Intel Core Ultra 5 245K review: Can this performance-per-watt breakthrough CPU truly be considered affordable?

As a seasoned tech enthusiast who’s been through more PC generations than I care to remember, I find the Core Ultra 5 245K an intriguing proposition. It’s like a gateway drug to the future, offering a taste of PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 without breaking the bank.

Promoting an entry-to-mid-level desktop processor can be challenging due to stiff competition from previous generation CPUs which often see significant price reductions while maintaining similar performance levels. This situation seems applicable to Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 2 chip, the Ultra 5 245K as well.

Although it’s not the most budget-friendly model within its category, as the KF version without integrated graphics holds that title; the Core Ultra 5 265K is relatively affordable given its specifications.

The 14-core, 14-thread processor is expected to retail for around $309, but due to typical price increases associated with newly released components, it will likely be sold for approximately $329 on its release date.

Essentially, this CPU can be compared to Intel’s 14th Gen Core i5-14600K, which retails at $319. Given that price point, it seems reasonable. However, whether upgrading the motherboard to accommodate the new LGA1851 socket or sticking with cheaper chips from the previous generation is a better choice remains debatable. Here’s my take on it.

Core Ultra 5 245K: Price, availability, and specs

The Core Ultra 5 245K is introduced together with five different desktop versions of the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Among these, two do not include integrated graphics (iGPU) and are labeled as “-KF” variants.

According to official recommendations, Intel suggests a price range of $309 to $319 for their Core i5-245K. However, it was listed and sold on Newegg for $328.99 initially.

Compared to its previous generation equivalent, the Core i5-14600K, which initially retailed between $319 and $329, this model is slightly less expensive. In fact, you can find it available for as little as $255 on Amazon now.

The 125W base TDP remains the same from the 14600K to the Ultra 5 245K, while the core/thread count drops from 14c/20t to 14c/14t for the new Core Ultra 200S chip with a focus on performance-per-watt efficiency instead.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the new development with Intel’s Arrow Lake-S chips. These chips now feature an NPU, running at 13 TOPS, specifically designed for handling AI tasks in the background. It’s a significant step forward!

To evaluate both the Core Ultra 5 245K and the top-tier Core Ultra 9 285K models, I had to promptly find a fresh motherboard sample from Intel’s suggested list. The Z890 Taichi motherboard by ASRock offered the most rapid shipping, leading me to make the selection primarily for its convenience. However, this choice doesn’t necessarily cater to the requirements of the entry-level CPU. On the other hand, the Teamgroup RAM and Arctic CPU cooler functioned impeccably and are certainly worth recommending.

Core Ultra 5 245K: CPU benchmarks

Initially appearing to have fewer threads and resembling a budget model, the Core Ultra 5 245K holds its ground quite impressively when compared to its previous version, the Core i5-14600K. It delivers similar performance in benchmark tests or even outperforms it slightly. Surprisingly, I anticipated the Ultra 5 245K to be more closely matched with AMD’s energy-efficient Ryzen 5 9600X. However, Intel managed to place the Ultra 5 245K slightly above its $359 Ryzen 7 9700X in almost every test.

The Core Ultra 245K, as per Geekbench 6 test results, has made a significant improvement in both single-core and multi-core performance compared to the 14600K. Moreover, it surpasses the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which isn’t unexpected since the X3D chip from AMD generally doesn’t excel in productivity tests due to its design focus on gaming performance.

The Core Ultra 245K shows a noticeable improvement, particularly in single-core and multi-core performance, compared to the 14600K across multiple generations.

In prolonged stress tests using Cinebench 2024, it becomes evident that the Core Ultra 9 285K significantly outperforms other processors in terms of multi-core performance, but interestingly, its single-core score is nearly on par with AMD’s Ryzen 7 9900X, priced around $429. Both have similar thermal design power (TDP) ratings of 120W. However, both the Ultra 9 285K and the Ultra 5 245K underperform in 7-Zip’s benchmark when compared to their predecessor, the 14900K, particularly on Arrow Lake-S architecture.

In summary, this processor offers a balanced performance focused on productivity, boasting an upgraded NPU that surpasses its previous version in terms of efficiency and cooler operation. This makes it ideal for budget builders who can choose less bulky cooling systems instead of the massive ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360. However, investing in a new 800-Series motherboard is necessary to experience Intel’s latest desktop generation, which unfortunately comes with an unavoidable cost.

Core Ultra 5 245K: iGPU benchmarks

Experimenting with assembling a PC using a mix of entry-level to mid-range components, I find that opting for integrated graphics can help me save some money initially for high-end discrete graphics cards, which are usually quite pricey. However, for serious gaming, it’s not typically advisable to rely solely on an iGPU. AMD’s Ryzen 8700G processor is an exception to this rule, impressively delivering gaming capabilities. In contrast, testing Intel’s adaptation of the Xe-LPG tile from Meteor Lake chips reveals that it doesn’t seem to be a strong competitor in this area.

The latest Xe-LPG Plus tile incorporates a hardware-boosted XeSS scaling technology that can enhance real-time game rendering when supported by the developer. However, in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, it falls between AMD’s Radeon 680M and 780M GPUs, and significantly lags behind the ASUS ROG Ally X gaming handheld that optimizes games for lower resolutions and reduced graphical detail. Therefore, it’s not ideal for gaming, but it does offer Intel Quick Sync encoding assistance if your video editing software takes advantage of this feature.

Core Ultra 5 245K: Competition

If you’re looking at the Core Ultra 5 245K as a potentially affordable entry into an all-new generation of PC technology like PCIe 5.0 and ultra-fast DDR5 RAM, it has a couple of potential rivals for a similar price point. First, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a 65W chip with an 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 32MB of L3 cache, selling for around $327 at Amazon and providing a fluctuating line across the spec sheet but scoring reasonably close to the Ultra 5 245K.

If you’re transitioning from an AM4 socket, whether it’s an older AMD Ryzen processor or any Intel processor from their past lineup, you’ll have to invest in an AM5 motherboard to accommodate the latest 7000, 8000, and 9000 Series desktop chips. It’s important to note that every selection comes with hidden costs. On the other hand, motherboards compatible with Intel’s LGA1700 socket of the last generation are more affordable and expected to decrease further in price. As a result, opting for an Intel Core i5-14600K priced around $255 could be a sensible choice.

To get the best results when building a desktop PC, it’s essential to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for in a processor. Aiming for performance levels comparable to the Core Ultra 5 245K benchmark scores is a good starting point, and then adjust according to your budget. This way, you won’t end up with just a single processor without anything to connect it to.

Core Ultra 5 245K: Should you buy?

You should buy this if …

✅ You want affordable access to modern component standards

✅ You’re migrating across 2-3+ older CPU generations

You should not buy this if …

❌ You need a high-performing gaming CPU on a budget

❌ You’re already running 13th or 14th Gen Intel processors

Again, appealing to the custom PC-building crowd who are firmly stuck with a strict budget is no easy task, especially when your shiny new processor demands an all-new motherboard to accommodate a similarly new LGA1851 socket. Still, Intel offers a relatively affordable avenue for those craving PCIe 5.0-compatible storage, expansion cards, and integrated Thunderbolt 4 ports as standard with the Core Ultra 5 245K, pushing slightly ahead of its last-gen Core i5-14600K predecessor.

Unlike the significant leap in gaming performance offered by its more advanced sibling, the Core Ultra 9 285K, the Core Ultra 5 245K maintains consistent performance levels. This is in accordance with the Core Ultra 200S series, emphasizing efficiency in terms of performance per watt and incorporating an NPU to handle background AI tasks. The appeal of this processor primarily depends on your preferred software suite, but it’s certainly proficient in productivity applications, making it an excellent choice for this latest generation.

2024-10-24 18:11