CPU and GPU Scaling: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

[Steve]

Intel's Core Ultra 7 265K has dropped to $310, but is it finally a good buy for gamers? We put it head-to-head with AMD's Ryzen chips across four games, multiple GPUs, and three resolutions.

Read the full article here.

CPU and GPU Scaling: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

 

[Alfatawi Mendel]

Without the Warhammer data, it becomes a different story.

 

[JuanDegr]

Wow, hats off for testing every imaginable resolution and setting across 4 whole games - that’s a level of dedication you don’t see every day! Shame that same attention to detail didn’t extend to, you know, actually the test setup itself - like what RAM was used on the Arrow Lake system.

The low fps results on the 265K kind of hints at the setup used.

the 265K’s low fps kind of gives away that something’s off. Arrow Lake is known to really benefit from faster RAM and a proper memory setup, so these numbers scream “budget sticks” rather than what the platform actually supports.

And then, out of nowhere, when it comes to Cinebench, suddenly we see different RAM setups tested for the 265K only to prove that memory doesn’t make a difference (at least in CB). Funny how RAM is ignored where it matters (in games) but gets highlighted where it barely moves the needle.

Maybe next time, toss in the test setup info so we’re not left playing hardware detective!

 

[letsgoiowa]

Sounds like Intel is finally realizing they're going to have to compete in the budget arena by discounting more heavily. Seems like a reasonable deal. But then you can't upgrade to a 9800x3d or the eventual 10800x3d.

 

[unoficialoficial]

Even if they had the best tech, the best design and perfect yields, they still couldn't compete without the latest, most advanced node.

 

[Ceevee369]

I run a 265k with my 4090 and can’t comprehend- in a good way - how both cpu and GPU almost never run above 40 degrees Celsius in an air cooled system, playing games in Ultra 2K setting. Let alone the super low PSU consumption of an average 250-350 W…
I couldn’t be happier ( after ditching an i9 12900K overheating)

 

[Mr Majestyk]

Given the Intel 265K is massively more useful in a wide range of settings other than just gaming and is heavily discounted, you'd be mad to get the 7600X IMO at this stage. 6 cores in 2025 is like 2 cores in 2012. Plenty of games use more than 6 cores and this disparity will only grow. Also as 4K gamer either natively or via FSR it makes little difference what you buy outside maybe X3D.

Still I'd only buy 265K now if the socket wasn't EOL. However, Nova Lake is getting a 4 gen socket, so 465KF looms to be sweet spot in Intel range if you do productivity and gaming. Hell even 445KF will be beastly. Zen6 vs Nova Lake should be a ding -dong battle.

 

[EdmondRC]

If it's a dedicated gaming machine, you really don't have to spend big on the CPU. As always, put what you save into the GPU, especially if your budget is $1500 or less.

 

[loki1944]

4K shows me buying intel is fine.

 

[Skjorn]

Wow, hats off for testing every imaginable resolution and setting across 4 whole games - that’s a level of dedication you don’t see every day! Shame that same attention to detail didn’t extend to, you know, actually the test setup itself - like what RAM was used on the Arrow Lake system.

The low fps results on the 265K kind of hints at the setup used.

the 265K’s low fps kind of gives away that something’s off. Arrow Lake is known to really benefit from faster RAM and a proper memory setup, so these numbers scream “budget sticks” rather than what the platform actually supports.

And then, out of nowhere, when it comes to Cinebench, suddenly we see different RAM setups tested for the 265K only to prove that memory doesn’t make a difference (at least in CB). Funny how RAM is ignored where it matters (in games) but gets highlighted where it barely moves the needle.

Maybe next time, toss in the test setup info so we’re not left playing hardware detective!

I couldn't even find a description of the test systems in question. That's terrible journalism and testing practices.
I imagine it's just DDR5 6000 or 6400 the same kit in the AMD system like it usually is in these cases.

 

[torvuswalds]

How in the hell is the 7800X3D pulling roughly about a 60 watt average with its performance? Witchcraft!

 

[HallowFeind]

This is Hardware Unboxed testing results. Honestly I do not like their testing as they always seem to get it wrong and later have to change it. Take with a grain of salt in my opinion.

 

[Tantor]

The article is incorrect. The 7600x is $205 on Best Buy, not $290. Whereas the 265k is $310.

The article should have used the 7700x for the comparison. It's only $267. The 7700x is roughly comparable to the 9700x.

 

[bandit8623]

I couldn't even find a description of the test systems in question. That's terrible journalism and testing practices.
I imagine it's just DDR5 6000 or 6400 the same kit in the AMD system like it usually is in these cases.

And is Intel using boost? If not it's a dumb comparison. What mobos?

https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/1inzyf3/core_ultra_7_265k_overclocking_for_gaming

 

[cfenton]

I find the platform argument pretty weak at this point in the AM5 cycle. Yes, there will be one more generation, but unless Zen 6 is a huge leap it's not going to be a compelling upgrade if you already have Zen 5. I don't think a lot of people are going to spend hundreds of dollars for a 10% improvement. It was a much stronger argument for Zen 4 at the time. It might make sense to go from Zen 4 to Zen 6, again depending on the performance of Zen 6.

 

[ioliveirafarias]

I find the platform argument pretty weak at this point in the AM5 cycle. Yes, there will be one more generation, but unless Zen 6 is a huge leap it's not going to be a compelling upgrade if you already have Zen 5. I don't think a lot of people are going to spend hundreds of dollars for a 10% improvement. It was a much stronger argument for Zen 4 at the time. It might make sense to go from Zen 4 to Zen 6, again depending on the performance of Zen 6.

If 9600X get a 10600X with 10% fps improvement, get a 10700X for more, if 10% ismt enough for your, o even a 10700x3D.
Intel just can't compete.

 

[JuanDegr]

That's terrible journalism and testing practices.

Yeah, 100% agreed. Funny how you can have mountains of data and hours of work, yet skip the simple essentials. If I wanted benchmarks in this quality, I’d just fire up UserBenchmark.

 

[cfenton]

If 9600X get a 10600X with 10% fps improvement, get a 10700X for more, if 10% ismt enough for your, o even a 10700x3D.
Intel just can't compete.

Even that won't make much difference and you'd be spending a ton of money. The leap from, say, a 1800X to a 5800X3D was huge, even with something like a 3070. The leap from a 7700X to a 9800X3D is ok if you have a 5090, and pretty small with almost anything else. Maybe the 10800X3D will be a huge leap, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[hahahanoobs]

So basically, the vanilla 6 core and 8 core X3D parts are still the only ones truly worth buying for gaming.

 

[hahahanoobs]

I find the platform argument pretty weak at this point in the AM5 cycle. Yes, there will be one more generation, but unless Zen 6 is a huge leap it's not going to be a compelling upgrade if you already have Zen 5. I don't think a lot of people are going to spend hundreds of dollars for a 10% improvement. It was a much stronger argument for Zen 4 at the time. It might make sense to go from Zen 4 to Zen 6, again depending on the performance of Zen 6.

Agreed.
And once reviewers start to realize that most gamers have GPU's slower than a 5070/9070 XT, having the fastest CPU doesn't mean anything. You're just wasting money at that point.

 

[RoosterTails]

Given the Intel 265K is massively more useful in a wide range of settings other than just gaming and is heavily discounted, you'd be mad to get the 7600X IMO at this stage. 6 cores in 2025 is like 2 cores in 2012. Plenty of games use more than 6 cores and this disparity will only grow. Also as 4K gamer either natively or via FSR it makes little difference what you buy outside maybe X3D.

Still I'd only buy 265K now if the socket wasn't EOL. However, Nova Lake is getting a 4 gen socket, so 465KF looms to be sweet spot in Intel range if you do productivity and gaming. Hell even 445KF will be beastly. Zen6 vs Nova Lake should be a ding -dong battle.

Sure the 265k vs the 7600X. But it's actual competitor is the 9700X