Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL socket: LGA 1851
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL uses LGA 1851, the LGA socket for Meteor Lake-PS edge processors with DDR5-5600 and 20 PCIe Gen4 lanes. The 14-core chip at 45 W fits performance edge boards with vendor BIOS support.
- Socket
- LGA 1851
- Launched
- April 2024
- Cores and threads
- 14 and 18
- Base power
- 45 W
- Codename
- Meteor Lake-PS
- Segment
- Embedded
- Family
- Intel Core Ultra 5
- Clocks
- 1.2 / 4.5 GHz
Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL specifications
| Cores | 14 (4 Performance-cores plus 8 Efficient-cores plus 2 low-power E-cores) |
|---|---|
| Threads | 18 |
| Core architecture | Redwood Cove P-cores and Crestmont E-cores |
| Clocks | 1.2 GHz base, up to 4.5 GHz boost |
| Cache | 18 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 45 W |
| Manufacturing process | Intel 4 compute tile with Foveros packaging |
| Memory support | DDR5-5600, 2 channels, up to 96 GB |
| PCI Express | PCIe 4.0 x20 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel Arc Graphics, 112 EUs |
| NPU | Intel AI Boost |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1851 (45.0 by 37.5 mm) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL needs a motherboard with a LGA 1851 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the LGA 1851 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
LGA 1851 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,851 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 45.0 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | October 2024 |
| Memory | DDR5 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 78 × 78 mm |
What the Core Ultra 5 125HL is
The Core Ultra 5 125HL is a 14-core and 18-thread edge processor that Intel launched in the second quarter of 2024 for performance edge nodes. Four Performance-cores with 8 threads plus 8 Efficient-cores and 2 low-power E-cores run at 1.2 GHz base and up to 4.5 GHz boost. Cache is 18 MB of Smart Cache. Base power is 45 W with higher turbo headroom, which sustains multi-camera analytics where 15 W UL parts throttle.
Arc graphics with 112 execution units and an AI Boost NPU handle vision and media from shared DDR5. Machine-vision inspection, video-wall rendering and multi-stream inference benefit from the larger cache and wider GPU over UL parts. The 45 W envelope needs airflow, unlike sealed UL designs.
Factory automation and medical imaging gateways fit here. Fourteen cores keep control, UI and inference threads apart for stable latency. Buyers with sealed enclosures should stay with UL 15 W parts, since HL heat needs active cooling and stronger power delivery.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 125HL fits LGA 1851 PS performance boards with 45 W delivery. Desktop Arrow Lake 800 series support does not guarantee edge PS support, so the industrial vendor list governs. The neutral compatibility sentence covers the board-specific case.
Performance Mini-ITX and ATX edge boards pair HL SKUs with DDR5 SODIMM, multiple M.2 and x16 expansion for frame grabbers. Power modes span 20 W minimum to 65 W maximum assured around the 45 W base. A BIOS with the 125HL ID is mandatory.
Shoppers compare HL parts on core count and GPU size. The 125HL opens the HL band below the 135HL with more EUs. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why edge LGA lists are vendor-driven.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR5-5600 up to 96 GB in two channels via SODIMM is the PS board standard. Vision buffers and model weights should be sized together, since both live in shared RAM. Industrial temperature modules suit harsh sites.
PCIe Gen4 x20 feeds grabbers, NVMe RAID and 2.5 GbE or 10 GbE networking. Edge ATX boards split the x16 slot plus M.2 and Key E for wireless. Fixed splits mean multi-card plans must match the manual lane map.
Cooling is active 45 W with heatsink plus fan or system airflow. No retail cooler ships with tray edge parts. Sustained 4.5 GHz bursts depend on inlet temperature and chassis flow, so vendor thermal validation for the exact enclosure matters.
Upgrade paths
LGA allows moves within HL where the board lists them, such as to the Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL with more EUs. Memory and NVMe can grow via SODIMM and M.2. Power delivery must already cover 45 W.
A bigger jump means 16-core HL parts or a newer edge generation. A working 125HL lasts years with storage care. Desktop LGA 1851 Arrow Lake shares the socket name but uses a different board class.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Core Ultra 5 125HL use?
It uses LGA 1851 in PS edge packaging for 45 W boards. Vendor lists decide support.
How many cores does the 125HL have?
Fourteen cores and 18 threads at 1.2 GHz base and up to 4.5 GHz boost, with 18 MB of cache at 45 W.
What graphics does the 125HL include?
Intel Arc with 112 execution units plus AI Boost NPU for vision and media.
What cooling does the 125HL need?
Active 45 W cooling with chassis airflow. Sealed fanless boxes should use 15 W UL parts instead.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core Ultra processors Series 1 ARK list 125HL 14 cores 4.5GHz (Intel ARK)
- Intel Core Ultra Meteor Lake PS LGA1851 and Raptor Lake PS LGA1700 edge CPUs (Wccftech)
- Intel Core Ultra PS product brief LGA socket DDR5 PCIe (Intel)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .