Intel
Core Ultra 5 245K14-core Arrow Lake processor (6P + 8E) with 5.2 GHz boost. Great value for mid-range gaming builds on Intel's latest platform.
Intel
Core Ultra 9 285KIntel's flagship Arrow Lake desktop processor with 24 cores (8P + 16E) and 5.7 GHz boost. Built on LGA 1851 with DDR5 support for enthusiast builds.
How They Compare
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is priced at $288.99 in the CPUs category. It stands out with base clock advantages over the competition. It's designed with gaming in mind.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is priced at $589.99 in the CPUs category. It stands out with cache, cores, threads advantages over the competition.
Key Differences
What this means: Higher tdp indicates greater power draw and heat output. This directly impacts your power supply requirements, cooling solution choice, and electricity costs. Lower values generally mean a cooler, quieter, and more efficient build.
What this means: This cache spec directly impacts features and capabilities for cpus. The product with the higher value here will have an advantage in scenarios where this specification is the limiting factor. Consider whether this specific spec matters for your workload — not every spec difference affects every use case equally.
What this means: This cores spec directly impacts features and capabilities for cpus. The product with the higher value here will have an advantage in scenarios where this specification is the limiting factor. Consider whether this specific spec matters for your workload — not every spec difference affects every use case equally.
What this means: This threads spec directly impacts features and capabilities for cpus. The product with the higher value here will have an advantage in scenarios where this specification is the limiting factor. Consider whether this specific spec matters for your workload — not every spec difference affects every use case equally.
What this means: Higher base clock means faster data processing and better real-world performance. Even small differences in clock speeds can translate to measurable FPS gains in CPU-bound games and faster completion times in productivity tasks.
What this means: Higher boost clock means faster data processing and better real-world performance. Even small differences in clock speeds can translate to measurable FPS gains in CPU-bound games and faster completion times in productivity tasks.
Spec Breakdown
Full Specification Comparison
9 specs| Specification | Core Ultra 5 245K | Core Ultra 9 285K |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 125W (PL2 159W) | 125W (PL2 250W) |
| Cache | 26MB | 40MB |
| Cores | 14 | 24 |
| Socket | LGA 1851 | LGA 1851 |
| Threads | 14 | 24 |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz | 5.7 GHz |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Arrow Lake |
| Included Cooler | No | No |
The Bottom Line
At $288.99, the Core Ultra 5 245K is the most affordable option. It takes the lead in base clock. Tagged as Budget Pick.
- Higher base clock (4.2 GHz)
- Lower cache (26MB)
- Fewer cores (14)
- Fewer threads (14)
- You want the higher base clock for better performance
- Budget is your top priority
- You need better cache
- You need more cores for multi-threaded workloads
At $589.99, the Core Ultra 9 285K is the premium option. It takes the lead in cache and cores. Tagged as Best Value and Best Performance and Premium Pick.
- Better cache (40MB)
- More cores (24)
- More threads (24)
- Higher boost clock (5.7 GHz)
- Lower base clock (3.7 GHz)
- You want the stronger cache
- You need 24+ cores for your workload
- You want the best bang for your buck
- You need better base clock