Core Ultra 5 245 vs Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Intel

Core Ultra 5 245

14 Cores14 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2025

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

12 Cores24 Thrd280 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2022

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 $2,080 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
  • Delivers 652.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 16.7 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
  • Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
  • No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

2022

Why buy it

  • +166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
  • 540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (40,126 vs 40,165).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.7 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($2,399 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
  • 330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
  • Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 245 moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 245 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245 better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core Ultra 5 245 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
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 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 $2,080 cheaper on MSRP at $319 MSRP versus $2,399 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 652.8% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 16.7 PassMark/$), 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 a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 14 threads instead of 12/24. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low278 FPS208 FPS
medium263 FPS170 FPS
high222 FPS144 FPS
ultra189 FPS108 FPS
1440p
low230 FPS187 FPS
medium194 FPS150 FPS
high158 FPS122 FPS
ultra138 FPS91 FPS
4K
low153 FPS91 FPS
medium128 FPS78 FPS
high100 FPS61 FPS
ultra88 FPS49 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low668 FPS770 FPS
medium564 FPS656 FPS
high469 FPS516 FPS
ultra429 FPS453 FPS
1440p
low579 FPS639 FPS
medium509 FPS554 FPS
high426 FPS457 FPS
ultra369 FPS373 FPS
4K
low342 FPS375 FPS
medium306 FPS327 FPS
high291 FPS296 FPS
ultra256 FPS262 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low845 FPS802 FPS
medium689 FPS659 FPS
high613 FPS602 FPS
ultra525 FPS524 FPS
1440p
low730 FPS617 FPS
medium598 FPS506 FPS
high519 FPS458 FPS
ultra441 FPS394 FPS
4K
low505 FPS447 FPS
medium425 FPS357 FPS
high383 FPS323 FPS
ultra324 FPS257 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low1004 FPS1003 FPS
medium956 FPS1003 FPS
high834 FPS911 FPS
ultra758 FPS806 FPS
1440p
low865 FPS933 FPS
medium764 FPS817 FPS
high663 FPS703 FPS
ultra589 FPS601 FPS
4K
low585 FPS667 FPS
medium525 FPS599 FPS
high472 FPS521 FPS
ultra417 FPS437 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 March 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Chagall PRO (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 40,126 points. Launch price was $499.

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245 packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 5 245 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses Chagall PRO (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245 scores 40,165 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX's 40,126 — a 0.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
Cores / Threads
14 / 14+17%
12 / 24
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz+13%
4.5 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz
4.1 GHz+17%
L3 Cache
24 MB (total)
64 MB+167%
L2 Cache
3 MB (per core)+500%
512K (per core)
Process
3 nm-57%
7 nm
Architecture
Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
Chagall PRO (2022)
PassMark
40,165
40,126
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus 3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX — the Core Ultra 5 245 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 256 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 5 245) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX).

FeatureCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
Socket
LGA1851
sWRX8
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
6400+100%
3200
Max RAM Capacity
256
2048+700%
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
128+540%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX). The Core Ultra 5 245 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX rivals Xeon W-3335.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
None
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 245 launched at $319 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX debuted at $2399. On MSRP ($319 vs $2399), the Core Ultra 5 245 is $2080 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 245 delivers 125.9 pts/$ vs 16.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX — making the Core Ultra 5 245 the 153.1% better value option.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 245Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
MSRP
$319-87%
$2399
Performance per Dollar
125.9+654%
16.7
Release Date
2025
2022