The 7800x3D or the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K? Which do you choose with 10 Games Tested!

The video compares two high-performance CPUs: the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a long-standing favorite for gaming, and the newly released Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, designed for a balance of gaming and content creation. While the Ryzen 7 7800X3D excels in gaming, especially at 1080p and 1440p, often outperforming the Core Ultra 7 265K by significant margins in certain titles, the Intel chip shows promise in multicore performance and offers a new architecture inspired by mobile chips. The Core Ultra 7 265K also boasts integrated Arc XE graphics and an MPU for AI-related tasks, potentially offloading work from the GPU.

Currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is priced just under $480, while the Core Ultra 7 265K is listed at $410, with its KF variant at $399, presenting a notable $70 price difference. Power efficiency favors the Ryzen chip, which draws significantly less power under load while maintaining competitive thermal performance. However, the Core Ultra 7 265K's new architecture and multi-tile design aim for improved power efficiency compared to previous generations, despite higher power draw in some benchmarks.

For those prioritizing gaming performance above all else, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D remains a solid choice with a mature platform and a clear upgrade path. However, for users who require strong multi-core capabilities for tasks beyond gaming, or who are keen on exploring AI integration, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K presents a compelling, albeit newer, option. The video emphasizes that the landscape is still evolving, with potential price adjustments and performance optimizations expected as the new platform matures.

• The video compares the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K for gamers and content creators.
• The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is highlighted for its gaming dominance, especially at lower resolutions, while the Core Ultra 7 265K offers stronger multicore performance and integrated AI capabilities.
• Pricing shows the Ryzen 7 7800X3D around $480, and the Core Ultra 7 265K at $410 ($399 for KF variant), creating a $70 difference.
• Power efficiency favors the Ryzen chip, drawing less power, though the Core Ultra 7 265K's new architecture aims for better efficiency than its predecessors.
• The recommendation is to wait for the Core Ultra 7 to mature or for future AMD releases unless an immediate purchase is necessary; the 7800X3D is best for pure gaming, while the 265K suits mixed workloads.

Related Video Summary

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• Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 285K, 245K, 7800X3D, 7900X, & More

CPU Landscape: Ryzen vs. Intel Core Ultra [00:00]

• Two primary CPUs capturing attention for gamers and content creators are the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, long considered the king of gaming, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 (specifically the 265K).
• The release of new Intel Core Ultra 200 series desktop processors prompts a comparison to help users make informed decisions.
• The competition is framed as potentially "ugly" with the new chips, acknowledging that the landscape will continue to evolve.
• It's noted that definitive reviews are premature as the market for these new chips is still settling.

The dust needs to settle a bit and that's just going to take some time.

CPU Features and Positioning [01:07]

• The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is recognized for its success, driven by its 3D V-Cache and gaming dominance.
• The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is presented as Intel's new offering for multitaskers, gamers, streamers, and clip makers who do more than just game.
• It's acknowledged that AMD has teased its next generation of X3D processors and has increased the price of the 7800X3D to just under $480, which is a hike from its previous sub-$400 pricing.
• The Core Ultra 7 265K is listed for $410, with its KF variant at $399, indicating a significant price delta of $70.
• The 7800X3D has been available for over a year, while the 265K is a very new release, suggesting potential price shifts as the market adjusts.

We're only going to talk about what we know for certain here.

Intel Core Ultra 265K Architecture and Design [03:01]

• The Intel Core Ultra 200 series, including the 265K, features a completely new architecture inspired by Intel's mobile chips.
• The goal is to maintain or improve 14th Gen performance while reducing power consumption.
• Intel has scaled its multi-tile design, previously used in Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake mobile CPUs, to the desktop platform, leading to the "Core Ultra" branding.
• This update includes an improved integrated GPU with Arc XE Graphics cores and the addition of an MPU architecture for AI-related processes.
• In contrast, the 7800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread CPU focused on speed and power with 3D V-Cache, but it has limitations concerning heat.

Intel took their multi-tile design used in Meteor Lake and the new Lunar Lake Mobile CPUs and scaled it up to the desktop hence the name shift from Intel Core to Intel Core Ultra.

Performance Benchmarks: Cinebench and Puget Bench [05:01]

• In Cinebench single-core performance, the 7800X3D significantly outperformed the 265K, with the latter falling about 10% behind.
• For multicore performance in Cinebench, the 265K showed a substantial 91% lead over the 7800X3D.
• Power efficiency under load (in Cinebench) showed the 7800X3D averaging 77°C and drawing just under 86 Watts, while the 265K ran at 73°C and drew over 179 Watts.
• The 265K drew about 57 Watts less power, ran 2°C cooler, and achieved a higher multicore score than a 14700K, indicating about twice the multicore performance.
• In Puget Bench for Adobe Premiere, the 265K scored about 2% higher, but in Photoshop, it fell about 20% behind the 7800X3D. This was surprising given the 7800X3D's historical gaming focus.

what's also crazy here is the 265 K drew about 57 Watts less ran 2° cooler and had a higher multi-core cinch score than a 14700 K.

Gaming Performance: 1080p, 1440p, and 4K [07:09]

• At 1080p, the 7800X3D demonstrated a clear advantage, with the 265K struggling to keep up. In Space Marine 2, the 265K fell 40% behind the 7800X3D, and across a gauntlet of games, it was an average of 16% shy.
• At 1440p, the performance gap narrowed slightly, but the 7800X3D still held a lead, with the 265K falling just over 14% behind on average. The Core Ultra 7 showed strength in Call of Duty competitive settings.
• At 4K, the CPU's impact diminishes, but differences remain. The 7800X3D's lead narrowed substantially in games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Notably, the 265K achieved a 26% lead in Starfield and a 17.7% lead in competitive Call of Duty at 4K. In Space Marine 2, the 7800X3D still outperformed the 265K. Averaged across all tested games at 4K, the 265K trailed the 7800X3D by about 7%.

at 1080p we see a more CPU dependent story than at other resolutions and where we're going to see the biggest impact of 3D vcash.

Future Outlook and Buying Advice [09:09]

• It's stressed that all Intel numbers are day-one figures and subject to change with software and BIOS updates, similar to the Ryzen 9000 series launch.
• The advice is to wait if possible, to see how the Core Ultra platform matures and how AMD's next X3D CPUs will impact the market.
• If a decision must be made today and gaming is the priority, the 7800X3D is recommended for its unflinching gaming performance and the established AM5 socket's upgrade path.
• For those needing strong multicore performance for content creation, coding, or AI integration, the Core Ultra 7 appears to be a better choice, though its upgrade path (LGA 1851 socket) is unknown.
• Current motherboard options for the 265K are limited to more expensive Z890 boards, which are considered an early adopter tax.

unless you absolutely have to decide today based on this video alone wait to see how core Ultra matures and to see what's going to be happening with Andy's next generation of x3d CPUs.

Core Ultra 7 265K: Pros and Cons and Closing Thoughts [11:16]

• Pros: The Core Ultra 7 265K offers competitive pricing for an enthusiast-level CPU, runs cooler than the 7800X3D during gaming (13°C difference) while drawing only slightly more power (4 Watts average more), making it suitable for small form-factor builds. The Z890 platform supports Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4/5, and PCIe Gen 5. The integrated MPU allows for offloading AI tasks like background removal from the GPU, beneficial for streamers.
• Cons: The upgrade path for the LGA 1851 socket is uncertain, and current motherboard options are limited to more expensive Z890 boards.
• Closing Thoughts: For immediate gaming needs, the 7800X3D is the choice. For strong multicore performance and AI integration now, the Core Ultra 7 is preferable, with the understanding of its unknowns. Waiting for future market shifts, sales, and updates is advised for those not needing an immediate purchase. Ultimately, users should assess their specific needs.

basically if a build that you use a 7800 X 3D worked well the this will also work for the 265k and that was never a thing with a 13700 K or the 14700 k.