Hey everyone! I'm planning to build a PC later this year (or maybe next year if I get too busy) and I'm considering the Intel Ultra 7-265K chip. I've heard about some instability issues with the 13th and 14th-gen chips. So, I'm wondering if the 265K would be a good buy? I play FPS and AAA games at up to 2K resolution, plus I do some video editing at 4K 60fps 10bit in Premiere Pro. I probably split my time about 60/40 between those two activities. I've seen a lot of posts mentioning that the gaming performance isn't great, so I'm curious—how bad is it really? Does "not great" mean it can't compete with the newer 15th-gen chips like the i5-14600KF or i7-14700KF, or is it just not ideal for gaming at all? If it's not a good pick, what should I be looking at instead?
7 Answers
You can definitely game on it, but note that the performance might lag behind the 14th-gen chips. Have you thought about going with a Ryzen CPU instead? They're pretty competitive, especially if you're using features like Quicksync for encoding.
The 265K is looking like a fantastic deal right now, especially with the discount. The LGA 1700 platform is still decent, and an updated BIOS should resolve most stability issues. Plus, Intel is now a good budget option without sacrificing too much power. Don't let the opinions sway you; focus on what fits your needs best. The 265K even has AV1 encode, which could be important down the line.
I suggest checking out reviews and benchmarks from sites like TechPowerup. The 265K is comparable to the i5-14600K or Ryzen 9900X for 1440p gaming, with only a tiny performance difference—usually under 1%. It's also solid for media encoding. If you're near a Microcenter, they have it priced well, making it a good value. Just keep an eye on the AMD 9700X as a solid alternative, too.
If you want cutting-edge tech and performance for creative work, you might be better off investing in an AM5 platform instead. The 265K is good, but there are better options available for the same money.
For an all-around chip, it's pretty solid—just make sure to pair it with a fast DDR5 kit for optimal performance!
Several factors contribute to the 265K's slower performance, including Intel reducing the speeds connecting the compute tiles—probably to address some bad press about CPU failures. They also removed hyperthreading for security. There are definitely ways to boost its performance through BIOS tweaks, and the new memory controller allows for higher speeds. If you're uncertain about its gaming performance, I'd recommend checking various benchmarks.
It's definitely functional for gaming and decent for video editing, but keep in mind that you're buying into a platform that might require a new motherboard for any future upgrades, which adds to your costs. The 265K's performance is basically on par with the 14600K for productivity tasks, but it doesn't perform as well in gaming. If you're looking for a better balance, the Ryzen 9700X could be a better option since its motherboard support lasts longer.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload