Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Core Ultra 7 265

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 7 255HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core Ultra 7 265

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (49,666 vs 49,765).
❌Launch MSRP is still $384 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Core Ultra 7 255HX

2025

Core Ultra 7 265

2025

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (49,666 vs 49,765).
❌Launch MSRP is still $384 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255HX better than Core Ultra 7 265?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 7 265 is ahead with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255HX pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255HX is the better fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 20 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 7 255HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 7 265 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 7 255HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $384 MSRP, and it gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core Ultra 7 265 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 7 265 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (129.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 7 255HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 20 threads instead of 20/20. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 7 255HX Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 265 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 7 255HX	Core Ultra 7 265
1080p
low	280 FPS	280 FPS
medium	272 FPS	273 FPS
high	228 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	225 FPS	226 FPS
medium	193 FPS	194 FPS
high	156 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	151 FPS	151 FPS
medium	129 FPS	129 FPS
high	99 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 255HX Open Core Ultra 7 265

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 7 255HX	Core Ultra 7 265
1080p
low	673 FPS	695 FPS
medium	574 FPS	593 FPS
high	483 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	438 FPS	448 FPS
1440p
low	584 FPS	605 FPS
medium	515 FPS	539 FPS
high	434 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	384 FPS
4K
low	345 FPS	356 FPS
medium	310 FPS	324 FPS
high	292 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	254 FPS	266 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 255HX Open Core Ultra 7 265

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 7 255HX	Core Ultra 7 265
1080p
low	839 FPS	839 FPS
medium	685 FPS	685 FPS
high	610 FPS	610 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	727 FPS	727 FPS
medium	596 FPS	596 FPS
high	519 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	515 FPS	515 FPS
medium	434 FPS	434 FPS
high	394 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 255HX Open Core Ultra 7 265

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 7 255HX	Core Ultra 7 265
1080p
low	995 FPS	995 FPS
medium	901 FPS	901 FPS
high	782 FPS	782 FPS
ultra	709 FPS	709 FPS
1440p
low	814 FPS	814 FPS
medium	724 FPS	724 FPS
high	627 FPS	627 FPS
ultra	555 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	555 FPS
medium	501 FPS	501 FPS
high	449 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	396 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 255HX Open Core Ultra 7 265

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 7 265

Core Ultra 7 255HX

The Core Ultra 7 255HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2025-01-01. It is based on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. It features 20 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2114. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 49,765 points. Launch price was $450.

Core Ultra 7 265

The Core Ultra 7 265 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 20 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 49,666 points. Launch price was $394.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 7 265 share an identical 20-core/20-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 5.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 265 — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 265 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 255HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 265 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 49,765 against the Core Ultra 7 265's 49,666 — a 0.2% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255HX. Both processors carry 30 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core Ultra 7 255HX	Core Ultra 7 265
Cores / Threads	20 / 20	20 / 20
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz	5.3 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	30 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	3 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-HX (2025)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	49,765	49,666
Geekbench 6 Single	2,923	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	16,885	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 7 255HX uses the FCBGA2114 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 265 uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 6400 on the Core Ultra 7 265 — the Core Ultra 7 265 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 7 265 supports up to 256 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel HM870,Intel WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255HX) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 7 265).

Feature	Core Ultra 7 255HX	Core Ultra 7 265
Socket	FCBGA2114	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+78643100%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core Ultra 7 255HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core Ultra 7 265 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core Ultra 7 255HX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 265). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc Xe-LPG (Core Ultra 7 255HX) and Intel Arc Graphics (Core Ultra 7 265) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 255HX rivals Ryzen 9 9850HX; Core Ultra 7 265 rivals Ryzen 7 9700X.