Core Ultra 5 235HX 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 235HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (40,122 vs 40,165).

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $319 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 235HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Core Ultra 5 235HX

2025

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (40,122 vs 40,165).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $319 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 235HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 3.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% 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 3.4% more average FPS across 4 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 0.1% 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 the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245 is at an unclear MSRP at $319 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 3.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 235HX Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	264 FPS	278 FPS
medium	252 FPS	263 FPS
high	213 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	230 FPS
medium	189 FPS	194 FPS
high	154 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	153 FPS
medium	127 FPS	128 FPS
high	99 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235HX Open Core Ultra 5 245

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	656 FPS	668 FPS
medium	557 FPS	564 FPS
high	465 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	421 FPS	429 FPS
1440p
low	572 FPS	579 FPS
medium	503 FPS	509 FPS
high	421 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	338 FPS	342 FPS
medium	303 FPS	306 FPS
high	287 FPS	291 FPS
ultra	251 FPS	256 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235HX Open Core Ultra 5 245

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	839 FPS	845 FPS
medium	685 FPS	689 FPS
high	610 FPS	613 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	525 FPS
1440p
low	727 FPS	730 FPS
medium	596 FPS	598 FPS
high	519 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	505 FPS
medium	425 FPS	425 FPS
high	382 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	323 FPS	324 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235HX Open Core Ultra 5 245

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	1001 FPS	1004 FPS
medium	906 FPS	956 FPS
high	786 FPS	834 FPS
ultra	714 FPS	758 FPS
1440p
low	820 FPS	865 FPS
medium	729 FPS	764 FPS
high	631 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	560 FPS	589 FPS
4K
low	559 FPS	585 FPS
medium	505 FPS	525 FPS
high	452 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	399 FPS	417 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235HX Open Core Ultra 5 245

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

Core Ultra 5 235HX

The Core Ultra 5 235HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 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: FCBGA2114. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 40,122 points. Launch price was $499.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 5 235HX and Core Ultra 5 245 share an identical 14-core/14-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235HX versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 40,122 against the Core Ultra 5 245's 40,165 — a 0.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245. Both processors carry 24 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	14 / 14
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.5 GHz+21%
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-HX (2025)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	40,122	40,165
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,677	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,600	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the FCBGA2114 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 235HX 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. The Core Ultra 5 245 supports up to 256 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 5 235HX) vs 20 (Core Ultra 5 245) — the Core Ultra 5 235HX offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 5 235HX) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
Socket	FCBGA2114	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+78643100%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24+20%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core Ultra 5 235HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel Graphics (48EU) (Core Ultra 5 235HX) 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 235HX targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235HX	Core Ultra 5 245
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Graphics (48EU)	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Laptop	—