The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victory in twelve out of sixteen measured specifications. While the Intel Core i5-12600KF maintains a notable lead in base clock speeds, which are 54% higher than those of its competitor, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 provides a more significant technical advantage. Its most impactful improvement is the L2 cache, which is 279% larger than the cache found on the Intel Core i5-12600KF.

Users who prioritize raw base clock frequency for specific legacy workloads should select the Intel Core i5-12600KF. Conversely, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is the superior choice for those who require the substantial L2 cache capacity and the broader range of updated specifications offered by the newer architecture. By choosing the latter, users benefit from a more modern configuration that outperforms the former in the vast majority of evaluated technical categories.