The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F 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 speed, which is 54% higher than its counterpart, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F dominates in memory architecture. Its most significant advantage is a 279% larger L2 cache, which provides a substantial technical edge in overall component capability.

Users prioritizing raw base clock frequency should select the Intel Core i5-12600KF for their build. Conversely, those who require the superior L2 cache capacity and the broader range of spec advantages offered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F should choose the latter. The decision rests on whether your specific computing needs are better served by the higher base clock of the former or the expanded cache architecture of the latter.