The video reviews the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, highlighting its strong performance in multi-core productivity tasks but disappointing gaming results, often underperforming compared to its predecessors and competitors. Despite its potential for enthusiasts with overclocking capabilities, the 245K’s poor gaming value and efficiency raise concerns, leading the presenter to recommend alternatives in both Intel and AMD lineups for gamers.
The video reviews the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, which replaces the Core i5-14600K and is priced at $320. The presenter compares its performance against the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X across productivity and gaming workloads. The 245K features six performance cores (P-cores) and eight efficiency cores (E-cores), with base and boost frequencies slightly reduced from its predecessor. It supports DDR5 memory and has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, making it a versatile option for enthusiasts.
Benchmark results reveal that the 245K performs well in multi-core tasks, outperforming the 14600K by 9% and the 9700X by 26% in Cinebench. However, it consumes 46% more power than the 9700X, which raises concerns about its efficiency. In compression and decompression tasks, the 245K fell short, showing disappointing results compared to both the 14600K and the 9700X. Despite some strong performance in rendering applications like Blender and Corona, the overall productivity performance was mixed.
When it comes to gaming benchmarks, the 245K struggles significantly. In titles like Star Wars Jedi Survivor and Cyberpunk 2077, it lags behind both the 14600K and the 9700X, often delivering frame rates that are not competitive for a next-generation CPU. The performance in several games is described as “oddly slow,” with the 245K often matching or falling short of older models like the 12600K. This inconsistency raises questions about its viability for gamers.
The cost-per-frame analysis indicates that the 245K offers poor value for gaming, costing more per frame than both the 9700X and the 14600K. Despite some productivity advantages, the overall gaming performance does not justify its price, especially when compared to alternatives like the Ryzen 7 7700X, which generally provides better performance for a similar cost. The presenter suggests that the 245K would need to drop to around $250 to be considered a viable option.
In conclusion, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K shows promise in productivity tasks, its gaming performance is disappointing and inconsistent. The video emphasizes the need for Intel to address these issues with the Arrow Lake architecture to improve overall competitiveness. Until then, the presenter does not recommend the 245K, as better alternatives exist in both the Intel and AMD lineups, particularly for gamers seeking reliable performance.