Ultra 5 245K vs i5-14600K
The Ultra 5 245K is about 3% faster at 1440p. Whether that is worth it depends on the rest of your build.
The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | Ultra 5 245K | i5-14600K | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 97 | 94 | +3% |
| 1440p | 96 | 93 | +3% |
| 4K | 95 | 91 | +4% |
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.
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 →i5-14600K + RTX 3080
1% 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) | Ultra 5 245K | i5-14600K |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 337 fps | 332 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 292 fps | 287 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 142 fps | 140 fps |
| Elden Ring | 113 fps | 112 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 87 fps | 86 fps |
| Starfield | 87 fps | 86 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?
The Ultra 5 245K — it is 3% ahead at 1440p, and it holds that lead in the pairings above.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the Ultra 5 245K versus the i5-14600K.
Is the Ultra 5 245K better than the i5-14600K?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the Ultra 5 245K scores 96 against 93 for the i5-14600K — roughly 3% faster.
Does the Ultra 5 245K or i5-14600K bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the Ultra 5 245K build comes out 2% GPU-bound, and the i5-14600K build comes out 1% 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 i5-14600K to the Ultra 5 245K?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The Ultra 5 245K is about 3% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the i5-14600K purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the Ultra 5 245K or the i5-14600K?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the Ultra 5 245K wins. The Ultra 5 245K lists at $319 for an index of 96, and the i5-14600K at $319 for 93.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.