Intel Core i5-14600KF vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14600KF and Intel Core Ultra 5 245 are both 14-core desktop processors from Intel, but they represent very different design philosophies. The Core i5-14600KF is a Raptor Lake part built on a 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 245 is an Arrow Lake chip on a 3 nm node from TSMC. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the newer Ultra 5 wins the majority of tests, but the older i5-14600KF holds decisive victories in specific workloads that may matter more to certain users.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the data is the PassMark integer math test, where the Core i5-14600KF scores 125,982 against the Core Ultra 5 245’s 91,187. That is a 38.2% advantage for the i5-14600KF, by far the largest margin in either direction. This suggests the Raptor Lake architecture has a significant edge in integer-heavy computation, which is a common component of general productivity and many legacy applications.

The i5-14600KF also wins decisively in data compression, scoring 485,140 versus 400,942 for the Ultra 5 — a 21% lead. This is a strong result for archiving, backup, and file transfer tasks. The i5-14600KF also takes random string sorting with 52,056 against 49,140, a smaller but still meaningful 5.9% win.

However, the Core Ultra 5 245 wins the vast majority of the head-to-head matchups — 14 out of 17. The Cinebench tests are consistently in its favor, though by narrow margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 5 scores 32,924 versus 32,544 for the i5-14600KF, a 1.2% difference. Single-core R23 shows the same pattern: 4,648 versus 4,594, also 1.2% ahead. These are small but consistent wins across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants.

The most dramatic Ultra 5 victories come in specialized PassMark workloads. Find prime numbers shows the Ultra 5 at 365 versus 161 for the i5-14600KF — a 55.9% advantage, the largest relative margin in the entire comparison. Floating point math also heavily favors the Ultra 5: 120,548 versus 93,048, a 22.8% lead. Extended instructions go to the Ultra 5 at 33,304 versus 28,785, a 13.6% win. Data encryption is another Ultra 5 win: 30,236 versus 27,608, an 8.7% margin.

The PassMark multi-thread score is essentially a tie: 38,706 for the Ultra 5 versus 38,697 for the i5-14600KF, a delta of 0%. The single-thread PassMark result goes to the Ultra 5 at 4,394 versus 4,273, a 2.8% lead. Physics also favors the Ultra 5: 2,569 versus 2,449, a 4.7% win.

Looking at overall averages, the two chips are extremely close. The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49,394, while the Ultra 5 sits at 48,995 — a 0.8% difference in favor of the older chip. Both occupy the 90th percentile among all CPUs. The i5-14600KF’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (deltaPct 0.3%), while the Ultra 5’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (deltaPct -0.4%). Both chips are also within 0.8% of the Intel Core i5-14600K, which appears as a rival for the Ultra 5.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture. The Core Ultra 5 245 is the better all-rounder, winning 14 of 17 benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and most PassMark workloads. If you are looking at rendering, encryption, floating-point math, or general single-thread performance, the Ultra 5 is the choice, even if the margins are often thin. The 55.9% lead in prime number finding and the 22.8% lead in floating point math are substantial enough to matter for scientific or simulation workloads.

However, the Core i5-14600KF is not obsolete. Its 38.2% victory in integer math and 21% win in data compression are exactly the kind of results that matter for database work, financial modeling, or heavy spreadsheet manipulation. The 5.9% win in random string sorting also points to strength in text processing and sorting algorithms. For users whose primary workloads are integer-bound, the i5-14600KF is the better processor despite losing the overall benchmark count.

The near-tie in multi-thread performance (38,697 vs 38,706) means that for heavily threaded generic workloads, neither chip has a meaningful advantage. The decision should come down to workload type. If your software leans on integer math and compression, pick the i5-14600KF. If it leans on floating point, encryption, or the latest instruction sets, pick the Ultra 5. The Ultra 5 also brings a lower TDP (65 versus 125), which is a practical consideration for system builders.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 4,648 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i5-14600KF scores 4,594. The Ultra 5 is 1.2% ahead.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF better at any major benchmark?

A: Yes. The i5-14600KF wins PassMark integer math (125,982 vs 91,187, a 38.2% lead), data compression (485,140 vs 400,942, a 21% lead), and random string sorting (52,056 vs 49,140, a 5.9% lead).

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in multi-threaded performance?

A: They are effectively tied. The PassMark multi-thread score is 38,706 for the Ultra 5 and 38,697 for the i5-14600KF, a 0% difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core slightly favors the Ultra 5: 32,924 vs 32,544.

Q: Which CPU has a larger advantage in floating point math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 leads by 22.8% in PassMark floating point math, scoring 120,548 versus 93,048 for the i5-14600KF.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 list ECC memory support as true.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values for these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF has a launch MSRP of $294. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has a launch MSRP of $270.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several fundamental specifications. The Core i5-14600KF has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores and 14 threads — the newer chip lacks hyperthreading. Both have a base clock of 3.50 GHz, but the boost clock differs: 5.30 GHz for the i5-14600KF versus 5.10 GHz for the Ultra 5. The TDP is significantly different, with the i5-14600KF rated at 125 and the Ultra 5 at 65.

The sockets are incompatible: the i5-14600KF uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory support also diverges — the i5-14600KF supports both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the Ultra 5 supports only DDR5. The Ultra 5 has a specified memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i5-14600KF does not list a figure. PCIe lanes differ as well: the i5-14600KF has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The Ultra 5 includes integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU), while the i5-14600KF has no integrated graphics listed. The i5-14600KF has an unlocked multiplier (true), while the Ultra 5 is locked (false). The production status for both is Active. The release dates differ: the i5-14600KF launched on 2023-10-16, and the Ultra 5 on 2025-01-06.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The i5-14600KF is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, using a 10 nm process from Intel. The Ultra 5 uses Arrow Lake, codename Arrow Lake-S, on a 3 nm process from TSMC. The Ultra 5 packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the i5-14600KF has no transistor count listed but a slightly larger die size of 257 mm².

Cache configurations differ notably. The i5-14600KF has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. The Ultra 5 has significantly larger caches: 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the Ultra 5 likely contribute to its wins in many PassMark tests, particularly the 55.9% lead in prime number finding.

The Ultra 5’s TSMC 3 nm process gives it a transistor density advantage, which is reflected in its much lower TDP of 65 versus 125 for the i5-14600KF. This is the same TDP envelope as a typical mid-range chip, yet the Ultra 5 still manages to match or beat the 14th Gen part in most benchmarks. The i5-14600KF compensates with a higher boost clock (5.30 GHz vs 5.10 GHz) and hyperthreading, which explains its wins in integer math and compression despite the architectural disadvantages.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-14600KF is the clear winner for integer-heavy workloads. The 38.2% margin in integer math is the largest single victory in the comparison, and the 21% lead in data compression reinforces this pattern. The 5.9% win in random string sorting also points to strength in text processing and sorting algorithms. If your daily driver includes large spreadsheet calculations, database queries, or file archiving, the i5-14600KF is the data-backed choice. The higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz and the extra 6 threads (20 vs 14) are the likely reasons for these wins, even though the older 10 nm process is less efficient.

The Core Ultra 5 245 wins in almost everything else. The 55.9% lead in prime number finding is a strong indicator for cryptography and number theory workloads. The 22.8% lead in floating point math makes it the better pick for scientific computing, 3D rendering, and simulation software that relies on FPU performance. The 13.6% win in extended instructions and 8.7% win in encryption further solidify its position for modern, instruction-set-heavy applications. The 14 Cinebench wins across R15, R20, and R23, in both single and multi-core, make it the better choice for video rendering and content creation.

The near-tie in multi-thread performance means that for generic productivity — office suites, web browsing, light coding — either processor will perform essentially identically. The Ultra 5’s 65 TDP and integrated graphics make it a more flexible and power-efficient choice for compact builds, while the i5-14600KF’s higher TDP and lack of iGPU require a dedicated graphics card but offer a raw integer performance edge that no other benchmark in this comparison can match.