Intel Core i7-13850HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, which claims 14 wins across the 17 recorded comparisons, against 3 wins for the Intel Core i7-13850HX. The most striking pattern is the consistency of the Ultra 5 245's advantage in every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 5 245 scores 3318 against 3093 for the i7-13850HX, a 6.8% lead. The same 6.8% delta appears across Cinebench R15 singlecore (468 vs 436), R20 multicore (13828 vs 12891), R20 singlecore (1952 vs 1819), R23 multicore (32924 vs 30695), and R23 singlecore (4648 vs 4333). This uniformity suggests a consistent per-clock efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The largest single victory for the Ultra 5 245 comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 365 against 184 for the i7-13850HX, a massive 49.6% lead. This is a clear indicator of superior integer-heavy mathematical throughput. The Ultra 5 245 also dominates in PassMark extended instructions (33304 vs 26586, a 20.2% gap) and floating point math (120548 vs 92369, a 23.4% advantage). In data encryption, the Ultra 5 245 posts 30236 against 26062, winning by 13.8%. Single-thread performance also favors the Ultra 5 245: its PassMark single thread score of 4394 is 14.2% higher than the 3769 recorded for the i7-13850HX.

The i7-13850HX, however, holds notable wins in specific throughput tests. Its most significant triumph is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 126852 against 91187 for the Ultra 5 245, a lead of 39.1%. The i7-13850HX also wins in data compression with 441525 vs 400942, a 10.1% advantage. The third win for the i7-13850HX is marginal: random string sorting at 49198 vs 49140, a difference of only 0.1%.

The overall benchmark averages reflect this split: the i7-13850HX averages 50761, while the Ultra 5 245 averages 48995. Both CPUs sit at the 90th percentile among all tested processors. For context, the i7-13850HX is almost exactly matched with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i9-14900T (0.5% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (0.6% ahead), and the Intel Core i9-13980HX (0.7% ahead). The Ultra 5 245 is comparably close to its rivals: it is 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, 0.6% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 establishes its dominance in rendering and general-purpose compute. All six Cinebench tests, covering both single and multi-threaded render workloads, go to the Ultra 5 245. This indicates a stronger architecture for content creation tasks that use ray tracing or mesh rendering. The Ultra 5 245 also wins in every PassMark category related to pure computational capability except integer math and data compression: it wins in encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, multithread, physics, and single thread. For users dealing with scientific simulations, encryption workloads, or heavily threaded productivity applications, the Ultra 5 245 is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i7-13850HX claims a specific but critical niche. Its 39.1% lead in integer math means it is significantly faster in workloads that rely on integer operations, such as certain database operations, compression algorithms, and general business logic. Its 10.1% win in data compression suggests it handles zip, archive, and storage-related tasks with higher throughput. The 0.1% win in random string sorting is negligible, but it still technically counts as a win. For users dealing with large-scale data processing, file archiving, or software compilation, the i7-13850HX provides a measurable edge.

The pattern is clear: the Ultra 5 245 is the faster processor in most measured tasks, especially those that are single-threaded or floating-point intensive. The i7-13850HX is a specialist for integer-heavy and compression-oriented tasks. The data does not show a single test where the i7-13850HX matches the Ultra 5 245 in rendering, encryption, or mathematical throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and foundries. The Intel Core i7-13850HX is based on Raptor Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arrow Lake architecture, built on TSMC's 3 nm process. This process difference is reflected in the transistor count: the Ultra 5 245 has 17,800 million transistors, whereas the i7-13850HX does not have a recorded transistor count in the database. The die size is similar, at 257 mm² for the i7-13850HX and 243 mm² for the Ultra 5 245, but the newer node allows for more densely packed logic.

The core configuration differs sharply. The i7-13850HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The i7-13850HX therefore relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 28 threads, while the Ultra 5 245 uses a simpler 1:1 core-to-thread ratio. The cache layout is also distinct. The i7-13850HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 245 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 245 has a smaller total L3 but larger per-core caches, which likely contributes to its single-thread and floating-point advantages.

Clock speeds favor the i7 for peak frequency: its boost clock is 5.30 GHz, while the Ultra 5 245 boosts to 5.10 GHz. However, the Ultra 5 245 has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz against 2.10 GHz for the i7-13850HX. The TDP also differs, with the i7 rated at 55 W and the Ultra 5 at 65 W. Both support DDR5 memory, but the i7-13850HX also supports DDR4, while the Ultra 5 245 is DDR5-only with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s (the i7 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure). Both support PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The i7-13850HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 5 245 does not. The integrated graphics also differ: the i7 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 5 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The i7-13850HX uses an Intel BGA 1964 socket and is a mobile processor, while the Ultra 5 245 uses Intel Socket 1851 for desktops.

The Verdict

The benchmark database yields a clear verdict: the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is the faster processor in the overwhelming majority of tests. Its 14 wins versus 3 for the i7-13850HX, combined with consistent leads across rendering, single-thread, and floating-point workloads, make it the superior choice for general computing, content creation, and heavy number-crunching. The 6.8% lead in every Cinebench test is a strong statement of its architectural efficiency. For users who prioritize raw single-thread speed, rendering performance, or floating-point math, the Ultra 5 245 is the better option.

However, the i7-13850HX is not obsolete. Its 39.1% lead in integer math and 10.1% lead in data compression are substantial. These are not negligible margins. Users whose workloads are dominated by integer arithmetic or compression, such as in certain data analytics pipelines or archive management, should consider the i7-13850HX as the more effective tool. Its 28 threads also provide a thread count advantage, though the benchmark results show this does not translate to a win in most multi-threaded tests.

From a platform perspective, the two are not interchangeable. The i7-13850HX is a mobile chip (launch MSRP $428) with a BGA socket, while the Ultra 5 245 is a desktop chip (launch MSRP $270) on Socket 1851. The Ultra 5 245 is also on a newer, more advanced 3 nm process with a higher TDP, which likely contributes to its performance headroom.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 wins 14 of 17 benchmark tests, including every Cinebench test, and has a higher average single-thread score. The i7-13850HX wins only 3 tests, notably integer math and data compression.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13850HX better at anything?

A: Yes, the i7-13850HX is 39.1% faster in PassMark integer math and 10.1% faster in data compression. It also has a negligible 0.1% lead in random string sorting.

Q: Does the i7-13850HX's higher core and thread count help it?

A: No, despite having 20 cores and 28 threads against 14 cores and 14 threads for the Ultra 5 245, the i7 loses in Cinebench R23 multicore (30695 vs 32924) and PassMark multithread (36870 vs 38706). The Ultra 5 245 is faster in multi-threaded tests.

Q: What is the single biggest performance gap?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 5 245 scores 365 versus 184 for the i7-13850HX, a 49.6% lead. The next largest is the i7-13850HX's 39.1% lead in integer math.

Q: Are these processors close in overall performance?

A: Their average benchmark scores are close: the i7-13850HX averages 50761 and the Ultra 5 245 averages 48995, but this is skewed by the i7's strong integer and compression scores. In most individual tests, the Ultra 5 245 leads by double digits.

Q: Do they use the same memory?

A: The i7-13850HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 245 supports DDR5 only. The Ultra 5 245 has a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i7 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure.