Intel Core Ultra 5 245K: A Disappointing Mid-Range Processor

The legacy of mid-range processors like the Intel Core i5-2500K still lingers in the minds of gamers, offering a legendary gaming experience for a decade. Fast forward to today, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K fails to carry on that legacy. Priced at $309, it offers minimal upgrades in gaming performance compared to its predecessor, the Intel Core i5-2500K, which was launched at a similar price when adjusted for inflation. Instead, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K excels in creative workloads such as Blender.

Creative professionals, however, are more inclined to opt for the more powerful Core Ultra 9 285K, leaving the Core Ultra 5 245K in a tough spot. For most PC gamers, investing in a last-gen processor would provide a better gaming experience at a lower cost.

Specs and Features

Similar to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the Core Ultra 5 245K is based on Intel’s Arrow Lake architecture. This architecture utilizes the big.LITTLE design philosophy which pairs Performance Cores (P-Cores) with Efficiency Cores, improving efficiency in handling various workloads.

Intel made a significant change by removing Hyper-Threading from the performance cores in the Core Ultra 5 245K, resulting in improved multi-core performance over the Core i5-14600K. The focus on efficiency over raw performance is evident, with the processor consuming 20% less power under heavy loads compared to its predecessor.

In terms of temperatures, the Core Ultra 5 245K peaks at 77°C during testing, a significant improvement over the Core i5-14600K. The processor also features slightly reduced clock speeds compared to its predecessor, coupled with a new socket requirement that necessitates a Z890 motherboard.

Performance

While the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K offered a noticeable boost in creative performance, the Core Ultra 5 245K falls short in comparison to its predecessor. Though faster in multi-threaded workloads, the slight improvement doesn’t translate well in gaming performance.