The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus proves you don't need to spend big on a CPU in 2026

Published Aug 12, 2026, 5:40 PM EDT Timi has been writing about technology for over a decade, focusing on smartphones, computers, and anything that he finds interesting in the tech space. He started writing for XDA, covering all things mobile, but has transitioned to covering deals, with a mission to shed light on some of the best discounts around the internet on the greatest tech products. Sign in to your XDA account Building a new PC in 2026 is challenging. Part prices for storage and RAM are out of control, and it's not looking like they will stabilize any time soon. But other parts like CPUs and motherboards are seeing good discounts, with the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus popping up on our radar thanks to a solid discount on Amazon to $265 that drops it to its lowest price yet. Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus $265 $311 Save $46 8/10 Socket FCLGA1851 Cores 24 (8 P-core, 16 E-core) Threads 24 Base Clock Speed P-core: 3.7 GHz, E-core: 3.2 GHz Boost Clock Speed P-core: 5.5 GHz, E-core: 4.7 GHz PCIe 24 Cache 36 MB Smart Cache RAM support Up To DDR5 7200 MT/s Graphics Intel Graphics Architecture Arrow Lake Refresh Process TSMC N3B TDP 125 W (250W Turbo) Price (MSRP) $299 This CPU can do it all We had a chance to review this CPU when it first came out and we came away impressed. It's a powerful CPU that can be used for any application. It features 24 cores and 24 threads, along with 34MB of Intel Smart Cache and 40MB of L2 cache. It also offers support for DDR5 RAM, and has a TDP of 125W. In our tests, we found that the CPU was capable of "matching or beating the Core Ultra 9 285K." While it's built for productivity tasks, we still think it's a great option for gaming as well. If you're thinking about upgrading, it's the perfect choice if you're looking to move on from a budget Arrow Lake CPU. With the price of RAM and storage going so high, you wouldn't want to try and build something from scratch. The cost would be way too high. But, if you need to and have no choice, this Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus CPU is going to be a stellar choice. We loved it at its $299 price, but think it's even better now that it's been reduced to $265.