Intel has listed the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus desktop processor on Amazon US. The current price is $227.38 (Lowest Price on March 26, 2026). Intel’s recommended customer price is $174–$184.
This is the F-series variant — same 18-core Arrow Lake silicon as the 250K Plus, but with no integrated graphics. A discrete GPU is required. Without the GPU’s 8 TOPS, total AI performance drops to 22 TOPS (vs 30 on the 250K). ECC memory and Intel vPro are also absent on this SKU, which matters if workstation or enterprise use is on the table.
The chip is built on TSMC N3B (3nm-class) with 18 cores / 18 threads (6P + 12E), up to 5.3 GHz, 30MB Smart Cache + 30MB L2, 125W/159W power, DDR5-7200 (up to 256GB), PCIe 5.0/4.0, and Thunderbolt 4.
Pricing & Availability
| Model | Price | Intel RCP | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (735858553216) | $227.38 | $174–$184 | Amazon US |
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18 Cores, 18 Threads – 6 P-Cores + 12 E-Cores, Up to 5.3 GHz
Core layout mirrors the 250K exactly: 6 P-cores and 12 E-cores, totalling 18 cores and 18 threads (no Hyper-Threading on Arrow Lake). Intel Thread Director handles scheduling between the two core types.
| Core Type | Base | Max Turbo |
|---|---|---|
| P-core | 4.2 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
| E-core | 3.3 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
Standard Turbo Boost 2.0 only — no Turbo Boost Max 3.0 on the Ultra 5 tier.
30MB Smart Cache + 30MB L2, TSMC N3B, 125W/159W
Cache is 30MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 30MB L2 — identical to the 250K Plus. Fabricated on TSMC N3B, with a 125W base power and 159W max turbo power.
No Integrated Graphics – Discrete GPU Required
The “F” in 250KF means zero Xe-cores, no Intel Quick Sync Video, and no display outputs from the processor. A discrete graphics card must be installed for any video output.
This also removes the GPU’s contribution to AI workloads. Total TOPS drops from 30 (on the 250K) to 22 TOPS — just CPU and NPU.
Intel AI Boost NPU – 13 TOPS, Sparsity, Windows Studio Effects
The Intel AI Boost NPU remains at 13 TOPS (Int8) with sparsity support and Windows Studio Effects compatibility. AI frameworks supported: OpenVINO, WindowsML, DirectML, ONNX RT, and WebNN.
Even without the iGPU, the NPU still handles background blur, noise cancellation, and similar on-device AI tasks independently.
DDR5-7200 (256GB Max, No ECC), PCIe 5.0/4.0, Thunderbolt 4
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Memory | DDR5 up to 7200 MT/s, dual-channel, max 256GB |
| ECC | No |
| PCIe | 5.0 and 4.0, up to 24 lanes |
| PCIe Configs | 1×16+2×4 / 2×8+2×4 / 1×8+4×4 |
| DMI | 4.0, 8 lanes |
| Thunderbolt | 4 |
Two differences from the 250K Plus worth flagging: no ECC memory support and no vPro eligibility.
What the 250KF Plus Drops vs the 250K Plus
For buyers deciding between the two Ultra 5 SKUs, here’s what the F-series loses:
| Feature | 250K Plus | 250KF Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Graphics | 4 Xe-cores (1.9 GHz) | None |
| Quick Sync (H.264/H.265/AV1) | Yes | No |
| Display Outputs (CPU) | Up to 4 | 0 |
| GPU TOPS | 8 | 0 |
| Total AI TOPS | 30 | 22 |
| ECC Memory | Yes | No |
| vPro Enterprise | Yes | No |
| Intel RCP | $189–$199 | $174–$184 |
Everything else — cores, clocks, cache, TDP, NPU, memory speed, PCIe lanes, Thunderbolt, socket — is the same.
Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Specifications / Technical Details
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus |
| Code Name | Arrow Lake (Series 2) |
| Lithography | TSMC N3B |
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 18 (6P + 12E) |
| P-core Base / Turbo | 4.2 GHz / 5.3 GHz |
| E-core Base / Turbo | 3.3 GHz / 4.6 GHz |
| Turbo Boost | 2.0 |
| Smart Cache (L3) | 30 MB |
| L2 Cache | 30 MB |
| Base Power (PBP) | 125W |
| Max Turbo Power (MTP) | 159W |
| Total AI TOPS (Int8) | 22 |
| NPU | Intel AI Boost, 13 TOPS, sparsity, Windows Studio Effects |
| GPU | None (discrete GPU required) |
| Quick Sync | No |
| Memory | DDR5 up to 7200 MT/s, dual-channel, max 256GB |
| ECC | No |
| PCIe | 5.0/4.0, up to 24 lanes |
| DMI | 4.0, 8 lanes |
| Thunderbolt | 4 |
| Socket | LGA1851 (FCLGA1851) |
| Package Size | 45 × 37.5 mm |
| Max Temp | 105°C |
| Thread Director | Yes |
| Hyper-Threading | No |
| vPro | No |
| ISA Extensions | SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 |
| GNA | 3.5 |
| Intel RCP | $174–$184 |
| Amazon Price | $227.38 |
| UPC | 735858553216 |
| Launch | Q1 2026 |
Related Intel Core Ultra Processors
- Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (24C/24T, 5.5 GHz, 36 TOPS, iGPU, 125W/250W) – $357.12 Amazon US
- Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (18C/18T, 5.3 GHz, 30 TOPS, iGPU, 125W/159W) – $219.99 Amazon US
Note: Specifications listed above are sourced from Intel’s official product pages and Amazon US listings. Please visit the official Intel ARK page or Amazon product page to verify complete and up-to-date specifications before making a purchase decision.
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