Core Ultra 5 235 vs Core Ultra 5 245

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 5 235

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $62 less on MSRP ($257 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 155.3 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($257 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (39,924 vs 40,165).

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 125.9 vs 155.3 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $257 MSRP).

Core Ultra 5 235

2025

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $62 less on MSRP ($257 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 155.3 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($257 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (39,924 vs 40,165).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 125.9 vs 155.3 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $257 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245 better than Core Ultra 5 235?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.5% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 245 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 245 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 5 245 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 235 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 5 245 is 24.1% more expensive on MSRP at $319 MSRP versus $257 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 235 is also 23.4% better value on MSRP (155.3 vs 125.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 245 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 14 threads instead of 14/14. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 5 235 Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	278 FPS	278 FPS
medium	263 FPS	263 FPS
high	222 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	230 FPS
medium	194 FPS	194 FPS
high	158 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	152 FPS	153 FPS
medium	128 FPS	128 FPS
high	99 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235 Open Core Ultra 5 245

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	663 FPS	668 FPS
medium	562 FPS	564 FPS
high	467 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	427 FPS	429 FPS
1440p
low	574 FPS	579 FPS
medium	509 FPS	509 FPS
high	426 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	369 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	342 FPS	342 FPS
medium	306 FPS	306 FPS
high	291 FPS	291 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	256 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235 Open Core Ultra 5 245

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	839 FPS	845 FPS
medium	681 FPS	689 FPS
high	610 FPS	613 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	525 FPS
1440p
low	727 FPS	730 FPS
medium	590 FPS	598 FPS
high	516 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	505 FPS
medium	422 FPS	425 FPS
high	377 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	324 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235 Open Core Ultra 5 245

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	989 FPS	1004 FPS
medium	891 FPS	956 FPS
high	778 FPS	834 FPS
ultra	699 FPS	758 FPS
1440p
low	810 FPS	865 FPS
medium	717 FPS	764 FPS
high	624 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	548 FPS	589 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	585 FPS
medium	512 FPS	525 FPS
high	459 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	417 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235 Open Core Ultra 5 245

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 235 and Core Ultra 5 245

Core Ultra 5 235

The Core Ultra 5 235 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 39,924 points. Launch price was $257.

Core Ultra 5 245

The Core Ultra 5 245 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 40,165 points. Launch price was $270.

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Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 5 235 and Core Ultra 5 245 share an identical 14-core/14-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 — a 2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). Both are built on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture using a 3 nm process. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 39,924 against the Core Ultra 5 245's 40,165 — a 0.6% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245. Both processors carry 24 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	14 / 14
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	3 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	39,924	40,165
Geekbench 6 Single	2,600	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,000	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1851 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 235 versus 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245 — the Core Ultra 5 245 supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 256 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 235) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
Socket	LGA1851	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+104857500%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU (Core Ultra 5 235) and Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics (Core Ultra 5 245) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 235 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 235 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G; Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235	Core Ultra 5 245
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop	—

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Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 235 launched at $257 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245 debuted at $319. On MSRP ($257 vs $319), the Core Ultra 5 235 is $62 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 235 delivers 155.3 pts/$ vs 125.9 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 245 — making the Core Ultra 5 235 the 20.9% better value option.