Core Ultra 7 265K vs Core i9-9900K

Short answer: which is best?

Core Ultra 7 265K is 54.1 % stronger than Core i9-9900K. Core Ultra 7 265K ranks #5 of 67 measured processors at WhatFPS (13,700 CPU score over 2 verified runs). Core i9-9900K ranks #30 of 67 measured processors at WhatFPS (8,893 CPU score over 1 verified runs). The numbers are measured in 3 verified WhatFPS runs — not estimated, not self-reported.

Measured comparison

Fragz' verdict

The Core Ultra 7 265K is the clear winner here, leading the Core i9-9900K by 54.1% in overall CPU score. The newer chip shows significant gains in single-thread performance at 0.87 Gop/s versus 0.59 Gop/s, directly impacting game FPS ceilings, and its multi-threaded integer performance is much higher at 11.5 Gop/s compared to 6.5 Gop/s, which helps with background tasks and streaming. This translates to 99.7 FPS in the Supernova DX11 test for the Core Ultra 7 265K, a solid bump over the Core i9-9900K's 77.3 FPS, further supported by its higher draw calls per second and more cores, threads, L3 cache, and a higher peak clock. For gamers seeking maximum performance, the Core Ultra 7 265K is the stronger option, though it's important to note that both components only have one verified run, making the sample thin.

Generated September 24, 2026 from the 3 verified runs available then. The verdict is never silently rewritten — new numbers get a new verdict.

What the numbers mean

The CPU score is the processor's own performance — that is what we rank on. GAMING is the whole rig's score in the best PC we measured the processor in, and leans heavily on the graphics card. A strong processor in a weak PC gets a low GAMING score without being worse. We show both and never mix them.

All numbers come from our benchmark suite: four hand-built 3D scenes written directly against the graphics APIs in Rust, the same load on every PC. The methodology is open at https://whatfps.com/metodik

All measurements for Core Ultra 7 265K · All measurements for Core i9-9900K