Intel Core i9-13900F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900F wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins 5. The i9-13900F dominates in multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads, though the Ultra 5 245K takes specific workloads like extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, and single-thread PassMark.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900F scores 40928 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 38.8% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K's 25066. This is the largest multi-core margin between the two in the Cinebench suite.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 245K win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes, in PassMark single-thread and single-threaded tests, the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 4714, which is 7% ahead of the i9-13900F's 4406. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-13900F leads by a wide margin with 5778 versus 2132.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245K has an average benchmark score of 54053, while the i9-13900F has an average of 51730. The Ultra 5 245K sits 0.7% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6505P and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700F in its rival list, while the i9-13900F sits 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900F has a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which is higher than the Core Ultra 5 245K's 5.20 GHz. The i9-13900F also has a much lower base clock of 2000.00 MHz compared to 4.20 GHz on the Ultra 5 245K.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i9-13900F does not. This is a notable difference for users who plan to overclock.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and Intel Core i9-13900F represent two different Intel desktop architectures with fundamentally different designs. The Core Ultra 5 245K is built on Arrow Lake-S, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The i9-13900F uses Raptor Lake-S, part of the Core 13th Gen family, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. This process difference is significant, as the Ultra 5 245K's 3 nm node allows for a smaller die size of 243 mm² compared to the i9-13900F's 257 mm², while the Ultra 5 245K packs 17,800 million transistors.

The core configurations differ sharply. The Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading, while the i9-13900F has 24 cores and 32 threads, using a hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores that support hyper-threading on the performance cores. The thread count advantage of the i9-13900F is substantial, with 32 threads versus 14, a difference that explains many of the multi-threaded benchmark results.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core Ultra 5 245K has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-13900F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with a larger 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The total L3 capacity favors the i9-13900F by 12 MB, which can matter in workloads with large working sets.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core Ultra 5 245K supports DDR5 memory only, with dual-channel memory bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i9-13900F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, also with a dual-channel memory bus, though no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. Both processors support ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics situation is different. The Core Ultra 5 245K includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while the i9-13900F has no integrated graphics listed. This makes the Ultra 5 245K a more self-contained option for systems without a discrete GPU, though the database does not record any iGPU benchmark results for either chip.

The sockets differ, with the Core Ultra 5 245K using Intel Socket 1851 and the i9-13900F using Intel Socket 1700. The release dates also differ, with the i9-13900F launching on January 3, 2023, and the Core Ultra 5 245K launching on October 23, 2024.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear pattern: the i9-13900F dominates most multi-threaded and many single-threaded workloads, while the Core Ultra 5 245K wins in a few specialized areas. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-13900F scores 40928 against 25066 for the Ultra 5 245K, a 38.8% advantage. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i9-13900F scores 17189 versus 15368, a 10.6% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-13900F scores 4125 versus 3850, a 6.7% lead.

Single-core Cinebench results heavily favor the i9-13900F. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-13900F scores 5778, which is 63.1% ahead of the Ultra 5 245K's 2132. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i9-13900F scores 2426 versus 2169, a 10.6% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i9-13900F scores 582 versus 322, a 44.7% lead.

PassMark results show a more mixed picture. In integer math, the i9-13900F scores 188022 versus 98524, a 47.6% advantage, one of the largest gaps in the entire comparison. In data compression, the i9-13900F scores 635147 versus 458817, a 27.8% lead. In random string sorting, the i9-13900F scores 70441 versus 55098, a 21.8% lead. In multithreaded PassMark, the i9-13900F scores 49693 versus 43047, a 13.4% lead. In data encryption, the i9-13900F scores 38214 versus 33286, a 12.9% lead. Floating point math is nearly identical, with the i9-13900F scoring 131007 versus 130678, only 0.3% ahead.

The Core Ultra 5 245K takes the remaining categories. In find prime numbers, it scores 414 versus 204, a 102.9% advantage, meaning it more than doubles the i9-13900F's result. In physics, it scores 3081 versus 2766, an 11.4% lead. In extended instructions, it scores 37617 versus 36525, a 3% lead. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4714 versus 4406, a 7% lead, and the same result appears in the PassMark single-threaded test.

The overall picture is that the i9-13900F wins 12 of 17 comparisons, with most wins coming in heavy multi-threaded and standard workloads. The Ultra 5 245K wins 5 comparisons, mostly in specialized integer, physics, and extended instruction workloads, plus the PassMark single-thread test where its higher base clock and newer architecture appear to help.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i9-13900F is the stronger processor for most workloads. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, with particularly large margins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (38.8% ahead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (63.1% ahead). The i9-13900F also leads in integer math by 47.6%, data compression by 27.8%, and multithreaded PassMark by 13.4%. For users running rendering, compression, encryption, or general productivity tasks, the i9-13900F is the clear choice based on recorded results.

The Core Ultra 5 245K is not without merits. It wins the PassMark single-thread test by 7%, physics by 11.4%, extended instructions by 3%, and find prime numbers by 102.9%. Its average benchmark score of 54053 is higher than the i9-13900F's 51730, which reflects strength in the specific tests that make up the average. The Ultra 5 245K also has a lower power envelope on paper, with a TDP of 125 W versus 65 W for the i9-13900F, though the database does not record any power consumption measurements to confirm real-world behavior.

Both processors sit at the 91st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are both high-end desktop parts. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 245K include the Intel Core i7-14700F, which is 0.8% behind it, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D, which is 1.3% ahead. The i9-13900F's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which is 0.4% ahead, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T, which is 0.8% behind.

The launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 245K is $319, while the launch MSRP for the i9-13900F is $524. The i9-13900F also lacks an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 5 245K has one. For users who want the highest multi-threaded performance recorded in this comparison, the i9-13900F is the data-backed pick. For users who prioritize single-thread PassMark performance, physics, extended instructions, or prime number workloads, the Ultra 5 245K is the better fit.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification areas. The Core Ultra 5 245K has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the i9-13900F has 24 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks differ significantly, with the Ultra 5 245K at 4.20 GHz and the i9-13900F at 2000.00 MHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the Ultra 5 245K at 5.20 GHz and the i9-13900F at 5.60 GHz. TDP differs, with the Ultra 5 245K at 125 W and the i9-13900F at 65 W.

The sockets are different: Intel Socket 1851 for the Ultra 5 245K and Intel Socket 1700 for the i9-13900F. The architectures differ, with Arrow Lake for the Ultra 5 245K and Raptor Lake for the i9-13900F. Process nodes differ, with 3 nm for the Ultra 5 245K and 10 nm for the i9-13900F. The foundries differ, with TSMC for the Ultra 5 245K and Intel for the i9-13900F. The Ultra 5 245K has 17,800 million transistors, while no transistor count is recorded for the i9-13900F. Die sizes differ, with 243 mm² for the Ultra 5 245K and 257 mm² for the i9-13900F.

Cache configurations differ. The Ultra 5 245K has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The i9-13900F has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3. Memory support differs, with the Ultra 5 245K supporting DDR5 only and the i9-13900F supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded at 102.4 GB/s for the Ultra 5 245K, while no figure is recorded for the i9-13900F. Both support ECC memory and use PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ, with the Ultra 5 245K featuring Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units and the i9-13900F having none listed. The multiplier unlock status differs, with the Ultra 5 245K unlocked and the i9-13900F locked. Release dates differ, with the i9-13900F released on January 3, 2023, and the Ultra 5 245K released on October 23, 2024. The launch MSRP differs, with the Ultra 5 245K at $319 and the i9-13900F at $524. Part numbers also differ, with the Ultra 5 245K at SRQCT and the i9-13900F at SRMB7.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13900F wins in most multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it leads by 38.8%, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core by 10.6%. It also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 6.7%. For rendering and content creation tasks that rely on Cinebench-style workloads, the i9-13900F is the stronger option. The i9-13900F also wins in integer math by 47.6%, data compression by 27.8%, random string sorting by 21.8%, multithreaded PassMark by 13.4%, data encryption by 12.9%, and floating point math by 0.3%. These wins cover compression, encryption, sorting, and general compute tasks.

The i9-13900F also wins all single-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads by 63.1%, in Cinebench R15 single-core by 44.7%, and in Cinebench R20 single-core by 10.6%. This suggests the i9-13900F has a significant advantage in lightly threaded workloads that use the Cinebench engine, though the PassMark single-thread test tells a different story.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K wins in PassMark single-thread and PassMark single-threaded tests by 7%, making it the better choice for workloads that mirror PassMark's single-thread methodology. It also wins in physics by 11.4%, which covers physics simulation workloads. In extended instructions, it leads by 3%, and in find prime numbers, it leads by 102.9%, more than doubling the i9-13900F's score. The Ultra 5 245K's higher average benchmark score of 54053, compared to 51730 for the i9-13900F, reflects its strength in these specific tests.

For users who run a mix of workloads, the data suggests the i9-13900F is the safer pick for general productivity and rendering, while the Ultra 5 245K is better for specific integer-heavy tasks, physics, and PassMark-style single-threaded applications. The Ultra 5 245K also offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, which the i9-13900F does not, and it includes integrated graphics, which the i9-13900F lacks. The choice between the two should be driven by the specific workload mix and the importance of the tests where each processor wins.