Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Intel - Core i5-14600K | Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 125 W | 65 W |
| Cores | 14 | 20 |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 24300 | 33800 |
| L3 cache | 24 MB | 30 MB |
Between the Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 7 265, the Core i5-14600K comes out ahead in several specs, while the Core Ultra 7 265 wins on tdp / cores. Overall, the Core i5-14600K scores 52.1 and the Core Ultra 7 265 scores 56.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Core Ultra 7 265 edges ahead on the Mars Score (52.1 vs 56.2), but the 4.1-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
The Core i5-14600K does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the Core Ultra 7 265 if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are tdp, cores, cinebench r23 (multi), among others. The single most decisive one: TDP — 60.00 W less. 65 vs 125.
Both ship with comparable boost clock, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Intel - Core i5-14600K or Intel - Core Ultra 7 265?
Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 leads the current Mars Score by 4.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare cores, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Intel - Core i5-14600K if…
Intel - Core i5-14600K does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 if…
Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 has the measurable edge on tdp w, core count, cinebench r23 multi.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Intel - Core i5-14600K wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 wins
- ▲TDP — 60.00 W less. 65 vs 125.
- ▲Cores — 42.86% more. 20 vs 14.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 39.09% more. 33800 vs 24300.
- ▲L3 cache — 25.00% more. 30 MB vs 24 MB.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Intel - Core i5-14600K | Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 14 | 20lead |
| Threadsⓘ | 20 | 20 |
| Base clockⓘ | 3.5 GHzlead | 2.4 GHz |
| Boost clockⓘ | 5.3 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 24 MB | 30 MBlead |
Platform
| Spec | Intel - Core i5-14600K | Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | LGA1700 | LGA1851 |
| TDPⓘ | 125 W | 65 Wlead |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Intel - Core i5-14600K | Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 24300 | 33800lead |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2030 | 2120lead |