AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K: Which Is the Better CPU?

Ryzen 9 9900X meets Ultra 7 265K. Find out which one is better in gaming, benchmarks, and multithreading.

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The Ryzen 9 9900X is a 12-core, 24-threaded desktop processor with immense multi-core capability. The Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-threaded processor with a hybrid CPU architecture. In terms of compute performance, these two are neck and neck, but in terms of gaming, that’s where the differences start to show. Also, for video editing, Intel has an edge, particularly due to QuickSync support. That said, the comparison is stated below.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K: Which Is the Better CPU?

AMD Ryzen 7 9900X vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K: Detailed Comparison

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs of Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Core Ultra 7 265K:

Specifications	Ryzen 9 9900X	Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
Architecture	Zen 5	Arrow Lake
Core/Thread count	12/24	20 (8P + 12E)/ 20
Max clock speed	5.6 GHz	5.5 GHz
L3 cache	64 MB	30 MB
RAM support	DDR5-5600	DDR5-6400
PCIe Gen support	Gen 5	Gen 5
Platform Socket	AM5	LGA 1851
Thermal design power (TDP)	120W – 165W	125-250W
Manufacturing nodes	4nm	3nm

In terms of physical core counts, Intel has an advantage, but in terms of thread counts, the Ryzen has more. But get this, these two are very different yet similar CPU architectures. In terms of differences, the Ultra 7 uses a balance between Intel’s dynamic tuning and predictive threading, whereas the 9900X uses SMT (Also known as Hyper-threading). In terms of similarities, both are chiplet-based designs, just made differently, and for that reason, on either CPU, playing massively open-world games, you may encounter micro-stutters.

Synthetic Performance Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Ryzen 9 9900X: Which Is the Better CPU? — An image showing the Ryzen 9 9900X processor (Image via Amazon)

In terms of raw compute performance, the 9900X and the Ultra 7 are very close together. It’s just that the Ultra 7, due to higher physical core counts, wins here. As for rendering and other multicore performance, both pack serious firepower, and you can’t go wrong with either. But specific workloads, such as decompression, are where the Ryzen chips always outshone the Intel ones.

Benchmark	AMD Ryzen 9 9900X	Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
Cinebench R23 Single-Core	2250	2300
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core	32,210	35,760
Geekbench 6 Single-Core	3,400	3,280
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core	19,500	22,290

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Bit Bench PC’s YouTube channel, where the person conducted the tests with all the mentioned games at the max preset, using DDR5 7000MT/s Dual Channel Memory kit with the RTX 4090 at 1080p ultra settings.

Games	AMD Ryzen 9 9900X	Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
Assetto Corsa Competizione	84 FPS	82 FPS
Baldurs Gate 3	83 FPS	92 FPS
Cyberpunk: 2077	102 FPS	112 FPS
Dying Light 2 (RT)	72 FPS	85 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy (RT)	63 FPS	61 FPS
Spiderman Remastered	138 FPS	164 FPS

Although these games were tested at max settings at 1080p with both CPUs, a 4090 was used. The framerate suggests that the performance difference between the two is minimal. Only certain titles optimized for specific hardware will pull ahead, such as Spider-Man Remastered, which favors Intel CPUs.

That said, the scenario mentioned here is pretty much unrealistic, as with this kind of hardware, you would be gaming at 1440p or beyond, where CPU discrepancy slowly disappears, and the gaming load becomes GPU-bound. Both CPUs are perfect for gaming after work sessions. However, if you plan to play competitive games at 1080p and aim for the highest FPS, buying these isn’t recommended; instead, consider the 9800X3D.

Price Comparison

The Ultra 7 currently retails at Amazon.com for $279, and the Ryzen 9 for $367. Pricing information is accurate as of August 2 and can change without notice.

Final Verdict on AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K

If you are looking for a budget workstation build, the Ultra 7 has a clear advantage; it’s priced less, offers better multi-core performance, and has the QuickSync advantage for video editors. The caveats include platform support, which is likely to end, as Lunar Lake is rumored to have a new socket.

Also, Intel motherboards are usually more expensive. If you choose a Ryzen CPU, you are initially paying more. Still, the AM5 socket is here to stay and relevant for a long time. Whenever a newer generation AMD CPU comes out, your old AM5 motherboard remains relevant.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K: Which Is the Better CPU?

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AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K: Which Is the Better CPU?