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Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF: Comparison
Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF separate most on l2 cache: Intel Core i9-12900KS at 14 MB, Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF at 36 MB, 61% in favour of Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF. PCIe Lanes splits them by another 17%, again favouring Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF. They match on 9 other specifications, including form factor, market segment and performance cores. In Blender Cycles (CPU) the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF scores 475 against 373 for the Intel Core i9-12900KS, a lead of 21%.
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 | 8 | 12 |
| SMT Enabled | true | false |
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.4 | 3.9 |
| P-Core Boost Clock | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| E-Core Base Clock | 2.5 | 3.3 |
| E-Core Boost Clock | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| Unlocked Multiplier | true | true |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB-61% | 36 MB |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB | 30 MB |
| Base Power | 150 W | 125 W |
| Max Turbo Power | 241 | 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 | 739 | 379 |
| Retail Availability | Boxed Retail | Boxed Retail |
| Cores | 16 | 20 |
| Threads | 24 | 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 i9-12900KS
8.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-12900KS is an unlocked flagship desktop chip, a top pick for enthusiasts who want to overclock.
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.