Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review 2026

Gaming Cpu Review 2026 — Budget Arrow Lake Gaming

Intel’s Core Ultra 5 245K brings Arrow Lake’s hybrid architecture to the budget segment with 14 cores (6P + 8E) at just $289, making it one of the most affordable modern processors available. While it can’t match the productivity capability of higher core count options, the 245K delivers solid gaming performance and reasonable multi-threaded capability for casual content creators. At 125W TDP with competitive gaming frame rates, the 245K is an excellent budget option for builders prioritizing value and gaming on a tight budget. It’s also a strong option for creators who want some CPU cores without flagship pricing.

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Specifications & Architecture

Specification | Value
Cores / Threads | 14 (6P + 8E)
P-Core Base Clock | 4.2 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz
E-Core Base Clock | 2.8 GHz
E-Core Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz
L3 Cache | 24 MB
TDP | 125W (base) / 250W (max turbo)
Socket | LGA1851
Architecture | Arrow Lake (Intel 7 / 3nm hybrid)
Supported Memory | DDR5-6400 native

The Core Ultra 5 245K is the entry-level Arrow Lake processor with 14 cores combining 6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores. The 5.2 GHz P-core boost provides decent single-threaded performance, while the 14-core configuration offers moderate multi-threading capability. The 24MB L3 cache is conservative but acceptable for the budget segment. At $289, it’s one of the most affordable modern CPUs available.

Gaming Performance

Gaming performance on the 245K is solid for a budget processor, delivering respectable 1440p gaming and excellent 1080p performance. It’s suitable for budget gaming systems paired with mid-range GPUs.

Game Title | Resolution | Settings | FPS (245K)
Cyberpunk 2077 (2.3) | 1440p | Medium | 65-75
Counter-Strike 2 | 1440p | High | 350+
Baldur’s Gate 3 | 1080p | Medium + Ray Tracing | 80-90
Helldivers 2 | 1440p | High | 150+
Call of Duty: Warzone | 1440p | Medium | 115-130

The 245K delivers solid 1440p gaming at medium settings and excellent 1080p performance at high settings. For budget gamers pairing with RTX 5060 or 5070, the 245K provides competent gaming capability. It’s not designed for ultra-high-refresh competitive play or 4K gaming, but for 1440p 60-100 FPS or 1080p 144+ FPS gaming, it’s perfectly adequate.

Productivity Performance

The 245K’s 14 cores provide light multi-threaded capability, suitable for casual content creation but limiting for professional work.

Workload | Metric | Performance
Cinebench R24 (Multi-Thread) | Points | 1,350+
Cinebench R24 (Single-Thread) | Points | 145+
Blender (CUDA) | Render Time | Moderate (limited cores)
Video Encoding (H.265) | FPS | 110-130 FPS @ 1080p
Code Compilation | Time | Moderate parallel performance

The 245K is adequate for light content creation and casual video editing. Video encoding is slower than higher-tier options but acceptable for hobbyist streaming. Professional content creators should invest in higher core count options, but casual users will find adequate capability.

Power Consumption & Thermals

The 245K operates at 125W base TDP with peak turbo reaching 250W. The lower core count means more predictable thermals than higher-tier options.

Temperature Performance:

Air Cooling (Budget Cooler): 65-73°C under full load

AIO Liquid Cooling (240mm): 50-60°C under full load

Idle Temperature: 32-38°C (ambient dependent)

The 245K runs cooler than higher core count Arrow Lake options, with peak sustained power around 180-200W. An 850W PSU is sufficient for reasonable GPU pairings. The thermal management is straightforward even with budget coolers.

Platform & Motherboard Compatibility

The 245K requires LGA1851 socket with available boards:

Z890: Premium boards ($300-400+)

H890: Mid-range boards ($200-300)

B890: Budget boards ($150-250)

For the 245K’s budget positioning, B890 boards are the recommended pairing, offering solid features at reasonable cost. H890 boards provide more features if desired. The new motherboard expense is the main drawback of the LGA1851 platform for budget builders.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Ultra-affordable $289 price point

Excellent value for budget gaming

14 cores offer light multi-threading capability

Solid 1080p gaming and acceptable 1440p performance

125W TDP is manageable with budget cooling

5.2 GHz boost provides decent single-threaded response

Cons:

Still requires new expensive LGA1851 motherboard

Gaming performance behind AMD budget options

Limited cores for serious productivity work

Peak power reaches 250W (needs 850W+ PSU)

Not ideal for streaming or content creation

Cache is relatively small (24MB)

Who Should Buy This CPU?

Ideal For:

Budget Gaming Builders: Tight budget for gaming system

1080p Gaming Focus: Users prioritizing 1080p performance

Intel Platform Loyalists: Want Intel upgrade on new platform

Light Creators: Casual content creators on budget

Not Recommended For:

Content creators (not enough cores)

Streamers (insufficient encoding capability)

1440p+ high-refresh gamers (needs stronger CPU)

AMD budget enthusiasts (Ryzen 5 9600X is better value)

Alternatives to Consider

Ryzen 5 9600X Review — Better budget AM5 option

Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Review — More cores for $100 more

Ryzen 7 9700X Review — 8-core Ryzen at similar price

How to Build a Gaming PC 2026 — Building guide

Ultimate Gaming PC Build Guide 2026 — System recommendations

Best NVMe SSD for Gaming 2026 — Storage solutions

DDR5 6000 vs 7200 — Is It Worth the Upgrade? — RAM selection

Air vs AIO Cooling 2026 — Cooling comparison

RTX 5060 Review 2026 — GPU pairing recommendation

How to Overclock DDR5 RAM Safely — Performance tuning

FAQ

Is the 245K better than Ryzen 5 9600X?

The 9600X is faster at gaming and doesn’t require expensive new motherboard. The 245K has more cores (14 vs 6) but costs more overall with motherboard. Choose 9600X unless you specifically need more cores.

Should I get 245K or 9700X?

The 9700X is faster at both gaming and productivity, uses cheaper AM5 boards, and has lower TDP. The 245K is only cheaper CPU-wise ($289 vs $359) but more expensive overall with motherboard. Choose 9700X unless budget is absolutely critical.

Can the 245K handle gaming + streaming?

Not effectively. Only 6 P-cores means gaming suffers significantly during streaming. Need higher core count for simultaneous gaming and encoding.

What GPU should I pair with the 245K?

RTX 5060 or 5070 for balanced 1440p gaming. Avoid RTX 5080/5090 as the CPU will bottleneck them significantly.

Do I need a new motherboard for the 245K?

Yes, LGA1851 is required. Budget $150-250+ for a quality B890 board, adding significant cost.

Is the 245K future-proof?

It’s adequate for 1080p gaming through 2027-2028. For 1440p, it will struggle with future demanding games. Upgrade path is available within LGA1851.

Final Verdict

Score: 8.2/10

The Gaming Cpu is a competent budget gaming CPU at $289, but the mandatory new LGA1851 motherboard expense diminishes its value proposition. The Ryzen 5 9600X at the same price offers similar gaming performance without the motherboard upgrade requirement, making it the better budget choice for most builders. The 245K makes sense only for Intel-specific loyalists or those building on LGA1851 for other reasons. For budget-conscious builders, the AM5 platform remains the superior choice in 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Core Ultra 5 245K good for gaming?

It is competent rather than class leading. It delivers solid frame rates that will not bottleneck a midrange graphics card at 1440p, but the 3D V-Cache Ryzen chips remain faster in most games. Its value depends heavily on the price of the whole platform including board and memory.

What is the total platform cost like?

It requires an LGA 1851 motherboard and DDR5 memory, so an upgrade from an older Intel system means replacing more than just the processor. When comparing against AMD options, always price the complete board plus memory plus CPU bundle rather than the chip alone.

How does it handle productivity work?

Well for its price tier. The mix of performance and efficiency cores gives it strong multithreaded throughput for video encoding, photo editing, and general multitasking, and the integrated media engine accelerates common encode and decode tasks that would otherwise occupy the main cores.

Does it need an expensive cooler?

No. Its power draw is moderate, so a decent mid-range tower air cooler keeps it in check under sustained load. There is no need for a large liquid cooling loop unless you plan to run continuous all-core workloads and want the lowest possible noise.

Does it have usable integrated graphics?

Yes, the integrated graphics are capable enough for desktop use, media playback, and light gaming, which is genuinely useful for troubleshooting or as a fallback while waiting on a graphics card. It is not a substitute for a discrete GPU in modern titles.