Build Advice Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF vs Ryzen 9 9900X - - which is best for gaming + virtualization ?

[Michelino77]

Hi everyone,
I'm planning a new PC build mainly for gaming (1080p) and virtualization-heavy workloads.

I'm having a hard time deciding between two CPUs:

• Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (or possibly 7900X)

I've received conflicting advice from other forums.
Some people strongly discouraged Intel because of the P-core / E-core hybrid architecture, saying it's not good for virtualization.
Others say that's completely wrong, and even claim the Core Ultra 7 265KF outperforms the Ryzen 9 9900X in both gaming and multi-core tasks.

So now I’m confused and hoping to get more balanced opinions here.

My use case:

• 1080p gaming (high FPS preferred)
• Virtualization: most of times I use Win OS so it's not super light like ubuntu. I tends to use Oracle, and when needed I switch to VMware
• No overclocking
• 64GB DDR5 already purchased

I know both CPUs are great, but I’m looking for the most balanced and future-proof solution for this specific mixed-use workload.

 

[TerryLaze]

saying it's not good for virtualization.

Depends strongly on how you use it, ever since hardware virtualization is a thing a VM is just another app as far as the CPU is concerned, you are supposed to give it access to all cores and let the host OS+VM OS figure it out.

But there are VM cases where you need to partition several of them to have a certain amount of performance and work with each other, there it's much easier to set up when all cores are the same, you give each 2 or 4 or however many you want/have and they all have the same performance.

If you are in the first case then having the CPU with the highest multicore score is going to be the better choice.
And then only if you are even going to use all of the performance.
"Virtualization heavy" is not a thing anymore, not for the CPU, for the ram and disk and so on it can be, if you run 3d rendering or compiling on the VM it will be heavy but only because these apps are heavy.

 

[Michelino77]

Hi all,

I'm building a new system and I've narrowed my PSU choices down to two models that cost the same on Amazon:

1. be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W (BN342)
- Fully modular
- ATX 3.1 / PCIe 5.1 compatible
- Includes native 12V-2x6 cable
- 80 PLUS Gold
- 120mm be quiet! fan (very quiet)
- 10-year warranty

2. Corsair RM750e (2023)
- Fully modular
- ATX 3.1 / PCIe 5.1 compatible
- May or may not include 12V-2x6 cable
- 80 PLUS Gold
- 120mm fan with Zero RPM mode
- 105°C rated capacitors
- 7-year warranty

Both seem like solid options, but I’m not sure which one is better for my setup. Here’s the full build:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5060
MOBO: ASUS Z890-P WiFi
RAM: 64GB DDR5 (Corsair CMK64GX5M2B6000Z30)
SSD: Samsung 990 PRO
Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 Pro
Case: Phanteks XT Pro Ultra
PSU: ??? (this thread!)

Any insights or experiences with either PSU? Would love to hear what you think.

Thanks in advance!

 

[geofelt]

Processors are relatively consistent on a price/performance basis,
If there is a bias that I can see on this forum, it is from gamers and towards the amd X3D versions.

What, exactly is the ram you have already purchased?
Exact part number.
AMD tends to be highly tied to ram for performance and compatibility.

If you go Intel ultra 265K, pick the non F version which includes integrated graphics and quick sync.
The extra cost is a nit in the whole package price but is invaluable if you ever have graphics issues.

 

[logainofhades]

This might be one of the rare cases, where Intel makes more sense.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-ultra-7-265k/16.html

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hey there,

The RMe is an okay PSU. It does have some good aspects to it, but some of the hardware isn't of the best quality, which you would nearly expect in any RM version. This is why the RMe only has 7 year warranty.

I'd prob go with the BeQuiet out of the two of them. Quieter, better performance, and longer warranty.

 

[Michelino77]

Processors are relatively consistent on a price/performance basis,
If there is a bias that I can see on this forum, it is from gamers and towards the amd X3D versions.

What, exactly is the ram you have already purchased?
Exact part number.
AMD tends to be highly tied to ram for performance and compatibility.

If you go Intel ultra 265K, pick the non F version which includes integrated graphics and quick sync.
The extra cost is a nit in the whole package price but is invaluable if you ever have graphics issues.

This might be one of the rare cases, where Intel makes more sense.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-ultra-7-265k/16.html

Thanks both for answers, well, here is the full list of chosen components:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
MOBO: ASUS Z890-P WiFi
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 64GB 6000MT/s (CMK64GX5M2B6000Z30)
SSD: Samsung 990 PRO 1TB
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5060
PSU: be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W (BN342) – ATX 3.1 / PCIe 5.1 compliant
Cooler: Thermalright Frozen Edge 360 Black (currently)
Case: Phanteks XT Pro Ultra (PH-XT523P1_DBK01, black)

So far, everything runs cool and quiet, but I’m considering upgrading the AIO to the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 for €30 more. I’ve read it offers significantly better thermal and acoustic performance, plus the added VRM fan could be useful in longer rendering/gaming sessions.

Only thing is I'm not sure if I have to change the case change too, which adds about €50, so it’s a ~€80 overall upgrade.

Also, I picked the KF version of the CPU because it's at least €25 cheaper than the K model, and since I don’t need integrated graphics, it made no sense to pay more for essentially the same chip.

What do you think guys?

 

[Michelino77]

Hi, I'm about to buy all components, and I wonder if I made all good, total cost is 1400€:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
MOBO: ASUS Z890-P WiFi
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 64GB 6000MT/s (CMK64GX5M2B6000Z30)
SSD: Samsung 990 PRO 1TB
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5060
PSU: be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W (BN342) – ATX 3.1 / PCIe 5.1 compliant
Cooler: Thermalright Frozen Edge 360 Black (currently)
Case: Phanteks XT Pro Ultra (PH-XT523P1_DBK01, black)

So far, everything runs cool and quiet, but I’m considering upgrading the AIO to the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 for €30 more, that wuld be ok. I’ve read it offers significantly better thermal and acoustic performance, plus the added VRM fan could be useful in longer rendering/gaming sessions.

Only thing is I'm not sure if I have to change the case change too, which adds about €50, so it’s a ~€80 overall upgrade, and in this case idk if worth.

Also, I picked the KF version of the CPU because it's at least €25 cheaper than the K model, and since I don’t need integrated graphics, it made no sense to pay more for essentially the same chip.

What do you think guys?

Thanks in advance.

 

[artk2219]

Hi, I'm about to buy all components, and I wonder if I made all good, total cost is 1400€:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
MOBO: ASUS Z890-P WiFi
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 64GB 6000MT/s (CMK64GX5M2B6000Z30)
SSD: Samsung 990 PRO 1TB
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5060
PSU: be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W (BN342) – ATX 3.1 / PCIe 5.1 compliant
Cooler: Thermalright Frozen Edge 360 Black (currently)
Case: Phanteks XT Pro Ultra (PH-XT523P1_DBK01, black)

So far, everything runs cool and quiet, but I’m considering upgrading the AIO to the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 for €30 more, that wuld be ok. I’ve read it offers significantly better thermal and acoustic performance, plus the added VRM fan could be useful in longer rendering/gaming sessions.

Only thing is I'm not sure if I have to change the case change too, which adds about €50, so it’s a ~€80 overall upgrade, and in this case idk if worth.

Also, I picked the KF version of the CPU because it's at least €25 cheaper than the K model, and since I don’t need integrated graphics, it made no sense to pay more for essentially the same chip.

What do you think guys?

Thanks in advance.

What will you mainly be using your computer for? What country are you located in? If you're mainly doing gaming, i recommend a swap over to an RX 9060 XT 16GB. Its faster all around, has double the amount of VRAM so it will last longer, and isnt too much more than the 5060. I would also recommend looking at AM5, it has socket support until 2027. LGA 1851 is already EOL, Intel will likely be moving sockets for their next major release. There will probably be an Arrow Lake refresh, but that will likely be it for LGA 1851.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-radeon-rx-9060-xt-pulse-oc/33.html

 

[Lutfij]

Only thing is I'm not sure if I have to change the case change too, which adds about €50, so it’s a ~€80 overall upgrade, and in this case idk if worth.
https://pcpartpicker.com/builds/by_part/BXtLrH#c=360
You don't need to change the case, from what I'm seeing in the gallery linked above for users who have decided with the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 AIO.

As for your build, users are advised to stylize their thread with info asked of in this thread;

*How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice*

How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice First off, respect where respect is due - this is an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* Sticky. I created this because there's a lot of posts nowadays asking for upgrade advice both on here and on the CPU forums, and I feel...

forums.tomshardware.com

and the community will chime in with worthwhile suggestions. Yes all questions asked in the thread linked above are relevant to your predicament.

 

[ilukey77]

i would throw my money at AM5 personally just because the core ultra is a dead ish platform ( in the sense next gen is socket change in true Intel style ) where as AMD still has another gen in it AM5 platform !!

 

[geofelt]

Some thoughts:
€25 is negligible considering the cost of 1400€.
If you ever have a gpu issue or failure, integrated graphics can keep you going.
It actually saved me from a PSU failure.
How, you might ask?
My psu failed and I had a low power 550w replacement handy but it would not power the gpu.
But, it did run integrated graphics and surprisingly well.
As a plus, integrated graphics gets you quick sync.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video

On the psu, I suggest you look at a much stronger psu.
The price delta from a 650w to a 750w 0r 850w psu is usually not that great.
Modern graphics cards can have very high power spikes and a stronger psu can handle them better.
Your cpu is very capable. The most common pc upgrade is to a stronger graphics card that may need more power capability.
A strong psu will only use the power demanded of it, regardless of the max capability.
It will operate in the more efficient middle third of it's range and be quieter while doing so.
Look for a quality psu with a 10 year warranty.

Your case is an excellent one for air cooling. Three front 140mm intakes will supply all the cooling airflow that a cpu or gpu could want.
The Ultra processors are very efficient and do not require excessive cooling.
I hope you are not planning on ultra high overclocking where that would be needed.
Your cpu cooling needs can be handled by a good twin tower air cooler like the peerless assassin or the Noctua NH-D15 coolers. The noctuas are particularly quiet with 1500 RPM max speeds.

And, aio coolers do not last forever.
The mechanical pump will fail or air will intrude.
Plan on perhaps 5 years before replacement.

 

[Michelino77]

Thanks all for replies, well:

What will you mainly be using your computer for? What country are you located in? If you're mainly doing gaming, i recommend a swap over to an RX 9060 XT 16GB. Its faster all around, has double the amount of VRAM so it will last longer, and isnt too much more than the 5060. I would also recommend looking at AM5, it has socket support until 2027. LGA 1851 is already EOL, Intel will likely be moving sockets for their next major release. There will probably be an Arrow Lake refresh, but that will likely be it for LGA 1851.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-radeon-rx-9060-xt-pulse-oc/33.html

My usage is quite varied. I won’t be doing heavy gaming, and I’ll stick to Full HD resolution, I’m not really interested in going higher.
The most demanding tasks will be virtualization, usually just one Windows VM at a time, and sometimes I might keep it running in the background while gaming.
Also, to answer your question: I’m located in Italy.

Only thing is I'm not sure if I have to change the case change too, which adds about €50, so it’s a ~€80 overall upgrade, and in this case idk if worth.
https://pcpartpicker.com/builds/by_part/BXtLrH#c=360
You don't need to change the case, from what I'm seeing in the gallery linked above for users who have decided with the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 AIO.

As for your build, users are advised to stylize their thread with info asked of in this thread;

*How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice*

How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice First off, respect where respect is due - this is an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* Sticky. I created this because there's a lot of posts nowadays asking for upgrade advice both on here and on the CPU forums, and I feel...

forums.tomshardware.com

and the community will chime in with worthwhile suggestions. Yes all questions asked in the thread linked above are relevant to your predicament.

In another forum, I was told that the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 might not be a good fit for the Phanteks XT Pro Ultra. Apparently, its 63 mm radiator thickness could cause clearance issues if mounted on the top, especially with the motherboard.

They mentioned that while the Arctic is definitely more powerful and quieter, it really needs a case with more top space or specific mounting options like side mounting (as in the NZXT H6 Flow) or roomier top clearance (as in the H7 Flow).

With the Phanteks, the only way to fit it would be front-mounted, but they advised against that setup for airflow reasons.

So I’m a bit hesitant now, and honestly, if the thermal difference between the two coolers isn’t dramatic, I might just stick with the Thermalright.

i would throw my money at AM5 personally just because the core ultra is a dead ish platform ( in the sense next gen is socket change in true Intel style ) where as AMD still has another gen in it AM5 platform !!

Funny enough, I was originally considering a Ryzen 9 9900X, but then I learned the Core Ultra 7 265KF is actually significantly more powerful, and also around €100 cheaper (maybe even more).
That’s why I went with Intel in the end.

Some thoughts:
€25 is negligible considering the cost of 1400€.
If you ever have a gpu issue or failure, integrated graphics can keep you going.
It actually saved me from a PSU failure.
How, you might ask?
My psu failed and I had a low power 550w replacement handy but it would not power the gpu.
But, it did run integrated graphics and surprisingly well.
As a plus, integrated graphics gets you quick sync.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video

On the psu, I suggest you look at a much stronger psu.
The price delta from a 650w to a 750w 0r 850w psu is usually not that great.
Modern graphics cards can have very high power spikes and a stronger psu can handle them better.
Your cpu is very capable. The most common pc upgrade is to a stronger graphics card that may need more power capability.
A strong psu will only use the power demanded of it, regardless of the max capability.
It will operate in the more efficient middle third of it's range and be quieter while doing so.
Look for a quality psu with a 10 year warranty.

Your case is an excellent one for air cooling. Three front 140mm intakes will supply all the cooling airflow that a cpu or gpu could want.
The Ultra processors are very efficient and do not require excessive cooling.
I hope you are not planning on ultra high overclocking where that would be needed.
Your cpu cooling needs can be handled by a good twin tower air cooler like the peerless assassin or the Noctua NH-D15 coolers. The noctuas are particularly quiet with 1500 RPM max speeds.

And, aio coolers do not last forever.
The mechanical pump will fail or air will intrude.
Plan on perhaps 5 years before replacement.

Is there any good PSU calculator you’d recommend?
The person who helped me build the system told me that 650 W is actually more than enough for this setup, even with some headroom.
Also, I won’t be doing any overclocking at all.

Regarding AIOs, what exactly did you mean by “plan for 5 years before replacement”?
Do they just stop working after 4–5 years? How would I notice it?
And when that happens, do I have to replace the whole cooler entirely?

 

[thestryker]

Regarding AIOs, what exactly did you mean by “plan for 5 years before replacement”?
Do they just stop working after 4–5 years? How would I notice it?
And when that happens, do I have to replace the whole cooler entirely?

Most AIOs are carrying 5 or 6 year warranties now so they're going to generally last that long. There's no guarantee when/if one will stop working (anecdotally I have a first generation Cooler Master still working 9 years later).

The failure point is typically going to be the pump or clogs neither one of which can end users really do anything about. In the case of the former the CPU will overheat very quickly and there would be reduced performance with the latter would be more gradual increasing temperatures over time.

When it fails the whole unit has to be replaced. If you happen to have just the fans fail (this happened to me on my CM AIO) those can just be replaced by themselves.

As I see it there are really only handful of reasons to get an AIO over good air cooler:

• using a high power consumption video card and want to remove additional heat from around it and lower the amount of video card heat the CPU cooler absorbs
• have a high power consumption CPU and want maximum performance over a long period of time
• using a case designed for it (typically SFF)
• prefer how it looks

 

[geofelt]

In addition to pump failure, ( it is a mechanical device) the pump can get clogged.
Also, the flexible tubes will eventually let air permeate through the tubes.
Most aio coolers can't be repaired and need to be replaced.

As to a psu calculators, they are,deadly accurate.
IF... you know the inputs.
What factor for capacitor ageing.
What peaks might the gpu or cpu reach?
What is your future needs?

Since overprovisioning a psu only costs for the extra capacity, there is no operational downside.
In fact, you save a bit from operating in the efficient range, and it will be quieter.

AIO cooling is really air cooling.
The difference is where the radiator heat exchange takes place.
The cooling potential is related to the volume of the radiator fins, regardless of where the fins are located.
A twin tower air cooler is about the same cooling capacity as a 240 aio.

 

[Michelino77]

In addition to pump failure, ( it is a mechanical device) the pump can get clogged.
Also, the flexible tubes will eventually let air permeate through the tubes.
Most aio coolers can't be repaired and need to be replaced.

As to a psu calculators, they are,deadly accurate.
IF... you know the inputs.
What factor for capacitor ageing.
What peaks might the gpu or cpu reach?
What is your future needs?

Since overprovisioning a psu only costs for the extra capacity, there is no operational downside.
In fact, you save a bit from operating in the efficient range, and it will be quieter.

AIO cooling is really air cooling.
The difference is where the radiator heat exchange takes place.
The cooling potential is related to the volume of the radiator fins, regardless of where the fins are located.
A twin tower air cooler is about the same cooling capacity as a 240 aio.

In addition to pump failure, ( it is a mechanical device) the pump can get clogged.
Also, the flexible tubes will eventually let air permeate through the tubes.
Most aio coolers can't be repaired and need to be replaced.

As to a psu calculators, they are,deadly accurate.
IF... you know the inputs.
What factor for capacitor ageing.
What peaks might the gpu or cpu reach?
What is your future needs?

Since overprovisioning a psu only costs for the extra capacity, there is no operational downside.
In fact, you save a bit from operating in the efficient range, and it will be quieter.

AIO cooling is really air cooling.
The difference is where the radiator heat exchange takes place.
The cooling potential is related to the volume of the radiator fins, regardless of where the fins are located.
A twin tower air cooler is about the same cooling capacity as a 240 aio.

Thanks for the detailed replies, very helpful!

At this point, I'm wondering what the real difference is between:

• a good dual-tower air cooler
• the Thermalright Frozen Edge 360 Black
• the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360

My logic is this: if the difference between the two AIOs is not huge, I would stick with the Thermalright. But if the Thermalright itself doesn’t offer much improvement over a solid air cooler, maybe air cooling would be the better long-term option?

My PC will be running 24/7, so if that puts more wear on the AIO’s pump or increases the risk of long-term failure, then it might not be worth it for me in the first place.

Any thoughts on this comparison?

 

[thestryker]

At this point, I'm wondering what the real difference is between

For me the determination point would be how often is the CPU going to be running 100% usage (~250W). If it's going to be all the time then the Arctic AIO is the way to go as any 360 radiator is going to have more thermal capacity than a dual tower air cooler, but the Arctic one being thicker has even more than usual. Outside of that since you're not planning on getting a high power consumption video card I think a dual tower air cooler would be a better choice for a 24/7 system.

 

[Michelino77]

For me the determination point would be how often is the CPU going to be running 100% usage (~250W). If it's going to be all the time then the Arctic AIO is the way to go as any 360 radiator is going to have more thermal capacity than a dual tower air cooler, but the Arctic one being thicker has even more than usual. Outside of that since you're not planning on getting a high power consumption video card I think a dual tower air cooler would be a better choice for a 24/7 system.

I've just ordered everything, and I decided to go with the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 in the end. Worst case, I'll just replace it down the line if needed.

My only remaining concern is the installation in the case I chose (Phanteks XT Pro Ultra), since some forums say it’s not compatible, while others, including this one, suggest it is.
I guess I’ll just have to wait and see when everything arrives.

 

[thestryker]

My only remaining concern is the installation in the case I chose (Phanteks XT Pro Ultra), since some forums say it’s not compatible, while others, including this one, suggest it is.
I guess I’ll just have to wait and see when everything arrives.

According to the official specifications it will not fit in that case. Top radiator limited to 60mm and the Arctic is 63mm. It does appear to be offset so it may end up just depending on how the motherboard VRM heatsinks are.

 

[Michelino77]

According to the official specifications it will not fit in that case. Top radiator limited to 60mm and the Arctic is 63mm. It does appear to be offset so it may end up just depending on how the motherboard VRM heatsinks are.

Thanks!

If the Arctic doesn’t fit properly, it would be a big problem :/ and I see a few possible options:
- Switch to an air cooler
- Choose a different case
- Try to install this AIO in the current case anyway

Q1: If I change the case to something like the NZXT H7, that adds around €75 to the build just to make the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro work instead of using the Thermalright Frozen Edge 360 Black or even a solid air cooler. So first of all, is that extra cost even worth it?

Q2: What air cooler would you recommend as a first alternative, in case I go that route?

Q3: Do you know of any other cases that could work well with a 360 AIO and have good airflow and clearance, possibly not much large, or giant in general?

Q4: Would it be worth at least trying to fit the Arctic in my current case (Phanteks XT Pro Ultra), or is that just asking for trouble?

I’m not planning to overclock, and my CPU is a Core Ultra 7 265KF. The system will run 24/7, but I’m honestly not sure how often the CPU will be fully stressed. So overall, I’m looking for something quiet, reliable, and capable of handling sustained loads without issue.

 

[thestryker]

Spending a lot more on a case just so you don't have to use a different AIO is absolutely not worth it. Personally I wouldn't try to install the Arctic cooler in that case, but you're not going to hurt anything by trying it so long as you don't try to jam anything in. If you're set on that case and an AIO just go with the Thermalright one.

Which air cooler to get is going to vary by regional availability. The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 that I have is plenty for the 265K, but availability isn't as good as it was and prices may be up if it's available. There are some good models from id-cooling (some of the A620 models) and and potentially Deepcool.

I'd suggest the Lian-li LANCOOL 207 as a case alternative, but the PSU you listed is a bit on the big side for how that case mounts them so I'm not sure how good of an experience it would be. The LANCOOL 216 may be an option depending on prices. A lot of the more budget oriented cases are going to have issues with the Arctic AIOs to where motherboard and DRAM clearances make or break it.

 

[TerryLaze]

I’m not planning to overclock, and my CPU is a Core Ultra 7 265KF. The system will run 24/7, but I’m honestly not sure how often the CPU will be fully stressed. So overall, I’m looking for something quiet, reliable, and capable of handling sustained loads without issue.

A lot of mobos do automatic overclocking, you will have to check the settings after you get it to make sure of what the mobo is running.

Even if you fully stress the CPU (running 3d render or something equally heavy) in the worst case the CPU will thermal throttle to the maximum the cooler can handle, even if the cooler can only cool 200W the difference will be too small to notice with any normal means, only benchmarks would show you any difference and that would be a very small one.
You can see from the pic that the line doesn't even go all the way up to 250W even for the 285.

The reason many people insist on high cooling is just so they don't see their CPU at high temps.

Also the base TDP that intel gives us is the most efficient point for the CPUs , you can see that from 100 to ~125W the performance is basically a straight line, that's the range you want to stay in for the best efficiency.
https://www.computerbase.de/artikel...-ultra-200s-285k-265k-245k-test.90019/seite-5