Intel BX80768225
The 10-core (6P+4E) Arrow Lake design with a 4.9GHz boost and 22MB L2 cache delivers strong multi-threaded performance for everyday tasks. Its 65W TDP and integrated Intel Graphics make it a low-power choice that pairs with affordable Intel 800-series motherboards. Best for budget-conscious desktop builders who need a balanced CPU for productivity and light gaming without a discrete GPU.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Core Ultra 5 225 is the efficiency king that doesn't make you pay for the crown. Buy it for a quiet, capable build and skip it if you're chasing benchmark glory.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Outstanding efficiency for a desktop chip 96th
- Strong single-thread performance 96th
- DDR5 support up to 192GB 91st
- Integrated graphics and 13 NPU TOPS included 91st
Cons
- No thermal solution in the box despite the listing saying boxed cooler
- 10 threads feels stingy when competitors offer more
- Server performance is a weak spot
- Requires a new LGA 1851 motherboard
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 3 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores do real work here. Single-thread lands at 96th percentile, so everyday snappiness and lightly threaded apps feel great. Multi-thread sits at 87th percentile, which is strong but not top-tier, and that's fine. The 4,414 single-core PassMark score means this thing opens apps, compiles code, and handles browser tab chaos without breaking a sweat. The 121W turbo ceiling is modest, so it won't turn your case into a space heater.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Brand | Intel |
| Series | Core Ultra 5 |
| Model | 225 |
| Codename | Arrow Lake |
| Class | desktop |
| Process | 3 |
Cores & Clocks
| Cores | 10 |
| P-cores | 6 |
| E-cores | 4 |
| Threads | 10 |
| Base Clock | 3300 |
| Boost Clock | 4900 |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 22 |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB |
Performance
| PassMark Multi | 30504 |
| PassMark Single | 4414 |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR5 |
| Max Speed | 6400 |
| Channels | 2 |
| Max Memory | 192 |
| ECC | No |
Platform & Power
| Socket | LGA 1851 |
| PCIe | 5 |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 |
| TDP | 65 |
| Max Turbo Power | 121 |
| Unlocked | No |
Graphics & AI
| Integrated Graphics | Intel Graphics |
| NPU TOPS | 13 |
vs Competition
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the obvious gaming rival, and it'll crush the 225 in cache-heavy titles, but it costs way more and burns more power. The Core i9 X-series chips in our database are older, hotter, and pricier, they only make sense if you need massive core counts for rendering. The Ultra 5 225 is the sensible middle child: modern platform, low power draw, and enough muscle for real work.
| Spec | Intel BX80768225 | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor | HP Xeon P67080-B21 | Lenovo Ryzen 5 Sparepart: | fosa1 fosa4ycn78izud |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 | 8 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 6 |
| Threads | 10 | 16 | 48 | 32 | 12 | 12 |
| Boost Clock Mhz | 4900 | 5200 | 4000 | 3900 | 4000 | 3060 |
| L3 Cache Mb | 20 | 96 | 128 | 37.5 | 8 | 12 |
| Tdp W | 65 | 120 | 200 | 195 | 15 | 95 |
| Socket | LGA 1851 | AM5 | AMD Socket SP3 | LGA 4677 | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics | - | No | AMD Integrated Graphics | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AI | Feature | Platform | Efficiency | Multi Thread | Social Proof | Single Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel BX80768225 | 85.3 | 90.7 | 90.6 | 95.7 | 86.6 | 74.1 | 95.6 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Compare | 91.2 | 98.4 | 95.1 | 87.5 | 90 | 96.5 | 95.6 |
| CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor Compare | 94.7 | 76.8 | 84 | 83.7 | 94.4 | 38.3 | 80.1 |
| HP Xeon P67080-B21 Compare | 91.7 | 76.8 | 90.6 | 78 | 90.8 | 1.5 | 80.3 |
| Lenovo Ryzen 5 Sparepart: Compare | 63.9 | 54.4 | 56.6 | 99.2 | 64.6 | 11.8 | 66.2 |
| fosa1 fosa4ycn78izud Compare | 25.7 | 20.1 | 64.8 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 65 | 36.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At USD 177 to USD 201 across US listings, this chip is a solid deal. The best US price is at the low end of that range, so shop around before you click buy. In Canada, prices run CAD 237 to CAD 270, with the best deal at the lower end. You're getting current-gen architecture, DDR5, and PCIe 5.0 for under USD 200, which is hard to argue with.
Amazon 1 offer From R$1,748
We started tracking prices for this product on Jun 14, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
Read more
Overview
The Core Ultra 5 225 is Intel's quiet flex. It's not chasing gaming crowns or benchmark glory, it's here to be efficient, affordable, and surprisingly capable. The headline number is 96th percentile efficiency, which means this chip sips power while still delivering a 30,504 PassMark multi-core score. That's the kind of combo that makes sense for a daily driver or a small workstation, not a liquid-cooled showpiece.
Common Questions
Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 225 come with a cooler?
No, despite some listings mentioning a boxed cooler, the manufacturer notes say no thermal solution is included. Grab a decent budget air cooler and you're set.
Q: What motherboard do I need for this CPU?
You'll need an Intel 800 series chipset board with the LGA 1851 socket. Your old LGA 1700 board won't work, so factor that into your upgrade budget.
Q: Is this good for gaming?
It's fine for 1080p and casual gaming, especially paired with a mid-range GPU. But if you're building a high-refresh 1440p or 4K rig, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better pick.
Who Should Skip This
If you're building a high-end gaming rig or a heavy multi-threaded workstation, this isn't your chip. Go grab a Ryzen 7 9800X3D for gaming or a higher-core-count Intel part for rendering. The 225 is for sensible builds, not flex builds.
Verdict
If you're building a quiet, efficient desktop that handles productivity, light content creation, and general multitasking, the Core Ultra 5 225 is an easy recommendation. It's not the chip for extreme overclockers or 4K gaming rigs, but for everyone else, it's a smart buy at this price.
