Intel Core 7 251E vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF Comparison

The database records a pair of Intel desktop processors from different platform generations: the Intel Core 7 251E, a 24-core Bartlett Lake chip on Intel Socket 1700, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, a 20-core Arrow Lake-S chip on Intel Socket 1851. The recorded data is asymmetric. The 265KF carries a full benchmark suite, an average benchmark score of 71910, and a 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The 251E has no recorded benchmark scores, an average benchmark score of 0, and a 50th percentile ranking. That imbalance affects every comparison drawn from the record.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head scores cannot be computed because the Core 7 251E has 0 benchmark entries in the database. The Core Ultra 7 265KF therefore accounts for all measured performance data. Its multicore results are substantial: 49736 in Cinebench R23 multicore, 20889 in Cinebench R20 multicore, 5013 in Cinebench R15 multicore, and 22913 in Geekbench multicore. Passmark multithread score is 58518, with 189431 in floating point math and 143351 in integer math.

Single-thread results for the 265KF are similarly well documented: 7021 in Cinebench R23 singlecore, 2948 in Cinebench R20 singlecore, 707 in Cinebench R15 singlecore, 2759 in Geekbench singlecore, and 4928 in Passmark single-thread. The remaining Passmark scores include 666589 for data compression, 48198 for data encryption, 54513 for extended instructions, 486 for find prime numbers, 79735 for random string sorting, and 3633 for physics.

Positioned against its nearest recorded rivals, the 265KF's 71910 average benchmark score is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270. It trails the Intel Xeon 6517P by 0.6% and the Intel Xeon 6724P by 0.7%. The largest recorded margin among these four rivals is 0.8%: the 265KF is 0.8% ahead of the Xeon Platinum 8270 and 0.7% behind the Xeon 6724P.

Architecture Differences

The two chips differ at the silicon level. The 251E is built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, with a die size of 257 mm² and no recorded transistor count. The 265KF uses TSMC's 3 nm process, integrates 17,800 million transistors, and measures 243 mm². That process advantage does not translate into a core-count advantage: the 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the 265KF has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Clock behavior splits across base and boost frequencies. The 265KF has the higher base clock at 3.90 GHz, versus 2.10 GHz for the 251E. The 251E has the higher boost clock at 5.60 GHz, versus 5.50 GHz for the 265KF. The 251E also carries a 65 W TDP, while the 265KF is rated at 125 W.

Cache hierarchies differ. The 251E provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3. The 265KF provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 30 MB of shared L3. The 251E therefore has the larger L3 pool; the 265KF has the larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

Memory and I/O features reinforce the platform split. The 251E supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is enabled. The 265KF supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. PCIe connectivity favors the 265KF with 20 Gen 5 CPU lanes versus 16 on the 251E. Integrated graphics are present on the 251E as UHD Graphics 770, while the 265KF lists N/A.

Socket and release timing complete the architectural picture. The 251E uses Intel Socket 1700 and was released on 2025-01-12; the 265KF uses Intel Socket 1851 and was released on 2024-10-23. The 265KF has an unlocked multiplier; the 251E does not.

The Verdict

Every measured performance result in this comparison belongs to the Core Ultra 7 265KF. Its average benchmark score of 71910 and 94th percentile ranking give it a fully documented performance profile. The Core 7 251E has no benchmark scores, an average benchmark score of 0, and a 50th percentile ranking. On benchmark evidence alone, the 265KF is the only processor in this pairing whose application performance can be verified.

The 251E does hold feature advantages that the benchmark table cannot capture. It offers ECC memory, DDR4 compatibility, integrated UHD Graphics 770, 24 cores with 32 threads, a 5.60 GHz boost clock, 36 MB of shared L3 cache, and a 65 W TDP. The 265KF counters with a 3 nm TSMC process, an unlocked multiplier, 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, and a 3.90 GHz base clock.

The database points to a clean split. For measured performance, the 265KF is the only candidate with recorded scores. For platform features such as ECC, DDR4, or integrated graphics, the 251E is the only candidate that lists them. No benchmark data exists to rank the 251E against the 265KF, so any performance claim for the 251E would go beyond the record.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251E has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 265KF support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory is listed as true for the Core 7 251E and false for the Core Ultra 7 265KF.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 7 251E boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the Core Ultra 7 265KF boosts to 5.50 GHz. The 265KF has the higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Q: What benchmark scores are recorded for the Core 7 251E?

A: None. The database lists an average benchmark score of 0 and a 50th percentile ranking for the 251E. The 265KF has an average benchmark score of 71910 and a 94th percentile ranking.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Core 7 251E includes UHD Graphics 770. The Core Ultra 7 265KF lists integrated graphics as N/A.

Q: Which processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5?

A: The Core 7 251E supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 7 265KF supports DDR5 only.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 265KF wins every recorded benchmark category because the Core 7 251E has no benchmark entries. The 265KF posts 49736 in Cinebench R23 multicore, 20889 in Cinebench R20 multicore, 5013 in Cinebench R15 multicore, and 22913 in Geekbench multicore. Single-core records are 7021 in Cinebench R23, 2948 in Cinebench R20, 707 in Cinebench R15, 2759 in Geekbench, and 4928 in Passmark single-thread. Passmark workloads add 58518 multithread, 189431 floating point math, 143351 integer math, 666589 data compression, 48198 data encryption, 54513 extended instructions, 486 find prime numbers, 79735 random string sorting, and 3633 physics.

The Core 7 251E wins on features that matter for specific system configurations. Its 24 cores and 32 threads exceed the 265KF's 20 and 20. Its 5.60 GHz boost clock tops the 265KF's 5.50 GHz. Its 36 MB shared L3 cache is larger than 30 MB. It accepts DDR4 and DDR5, includes ECC, and provides UHD Graphics 770. Its 65 W TDP is below 125 W. The 265KF answers with a 3.90 GHz base clock, a 3 nm process, 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, an unlocked multiplier, and Socket 1851 support.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 7 251E | Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF |

|---|---|---|

| Series | not recorded | Core Ultra Series 2 |

| Architecture | not recorded | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake-S |

| Generation | Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) | Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake) |

| Cores | 24 | 20 |

| Threads | 32 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | not recorded | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 257 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 36 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC memory | true | false |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | N/A |

| Release date | 2025-01-12 | 2024-10-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | $379 |

| Multiplier unlocked | false | true |

| Part number | SRQDUQ657 | SRQCU |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 50 | 94 |

| Average benchmark score | 0 | 71910 |