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Amazon US • Updated 09/11/2025
Quick Specs
Our Verdict
Intel's Core Ultra 5 245K offers 14 cores with 7nm Arrow Lake architecture and Arc Xe2 graphics. Delivering solid gaming and productivity performance with impressive power efficiency, it represents excellent value in the mainstream segment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent value for money in mainstream segment
- Strong gaming performance with 6 P-cores
- Impressive power efficiency (147 W under load)
- Advanced Arc Xe2 integrated graphics
- Support for DDR5-6400 and PCIe 5.0
- NPU for AI workloads (13 TOPS)
- Good single-core performance up to 5.2 GHz
- Low idle power consumption (13 W)
Cons
- Requires new LGA 1851 motherboard
- Fewer cores than previous i5 models
- Hyperthreading removed in Arrow Lake
- Cooler not included
- Platform transition costs
Full Specifications
Key Features
Excellent value for money in mainstream segment
Strong gaming performance with 6 P-cores
Impressive power efficiency (147 W under load)
Advanced Arc Xe2 integrated graphics
Support for DDR5-6400 and PCIe 5.0
NPU for AI workloads (13 TOPS)
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review: Mainstream Excellence
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K brings Arrow Lake's advanced 7nm architecture to the mainstream market, offering 14 cores with Arc Xe2 integrated graphics. This processor delivers impressive gaming and productivity performance whilst maintaining excellent power efficiency.
Design and Architecture
Built on Intel's LGA 1851 socket with 7nm manufacturing from TSMC, the Core Ultra 5 245K features 6 Performance cores running up to 5.2 GHz and 8 Efficient cores reaching 4.6 GHz. The Arrow Lake architecture eliminates hyperthreading but delivers improved per-core performance.
The processor includes 48 MB of combined cache (24 MB L2 + 24 MB L3), providing sufficient resources for mainstream applications. The architectural improvements deliver strong performance whilst enhancing efficiency.
Performance
Gaming Performance
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The Core Ultra 5 245K proves itself as a capable gaming processor:
- Solid frame rates in modern titles
- Minimal bottlenecking with mid-to-high-end graphics cards
- Good 1% low frame times for consistent gameplay
- Competitive performance in esports titles
The 6 Performance cores with high clock speeds ensure excellent gaming experiences across popular titles.
Productivity Performance
For everyday and professional workloads, the 245K delivers well:
- Video encoding benefits from the 14-core configuration
- Photo editing and content creation perform smoothly
- Development and compilation tasks complete efficiently
- Multi-tasking handles well with Thread Director
The Intel Thread Director (Gen 3) intelligently manages workload distribution, optimising both performance and efficiency.
Integrated Graphics
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The Arc Xe2 integrated graphics provide solid capability:
- 4 Xe-cores running up to 1.9 GHz
- Support for DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1
- Capable of driving four displays simultaneously
- 8K @ 60 Hz output via DisplayPort
- Hardware acceleration for modern codecs
The integrated GPU handles productivity and media tasks effectively, suitable for systems without dedicated graphics.
AI Capabilities
The integrated NPU (Intel AI Boost) delivers 13 TOPS of AI performance:
- Accelerates machine learning workloads
- Enables Windows Studio Effects
- Improves video conferencing quality
- Reduces CPU load for AI-enhanced features
The dedicated AI processing unit provides valuable acceleration for modern software features.
Power Consumption and Thermals
Power characteristics showcase excellent efficiency:
- Load consumption: 147 W under sustained workloads
- Idle consumption: 13 W (impressively low)
- Operating temperature: Well within 100°C threshold
- Thermal management: Excellent with mid-range cooling
The power consumption represents outstanding efficiency, making the processor ideal for mainstream builds with standard cooling solutions.
Platform Features
The LGA 1851 platform brings modern connectivity:
- PCIe 5.0: 20 lanes for graphics and storage
- DDR5-6400: Native support for high-speed memory
- DDR4-3200: Backward compatibility option
- Thunderbolt 4: Integrated high-speed connectivity
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×2: 20 Gbps USB support
The platform provides excellent expansion options, though requiring new motherboards adds to the initial investment.
Overclocking
As a K-series processor, the 245K offers overclocking capabilities:
- Unlocked multiplier for core frequency adjustments
- Memory overclocking support
- Voltage control available
- Intel's Extreme Tuning Utility provides configuration options
Overclockers will find headroom available, though stock performance already delivers excellent results for most users.
Value Proposition
The Core Ultra 5 245K positions itself as excellent value in the mainstream segment:
- Strong performance for gaming and productivity
- Competitive pricing for the mainstream market
- Excellent efficiency reducing power costs
- Platform costs from new motherboard requirement
For users seeking solid performance without premium pricing, the 245K delivers outstanding value.
Verdict
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K represents an excellent choice for mainstream PC builds. With 14 cores, strong gaming performance, and impressive power efficiency, it delivers capable performance across diverse workloads.
The combination of decent core counts, Arc Xe2 graphics, and AI capabilities creates a versatile platform suitable for gaming, content creation, and everyday computing. Whilst the new platform requires investment in motherboards, the performance and efficiency justify the transition.
For gamers and users seeking solid performance with excellent value and efficiency, the Core Ultra 5 245K is an outstanding mainstream choice that brings Arrow Lake's benefits to a wider audience.
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