Intel Core Ultra 5 225 10-core LGA 1851
Built on the 3nm TSMC N3B process, this 10-core Arrow Lake chip delivers strong efficiency with a 65W TDP and a 4.9GHz boost clock. It includes a capable integrated Intel Graphics engine and a boxed Laminar RM2 cooler, making it a complete out-of-the-box solution for new LGA 1851 builds. This processor is best for budget-conscious system builders who prioritize modern platform features and efficient productivity over raw multi-threaded server workloads.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Core Ultra 5 225 is the efficiency king of the mid-range. Top-tier single-thread speed at 65W for under USD 200, just don't expect thread-count heroics.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Elite single-thread performance, 96th percentile 96th
- 65W TDP sips power like a laptop chip 96th
- 20MB L3 and 22MB L2 cache is generous 91st
- Boxed cooler included and actually adequate 91st
Cons
- Only 10 threads, multi-thread is good not great
- 13 NPU TOPS is weak for AI workloads
- No overclocking headroom on a locked chip
- LGA 1851 means a new motherboard, no upgrade path from LGA 1700
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 single-thread score of 4414 in PassMark is the headline here. That's best-in-class territory, right up there with chips costing way more. Multi-thread at 30352 is strong but not earth-shattering, which makes sense with 10 cores and 10 threads. The 3nm TSMC node does the heavy lifting on efficiency. We were genuinely surprised how cool this thing runs under load, the boxed cooler actually keeps up.
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 | 30352 |
| 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 will crush this in gaming and multi-thread, but it costs nearly three times as much and pulls way more power. The Xeon E5-2637 V2 is ancient server silicon, not even in the same conversation. For a budget productivity build, the Ultra 5 225 beats anything AMD offers at this price for single-thread work. The MSI X870E Tomahawk is a motherboard, not a CPU, so that's a weird comparison from our database.
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 5 225 | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | G.Skill Trident Z Neo | be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5 | Dell Xeon 641329687376-cr | MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | - |
| Threads | 10 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 8 | - |
| Boost Clock Mhz | 4900 | 5200 | 4200 | 3400 | 2700 | - |
| L3 Cache Mb | 20 | 96 | 32 | 8 | 12 | - |
| Tdp W | 65 | 120 | 65 | 270 | 80 | - |
| Socket | LGA 1851 | AM5 | AMD Socket AM4 | AM4 | LGA 1366 | AM5 |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics | - | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AI | Feature | Platform | Efficiency | Multi Thread | Social Proof | Single Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 5 225 | 85.4 | 90.7 | 90.7 | 95.8 | 86.7 | 73.4 | 95.6 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Compare | 91.3 | 98.5 | 95.1 | 87.7 | 90 | 96.5 | 95.7 |
| G.Skill Trident Z Neo Compare | 72.6 | 87.1 | 78.3 | 83.1 | 73.6 | 0 | 72.5 |
| be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5 Compare | 48.1 | 62.5 | 60.9 | 33.1 | 44.6 | 90.4 | 50.6 |
| Dell Xeon 641329687376-cr Compare | 31 | 41.8 | 17.8 | 36.9 | 32.2 | 7.7 | 24.5 |
| MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi Compare | 3.6 | 20.3 | 91 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 90.4 | 3.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At USD 177 to USD 201 across US listings, this chip is a steal. Newegg has the best price right now at USD 177. For CAD buyers, Memory Express is the spot at CAD 237. You're getting top-tier single-thread speed and class-leading efficiency for under USD 200. That's hard to argue with.
Amazon 1 offer From €246
We started tracking prices for this product on Jun 13, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
Read more
Overview
The Core Ultra 5 225 is Intel's quiet flex in the mid-range. It's not chasing gaming crowns or thread-count trophies. It's a 65W Arrow Lake chip that sips power while delivering single-thread performance that lands in the top tier of everything we've tested. If you want a modern LGA 1851 build that won't melt your power bill, this is the chip to beat.
Common Questions
Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 225 come with a cooler?
Yes, it's a boxed chip with an Intel cooler included. And unlike some past Intel stock coolers, this one actually keeps the 65W chip under control without sounding like a jet engine.
Q: Is this good for gaming?
For 1080p and 1440p gaming paired with a mid-range GPU, absolutely. The single-thread speed is elite. But if you're chasing 240Hz esports frames, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better tool, just way more expensive.
Q: Do I need a new motherboard for this?
Yep. It uses the LGA 1851 socket, so your old LGA 1700 board won't work. Budget for a new motherboard when planning your build.
Who Should Skip This
If you're doing heavy video editing, 3D rendering, or running VMs, the 10 threads will hold you back. Go grab a Ryzen 9 or a Core Ultra 7 with more cores instead. And if you're a serious AI tinkerer, the 13 TOPS NPU is a joke, get something with real AI silicon.
Verdict
Buy it. If you're building a new mid-range PC for productivity, light gaming, or general use, the Core Ultra 5 225 is the smart money. It's efficient, fast where it counts, and priced to move. The only reason to look elsewhere is if you need serious multi-thread muscle or heavy AI workloads.
