Core Ultra 5 250K Plus

Name: Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus
Brand: Intel
Rating: 4.4 (10 reviews)

18 cores · 18 threads · up to 5.3 GHz on 1851.

4.4 · 10 votes

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Cores

Threads

Boost

5.3 GHz

L3 cache

30 MB

TDP

125W

Socket

1851

Performance breakdown

Gaming32

Productivity33

Single-core32

Multi-core75

Power efficiency26

Lab scores

Performance score31

Cores18

Threads18

Boost clock (GHz)5.3 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p70 fps

1440p56 fps

4K38 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores

Architecture: Arrow Lake Refresh
Process node: 3 nm
Socket: 1851
Release year: 2026
Total cores: 18
Threads: 18
Integrated graphics: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU

Clocks & cache

Base clock: 4.2 GHz
Boost clock: 5.3 GHz
L1 cache: 3456 KB
L2 cache: 54 MB
L3 cache: 30 MB

Memory & platform

Memory support: DDR5
Base power (TDP): 125W
PCIe: PCIe 5.0
Launch price: $199

Technologies

Extensions: AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, TXT

Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners like its solid multi-core performance for the price. The usual gripe is that it runs hotter than expected under heavy loads, needing a better cooler.

Pros

Stays cool in heavy workloads
Surprisingly fast for everyday tasks
Takes a beating, runs for years
Plays nice with new motherboards

Cons

No native DDR4 support
No performance uplift over prior gen
Needs new motherboard for upgrade

Verdict

Our verdict on the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus

An Arrow Lake Refresh CPU that trades raw gaming speed for better efficiency and modern platform features.

Get it if you want a solid midrange performer for everyday multitasking and light gaming without paying a premium. Skip it if you need maximum multi-core grunt for heavy rendering or video work.