Buying Guide
The Best CPUs With PCIe 5.0
Five processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, where the Ryzen 7 7700X has the highest boost clock; the Core Ultra 5 225F is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
AM5 and LGA1851 processors provide PCIe 5.0 lanes for a graphics card and an M.2 SSD, depending on the motherboard. Every pick uses one of those sockets and has eight or more cores.
The order reflects L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads from maker specifications; a missing L3 cache is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Intel Core Ultra 5 225FThe lowest price among these processors at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core Ultra 5 245KF.
Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Core Count
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KFThe highest core count here (14 cores).
Best for: Buyers who put core count first.
Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Rated Power
AMD Ryzen 7 7700The lowest rated power here (65W).
Best for: Buyers who put rated power first.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 7 7700XThe highest boost clock here (5.4GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
AMD Ryzen 7 8700GThe top of this price range, adding AMD's fastest integrated graphics in a desktop chip at launch.
Best for: Spending more than the Ryzen 7 7700X costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 8700G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core Ultra 5 245KF. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest core count here (14 cores). | Buyers who put core count first. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest rated power here (65W). | Buyers who put rated power first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (5.4GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding AMD's fastest integrated graphics in a desktop chip at launch. | Spending more than the Ryzen 7 7700X costs for the fullest feature set in this group. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 8700G on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
The Core Ultra 5 225F is a locked ten-core LGA1851 chip.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core Ultra 5 245KF.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required.
Why we like it
It suits a budget Intel build that will pair with a B860 board. Its 22MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 7 7700 leads at 32MB. Its 4.9GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 7 7700X leads at 5.4GHz.
On core count it sits mid-pack at 10 cores: the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores, and the Ryzen 7 8700G comes in at 8 cores. Like the Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 7 7700 uses an AM5 socket. It also offers 6 P-cores plus 4 E-cores and PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support on Intel 800-series boards.
It needs an LGA1851 board (Intel 800-series chipset) and DDR5 memory; LGA1700 boards and coolers without an LGA1851 mounting kit will not fit. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Core Ultra 5 245KF was closest.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 22MB
- Max boost
- 4.9GHz
- Cores / threads
- 10 cores
- Socket
- LGA1851
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 6 P-cores plus 4 E-cores
- PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support on Intel 800-series boards
- Core count of 10 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700
- The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing
Cons
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 7 7700 (32MB)
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 7 7700X (5.4GHz)
The catch
L3 cache is its weakest area, and the Ryzen 7 7700 covers it better at 32MB.
Highest Core Count2 of 5
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
The Core Ultra 5 245KF is the entry to LGA1851, with 14 cores and no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Buyers who put core count first.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no cooler in the box rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It needs a graphics card to show a picture, which every gaming build has anyway. Its 24MB L3 cache ranks third of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700 (32MB) and ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F (22MB). Its 14 cores core count is the highest here; the Core Ultra 5 225F comes next at 10 cores.
On rated power it trails the group at 125W, while the Ryzen 7 7700 offers 65W. Like the Core Ultra 5 225F, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 7 8700G uses an AM5 socket. You also get 6 performance and 8 efficient cores, Intel 800-series chipset support and PCIe 5.0 support.
It needs an LGA1851 board (Intel 800-series chipset) and DDR5 memory; LGA1700 boards and coolers without an LGA1851 mounting kit will not fit. It was priced above the Core Ultra 5 225F and below the Ryzen 7 7700 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 24MB
- Max boost
- 5.2GHz
- Cores / threads
- 14 cores
- Rated power
- 125W
- Threads
- 14
- Socket
- LGA1851
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 14 cores for encoding and background work
- 6 performance and 8 efficient cores
- Intel 800-series chipset support
- PCIe 5.0 support
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 7 7700 (65W)
The catch
It gives ground on rated power, where the Ryzen 7 7700 offers 65W.
Lowest Rated Power3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
The Ryzen 7 7700 is the 65W version of the 7700X and ships with a Wraith Prism cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated power first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Core Ultra 5 225F was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It gives eight AM5 cores without buying a cooler. It matches the Ryzen 7 7700X on L3 cache (32MB). Its 5.3GHz boost clock ranks second of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700X (5.4GHz) and ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F (4.9GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 7 8700G at 8 cores. Its 65W rated power is the lowest here; the Ryzen 7 7700X comes next at 105W. Like the Ryzen 7 7700X and Ryzen 7 8700G, it has an AM5 socket, while the Core Ultra 5 225F uses an LGA1851 socket.
It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. It was priced above the Core Ultra 5 245KF and below the Ryzen 7 7700X at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 5.3GHz
- Cores / threads
- 8 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 16
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core Ultra 5 245KF
Cons
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 225F at the time of writing
Highest Boost Clock4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
The Ryzen 7 7700X brings eight Zen 4 cores with high clocks to AM5 at a lower price than the X3D chips.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no cooler in the box is a problem.
Why we like it
It gives esports titles plenty of headroom without the cache premium. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 at 32MB. Nothing else here matches its 5.4GHz boost clock; the Ryzen 7 7700 comes closest at 5.3GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen 7 8700G on core count (8 cores). Its 105W rated power ranks second of 3 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700 (65W) and ahead of the Core Ultra 5 245KF (125W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen 7 8700G; the Core Ultra 5 245KF goes with an LGA1851 socket.
You also get the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. Its price falls between the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen 7 8700G, based on our last check.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads
- 8 cores
- Rated power
- 105W
- Threads
- 16
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 4 architecture
- 5nm process
- PCIe 5.0 support on AM5
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 225F at the time of writing
The catch
The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 7 7700. If that matters, the Ryzen 7 7700 has it.
Premium Pick5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
The Ryzen 7 8700G stands out for AMD's fastest integrated graphics in a desktop chip at launch, and it adds a Wraith Spire cooler in the box.
Best for
- Spending more than the Ryzen 7 7700X costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- The maker gives no L3 cache, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5.1GHz boost clock and offers an 8 cores core count. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.1GHz: the Ryzen 7 7700X offers 5.4GHz, and the Core Ultra 5 225F comes in at 4.9GHz. It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen 7 7700X; the Core Ultra 5 245KF goes with an LGA1851 socket.
It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Ryzen 7 7700X. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Ryzen 7 7700, which offers 32MB.
Key specs
- Max boost
- 5.1GHz
- Cores / threads
- 8 cores
- Threads
- 16
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- AMD's fastest integrated graphics in a desktop chip at launch
- Boost clock of 5.1GHz, ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F
Cons
- No published L3 cache
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 5 245KF (14 cores)
- No published rated power
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We compared five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 5 picks leave out L3 cache.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Core Ultra 5 225F to the Ryzen 7 8700G, state boost clock, core count and socket.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 7 8700G gives no L3 cache; the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Ryzen 7 8700G give no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Core Ultra 5 225F ($100 to $150) to the Ryzen 7 8700G ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a CPUs With PCIe 5.0
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much boost clock you need
The Ryzen 7 7700X tops boost clock at 5.4GHz and the Core Ultra 5 225F sits lowest at 4.9GHz. The Ryzen 7 7700 comes second at 5.3GHz, in the same price tier as the Ryzen 7 7700X.
Core count
Here core count runs from 8 cores on the Ryzen 7 8700G to 14 cores on the Core Ultra 5 245KF, a 75% spread. For less, the Core Ultra 5 225F is the runner-up at 10 cores ($100 to $150 tier).
An Intel stock cooler mounted over the CPU socket inside a PC L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 22MB on the Core Ultra 5 225F to 32MB on the Ryzen 7 7700, a 45% spread. The Ryzen 7 7700 is the pick for L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 8700G gives no L3 cache figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Cooler in box
The Core Ultra 5 245KF and the Ryzen 7 7700X go without; the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen 7 8700G have it. Settling cooler in box first narrows 4 picks to 2 or 2.
Extras that separate them
The Ryzen 7 7700: a Wraith Prism cooler in the box. The Ryzen 7 7700X: a 5nm process. The Ryzen 7 8700G: a Wraith Spire cooler in the box.
How to Choose a CPUs With PCIe 5.0
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core Ultra 5 245KF | Core Ultra 5 225F | The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing |
| Buyers who put core count first | Core Ultra 5 245KF | The highest core count here (14 cores) |
| Buyers who put rated power first | Ryzen 7 7700 | The lowest rated power here (65W) |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 7 7700X | The highest boost clock here (5.4GHz) |
| Spending more than the Ryzen 7 7700X costs for the fullest feature set in this group | Ryzen 7 8700G | The top of this price range, adding AMD's fastest integrated graphics in a desktop chip at launch |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 7 7700X leads on boost clock at 5.4GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700 at 5.3GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 7 8700G leaves the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 5 225F | 22MB | 4.9GHz | 10 cores | Not listed |
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 24MB | 5.2GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 7 7700 | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 8 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 7 8700G | Not listed | 5.1GHz | 8 cores | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Core Ultra 5 225F was the lowest-priced pick ($100 to $150) and the Ryzen 7 8700G the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | Core Ultra 5 225F |
| About $150 to $250 | Core Ultra 5 245KF, Ryzen 7 7700, Ryzen 7 7700X |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 7 8700G |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest boost clock: the Ryzen 7 7700X or the Ryzen 7 7700?
Between the top two, it is 5.4GHz on the Ryzen 7 7700X against 5.3GHz on the Ryzen 7 7700, a 2% difference. The Core Ultra 5 225F closes the ranking at 4.9GHz.
Is the Core Ultra 5 245KF ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F on core count?
The Core Ultra 5 245KF tops core count at 14 cores; the Core Ultra 5 225F follows at 10 cores, 40% apart. The Ryzen 7 8700G is at the other end of this group with 8 cores.
Is the Ryzen 7 7700 ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700X on rated power?
The Ryzen 7 7700 is lowest on rated power at 65W; the Ryzen 7 7700X follows at 105W, 38% apart. The spread runs down to the Core Ultra 5 245KF at 125W. The Core Ultra 5 225F and the Ryzen 7 8700G don't state a rated power figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the Ryzen 7 8700G add over the Core Ultra 5 225F?
On paper it adds boost clock (5.1GHz against 4.9GHz). It does not win everywhere: the Core Ultra 5 225F still leads on core count (10 cores). On our last price check the Core Ultra 5 225F was in the $100 to $150 tier and the Ryzen 7 8700G in the $250 to $500 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if boost clock decides your purchase.
Why is the Ryzen 7 7700 our Lowest Rated Power pick?
The label rests on the lowest rated power here (65W). On rated power it leads the Ryzen 7 7700X, 65W against 105W, a 38% margin. The price of that: the Core Ultra 5 225F, the cheapest pick, still beats it on core count (10 cores against 8 cores). It is aimed at anyone who puts rated power first.
Do the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Ryzen 7 7700 differ on socket?
The Core Ultra 5 225F and the Core Ultra 5 245KF use LGA1851; the Ryzen 7 7700, the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 7 8700G use AM5.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Core Ultra 5 225F, chosen for the lowest price among these processors at the time of writing. Look at the Core Ultra 5 245KF for the highest core count here (14 cores), the Ryzen 7 7700 for the lowest rated power here (65W) and the Ryzen 7 7700X for the highest boost clock here (5.4GHz) if those matter more to you.
PCIe 5.0 also depends on the board: check the chipset and slot wiring for the M.2 and x16 slots you plan to use.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best CPUs for Gaming
- Related guideThe Best AMD CPUs for Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Budget CPUs
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End Intel CPUs for Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best Ryzen 5 CPUs for Gaming
- ExplainerHow to Choose a CPU for Your PC
- ExplainerCPU Name Suffixes Explained: K, KF, F, X, X3D and G
- Check compatibility: motherboardsWhat Is a Motherboard VRM and When Does It Matter?
- Similar guideThe Best CPUs
- Topic hubAll processors guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
View all articles