Intel Core Ultra 200 CPUs with Z890 boards can't reach full PCIe Gen5 SSD speeds

A potentially big flaw in the design of Intel Core Ultra Series 200 CPUs and Z890 motherboards has been discovered, slower Gen5 SSD speeds than expected.

Intel Core Ultra 200 CPUs with Z890 boards can't reach full PCIe Gen5 SSD speeds
Comment IconFacebook IconX IconReddit Icon
Senior Editor
Published
2 minutes read time

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to you.

TL;DR: A report reveals Intel Core Ultra Series 200 CPUs with Z890 motherboards limit PCIe Gen5 M.2 SSD speeds to 12GB/s, below the 14GB/s potential, due to higher latency from the CPU’s multi-chip design. This design flaw impacts maximum throughput and random write performance, with uncertain firmware fixes.

A new report at The SSD Review has uncovered a potentially serious flaw with the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 200 CPUs and Z890 motherboards. According to the outlet's testing and investigation, high-speed PCIe 5.0 M.2 SDDs cannot achieve their maximum read throughput of 14GB/s or 14,0000 MB/s.

PCIe Gen5 speeds on a Z790 motherboard compared to a Z890 motherboard, image credit: The SSD Review.
2

PCIe Gen5 speeds on a Z790 motherboard compared to a Z890 motherboard, image credit: The SSD Review.

In 2025, several PCIe Gen5 SSDs are offering this speed (check out our recent review of the Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB SSD), so not being able to hit the maximum throughput means that pairing a fast PCIe Gen5 SSD with an Intel Core Ultra Series 200 CPU and Z890 motherboard means that these storage devices aren't running at their full or advertised capacity.

The SSD Review's investigation has found that these SSDs are topping out at 12GB/s or 12,000 MB/s. The outlet adds that it has been unable to find any review or record showcasing a 14GB/s capable Gen5 SSD hitting that speed on a Z890 motherboard. So then, what's going on?

According to the report, random write performance is "also substandard" compared to what it has seen with Z790 motherboard systems. Reaching out to both ASUS and ASRock, who reproduced the same results, they explained that the issue comes down to the higher latency of the Intel Core Ultra Series 200 CPU's I/O extender tile, which feeds the M.2 slots and the SoC (System-on-Chip) tile, which feeds the PCIe lanes. As the first multi-chip desktop CPUs from Intel, it sounds like a fundamental design flaw born from the chiplet approach to the latest generation of Core Ultra CPUs.

Naturally, the outlet contacted Intel, which provided the following response.

Intel can confirm that the PCIe Lanes 21 to 24 Gen5 root port on Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors may exhibit increased latencies compared to the PCIe Lanes 1 to 16 Gen5 root ports, owing to a longer die-to-die data path. However, any variations are contingent upon the specific workload and the capabilities of the PCIe endpoint device.

It's unclear if this latency issue can be rectified with firmware or BIOS updates.