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The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is the latest CPU, while the Core i9-13900KF is two generations older. Can the Core Ultra 7 beat the Core i9?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and Core i9-13900KF belong to two different classes of processors. The former is a 7-class CPU, while the latter is a 9-class CPU. Naturally, one would assume that the Core i9-13900KF is the better chip, but that may not be the case. Since the Intel Core Ultra 7 is two generations newer and built on a newer architecture, it has certain advantages.
The real question is whether those advantages are enough for the Core Ultra 7 to outperform the beastly Core i9-13900KF. That is exactly what we plan to answer in this article with a detailed comparison of the two CPUs.
Note: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer’s opinions.
Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF vs Core i9-13900KF: Detailed Comparison
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is based on the newer Arrow Lake architecture. In contrast, the Core i9-13900KF is built on the older Raptor Lake architecture but belongs to a higher CPU class, giving it some advantages of its own. Let’s look at the specifications of both processors to see what they are capable of.
Specs Comparison
Here are the specs of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and Core i9-13900KF:
| Specifications | Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF | Intel Core i9-13900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Raptor Lake |
| P-Core/Thread count | 8/8 | 8/16 |
| E-Core/Thread count | 12/12 | 16/16 |
| Total Core/Thread count | 20/20 | 24/32 |
| Max clock speed | 5.5 GHz | 5.8 GHz |
| L3 cache | 30 MB | 36 MB |
| RAM support | DDR5-6400 | DDR4-3200 DDR5-5200 |
| PCIe Gen support | Gen 5 | Gen 5 |
| Platform Socket | LGA 1851 | LGA 1700 |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 125W Typical | 250W Max | 125W Typical | 253W Max |
| Manufacturing nodes | 3nm | 10nm |
As per the specifications table, the Intel Core i9-13900KF has a higher core count, cache, clock speed, and thread count than the Core Ultra 7 265K. The former also supports DDR4 RAM, so you can even build a budget system if you want. The latter only supports DDR5 RAM.
Synthetic Performance Comparison
Here’s how the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and Core i9-13900KF perform in synthetic benchmarks:
| Benchmarks | Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF | Intel Core i9-13900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (Single-Core) | 2309 | 2262 |
| Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) | 35450 | 39012 |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | 3206 | 2996 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | 21779 | 20166 |
| Passmark CPU (Single-Core) | 4901 | 4585 |
| Passmark CPU (Multi-Core) | 58807 | 57763 |
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF scores 5.8% higher than the Intel Core i9-13900KF in single-core benchmarks. However, in multi-core benchmarks, the latter scored more than the former, but only by 0.7%, despite having more cores. Therefore, the multi-core performance difference between the two CPUs is negligible. That is why we say core count is not everything.
Sometimes, architectural benefits can triumph over raw core count. However, keep in mind that this is not always the case. One should only judge a processor by its performance in actual benchmarks. Speaking of benchmarks, let’s check out how the two CPUs perform in games.
Game Performance Comparison
Here is how the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and Core i9-13900KF perform in some popular games:
| Games | Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF | Intel Core i9-13900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 149 FPS | 153 FPS |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered | 186 FPS | 195 FPS |
| Far Cry 6 | 114 FPS | 129 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 134 FPS | 144 FPS |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 141 FPS | 151 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 179 FPS | 192 FPS |
| Hitman 3 | 208 FPS | 231 FPS |
Note: The two CPUs were tested at 1080p resolution with the RTX 4090 GPU to eliminate any GPU bottleneck. All FPS numbers were sourced from the Exploring Benchmark channel on YouTube.
On average, the Intel Core i9-13900KF delivered 7.5% more FPS than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF. Despite the latter having a newer architecture, the former scored higher. This is likely due to the Core i9-13900KF’s 5.8 GHz clock speed, which is quite a bit higher than the newer CPU.
Price Comparison
The Intel Core i9-13900KF is currently selling for $435 on Amazon, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF sells for $283.40. Therefore, the former is around 53% more expensive.
Final Verdict on Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF vs Core i9-13900KF
In productivity applications, both the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and Core i9-13900KF should perform similarly. The former may win in some applications, while the latter may win in others. However, the Core i9-13900KF is simply the better choice for gaming. It delivered 7–8% more FPS in every single game tested above.
The Intel Core i9-13900KF is also 53% more expensive, which is simply not worth the small gaming performance advantage. Therefore, we recommend buying the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF instead for both gaming and productivity.
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