Intel Core Ultra 7 265K socket: LGA 1851
The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K uses the LGA 1851 socket. It needs a motherboard with an 800 series chipset and DDR5 memory, and it does not work in LGA 1700 boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1851
- Launched
- October 24, 2024
- Cores and threads
- 20 and 20
- Base power
- 125 W
- Codename
- Arrow Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core Ultra 7
- Clocks
- 3.9 / 5.5 GHz
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K specifications
| Cores | 20 (8 Performance-cores and 12 Efficient-cores) |
|---|---|
| Threads | 20 (no Hyper-Threading) |
| Core architecture | Lion Cove (P-cores) and Skymont (E-cores) |
| P-core clocks | 3.9 GHz base, up to 5.5 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0 |
| E-core clocks | 3.3 GHz base, up to 4.6 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 30 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 36 MB total L2 |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 125 W |
| Maximum turbo power | 250 W |
| Manufacturing process | Compute tile on TSMC N3B |
| Memory support | DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, two channels |
| PCI Express | 24 lanes from the CPU: PCIe 5.0 x16, PCIe 5.0 x4 and PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel Graphics with 4 Xe-cores |
| Multiplier | Unlocked (K series) |
| Package | FCLGA1851 |
| Launch price | $394, Intel recommended customer price |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K needs a motherboard with a LGA 1851 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 800 series | Z890, B860, H810, Q870, W880 | Works out of the box |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1851.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | High-end 1440p to 4K |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 4070 Super, Radeon RX 7900 XT |
| Target resolution | 1440p high settings to 4K high settings |
Twenty cores without Hyper-Threading, 24 PCIe lanes with PCIe 5.0 graphics and DDR5-6400 feed high-end cards from 2024. The RTX 4070 Super from January 2024 and the RX 7900 XT from December 2022 match that class at 1440p high settings and 4K high settings.
This is a rough match for a new build at the stated resolution, not a limit. A faster card still works and helps at higher resolutions or in games that load the GPU more than the CPU. A slower card is fine for lighter games and office use. The exact balance shifts with the game, the settings and the resolution, so no percentage is given.
LGA 1851 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,851 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 45.0 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | October 2024 |
| Memory | DDR5 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 78 × 78 mm |
What the Core Ultra 7 265K is
The Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20 core desktop processor from Intel's Core Ultra 200S family, released in October 2024 under the codename Arrow Lake. It has 8 Performance-cores and 12 Efficient-cores. Unlike the 14th Gen chips before it, it does not use Hyper-Threading, so each core runs a single thread and the total is 20 threads.
The Performance-cores run at 3.9 GHz base and reach 5.5 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0, and the Efficient-cores run between 3.3 GHz and 4.6 GHz. The 30 MB L3 cache is shared and the L2 caches add up to 36 MB. Intel rates the base power at 125 W and the maximum turbo power at 250 W.
The processor includes basic integrated graphics with four Xe-cores. That is enough to run a desktop and video playback without a graphics card, and the K suffix marks the unlocked multiplier. Intel launched it at a recommended price of $394, and in March 2026 the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus took over its position in the lineup.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The Core Ultra 7 265K goes into an LGA 1851 socket. Only motherboards with an 800 series chipset have that socket: Z890, B860, H810, Q870 and W880. The chip is not compatible with the 600 and 700 series boards of LGA 1700, and it will not fit them even though the package size looks the same.
Z890 is the board family for changing the multiplier on a K-series chip. B860 boards run the processor at its rated clocks and still allow memory tuning, and H810 boards sit at the cheap end. The Core Ultra 7 265K launched together with Z890, while the other 800 series chipsets followed in early 2025, which is worth knowing if you are reading older reviews.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
LGA 1851 boards take DDR5 only, and Intel lists support up to DDR5-6400 for this processor. DDR4 modules from an older system cannot be reused, because the slots are different. This is the main extra cost of moving up from an LGA 1700 board that used DDR4.
The processor provides 24 PCIe lanes: a PCIe 5.0 x16 link for the graphics card, a PCIe 5.0 x4 link and a PCIe 4.0 x4 link, normally used for NVMe drives. The chipset adds more lanes on the board.
The cooler mounting holes are the same 78 mm pattern as LGA 1700, so most coolers that support LGA 1700 also support LGA 1851. Check the cooler maker's list for an explicit LGA 1851 entry. A 125 W base rating calls for a capable air cooler or a liquid cooler, and the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide covers the mounting patterns.
Upgrade paths
Within the socket the 265K can be replaced by faster Core Ultra models, including the Plus refresh, using the same board. Coming from the 14th Gen, such as the Intel Core i9-14900K, the move means a new board and new DDR5 memory.
Intel's next desktop generation is reported to use a different socket, so LGA 1851 may not receive further generations after the current ones. If long term upgrades matter to you, compare the AM5 platform from AMD, where the maker has stated support through 2029.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K use?
It uses LGA 1851, written FCLGA1851 in Intel's documents.
Can the Core Ultra 7 265K run in an LGA 1700 motherboard?
No. LGA 1851 is a different socket with a different chipset generation. The processor will not work in a Z790 or Z690 board.
Does the Core Ultra 7 265K support DDR4?
No. LGA 1851 boards use DDR5 only.
Does the Core Ultra 7 265K have Hyper-Threading?
No. It has 20 cores and 20 threads, one thread per core.
Will an LGA 1700 cooler fit?
Usually yes. Both sockets use mounting holes 78 mm apart. Confirm that the cooler maker lists LGA 1851.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 265K (Intel)
- Intel W880 chipset compatible processors (Intel)
- LGA 1851 on Wikipedia
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .