Core Ultra 7 Desktop Processor 265K - 20 cores (8 P-cores + 12 E-cores) up to 5.5 GHz

I don’t usually write reviews, but I had to give credit where it’s due. I upgraded to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K after using an older i7 for years, and the difference is night and day. This thing flies. Whether I’m editing 4K video, running multiple VMs, gaming on ultra settings, or doing 3D rendering in Blender — the 265K handles it all without breaking a sweat. What impressed me the most was the balance between power and efficiency. Even under heavy load, thermals are very manageable (paired it with a decent cooler), and it doesn’t chug watts like older high-core-count CPUs. The 20-core architecture is perfect for multitasking — I’ve literally had 50 Chrome tabs open, Premiere Pro rendering, and a game running simultaneously. No hiccups. Also, shoutout to Intel for keeping single-core performance top-notch. Games run crazy smooth, and frame times are tight. I considered going AMD for a minute, but honestly, this chip gave me the best of both worlds: high thread count and insane IPC. If you’re building a high-performance rig for creative work, content creation, or serious gaming — this CPU is worth every penny. It’s future-proof, it’s fast, and it’s shockingly efficient. 10/10.

Solid Choice for a stable use. Typically, reviews are skipped, but the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a standout that demands recognition. As an upgrade from an aging i7, it’s been a transformative experience – the performance leap is simply incredible. This processor devours any workload thrown its way. From intensive 4K video editing and running multiple virtual machines, to pushing games to their ultra limits and complex 3D rendering in Blender, the 265K manages it all without breaking a sweat. The true marvel lies in its blend of power and efficiency. Even when pushed to its limits (with a solid cooling solution), the thermals stay exceptionally cool, unlike the power-hungry nature of older, high-core CPUs. The 20-core design is a masterclass in multitasking – imagine flawlessly running 50 Chrome tabs, a Premiere Pro render, and a game simultaneously. This chip makes it a reality. And let’s not forget the outstanding single-core performance from Intel. Gaming is exceptionally smooth, with rock-solid frame times. Initial thoughts of exploring an AMD alternative quickly faded – this chip truly offers the best of both worlds: abundant threading alongside phenomenal instructions per cycle.

This CPU is working beautifully for me. I primarily use my PC for programming several applications at once using Visual Studio. Compile times have been cut in half since my last build, from 5 minutes for my largest app to about 2.5 minutes (which includes Dotfuscator EXE encryption, which takes the longest amount of time). Everything in general is just so fast. My 128GB of RAM and PCIe 5.0 drives help with that, too. I haven't had ANY stability problems for the past few weeks since setting up my new build. The CPU stays cool with my CPU cooler and case fans, linked below. It's a fantastic setup and this is a solid CPU. Here are some of my recent components in this build, in case you are interested: ASUS ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming WiFi Intel® Z890 LGA 1851 ATX Motherboard Intel Core Ultra 7 Desktop Processor 265K - 20 cores (8 P-cores + 12 E-cores) up to 5.5 GHz CORSAIR Vengeance DDR5 RAM 128GB (2x64GB) 6400MHz Samsung SSD 9100 PRO 4TB, PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 14,800MB/s Thermalright HR10 2280 PRO Black SSD Cooler EZDIY-FAB Shield M.2 SSD Heatsink with Build-in 20mm PWM Fan Thermaltake CT120 EX ARGB Sync PC Cooling Fan (3-Fan Pack) Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120 Vision ARGB Black CPU Cooler with LCD screen Thermalright Lga1851 BCF Black CPU Holder,CPU Anti Bending Fixed Bracket HYTE Y70 Upgraded Modern Aesthetic Dual Chamber Panoramic Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX Computer Gaming Case

In use for about 3 months now, working great, not a single hiccup. Temps are good. Speed is what I expected.

If you watch certain popular YouTube tech channels and read the hivemind babble at a certain site that rhymes with “head hit”, then you would believe that computers have no other purpose in this world but to play games. In that regard, there is no denying that AMD excels at building CPUs that out-game Intel (although, the margins are not as great as they want you to believe), but Intel excels in productivity tasks which is far more important than getting a few more frames in whatever the latest and greatest AAA game is. I mean, AMD uses computers to design and build their CPUs for all those gamey people (yes, some of them do stink - attitudes anyway), so productivity is king. Intel took a pretty good beat down for the issues with 13th and 14th generation CPUs and stumbled out of the gate with these Core Ultra chips, but these problems are blown out of proportion by the aforementioned outlets and I have not seen much in the way of retractions when Intel admitted (and fixed) the problems with this current gen, so be careful where you get your information. If you are considering buying this CPU, there are two videos I highly recommend watching. Go to YouTube and search “Is The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Really That Bad? Blackbird PC”, and “We're looking at it ALL wrong...AMD Ryzen 9900x vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265k Tech Notice”. These are two YouTubers who provide proper objective results without all the drama and hyperbole of the popular channels who are just feeding the “head hit” beast and working their own personal agendas. I have run a few synthetic benchmarks and performance was very good, but I prefer real world results like video compression with Handbrake, which produced some seriously impressive numbers. The time it takes to process a 2-pass encode for Blu Ray files is about 50% -60% less than it took my i5 10600k, and it stays pretty cool with the highest temps on some of the cores hitting 84C with a Thermalright Phantom Spirit cooler. Even though my temps were perfectly fine out of the box, I still like to keep things as cool as possible and I have undervolted to a stable - 0.075. The Core Ultra chips benefit greatly from faster RAM, and 8000MHz seems to be the stable sweet spot from all the reviews I have watched, but I opted for less expensive 7200MHz which is more than adequate for a home setup. If there are concerns about CPU bending like previous gens, then look for motherboards that utilize the new reduced load ILM (RL-ILM). The initial release price was a bit tough to swallow, but now they are very budget-friendly and pretty much a no-brainer if you like to do things with your PC other than play games.

While the CPU itself is great, the Intel promo is a total scam - they ask you to provide personal information piece by piece, followed by requiring to run a full hardware scan software on your device.

I've always been a fan of Intel.. It's been my go-to processor for every major computer build, regardless of if it's mine or a friends. It's incredibly fast during gaming, and I have not noticed the UE5 issues that the past couple Intel Chips have shown. It's really stable when it runs too, no stuttering or crashes.

Theres a lot of hearsay and slander about these processors. Some of the criticism is deserved but most isnt. I set this up on a z870m aorus elite wifi7 and after setup and drivers it ran great. But, if yiu want it to run fantastic you need to run the intel optimization software. Its simple, install and click optimize. It automatically undervolts the cpu and tweaks the timings while staying in factory spec. The results are VERY impressive without the need to overclock. Unoptimezed passmark: ~51000 Optimized passmark: ~60000 For reference, One of my coworkers has an i9-14900kf and he is touching right at 62000 for passmark. The 265k pulls less than half the power when optimezed and comes that close to that beast of a cpu. I dont care who you are, thats a great result. Especially when you compare prices, the 14900kf goes for around $600 but you can get the 265k for around $300. That is a bargain. Cinebench and geekbench run well and it handles complex tasks and gaming like a dream. I honestly recommend this cpu as an all around processor. It doesnt excell at any one thing but it does a great job a t a lot of things. I use my computer for work, autodesk, gaming, and entertainment so it works really well.