I'm trying to decide between the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and 265 processors mainly for Plex transcodes (I might do 2 simultaneous 4K HDR streams) and some occasional gaming. The 265K is currently on sale for €250, while the 265 is priced at €350. My setup will run 24/7 with a Phantom Spirit 120 cooler and a Corsair SF750 PSU in a Jonsbo D32 Pro Mesh micro ATX case. Eventually, I might add an Arc B50. Will they have similar power consumption and temperatures when idle? How do they compare in terms of consumption and temperatures during transcoding and gaming?
4 Answers
Here's a breakdown for both:
- **265K:** Base Clock: P-cores at 3.9 GHz, E-cores at 3.3 GHz. Turbo up to 5.5 GHz, TDP of 125W (max 250W). Unlocked for overclocking.
- **265:** Base Clock: P-cores at 2.4 GHz, E-cores at 1.8 GHz. Turbo up to 5.2 GHz, TDP of 65W (max 182W). No overclock.
You need to decide if the €100 extra for the K version is worth it for your needs.
I'd go for the 265K. It's surprising that it's cheaper by €100, especially considering its performance. When it comes to efficiency, the 265K really outperforms the 9900X, which is one of its closest competitors. Definitely worth it if you can snag it at that price!
The K version is unlocked, which makes it tempting for overclocking, but for Plex transcoding and occasional gaming, you might not need that power. The K can pull 250W easily, which could be tricky for your cooler to handle unless you're comfortable managing the heat. That said, it's odd that the K is cheaper — just remember it's a power-hungry chip either way!
Do you think it can maintain 250W while handling Plex and casual gaming?
Just keep in mind that Arrow Lake can be more efficient than the competition in many scenarios.
Go for the 12600K if you can! At a €100 discount, it's a great deal. The non-K version lacks E-cores and has less L3 cache. Both have low idle consumption, but the K version will handle transcoding better due to those additional cores. For gaming as well, it performs faster. The price difference gives the K version a clear edge!
I considered the 12600K but couldn’t find a micro ATX board with enough SATA and NVMe ports, so I’m stuck between the 265K and 265 for now.
Keep in mind that both have the same number of cores, with 8 P-cores and 12 E-cores.
Since the 265K is cheaper now, I’m leaning that way, especially if I can limit its power consumption to match the 265.