Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison
Intel Core 7 350
Core Ultra 5 245K
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
The Verdict
The benchmark database positions these two processors in completely different segments. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with an average benchmark score of 54053 versus 17779 for the Intel Core 7 350. The Core Ultra 5 245K sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 350 lands in the 71st percentile.
The Core 7 350 is a mobile-focused processor on the Intel BGA 1516 socket with a 15 TDP, aimed at compact systems where power draw matters more than peak throughput. The Core Ultra 5 245K is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1851 with a 125 TDP, built for sustained high-load work. The data shows no scenario where the Core 7 350 outperforms its desktop counterpart, so the choice comes down to platform and usage context rather than raw capability.
For users assembling a desktop system with an unlocked multiplier and support for PCIe Gen 5, the Core Ultra 5 245K is the clear pick based on every metric. The Core 7 350 suits mobile or embedded deployments where the BGA socket and lower power envelope are prerequisites, accepting the substantial performance gap as a tradeoff.
Architecture Differences
The two chips share a 3 nm process node but diverge sharply in almost every other architectural detail. The Core 7 350 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation label, while the Core Ultra 5 245K belongs to the Arrow Lake-S codename under the Core Ultra Series 2 and Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation. The foundry differs as well: Intel fabricates the Core 7 350, while TSMC produces the Core Ultra 5 245K.
Core counts show the largest structural gap. The Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither chip uses simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts. The Core Ultra 5 245K also carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, whereas the Core 7 350 has no transistor or die size figures recorded in the database.
Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both chips share 192 KB of L1 per core, but the Core 7 350 has 2.5 MB of L2 per core and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245K has 3 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3, giving it four times the total L3 capacity. This cache advantage directly supports the desktop chip's higher multi-threaded workloads.
Memory support also separates the two. The Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 245K supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, nearly double the memory throughput. ECC memory is supported only on the Core Ultra 5 245K; the Core 7 350 does not support it.
PCIe connectivity shows another generational leap. The Core 7 350 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 245K provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 7 350 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe units, and the Core Ultra 5 245K uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64EU. The Core Ultra 5 245K also has an unlocked multiplier, which the Core 7 350 lacks.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Core Ultra 5 245K dominates every recorded benchmark, but the margin varies widely by workload type. The smallest gaps appear in single-threaded tests, while the largest appear in multi-threaded and math-intensive workloads.
In Cinebench R15, the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 3850 versus 1220 in multi-core, a 68.3% advantage. The single-core test is closer: 322 versus 292, a 9.3% lead. Cinebench R20 shows a similar pattern: multi-core 15368 versus 5373 (65% ahead), single-core 2169 versus 758 (65.1% ahead). The single-core delta in R20 is unusually large compared to other single-threaded tests, suggesting the Core 7 350's lower boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 5.20 GHz plays a role.
Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The Core Ultra 5 245K scores 25066 multi-core versus 8030, a 68% lead, while single-core comes in at 2132 versus 2046, just a 4% gap. This single-core result is the closest margin recorded between the two chips.
PassMark tests reveal where the desktop chip's core count and cache matter most. Data compression shows 458817 versus 143123, a 68.8% advantage. Data encryption shows 33286 versus 10933, a 67.2% lead. Extended instructions score 37617 versus 12045, 68% higher. Prime number finding shows the largest delta at 74.2%: 414 versus 107. Floating point math scores 130678 versus 42809 (67.2% ahead), and integer math scores 98524 versus 33734 (65.8% ahead).
Multithreaded PassMark results confirm the pattern. The multithread score is 43047 versus 15170, a 64.8% lead. Physics scores 3081 versus 1173, 61.9% ahead. Random string sorting shows 55098 versus 17238, a 68.7% gap. Single-thread PassMark scores 4714 versus 4100, a 13% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245K.
The database records zero wins for the Core 7 350 across all 17 benchmarks. The Core Ultra 5 245K claims all 17.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither chip supports simultaneous multithreading.
Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?
A: The Core Ultra 5 245K boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core 7 350 boosts to 4.80 GHz. The base clocks are 4.20 GHz and 1.50 GHz respectively.
Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?
A: Only the Core Ultra 5 245K supports ECC memory. The Core 7 350 does not list ECC support in its specifications.
Q: How do the cache sizes compare?
A: Both have 192 KB L1 per core. The Core 7 350 has 2.5 MB L2 per core and 6 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245K has 3 MB L2 per core and 24 MB shared L3.
Q: What PCIe generations do they use?
A: The Core 7 350 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 245K uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.
Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?
A: The Core Ultra 5 245K has an average benchmark score of 54053, placing it in the 91st percentile. The Core 7 350 has an average score of 17779, placing it in the 71st percentile.
Where Each One Wins
The Core Ultra 5 245K wins every recorded benchmark category. Its strongest margins come in multi-threaded workloads: prime number finding (74.2% ahead), data compression (68.8%), random string sorting (68.7%), and Cinebench R15 multi-core (68.3%). These results reflect the combination of 14 cores, 24 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel memory at 102.4 GB/s, and a 5.20 GHz boost clock.
The Core 7 350 does not win any benchmark, but its closest relative performance appears in single-threaded tests. The Cinebench R23 single-core gap is only 4%, and the Cinebench R15 single-core gap is 9.3%. In these scenarios, the Core 7 350's 4.80 GHz boost clock and per-core L2 cache keep it competitive despite the massive core count disadvantage.
For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the Core Ultra 5 245K is the only choice based on the data. Its 25066 Cinebench R23 multi-core score versus 8030, its 130678 floating point math score versus 42809, and its 43047 multithread score versus 15170 all point to a processor in a different performance class.
The Core 7 350's niche is not benchmark leadership but platform fit. Its Intel BGA 1516 socket, 15 TDP, and support for LPDDR5X memory target compact mobile systems where the Core Ultra 5 245K's desktop socket and 125 TDP cannot apply. The 3 nm process node is shared between both chips, but the Core 7 350's lower power envelope and integrated Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe units serve a different deployment scenario.
The Core Ultra 5 245K also offers features the Core 7 350 lacks: an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, and a dual-channel memory bus. These specifications make it suitable for workstation and enthusiast desktop builds where the 17,800 million transistor Arrow Lake-S die can stretch its legs.
In short, the Core Ultra 5 245K is the performance leader across all 17 benchmarks, with an average score 304% higher than the Core 7 350. The Core 7 350's only advantages are platform-level: lower TDP, mobile socket, and LPDDR5X memory compatibility. Users constrained to the BGA 1516 form factor get a capable processor that trails the desktop part by 64.8% to 74.2% in multi-threaded workloads. Users with Socket 1851 access get the faster chip in every recorded test.