Core Ultra 7 265KF: The first current Core 7 under 300 euros since 2019
Intel is lowering the recommended prices of two Core Ultra 7s. It has been many years since a processor from the current 7 series has been this cheap.
(Image: c't)
The recommended prices of the Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 7 265KF have fallen by 100 US dollars each. Intel now recommends 299 US dollars for the normal K model with integrated graphics unit and 284 US dollars for the F version without GPU. Both processors belong to the Arrow Lake family and run on LGA1851 mainboards.
Intel traditionally does not quote European RRP prices. Including 19 percent VAT (not included in US prices), the new recommendations correspond to just under 315 and 300 euros respectively. The first German retailers have already implemented the price reductions.
Unusually cheap
The Core Ultra 7 265KF (starting from 264 €) is thus the first current 7-series processor for less than 300 euros since the Core i7-9700F from 2019. After that, Core i7 models only fell below the 300 mark when a successor was released. The Core Ultra 7 265K (starting from 275,50 €) is slightly more expensive.
The last current overclockable Core i7 (with K suffix) for under 300 euros was the Core i7-7700K from 2017. It was Intel's last Core i7 with only four CPU cores. The core race with AMD then began, accompanied by rising prices.
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Overclockable Core Ultra 5 almost obsolete
The selective price reductions have led to a curious market structure. The Core Ultra 7 265KF is now just as expensive as the Core Ultra 5 245K (starting from 186,90 €). If you want an integrated GPU, it's better to go for the Core Ultra 7 265K than the 245K. For less than 20 euros extra, users get six more CPU cores (two performance and four efficiency cores). Only the 245KF without GPU (starting from 169 €) is a good deal cheaper.
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Intel's top desktop model, the Core Ultra 9 285K (starting from 460 €), costs almost twice as much as the 265K. It is therefore only of interest when maximum performance is required. It has four more efficiency cores and clocks slightly higher than the 7 series models.
AMD currently offers the Ryzen 7 7700X (starting from 219,47 €) and Ryzen 5 7600X3D (starting from 239 €) for the current AM5 platform for less than 300 euros. The newer Ryzen 7 9700X (starting from 269 €) is slightly higher. The popular Ryzen 7 9800X3D (starting from 435,22 €) has recently fallen below the 500 euro mark.
(mma)
