Intel Core Ultra 5 225T

Name: Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
Brand: Intel
SKU: 14716

Manufacturer: Intel

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is a desktop processor designed for the LGA 1851 platform, compatible with Z890 and B860 chipsets. Built on a 3nm semiconductor process, it incorporates big.LITTLE technology, pairing six performance-oriented cores with four efficiency cores across a total of ten threads, with a turbo clock speed reaching 4.9GHz.

The chip carries a 35W Thermal Design Power, making it a thermally conservative option within its platform. It supports DDR5 memory at speeds up to 6400MHz across two channels, with a maximum capacity of 256GB. Onboard cache totals 22MB of L2 and 20MB of L3. The integrated Intel graphics engine runs up to 1800MHz in turbo, supports up to four displays, and is compatible with DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, and OpenCL 3. In benchmark testing, the chip achieves a PassMark score of 25358 overall and 4348 in the single-threaded test.

Pros

The 35W TDP keeps heat output low, making it suitable for compact or passively cooled desktop builds
DDR5 support with speeds up to 6400MHz and a 256GB maximum capacity offers substantial memory bandwidth and headroom
The integrated graphics can drive up to four displays simultaneously and reaches 1800MHz in turbo mode, reducing the need for a discrete GPU in basic setups
PCIe 5 support enables compatibility with the latest storage and expansion hardware on Z890 and B860 platforms
The combination of 22MB L2 and 20MB L3 cache provides a large pool of fast-access memory to feed active workloads
A broad instruction set including AES, AVX2, and FMA3 covers encryption, vector processing, and floating-point workloads natively

Cons

The multiplier is locked, so there is no option to overclock the processor beyond its stock turbo frequency
ECC memory is not supported, which limits its suitability for error-sensitive or mission-critical workloads
The base clock speed for the primary six cores is listed as 0 GHz, and only the four efficiency cores have a defined base frequency of 1.9 GHz, leaving primary core baseline performance unclear
With only 10 threads across the full core count, heavily multi-threaded workloads may encounter limitations compared to higher thread-count alternatives in the same socket family

Who is this for?

This processor is well-suited for users building an energy-conscious desktop system where heat and power draw need to stay in check, thanks to its 35W TDP. It fits comfortably in compact or home office builds that benefit from the integrated graphics capability to drive up to four displays without requiring a discrete GPU. Users who need solid everyday compute performance — including workloads that leverage AES acceleration, vector instructions, or DDR5 memory bandwidth — will find it a capable fit, particularly within the Z890 or B860 platform.

Who is this NOT for?

This processor is not a strong match for users who require overclocking headroom, as the multiplier is locked and clock speeds are fixed at their factory-defined limits. It is also poorly suited for environments demanding ECC memory support, such as workstations handling error-sensitive data processing or near-mission-critical tasks. Additionally, users running sustained heavily multi-threaded workloads — such as large-scale rendering or parallel compute tasks — may find the 10-thread ceiling a meaningful constraint.

General info:

Type	Desktop
CPU socket	LGA 1851
chipset	Z890, B860
Has integrated graphics	✓
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35W
semiconductor size	3 nm
PCI Express (PCIe) version	5
Supports 64-bit	✓

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is a desktop processor built for the LGA 1851 socket, with compatibility extending to Z890 and B860 chipsets. It is manufactured on a 3nm process node and carries a Thermal Design Power of 35W. The chip includes integrated graphics, supports 64-bit computing, and features PCIe 5 connectivity.

Performance:

CPU speed	6 x 0 & 4 x 1.9 GHz
CPU threads	10 threads
turbo clock speed	4.9GHz
Has an unlocked multiplier	✕
L2 cache	22 MB
L3 cache	20 MB
Uses big.LITTLE technology	✓
clock multiplier	25
Turbo Boost version	2

The processor uses big.LITTLE technology, pairing six cores with base speeds not specified and four cores running at 1.9GHz, across a total of 10 threads. It supports Turbo Boost version 2, allowing clock speeds to reach up to 4.9GHz, with a clock multiplier of 25. The multiplier is locked, so manual overclocking is not supported. On the cache side, the chip provides 22MB of L2 cache and 20MB of L3 cache, offering a solid amount of fast-access memory for active workloads.

Benchmarks:

PassMark result	25358
PassMark result (single)	4348

In PassMark testing, the processor achieves an overall score of 25358, reflecting its multi-threaded capabilities across all available cores and threads. The single-threaded PassMark result stands at 4348, indicating the level of performance available per individual thread during lightly-threaded or sequential workloads.

Integrated graphics:

GPU clock speed	300 MHz
GPU turbo	1800 MHz
DirectX version	DirectX 12
supported displays	4
OpenGL version	4.5
OpenCL version	3

The integrated graphics unit has a base clock of 300MHz and a turbo frequency of 1800MHz, with support for up to four displays simultaneously. It is compatible with DirectX 12, along with OpenGL 4.5 and OpenCL 3, covering a broad range of graphics and compute workloads handled directly by the integrated solution.

Memory:

RAM speed (max)	6400 MHz
DDR memory version	5
memory channels	2
maximum memory amount	256GB
Supports ECC memory	✕

The processor supports DDR5 memory with a maximum speed of 6400MHz across a dual-channel configuration. It can accommodate up to 256GB of total system memory, providing ample headroom for memory-intensive workloads. ECC memory is not supported by this processor.

Features:

instruction sets	MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
Has NX bit	✓

The processor supports a range of instruction sets including MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2, covering general-purpose extensions, floating-point operations, encryption acceleration, and advanced vector processing. It also includes the NX bit, a hardware-level security feature that helps prevent certain classes of malicious code execution by marking memory regions as non-executable.

Final Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is a well-defined desktop processor built around efficiency and platform capability rather than raw, unconstrained performance. Its 35W thermal envelope combined with DDR5 memory support, PCIe 5 connectivity, and a multi-display-capable integrated graphics unit make it a genuinely practical choice for compact desktop builds and everyday professional workloads. The locked multiplier and absence of ECC support do place real boundaries on its appeal, keeping it out of overclocking and error-critical use cases. For users whose needs align with its design priorities — a thermally restrained, feature-complete desktop platform on LGA 1851 — the Core Ultra 5 225T represents a coherent and purposeful option.