Core Ultra 5 250K Plus against Core Ultra 7 265K
Core Ultra 7 265K leads on the overall index. Typical prices, not live ones.
The verdict
- The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus leads in games by 4%.
- The Core Ultra 7 265K has 21% more all-core throughput for renders, compiles and exports.
- The Core Ultra 7 265K is 3% quicker in single-threaded work, which is most of what a desktop does.
- The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus typically costs $74 less.
- Per dollar, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the better buy: 37.1 points per $100 against 29.2.
Head to head
| Measure | Core Ultra 5 250K Plus | Core Ultra 7 265K | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spec score | 78 | 83 | 5 ptsright |
| Gaming | 73 | 70 | 3 ptsleft |
| Multi-core | 70 | 85 | 15 ptsright |
| Single-core | 94 | 97 | 3 ptsright |
| Value, points per $100 | 37.1 | 29.2 | 27%left |
| Typical price | $210 | $284 | $74left |
| Cores | 18 | 20 | 11%right |
| Threads | 18 | 20 | 11%right |
| Boost clock | 5.3 GHz | 5.5 GHz | 4%right |
| Turbo power | 159 W | 250 W | 57%left |
Which one for what
| Use | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Office & everyday | Core Ultra 7 265K | 85 vs 91 on the office & everyday blend. |
| Coding & development | Core Ultra 7 265K | 81 vs 89 on the coding & development blend. |
| Light gaming | Either | Within 1 points; buy on price. |
| Gaming | Either | Within 0 points; buy on price. |
| Heavy gaming | Either | Within 0 points; buy on price. |
| Content creation | Core Ultra 7 265K | 77 vs 85 on the content creation blend. |
| 3D & rendering | Core Ultra 7 265K | 75 vs 86 on the 3d & rendering blend. |
| Gaming & streaming | Core Ultra 7 265K | 76 vs 81 on the gaming & streaming blend. |
| AI & local models | Core Ultra 7 265K | 78 vs 87 on the ai & local models blend. |
Specifications
| Spec | Core Ultra 5 250K Plus | Core Ultra 7 265K |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Arrow Lake Refresh | Arrow Lake |
| Socket | LGA1851 | LGA1851 |
| Cores / threads | 18 / 18 | 20 / 20 |
| Base clock | 4.2 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.3 GHz | 5.5 GHz |
| TDP / turbo power | 125 / 159 W | 125 / 159 W |
| Memory | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Built-in graphics | Yes | Yes |
| Cooler in the box | No | No |
| Brand | Intel | Intel |
| Released | 2026 | 2024 |
| Typical price | $210 | $284 |