Intel Core i7-8700 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF

The Intel Core i7-8700 (Coffee Lake S), manufactured using the 14 nm process, was designed with 6 cores and 12 threads for mainstream users and gamers of its time.

It offered solid performance for everyday tasks and older games, supported by PCIe 3.0 and 43 GB/s memory bandwidth. Its integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 allowed operation without a dedicated graphics card. The cache structure includes 0 MB L2 cache and 12 MB L3 cache. In comparison, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (Arrow Lake), produced using the state-of-the-art 3 nm process, is a significantly newer and more advanced high-end solution with a hybrid architecture and a much higher core count, designed for enthusiasts and professional content creators.

As a KF model, it requires a separate graphics card, but offers PCIe 5.0 and a maximum memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s, as well as 36 MB L2 cache and 30 MB L3 cache. In terms of single-core and multi-core performance, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF significantly surpasses the Intel Core i7-8700, making it superior for demanding applications and modern games.

For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF provides a noticeably better experience thanks to its architecture, larger cache, and faster interfaces. The Intel Core i7-8700 is still sufficient for older games but quickly reaches its limits with modern titles. While the Intel Core i7-8700 is very affordable on the used market today and offers good value for basic applications, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF stands out with maximum efficiency per watt and future-proof performance, even if its maximum power consumption can be higher.

The Intel Core i7-8700 is suitable for budget systems, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is for uncompromising top performance.