Core i5-14600K vs Core Ultra 5 245K

The Core i5-14600K is about 9% faster than the Core Ultra 5 245K in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. Below: FPS in popular games, the specs side by side, and the graphics cards that suit each.

Updated · By Muhammad Muzammil

The short answer

In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Core i5-14600K gets about 164 FPS and the Core Ultra 5 245K about 151 FPS. With a slower graphics card, or at 1440p and 4K, the card sets the FPS more often and the gap gets smaller.

The Core i5-14600K uses the LGA1700 socket and the Core Ultra 5 245K uses LGA1851, so they need different motherboards. The Core i5-14600K takes DDR4/DDR5 memory and the Core Ultra 5 245K takes DDR5. Cores and threads: 14 / 20 on the Core i5-14600K, 14 / 14 on the Core Ultra 5 245K. Neither comes with a cooler, so budget for one.

Core i5-14600K vs Core Ultra 5 245K: FPS in popular games

Estimated FPS at 1080p High with 32 GB RAM (Core i5-14600K / Core Ultra 5 245K in each column). With an RTX 5090, the processor sets the frame rate wherever it can. Values above 500 show as 500+. See FPS for your own PC.

GameRTX 5090RTX 5060
Counter-Strike 2376 / 346305 / 305
Valorant413 / 381413 / 381
Fortnite180 / 166164 / 164
Apex Legends165 / 152165 / 152
Marvel Rivals128 / 11889 / 89
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6164 / 151110 / 110
Cyberpunk 2077132 / 122104 / 104
Baldur's Gate 3134 / 123134 / 123

With a mid-range graphics card such as an RTX 5060, the card sets the frame rate in more games, so the difference between the two processors is smaller.

Estimated FPS. Numbers come from the FPSVibe model, not measured benchmarks. How we estimate

Specs side by side

SpecCore i5-14600KCore Ultra 5 245K
Cores / threads14 / 2014 / 14
Boost clockup to 5.3 GHzup to 5.2 GHz
L3 cache24 MB24 MB
SocketLGA1700LGA1851
MemoryDDR5-5600 / DDR4-3200DDR5-6400
Integrated graphicsIntel UHD 770Intel Graphics (4 Xe cores) (none on the 245KF)
Cooler in the boxNot includedNot included
Power (TDP)125 W125 W
Launch year20232024
Gaming index (est.)75.169.2

Gaming index: estimated CPU-bound gaming performance at 1080p, Ryzen 7 9800X3D = 100. Memory and box cooler as listed on AMD and Intel product pages; where we couldn't confirm a value there, check the manufacturer's page.

Graphics cards that pair well with the Core i5-14600K

Graphics cards that pair well with the Core Ultra 5 245K

Core i5-14600K vs Core Ultra 5 245K FAQs

Is the Core i5-14600K better than the Core Ultra 5 245K for gaming?

The Core i5-14600K is about 9% faster than the Core Ultra 5 245K in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Core i5-14600K gets about 164 FPS and the Core Ultra 5 245K about 151 FPS.

Core i5-14600K or Core Ultra 5 245K: which gets more FPS in Counter-Strike 2?

With an RTX 5090 at 1080p High, the Core i5-14600K gets about 376 FPS and the Core Ultra 5 245K about 346 FPS in our estimates.

Do the Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K use the same motherboard?

No. The Core i5-14600K uses the LGA1700 socket and the Core Ultra 5 245K uses LGA1851, so you need a different motherboard to switch. They also take different memory: DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR5.

Do the Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K come with a cooler?

No. Neither comes with a cooler in the box, so you need to buy one.

Do the Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K have integrated graphics?

Yes. The Core i5-14600K has Intel UHD 770 and the Core Ultra 5 245K has Intel Graphics (4 Xe cores) (none on the 245KF): enough for a display and light games, not for new games at good settings.

What graphics card should I pair with the Core i5-14600K or the Core Ultra 5 245K?

Balanced picks in our estimates: for the Core i5-14600K, RX 9070, RTX 5070, RX 9070 GRE, RTX 5060 Ti 16GB; for the Core Ultra 5 245K, RTX 5070, RX 9070 GRE, RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RX 9060 XT 16GB.