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Intel Core Ultra 5 225T vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL: Comparison
Core Ultra 5 225T vs Core Ultra 7 165UL: the l3 cache difference
L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, Core Ultra 5 225T 20 MB against Core Ultra 7 165UL 12 MB, a 40% lead for Core Ultra 5 225T. There is a split on tdp as well, 35 W on the Core Ultra 5 225T versus 15 W on the Core Ultra 7 165UL. They differ on form factor too, Desktop on the Core Ultra 5 225T versus Embedded on the Core Ultra 7 165UL. Release year is not the same on both, 2025 on the Core Ultra 5 225T versus 2024 on the Core Ultra 7 165UL.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 5 225T or Core Ultra 7 165UL?
The Core Ultra 5 225T suits small-form-factor and mini-PC builds and low-noise home or office desktops, though it is the wrong buy for peak multi-core performance needs and gaming-focused desktop builds. The Core Ultra 7 165UL is the one to take for embedded systems and all-in-one PCs, though it is not the pick for traditional laptop designs and maximum core-count workloads. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 225T (7.9/10): A sensible low-power pick for compact Arrow Lake desktop builds where the standard 65W Core Ultra 5 225 would run too hot or too loud. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 165UL (8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL packages Intel's mobile Core Ultra silicon onto a socketed LGA platform for embedded and all-in-one system designs.
What Core Ultra 5 225T and Core Ultra 7 165UL have in common
Everything else lines up. P-core boost clock, integrated graphics, socket and igpu read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 5 225T and Core Ultra 7 165UL differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 10 on the Core Ultra 5 225T versus 12 on the Core Ultra 7 165UL.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Embedded
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Meteor Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 2024
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 35 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 15 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- Desktop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Embedded
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Meteor Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- FCLGA1851
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- FCLGA1851
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 4 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 10
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 12Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 6Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 2
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 4
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 10Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 10
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 14Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 2.5 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 1.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 4.9 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 4.9 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 20 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 12 MB-40%
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 35 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 15 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 114 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 57 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- DDR5-6400, 2-Channel, up to 256GB
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
- 13 TOPS (Intel AI Boost)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 225T if you want the higher L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
Choose 165UL if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
A sensible low-power pick for compact Arrow Lake desktop builds where the standard 65W Core Ultra 5 225 would run too hot or too loud.
Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL packages Intel's mobile Core Ultra silicon onto a socketed LGA platform for embedded and all-in-one system designs.