Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review
Intel's mid-range Arrow Lake. 14 cores in a 125W envelope is impressive. Solid all-rounder when you want Intel.
Architecture & Overview
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is built on the Intel Arrow Lake (LGA 1851) architecture, fabricated on a TSMC 3nm process and released in 2024. It packs 14 cores / 14 threads (6 performance + 8 efficiency) with a base clock of 4.2 GHz and boost up to 5.2 GHz. The cache hierarchy — 26MB L2 plus 24MB L3 — is the single biggest determinant of gaming performance on modern chips: gaming workloads are overwhelmingly cache-sensitive, which is why AMD's 3D V-Cache variants dominate gaming benchmarks despite often having lower raw clocks than their non-X3D siblings.
Power-wise, the chip is rated at 125W TDP, drops into an LGA 1851 socket, and supports DDR5-6400. The recommended cooler is a 240mm AIO or premium air — no stock cooler is included, so budget for one. Integrated graphics: Intel Graphics (4 Xe cores).
Performance Scores
Benchmark Context
In our database this chip posts 24,800 points in Cinebench R23 multi-threaded and 2,150 single-threaded. Cinebench is a strong proxy for productivity performance (rendering, compilation, video encoding) — the multi-threaded score scales with core count, while the single-threaded score tracks per-core speed and is the best predictor of gaming performance alongside L3 cache size.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Strong value (78/100) — performance per dollar is well above average
What to watch out for
- No stock cooler — budget for a cooler separately
GPU Pairing Recommendation
Best paired with a mid-range GPU like the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT or similar. Going higher on the GPU would mean leaving GPU performance on the table at competitive framerates.
Check your balance with the bottleneck calculator or generate a full parts list via the build generator.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 cores / 14 threads |
| P-Cores / E-Cores | 6 / 8 |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB |
| L2 Cache | 26 MB |
| TDP | 125W |
| Socket | LGA 1851 |
| Process Node | TSMC 3nm |
| PCIe Support | PCIe 5.0 |
| Memory Support | DDR5-6400 |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel Graphics (4 Xe cores) |
| Cooler Included | No |
| Recommended Cooler | 240mm AIO or premium air |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 24,800 |
| Cinebench R23 Single | 2,150 |
| Release Year | 2024 |
Best For
- Mid-range builds
- Mixed workloads
Compare With Nearest Peers
vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
$309 vs $249
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vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
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Frequently Asked Questions
What motherboard do I need for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K?
What cooler does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K need?
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Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K have integrated graphics?
How many cores does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K have?
Where to Buy
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K launched at $309 MSRP. Check Amazon for current pricing — prices fluctuate frequently and bundles with motherboards can be a great deal.
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