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 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $65 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 105.9 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,681).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Core Ultra 7 265T

2025

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 105.9 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Core Ultra 7 265T

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $65 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 105.9 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $384 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,681).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 105.9 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($384 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 265T better than Core Ultra 5 245?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 265T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.3% 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 7 265T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 265T is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Core Ultra 7 265T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 245 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 7 265T is 20.4% more expensive on MSRP at $384 MSRP versus $319 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 245 is also 18.8% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 105.9 PassMark/$), 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 7 265T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 20 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 5 245 Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 265T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
1080p
low	278 FPS	280 FPS
medium	263 FPS	273 FPS
high	222 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	226 FPS
medium	194 FPS	194 FPS
high	158 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	153 FPS	151 FPS
medium	128 FPS	129 FPS
high	100 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Core Ultra 7 265T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
1080p
low	668 FPS	375 FPS
medium	564 FPS	321 FPS
high	469 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	243 FPS
1440p
low	579 FPS	326 FPS
medium	509 FPS	290 FPS
high	426 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	369 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	342 FPS	192 FPS
medium	306 FPS	175 FPS
high	291 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	145 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Core Ultra 7 265T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
1080p
low	845 FPS	817 FPS
medium	689 FPS	667 FPS
high	613 FPS	594 FPS
ultra	525 FPS	509 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	705 FPS
medium	598 FPS	579 FPS
high	519 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	428 FPS
4K
low	505 FPS	500 FPS
medium	425 FPS	422 FPS
high	383 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	327 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Core Ultra 7 265T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
1080p
low	1004 FPS	989 FPS
medium	956 FPS	894 FPS
high	834 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	758 FPS	700 FPS
1440p
low	865 FPS	810 FPS
medium	764 FPS	718 FPS
high	663 FPS	619 FPS
ultra	589 FPS	548 FPS
4K
low	585 FPS	553 FPS
medium	525 FPS	498 FPS
high	472 FPS	445 FPS
ultra	417 FPS	392 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Core Ultra 7 265T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245 and Core Ultra 7 265T

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.

Core Ultra 7 265T

The Core Ultra 7 265T 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 20 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 40,681 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245 packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 265T offers 20 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 7 265T has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus 5.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 265T — a 3.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 265T (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). Both are built on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture using a 3 nm process. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245 scores 40,165 against the Core Ultra 7 265T's 40,681 — a 1.3% lead for the Core Ultra 7 265T. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245 vs 30 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 265T.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	20 / 20+43%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz	5.3 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+133%	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+25%
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	40,165	40,681+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	34,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,954
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	16,455

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1851 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 265T — 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: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245) vs 24 (Core Ultra 7 265T) — the Core Ultra 7 265T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245) and Z890,H870,B860 (Core Ultra 7 265T).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
Socket	LGA1851	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	6400+127900%	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	256	192 GB+78643100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core Ultra 7 265T 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 Arc Xe-LPG Graphics (Core Ultra 5 245) and Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG 4-core) (Core Ultra 7 265T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 265T targets High End Desktop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Core Ultra 7 265T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics	Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG 4-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	High End Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 245 launched at $319 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 7 265T debuted at $384. On MSRP ($319 vs $384), the Core Ultra 5 245 is $65 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 245 delivers 125.9 pts/$ vs 105.9 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 7 265T — making the Core Ultra 5 245 the 17.2% better value option.