i7-13700K vs Ultra 5 245K
Too close to call. At 1440p there is only about 2% between them — buy whichever is cheaper.
The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | i7-13700K | Ultra 5 245K | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 99 | 97 | +2% |
| 1440p | 98 | 96 | +2% |
| 4K | 98 | 95 | +3% |
In a real build with a RTX 3080.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
i7-13700K + RTX 3080
3% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →Ultra 5 245K + RTX 3080
2% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →| Game (1440p, paired with the RTX 3080) | i7-13700K | Ultra 5 245K |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 340 fps | 337 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 295 fps | 292 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 143 fps | 142 fps |
| Elden Ring | 113 fps | 113 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 87 fps | 87 fps |
| Starfield | 88 fps | 87 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
Whichever is cheaper on the day. There is roughly 2% between them at 1440p, which you will not notice in a game.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the i7-13700K versus the Ultra 5 245K.
Is the i7-13700K better than the Ultra 5 245K?
They are close enough to call a tie. At 1440p the i7-13700K scores 98 on our index against 96 for the Ultra 5 245K — a gap of about 2%, which is inside the margin where you would not feel a difference while gaming. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to find.
Does the i7-13700K or Ultra 5 245K bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the i7-13700K build comes out 3% GPU-bound, and the Ultra 5 245K build comes out 2% GPU-bound. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the Ultra 5 245K to the i7-13700K?
No. A 2% index gap will not be visible in games, and the money is better spent on the other side of the build — usually the GPU.
Which is better value, the i7-13700K or the Ultra 5 245K?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the Ultra 5 245K wins. The i7-13700K lists at $419 for an index of 98, and the Ultra 5 245K at $319 for 96.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.