Intel Core i5-14600K vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX are both 14-core Intel parts, but they are built for entirely different environments. The 14600K is a desktop processor on Socket 1700 with a 125W TDP, while the 245HX is a mobile processor on BGA 2114 with a 55W TDP. Despite the shared core count, benchmark results show a clear split: the 14600K wins on raw multi-threaded throughput in several legacy tests and integer workloads, while the 245HX dominates in single-core performance and modern multi-core rendering. With a 0.7% average score difference in favor of the 14600K, these are closely matched overall, but their strengths land in different places.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits these two processors by workload type. The Intel Core i5-14600K takes 7 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with its biggest victories in integer math and data compression. It leads PassMark integer math by a massive 36.4%, scoring 125737 against 92150, and data compression by 22.6% (482020 vs 393071). It also wins multi-core Cinebench R15 and R20 by 11.6% and 0.9% respectively, plus PassMark multithread (38682 vs 38069, a 1.6% edge) and random string sorting (51949 vs 47616, a 9.1% lead). These wins point to workloads that favor high thread counts and integer-heavy operations.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX wins the remaining 10 benchmarks, and its victories are often far more decisive. The most striking is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 4568 against 2064 — a 54.8% lead. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 35.4% (460 vs 297) and R23 multi-core by 24.3% (32358 vs 24491). In PassMark tests, it leads floating point math by 23.1% (120735 vs 92794), find prime numbers by 54.9% (359 vs 162), data encryption by 8.3%, extended instructions by 8.5%, and physics by 2.1%. The 245HX is clearly the stronger choice for single-threaded responsiveness and floating-point or encryption-heavy tasks.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is substantial. The 14600K uses Raptor Lake-R on Intel’s 10nm process, with a die size of 257 mm². The 245HX uses Arrow Lake-HX on TSMC’s 3nm process, with a smaller 243 mm² die and 17,800 million transistors. The process node difference explains much of the efficiency gap: the 14600K runs at a 125W TDP, while the 245HX draws only 55W despite similar core counts.

Core configurations differ in threading. Both have 14 cores, but the 14600K supports 20 threads (implying 6 performance cores with hyperthreading plus 8 efficiency cores), while the 245HX has only 14 threads (one thread per core). Cache layouts also differ per-core: the 14600K has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, while the 245HX has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3, so the larger per-core caches on the 245HX are a notable advantage for single-threaded access patterns.

Memory support diverges sharply. The 14600K supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory, while the 245HX is DDR5-only. The 245HX lists a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, a figure not provided for the 14600K. The 14600K supports ECC memory; the 245HX does not. PCIe lanes differ too: the 14600K offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the 245HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are different as well — UHD Graphics 770 on the 14600K versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU on the 245HX. The 14600K uses Socket 1700 for desktops; the 245HX is a mobile BGA 2114 part. Both have unlocked multipliers, but the 14600K launched in October 2023 with a $319 launch MSRP, while the 245HX arrived in January 2025 with no MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on use case. If you are building a desktop and need the best multi-threaded integer performance, the Intel Core i5-14600K is the pick. Its 36.4% lead in PassMark integer math and 22.6% lead in data compression are decisive, and it also edges ahead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (3640 vs 3261) and R20 multi-core (13709 vs 13590). Its 125W TDP and Socket 1700 compatibility make it a straightforward drop-in for a desktop build, and it supports DDR4 as well as DDR5, giving memory flexibility. It also supports ECC memory, which matters for certain workstation tasks.

If you need single-thread speed or efficiency, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is the better choice. Its 54.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (4568 vs 2064) and 35.4% lead in R15 single-core (460 vs 297) are enormous. It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 24.3% (32358 vs 24491), which is surprising given the 14600K’s multi-core wins in older Cinebench versions — but the numbers are what they are. The 245HX’s 55W TDP means it can sustain high performance in a mobile form factor, and its 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes are strong for a laptop part. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (48618 vs 48287, a 0.7% difference), so the deciding factor is workload, not raw capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 4568, which is 54.8% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600K’s 2064.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14600K support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the 14600K supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has 20 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 threads, despite both having 14 cores.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has a 125W TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has a 55W TDP.

Q: Which CPU wins in PassMark floating point math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX wins with a score of 120735, which is 23.1% higher than the 14600K’s 92794.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14600K and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX have unlocked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 4568 against 2064 — a 54.8% delta. This is mirrored in Cinebench R15 single-core (460 vs 297, a 35.4% lead) and PassMark find prime numbers (359 vs 162, a 54.9% lead). These three tests show the 245HX’s per-core architecture is dramatically stronger for single-threaded integer and rendering tasks.

The Intel Core i5-14600K’s biggest win is PassMark integer math, where it scores 125737 against 92150 — a 36.4% advantage. It also wins data compression by 22.6% (482020 vs 393071) and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 11.6% (3640 vs 3261). In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the 14600K wins by a slim 0.9% (13709 vs 13590), and it takes PassMark multithread by 1.6% (38682 vs 38069).

The 245HX also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a substantial 24.3% (32358 vs 24491), which is the most important multi-core result in the data since R23 is the current standard. It also leads in PassMark floating point math by 23.1% (120735 vs 92794), data encryption by 8.3% (30022 vs 27533), extended instructions by 8.5% (31212 vs 28546), and PassMark single-thread by 4.7% (4481 vs 4270). The 14600K’s wins in random string sorting (51949 vs 47616, a 9.1% lead) and PassMark physics (2473 vs 2526, a 2.1% loss) round out the results. Overall, the 245HX wins 10 benchmarks to the 14600K’s 7, but the average scores are nearly tied at 48287 vs 48618.

Specification Differences

The core counts are identical at 14, but threads differ: the 14600K has 20, the 245HX has 14. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for the 14600K versus 3.10 GHz for the 245HX, and boost clocks are 5.30 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. TDP is a major gap — 125W for the 14600K, 55W for the 245HX. Sockets are different: Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop part, Intel BGA 2114 for the mobile part. The 14600K uses Raptor Lake-R on Intel’s 10nm process; the 245HX uses Arrow Lake-HX on TSMC’s 3nm process, with 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die versus 257 mm² for the 14600K.

Per-core cache differs significantly: the 14600K has 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, while the 245HX has 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3. Memory support: the 14600K supports DDR4 and DDR5; the 245HX is DDR5-only. The 245HX lists 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth; no such figure is given for the 14600K. ECC memory is supported on the 14600K but not the 245HX. PCIe: the 14600K offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, the 245HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 770 on the 14600K versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU on the 245HX. Market segments are desktop versus mobile, and release dates are October 2023 versus January 2025. The 14600K has a launch MSRP of $319; the 245HX has none listed. Both have unlocked multipliers, but the part numbers differ (SRN43 vs SRVFM).