AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Core Ultra 5 245K represent two fundamentally different approaches to desktop computing, and the benchmark data separates them clearly. The Ryzen 9 9900X wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, with its most dramatic victories coming in integer math and data compression, where it leads by 83.2% and 47.9% respectively. The Core Ultra 5 245K, however, takes the overall average benchmark score by a slim margin — 55304 versus 54450, a 1.6% difference — and wins in floating-point math, single-threaded PassMark, and data encryption. The data indicates that the Ryzen 9 9900X is the superior choice for heavily multi-threaded productivity workloads, while the Core Ultra 5 245K offers a more balanced profile with a slight edge in specific single-thread and FPU tasks. Both processors sit at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, so neither is a slouch; the decision hinges on workload type, platform preferences, and the fact that the Ryzen 9 9900X carries a launch MSRP of $499 while the Intel part is $319.

The Verdict

For users whose primary applications are multi-core renderers, compilers, or data-processing pipelines, the Ryzen 9 9900X is the clear choice from the data. Its 25.5% advantage across every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core test is consistent and substantial — the 46438 R23 multi-core score versus 37001 for the Intel part leaves no ambiguity. The 83.2% lead in PassMark integer math (181056 vs 98850) further reinforces that the AMD processor handles integer-heavy workloads with far greater throughput. Similarly, data compression favors AMD by 47.9% (683579 vs 462110), and extended instructions by 46.1% (55243 vs 37822). Anyone running video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific simulations should gravitate toward the 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen 9 9900X.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, with 14 cores and 14 threads, is the pick for workloads that emphasize floating-point throughput or where the slight single-thread PassMark advantage matters. It wins floating-point math by 8.4% (131107 vs 120083) and single-thread PassMark by 0.6% (4700 vs 4672). Data encryption is essentially tied, with Intel ahead by 0.2% (33481 vs 33421). The Intel part also posts a higher average benchmark score overall — 55304 vs 54450 — meaning that across a broad mix of tests, it edges out AMD. For a user who values the lower launch MSRP of $319 and does a mix of general productivity, the Intel chip is defensible, especially since it occupies the same 94th percentile. However, the head-to-head data shows that in the most demanding multi-threaded tasks, the AMD part is overwhelmingly faster.

There is no scenario in the data where the Core Ultra 5 245K matches the Ryzen 9 9900X in Cinebench multi-core — the 25.5% deficit is uniform. The Intel processor also trails in multithread PassMark by 25.5% (43527 vs 54643) and in random string sorting by 28.9% (55882 vs 72013). The physics test is a near-tie, with AMD ahead by 1% (3381 vs 3348). Therefore, the verdict is straightforward: the Ryzen 9 9900X for compute-heavy multi-threaded workloads, the Core Ultra 5 245K for floating-point tasks and those who want competitive single-thread performance at a lower launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has a higher average benchmark score of 55304, compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X's 54450, a difference of 1.6%.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap between the two in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scores 46438 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scores 37001, giving AMD a 25.5% lead.

Q: In which tests does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K beat the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X?

A: The Intel part wins in PassMark floating-point math (131107 vs 120083, an 8.4% lead), PassMark single-thread (4700 vs 4672, a 0.6% lead), and PassMark data encryption (33481 vs 33421, a 0.2% lead). It also wins the duplicate single-thread test by the same margin.

Q: What is the biggest margin of victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X?

A: The largest win is in PassMark integer math, where AMD scores 181056 versus Intel's 98850, a lead of 83.2%.

Q: Do both processors have similar overall performance percentiles?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K are at the 94th percentile against all CPUs.

Q: How do the two compare in data compression and encryption?

A: AMD wins data compression decisively, 683579 vs 462110, a 47.9% lead. Data encryption is essentially a tie, with Intel ahead by 0.2% (33481 vs 33421).

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, and fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm process. It uses a chiplet design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm² and a total of 16,630 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, in contrast, uses the Arrow Lake architecture (Arrow Lake-S) on TSMC's 3 nm node, with a single 243 mm² die and 17,800 million transistors. The Intel part has a larger die and more transistors, but the AMD chip uses a smaller process node (4 nm vs 3 nm). The AMD processor features 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel processor has 14 cores and 14 threads — the AMD chip relies on simultaneous multithreading, whereas the Intel part does not. Cache hierarchies differ significantly: the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and only 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's larger L3 cache is a notable architectural advantage for multi-threaded workloads. Both support DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but AMD's memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus Intel's 102.4 GB/s. PCIe support also differs: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Both have integrated graphics, with AMD using Radeon Graphics and Intel using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both are unlocked for overclocking, and both support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core Ultra 5 245K |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Release Date | 2024-08-14 | 2024-10-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $499 | $319 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniform 25.5% victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X across all six Cinebench tests — R15, R20, and R23, each in multi-core and single-core variants. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 46438 against Intel's 37001; in R23 single-core, it's 6555 against 5223. The 25.5% margin is identical in both single and multi-threaded tests, indicating a consistent per-core performance advantage for the AMD architecture, not just a thread-count benefit. This is a decisive result: regardless of thread scaling, the Ryzen 9 9900X is faster in Cinebench.

In PassMark tests, the AMD processor's dominance is even more pronounced in specific categories. The 83.2% lead in integer math — 181056 vs 98850 — is the largest single delta between the two. Data compression shows a 47.9% advantage (683579 vs 462110), and extended instructions show a 46.1% lead (55243 vs 37822). Random string sorting also favors AMD by 28.9% (72013 vs 55882), and the multithread PassMark score is 25.5% higher (54643 vs 43527). The AMD chip wins the prime numbers test by a slender 3.1% (436 vs 423) and physics by 1% (3381 vs 3348). These results suggest that the Ryzen 9 9900X's larger L3 cache and SMT implementation provide substantial benefits in integer and data-heavy workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K's wins are narrower but real. In floating-point math, Intel scores 131107 versus AMD's 120083, an 8.4% lead — a clear advantage for FPU-heavy applications like certain simulations or financial modeling. The single-thread PassMark test goes to Intel by 0.6% (4700 vs 4672), a marginal but consistent edge. Data encryption is a near dead heat, with Intel ahead by 0.2% (33481 vs 33421). Across the 17 tests, AMD wins 13 and Intel wins 4, but Intel's average benchmark score is higher due to the weighting of its wins. The data shows that the Intel chip is not a multi-core competitor to the Ryzen 9 9900X; its strengths lie in floating-point and single-threaded efficiency, where it edges past AMD by small but measurable margins. For any user prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering or integer-heavy compute, the Ryzen 9 9900X is the only rational choice based on these numbers.