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Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF: Comparison
Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF separate most on l2 cache: Intel Core i7-12700K at 12 MB, Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF at 36 MB, 67% in favour of Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF. L3 Cache splits them by another 17%, again favouring Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF. They match on 10 other specifications, including form factor, market segment and performance cores. In Blender Cycles (CPU) the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF scores 475 against 286 for the Intel Core i7-12700K, a lead of 40%.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Desktop | Desktop |
| Codename | Alder Lake | Arrow Lake-S |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| TDP | 125 W | 65 W |
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | None |
| Market Segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1851 |
| Socket Status | Mature | Current |
| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |
| Performance Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Efficiency Cores | 4 | 12 |
| SMT Enabled | true | false |
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.6 | 3.9 |
| P-Core Boost Clock | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| E-Core Base Clock | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| E-Core Boost Clock | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| Unlocked Multiplier | true | true |
| L2 Cache | 12 MB-67% | 36 MB |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB-17% | 30 MB |
| Base Power | 125 W | 125 W |
| Max Turbo Power | 190 | 250 |
| Memory Type | DDR5 or DDR4 | DDR5 |
| Max Memory Speed | 4800 | 6400 |
| Memory Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory Capacity | 128 | 256 |
| Integrated Graphics | Yes | No |
| Copilot Plus Certified | false | false |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 20-17% | 24 |
| Launch MSRP | 409 | 379 |
| Retail Availability | Boxed Retail | Boxed Retail |
| Cores | 12 | 20 |
| Threads | 20 | 20 |
| Architecture | Alder Lake | Arrow Lake-S |
Benchmarks
Measured results, not specifications. Percentages are the gap to the leading product in each test.
Blender Cycles (CPU)
Blender 4.5, Blender Open Data (CC0). Median of monster + junkshop + classroom, combined samples/min.
Blender renders 3D scenes by tracing light through them, which loads every core at once. The score measures sustained multi-core throughput, so a chip that wins here can still lose at gaming, where one or two fast cores matter more. Figures come from Blender's Open Data project, which places no restriction on reuse, and we publish the median of every submission for that chip on the same Blender version.
Verdict
Intel Core i7-12700K
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-12700K is an unlocked overclockable chip, well suited to enthusiast gaming and productivity builds.
Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is a flagship unlocked desktop Arrow Lake-S processor, a solid pick for overclocking enthusiasts.