Intel Core Ultra 3 205 Arrow Lake Afterburner Fleeter, Less Expensive

Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review: Arrow Lake-S entry-level CPU delivers budget pricing and 23% quicker multi-core performance than the i3-14100

Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review: Arrow Lake new entry-level CPU

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review offers an in-depth first view of Intel’s entry-level Arrow Lake-S desktop processor. While Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is the most affordable model in the family, it pairs efficiency with speed to deliver an impressive 23% performance gain relative to the Core i3-14100F in multi-threaded benchmarks.

Our Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review breaks down everything from architecture to pricing to retail availability, so you get the full story on whether this Arrow Lake budget CPU can make its mark.

Intel Core Ultra 3 205 specifications

Intel Core Ultra 3 205 comes with a hybrid core design based on Arrow Lake-S architecture with 4 P-cores and 4 E-cores, 8 cores and 8 threads in total.

• Base Clock: 3.80 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.90 GHz
• L3 Cache: 16 MB
• L2 Cache: 3 MB
• Socket: LGA 1851
• Memory: DDR5 support
• TDP: 65W

However, as discussed in the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review, this config also turns it into a bona fide entry-level desktop CPU — one targeted squarely at budget builders or OEM prebuilt desktops.

Benchmarks of Intel Core Ultra 3 205 vs i3-14100F

Here are the scores for the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 in Geekbench 6 tests:

• 2664 points (single-core)
• 9935 points (multi-core)

Comparisons:

• Core i3-14100F: 2387 (SC)/8110 (MC)
• Ryzen 5 5600X3D: 2085 (single core), 9380 (multi-core)
• Core i3-13100F: 2262 (SC), 7598 (MC)

In other words, the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is 11% faster and 23% better on multi-core than the i3-14100F, a really substantial improvement for a mid-range Arrow Lake CPU.

Platform and motherboard compatibility

Intel Core Ultra 3 205 (Image credit: Gigabyte)As featured in this Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review, the chip needs a brand-new LGA 1851 motherboard, like the Gigabyte H810 seen in the leak. DDR5 memory is also mandatory, making it a more expensive option than older DDR4 platforms.

While this makes the Core Ultra 3 205 a little more expensive to build around than previous-gen AM4 setups, it offers much better future-proofing with industry standards.

Price and availability

As for pricing, the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 looks to be priced at $120–$150 USD, based on early retail listings, which would put it below AMD’s entry-level Ryzen AM5 chips. Of course, factoring in platform costs means chips like the Ryzen 5 5600X3D would have to be considered overall better value alongside AM4 CPUs.

[GB6 CPU] Unknown CPU
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 3 205 (8C 8T)
Min/Max/Avg: 4288/4893/4718 MHz
Codename: Arrow Lake
CPUID: C0662 (GenuineIntel)
Single: 2664
Multi: 9935https://t.co/YRwqjM7li2

— Benchleaks (@BenchLeaks) August 30, 2025

However, for the new builders, this Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review believes that what it loses in the wallet makes up for in performance gains.

Comparison vs Arrow Lake family of chips from Intel

Intel Core Ultra 3 205 – Bottom of Arrow Lake-S lineup but delivers good entry-level performance

While the Core Ultra 5 245 and Core Ultra 7 265 hit enthusiast territory, this Intel Core Ultra 3 205 review proves that budget-conscious users can afford Arrow Lake for a lot less than we thought.

First impression: Buy the Intel Core Ultra 3 205? Here are our final thoughts.

Review: Intel Core Ultra 3 205 Confirmed As An Excellent Entry-Level Performer, Just Overtaking Old i3 Part, Competing With AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D At 205 HD/4K

Or, if you are after a cheaper desktop CPU with all modern architecture plus DDR5 support and improved multi-core scaling, the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 makes sense. However, for those of you with tighter budgets, legacy AM4 CPUs and boards could still prove cheaper in total.

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