Core Ultra 7 265U vs Core i9-9900KF
Core Ultra 7 265U
Core i9-9900KF
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 265U
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9900KF
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 265U | Core i9-9900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-U (2025) / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 265U | Core i9-9900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 7 265U and Core i9-9900KF
Core Ultra 7 265U
The Core Ultra 7 265U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,900 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i9-9900KF
The Core i9-9900KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 18,029 points. Launch price was $488.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 7 265U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Core i9-9900KF offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 7 265U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 265U versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900KF — a 5.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 265U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 265U uses the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Core i9-9900KF uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 265U scores 17,900 against the Core i9-9900KF's 18,029 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i9-9900KF. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Core Ultra 7 265U vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900KF.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 265U | Core i9-9900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+50% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 5.3 GHz+6% | 5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB | 16 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake-U (2025) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 17,900 | 18,029 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,812 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,720 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,150 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 7 265U uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-9900KF uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 265U | Core i9-9900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core Ultra 7 265U) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9900KF). Primary use case: Core i9-9900KF targets Gaming.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 265U | Core i9-9900KF |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core Ultra 7 265U and Core i9-9900KF
