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Intel Core Ultra 7 265 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 7 265 and Core Ultra 9 285?
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is total cores, Core Ultra 7 265 20 against Core Ultra 9 285 24. Add l3 cache to that, 30 MB on the Core Ultra 7 265 versus 36 MB on the Core Ultra 9 285, and the pattern holds. They differ on memory type too, DDR5 on the Core Ultra 7 265 versus DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s on the Core Ultra 9 285.
Who each one is for
The Core Ultra 7 265 is the one to take for desktop gaming and everyday productivity, though it is not built for laptops and fanless designs. Buy the Core Ultra 9 285 for video editing, 3D rendering and code builds and small workstations that benefit from ECC memory support, though it is the wrong buy for overclockers, who should choose the unlocked Core Ultra 9 285K. It also earns its place with quiet or compact high-end PCs built around a 65 W chip. It is not the one for gaming-first builds, where a cheaper CPU and a better GPU go further. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 265 (8.5/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a mainstream desktop Arrow Lake-S processor with integrated graphics, suited to everyday desktop builds.
What Core Ultra 7 265 and Core Ultra 9 285 have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, performance cores, tdp, integrated graphics, socket and form factor included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 6 further specifications as well.
Do the Core Ultra 7 265 and Core Ultra 9 285 differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 12 on the Core Ultra 7 265 versus 16 on the Core Ultra 9 285.
Is the Release Year the same on the Core Ultra 7 265 and Core Ultra 9 285?
It is. Both are listed at 2025, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Desktop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 65 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 65 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- Arrow Lake-S
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- FCLGA1851
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- FCLGA1851
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 20
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 12
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 16Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 20
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 24Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 2.4 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 2.5 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 5.3 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 5.6 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 30 MB-17%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 36 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 65 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 65 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 182 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 182 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285
- 13 TOPS (Intel AI Boost)
Which one should you pick?
Choose Intel Core Ultra 7 265 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Intel Core Ultra 9 285 if you want the higher L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | $549.00 View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 265
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a mainstream desktop Arrow Lake-S processor with integrated graphics, suited to everyday desktop builds.