'an easy recommendation.'
The sources (3)
Avg application power (49-app mix): 108 W · Avg gaming power: 77 W · Application performance vs Core i7-14700K: +3% · Gaming vs 14700K at 1080p: -6% · Gaming vs 14700K at 4K: -1.5%
Excellent application performance, beats Ryzen 9 9900X
On average, in our mix of 49 applications, the 265K consumed 108 W while the 14700K used 140 W—very nice, a 30% reduction.
Gaming performance lower than expected, slower than Raptor Lake
Cinebench R23 multi-core: 35,905 · Cinebench R23 single-core: 2,267 · Cinebench 2024 multi-core: 2,000 · Cinebench 2024 single-core: 136 · Geekbench 6.4 single-core: 3,092 · Geekbench 6.4 multi-core: 20,019 · 3DMark CPU Profile max threads: 17,269 · 7-Zip total rating: 128.883 GIPS · y-cruncher Pi 5 billion digits: 113.078 s · PCMark 10 overall: 9,940
In our testing, it delivered strong single-thread performance, solid lightly threaded results, and respectable multi-core output for a 20-core, 20-thread design, all while running cooler and drawing less power than the Core i7-14700K it replaces.
The single-core score is even better, with the 265K taking the top spot at 2,267 points.
Gaming and the most heavily threaded workloads remain the weak spots, where AMD's cache-heavy X3D parts still lead.
Peak temp, Cinebench R23 multi, no power limit: 97 C · Peak power with Scythe Mugen 6 (Cinebench R23): 247 W · Max-fan noise level: 39.6 dBA · CPU+GPU 120W load temp (default fan curve): 75 C
But Intel's Core Ultra 7 265K is a different beast that can be easily cooled by simple air coolers.
When paired with Scythe's Mugen 6, power consumption peaked at 247W while running Cinebench R23's multi-core benchmark.
While it is nice to know that you can sustain the CPU's peak performance with a mid-range cooler, 97 degrees C is very hot and might make some worry.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $307.99 — current on record (was $394) |
|---|---|
| Brand | Intel |
| Released | 2024-10 |
| Cores | 20 |
| Threads | 20 |
| Base clock (GHz) | 3.9 |
| Boost clock (GHz) | 5.5 |
| L3 cache (MB) | 30 |
| Tdp (W) | 125 |
| Socket | LGA1851 |
| Igpu | Intel Graphics |
Source: cpubenchmark.net (verified 2026-06-15). Specs from PassMark: 20 cores (8 P-cores + 12 E-cores), 20 threads, P-core base 3.9 GHz, max turbo 5.5 GHz, 30 MB L3, 125W PBP, FCLGA1851, Intel Graphics iGPU, Q4 2024 (launched October 24, 2024). PassMark price ~$315 (May 2026); Intel RCP at launch was $394. base_clock_ghz is P-core base; E-core base 3.3 GHz.
Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K worth it vs cheaper CPUs?
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K against its closest cheaper and pricier CPUs on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 17 ranked
| Product | Price | Cores | Threads | Base clock (GHz) | Boost clock (GHz) | L3 cache (MB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 7 265K this | $307.99 | 20 | 20 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 30 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D | $299.99 | 6 | 12 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 96 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 245K | $309 | 14 | 14 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 24 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K?
All three hands-on reviews survived verification (TechPowerUp, StorageReview, Tom's Hardware). The 265K wins on efficiency, cooling, and single-thread/application speed but loses on gaming, where AMD's X3D chips and even Intel's own 14700K lead. The buy verdict hinges on price, which fell sharply after the Oct 2024 launch (~$390 RCP down to ~$300 street by mid-2026). Praised: Strong single-thread and application performance; beats Ryzen 9 9900X in apps; Excellent power efficiency, drawing far less than the Core i7-14700K it replaces; Much easier to cool than prior-gen Intel; runs on mid-range air coolers. Flagged: Gaming is the weak spot; slower than Raptor Lake and behind AMD X3D parts; Peak temps still hit ~97C under unlimited power; High launch price for a '7'-class chip plus platform/BIOS immaturity at release. (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
How much does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K cost?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has a US price of $307.99, as of 2026-07-03.
How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K compare on price?
At $308, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is #8 cheapest of the 17 CPUs we track, where the median is $409.
Has the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K's price dropped?
Yes — since 2024-11-03 the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has fallen 23%, from $399.98 to $307.99.
What is the lowest price the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has been?
The lowest we have recorded for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is $259 on 2025-08-28.
Is now a good time to buy the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is currently $307.99; the lowest we have recorded is $259 (2025-08-28). Every price is dated, so you can judge it against its own history.
When was the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K released?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K was released 2024-10.
What are the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K's key specs?
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (Intel): cores 20, threads 20, base clock ghz 3.9, boost clock ghz 5.5, l3 cache mb 30. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $307.99 at cpubenchmark.net, 2026-07-03. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Intel Core Ultra 7 265K on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar CPUs
Nearest in price — swipe to browse. Every pick sourced and dated.
All CPUs ranked · Open data & methodology · Queryable via MCP
Compare with
Cheaper CPUs
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D $299.99
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X $299
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X $279
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X $230
Step up
- Intel Core Ultra 5 245K $309
- Intel Core i5-14600K $319
- AMD Ryzen 9 9900X $328.99
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X $359
- Intel Core i7-14700K $409
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D $449
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