Intel's Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU is currently down to just $209 US at Microcenter, its lowest price ever this month, making it a superb option for Arrow Lake builders.
Limited Micro Center Deal is Offering Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF at $209; This 20-core CPU is Now Down by around $130
While discounts on CPUs are common to see, what's not common is seeing them dropping in price to an extent that it doesn't feel like a usual discount. We spotted a similar deal on Micro Center, which is now selling the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF for an incredibly low price of $209. The CPU usually goes for around $300 in various retail stores, and its price fluctuates around it. Considering it was launched at around $380, you are getting it for almost a huge $170 discount. This is even lower than the MSRP of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and offers a 20-core solution, which is currently rare to find at this price tag. The CPU was previously down to $229 US, just last week.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is one of the best productivity CPUs, and at $209, there is no rival to outperform it. The CPU belongs to the Arrow Lake-S series and uses the LGA 1851 socket from the 800-series motherboards. It was launched as a competitor to the Ryzen 7 9700X, but the latter offers just 8 cores/16 threads. So, you do have a good lead in productivity and multi-tasking, although gaming benchmarks can be somewhat inferior to the Ryzen 9000 series.
Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF uses a hybrid architecture, featuring 8 Performance cores and 12 Efficient cores to get intensive tasks done in minutes. The CPU can boost up to 5.5 GHz and operates in a 125-250W TDP range. It also brings a dedicated NPU onboard that can offer entry-level performance in AI workloads, but you will need a discrete GPU to get a display on your monitor. This is one of the reasons why the 265KF is generally cheaper than the 265K but still, a $209 price tag is a deal breaker, considering you are already throwing a discrete GPU for playing demanding titles.
Make sure to use a good CPU cooler and possibly a Z890 motherboard if you don't want to miss out on its overclocking potential. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF can result in a noticeable performance increase with overclocking, but you need a good dual-tower air cooler or an AIO to ensure it doesn't overheat. Meanwhile, you can also check the deal on Amazon, but it usually sells out quickly.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
