The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus briefly fell to $145.99 on Amazon, a price Tom’s Hardware called an all-time low in its October 6, 2026 report. The offer is now marked sold out; the report lists $210 at Newegg as its best observed price after the deal ended. Both prices can change, so check the retailer listing before buying.
Is the $145 Core Ultra 5 250K Plus deal still available?
No—not according to the latest status on Tom’s Hardware’s October 6, 2026 deal report, which marks the Amazon offer sold out. The $145 figure in the headline rounds the reported $145.99 price. Tom’s Hardware lists $210 at Newegg as the best price it had observed after the Amazon deal sold out; that is a reported price observation, not a live price check.
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What does the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offer?
Tom’s Hardware identifies it as an 18-core Arrow Lake Refresh processor, with six Lion Cove performance cores and twelve Skymont efficiency cores. The report says it does not support Hyper-Threading, has a maximum boost clock of 5.3 GHz, and is rated at 125W PL1 and 250W PL2.
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The K-series chip is unlocked. According to Tom’s Hardware, overclocking requires a motherboard with a Z-series chipset. That platform requirement matters when judging a low CPU price: a build intended for overclocking also needs an appropriate board, and the report does not compare total system costs.
#1 Best Overall
- Next‑Gen Platform Support: Compatible with Intel 800 Series Chipset‑based motherboards with LGA1851 Socket enabling PCIe 5.0/4.0 and high‑speed DDR5 memory (up to 7200 MT/s).
- Ultra‑Fast Boost Clocks: Reaches up to 5.5 GHz max turbo frequency for top‑tier responsiveness and performance
- Built for Enthusiasts: Unlocked for performance tuning when paired with Intel Z‑series chipsets, making it ideal for overclockers and power users.
- Robust Power & Thermal Design: Engineered with 125W base power and 250W max turbo power to sustain high‑intensity
Is it a good CPU for gaming?
In Tom’s Hardware’s average gaming results, the 250K Plus was roughly comparable to the Core i5-14600K, slightly faster than the Ryzen 5 9600X, about 3% behind the Ryzen 7 9700X, and about 10% behind the Ryzen 5 7600X3D. These are the outlet’s results from its test setup, not a guarantee for every game or PC configuration.
For a budget gaming build, those comparisons suggest the processor is worth evaluating, but the sale price alone does not establish the best value. Compare the current CPU price and the cost of the rest of the platform, and weigh the gaming results against the games and graphics card you plan to use.
Rank #2
- Next‑Gen Platform Support: Compatible with Intel 800 Series Chipset‑based motherboards with LGA1851 Socket enabling PCIe 5.0/4.0 and high‑speed DDR5 memory (up to 7200 MT/s).
- High‑Performance Core Configuration: Features up to 24 cores (8 P‑cores + 16 E‑cores) for demanding gaming and creator
- Ultra‑Fast Boost Clocks: Reaches up to 5.5 GHz max turbo frequency for top‑tier responsiveness and performance
- Built for Enthusiasts: Unlocked for performance tuning when paired with Intel Z‑series chipsets, making it ideal for overclockers and power users.
- Robust Power & Thermal Design: Engineered with 125W base power and 250W max turbo power to sustain high‑intensity
How does it perform in productivity work?
Tom’s Hardware reports stronger results in its multithreaded productivity geomean: the 250K Plus was 33% faster than the Ryzen 7 9700X and 80% faster than the Ryzen 5 9600X in that comparison. Those percentages describe the outlet’s tested workload suite and should not be treated as a predicted gain in every individual application.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 10 cores (6 P-cores + 4 E-cores) and 14 threads.
- Performance hybrid architecture integrates two core microarchitectures, prioritizing and distributing workloads to optimize performance
- Up to 4.9 GHz. 22 MB Cache
- Compatible with Intel 800 series chipset-based motherboards
- PCIe 5.0 & 4.0 support. Intel Optane Memory support. No thermal solution included. Discrete graphics required
Rank #3
- Original brand
- Three year warranty against manufacturing defects.
What to check before buying
- Confirm the current retailer price and stock; the $145.99 Amazon offer is reported sold out.
- Choose based on your workload: Tom’s Hardware’s results show a stronger relative case in multithreaded productivity than in gaming against the named alternatives.
- If you plan to overclock, include the price of a Z-series motherboard in your build budget.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
