AMD
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
AM5 · 6 · 12
8.1
$200Nov 93 videos
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
The graphics-free 225: a 65 W, 10-core Arrow Lake chip aimed at budget discrete-GPU builds.
- LGA1851
- 10
- 10
- 4.9 GHz
- 65 W
PCPR score
6.6
Fair
Best price we’ve seen
$165MSRP
List price from the maker. Street prices may be higher.
R1
The short version
The Core Ultra 5 225F is a locked 10-core (6 P plus 4 E) LGA1851 processor with a 65 W base power rating and 20 MB of cache. It has no integrated graphics. Tom's Hardware's review of the 225 found it efficient and easy to cool but slower than the Ryzen 5 9600X and last-generation 7600X in games, so it needs a low price to make sense.
Pros
- 65 W base power and 121 W maximum make it easy to cool
- Solid single-threaded performance per Tom's Hardware
- Fits modern DDR5 LGA1851 boards with PCIe 5.0
Cons
- Slower than the Ryzen 5 7600X in games per Tom's Hardware
- Not overclockable
- LGA1851 is a dead-end platform
- No integrated graphics
Best for
- Low-power budget builds
- Small-form-factor systems with modest cooling
J3
Full specifications
Core
- Socket
- LGA1851
- Series
- Core Ultra 200S
- Architecture
- Arrow Lake
- Cores
- 10
- Performance cores
- 6
- Efficiency cores
- 4
- Threads
- 10
Performance
- Base clock
- 3.3 GHz
- Max boost
- 4.9 GHz
- L3 cache
- 20 MB
- 3D V-Cache
- No
- Gaming index
- 62
- Single-thread index
- 87
- Multi-thread index
- 37
Power
- TDP
- 65 W
- Max power (PPT / PL2)
- 121 W
Features
- Integrated graphics
- No
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
- Process
- TSMC N3B
- NPU
- 13 TOPS
Memory
- Memory support
- DDR5
- Rated memory speed
- 6,400 MT/s
- Max memory
- 256 GB
Expansion
- PCIe version
- 5.0
- PCIe lanes
- 24
Compatibility notes
- Socket LGA1851 needs an Intel 800-series chipset board (Z890, B860, H810); it is not compatible with LGA1700 boards. Intel notes LGA1700 and LGA1851 coolers are mechanically similar but pin layouts differ.
- DDR5 only, up to 6400 MT/s per Intel's spec page.
- Locked multiplier; cooler inclusion in the box was not confirmed on Intel's spec page.
- The F suffix means no integrated graphics.
P1
Where to buy
- Buy from the maker
Intel official page
Direct link
- Check price on Amazon
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- See it at Newegg
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- See it at Best Buy
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- See it at B&H
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- See it at Micro Center
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We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. Prices move quickly, so confirm the final price at the retailer.
AV1
Video reviews
Positive · Review
Core Ultra 5 225F Review – The Only “Budget” CPU I’d Buy New in 2025
ImWateringPSUs
ImWateringPSUs' review of the 225F as a budget buy.
Overview · Benchmarks
Core Ultra 5 225 / 225F vs Core i5-14400 / 14400F / 14500 / Ryzen 5 7600X / 9600X: first tests
Hard4All
Hard4All's first tests of the 225 and 225F against the Core i5-14400 and 14400F, Ryzen 5 7600X and 9600X.
Overview · Comparison
Core Ultra 5 225F / 225 / 235 vs Core i5-14400F vs Ryzen 5 7600X vs 9600X - The BEST CPU under $200?
Hard4All
Hard4All's comparison of the 225F, 225 and 235 against the Core i5-14400F and Ryzen 5 7600X and 9600X.
AV2
What reviewers and owners say
Tom's Hardware
MixedFinds it efficient and cool-running with good single-threaded speed, but too costly for its performance and slower than rival Ryzen 5 chips; the 225 would be compelling with a price cut.
Review
Read the source
Summaries are written in our words. Follow the links for each source’s own review.
R9
Common questions
Which motherboards work with the Core Ultra 5 225F?
It uses socket LGA1851 and needs an Intel 800-series chipset board. LGA1700 boards from the previous two generations will not fit.
What memory does the Core Ultra 5 225F support?
Intel lists DDR5 only, up to 6400 MT/s across two channels and up to 256 GB. It does not support DDR4, so it needs a DDR5 LGA1851 board.
Can the 225F be overclocked?
No. Intel does not list it as unlocked, unlike the K-series chips.
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