Buying Guide
The Best CPUs With PCIe 5.0
Five processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, where the Ryzen 9 7900X has the largest L3 cache; the Core Ultra 5 225F is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
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; gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab)
Highest Core Count
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
The highest core count here (14 cores).
Best for: Buyers who put core count first.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Rated Power
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
The lowest rated power here (65W).
Best for: Buyers who put rated power first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
The Zen 4 architecture.
Best for: Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
The largest L3 cache here (64MB).
Best for: Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (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 (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest rated power here (65W). | Buyers who put rated power first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab) |
| The Zen 4 architecture. | Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest L3 cache here (64MB). | Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 5 225F is a locked ten-core LGA1851 chip.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It suits a budget Intel build that will pair with a B860 board. Its 20MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 64MB. Its 4.9GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 5.6GHz.
On core count it sits mid-pack at 10 cores: the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores, and the Ryzen 7 7700X comes in at 8 cores. On rated power it ties with the Core Ultra 5 245KF at 125W. Like the Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 7 7700 uses an AM5 socket.
It also offers 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, PCIe 5.0 support and Intel 800-series chipset support. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Core Ultra 5 245KF was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 20MB
- Max boost: 4.9GHz
- Cores / threads: 10 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 10
- Socket: LGA1851
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 6 performance and 4 efficient cores
- PCIe 5.0 support
- Intel 800-series chipset support
- Core count of 10 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB)
Highest Core Count2 of 5
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 bo 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 fourth of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB) and ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F (20MB). Its 14 cores core count is the highest here; the Ryzen 9 7900X comes next at 12 cores.
On rated power it ties with the Core Ultra 5 225F at 125W. Like the Core Ultra 5 225F, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 9 7900X uses an AM5 socket. You also get 6 performance and 8 efficient cores, Intel 800-series chipset support and PCIe 5.0 support.
It was priced above the Core Ultra 5 225F and below the Ryzen 7 7700 at the time of writing. What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 7 7700; by contrast, the Ryzen 7 7700 has it.
Key dimensions & 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
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 225F at the time of writing
Lowest Rated Power3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 7700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 third of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900X (5.6GHz) and ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F (4.9GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700X 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 9 7900X, 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 dimensions & 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
Also Consider4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 want Zen 4 architecture.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no cooler in the bo 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. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.4GHz: the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 5.6GHz, and the Core Ultra 5 225F comes in at 4.9GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 7 7700 on core count (8 cores). Its 105W rated power ranks second of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700 (65W) and ahead of the Ryzen 9 7900X (170W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen 9 7900X; 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 9 7900X, based on our last check. If core count is your priority, the Core Ultra 5 245KF (14 cores) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & 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
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 5 245KF (14 cores)
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 225F at the time of writing
Largest Game Cache5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 7900X has 12 Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AI is a problem.
Why we like it
It is a cheaper way to the same thread count as the 9900X, at a higher power rating. Its 64MB L3 cache is the largest here; the Ryzen 7 7700 comes next at 32MB. Its 5.6GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Ryzen 7 7700X comes next at 5.4GHz.
Its 12 cores core count ranks second of 5 here, behind the Core Ultra 5 245KF (14 cores) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700X (8 cores). Its 170W rated power is the highest in this group; the Ryzen 7 7700 leads at 65W. It also offers the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5.
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.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 7 7700 (65W)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Upgrade path
- We considered how long each socket is likely to receive new CPUs.
- Platform cost
- We noted socket, memory type and whether a cooler is included, since they change the real price.
- Game-relevant specs
- We compared L3 cache, boost clocks and core counts from AMD's and Intel's product pages.
- Power and cooling
- We recorded each chip's rated power and what cooler class it needs.
What to Look for in a CPUs With PCIe 5.0
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Decide on L3 cache first
Among these picks, L3 cache runs from 20MB on the Core Ultra 5 225F to 64MB on the Ryzen 9 7900X. Match this to what you will actually do with it, then let price decide between the picks that qualify.
Cache helps games more than clocks
AMD's X3D chips add a large stacked L3 cache that keeps more game data close to the cores. In CPU-limited games that often helps more than a higher boost clock.
The gain shrinks when the graphics card is the limit.
Budget for the cooler
Most unlocked chips ship without a cooler. A 65W part runs well on a basic single tower, while 120W to 170W parts need a dual tower or an AIO to hold their boost clocks.
Add the cooler to the CPU price when comparing.
Check BIOS support before buying
Newer CPUs on older boards may need a BIOS update before the system will start. Check the board's CPU support list for the version you need and whether the board can flash without a CPU installed.
Integrated graphics are a useful backup
Chips with integrated graphics can drive a display without a graphics card, which helps when troubleshooting or between upgrades. Intel's F and KF models and most AM4 Ryzen chips have none.
How to Choose a CPUs With PCIe 5.0
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | 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 want Zen 4 architecture | Ryzen 7 7700X | The Zen 4 architecture |
| Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates | Ryzen 9 7900X | The largest L3 cache here (64MB) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 5 225F | 20MB | 4.9GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| 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 9 7900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 170W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| 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 9 7900X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these processors has the highest boost clock?
The Ryzen 9 7900X, at 5.6GHz. The Ryzen 7 7700X follows at 5.4GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 225F has 4.9GHz.
What is the least I can spend on one of these processors?
The Core Ultra 5 225F. It undercut the Core Ultra 5 245KF when we checked, while the Ryzen 9 7900X cost the most of the group.
Should I choose Intel or AMD for gaming?
At the high end, AMD's X3D chips lead in many CPU-limited games. Intel's Core Ultra chips offer more cores for work at similar prices. Choose by workload and platform cost.
What does the rated power figure mean?
It is AMD's default TDP or Intel's base power. Chips can draw more under boost, so size the cooler for sustained loads, not the label alone.
Is AM4 still worth buying into?
For an upgrade to an existing AM4 system, yes. For a new build, AM5 or LGA1851 gives a longer upgrade path.
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 Zen 4 architecture 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.