INTEL Core Ultra 265K 7th Generation Processor ( 5.5 GHz / 20 Cores / 20 Threads )

Features of INTEL Core Ultra 265K 7th Generation Processor ( 5.5 GHz / 20 Cores / 20 Threads )

With the INTEL Core Ultra 265K 7th Generation Processor ( 5.5 GHz / 20 Cores / 20 Threads ), Intel is launching a brand-new processor architecture for their desktop lineup. While traditionally, Intel non-mobile CPUs have been monolithic, single-die designs, Arrow Lake changes this completely. The new CPU is made up of four independent silicon "tiles" that come together to form a single processor. This is somewhat similar to AMD's Ryzen approach, but much more complex, because the tiles are so different, each with its own responsibility, while AMD has just the I/O die and the compute tiles. While AMD connects their tiles using Infinity Fabric, Intel leverages their Foveros technology and puts them onto yet another piece of silicon, called "interposer," which allows much higher transfer rates, with more efficiency.

Another major architectural change is that Intel's new microarchitecture does away with Hyper-Threading. In the past, this technology was used to effectively double the processor's thread count, but over time it turned out that it is a major source of security issues. Also, some workloads run better without HT, and there is a die area cost of implementation. Last but certainly not least, the E-Cores have been revamped, too, they now have access to the shared L3 cache and come with a major increase in IPC.

In addition, the naming has been updated to indicate the evolution in Intel's architecture. Instead of Core i9-15700K, the processor in this review is called Core Ultra 7 265K. I'm not sure if that makes any difference for the average Joe on the street who thinks "higher number is better," and enthusiasts will just get used to the new naming, no matter the actual scheme. Today we have not only reviews for the flagship Core Ultra 9 285K, but also for the Core i7-equivalent, the Core Ultra 7 265K (this review), and the Core Ultra 5 245K, which replaces the Core i5 in Intel's lineup.

Specifications of INTEL Core Ultra 265K 7th Generation Processor ( 5.5 GHz / 20 Cores / 20 Threads )