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

✅Better for gaming: +12.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $421 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $740 MSRP).
✅Delivers 128.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 55.0 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $740 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Xeon 6515P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,720).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 72 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6515P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Xeon 6515P

2025

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 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 per dollar, at 55.0 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($740 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 245 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Xeon 6515P

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $421 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $740 MSRP).
✅Delivers 128.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 55.0 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $740 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 150W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Xeon 6515P needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,720).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 72 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon 6515P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 55.0 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($740 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌130.8% higher power demand at 150W vs 65W.
❌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 Xeon 6515P?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon 6515P 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon 6515P is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 24 MB).

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 $421 cheaper on MSRP at $319 MSRP versus $740 MSRP, and it gives you a 12.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon 6515P is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.4% better PassMark. It is also 128.8% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 55.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon 6515P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 200% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 24 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 14/14, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

Xeon 6515P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
1080p
low	278 FPS	189 FPS
medium	263 FPS	152 FPS
high	222 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	155 FPS
medium	194 FPS	121 FPS
high	158 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	153 FPS	71 FPS
medium	128 FPS	59 FPS
high	100 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon 6515P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
1080p
low	668 FPS	489 FPS
medium	564 FPS	424 FPS
high	469 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	280 FPS
1440p
low	579 FPS	412 FPS
medium	509 FPS	365 FPS
high	426 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	369 FPS	239 FPS
4K
low	342 FPS	256 FPS
medium	306 FPS	230 FPS
high	291 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	168 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon 6515P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
1080p
low	845 FPS	940 FPS
medium	689 FPS	821 FPS
high	613 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	525 FPS	690 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	743 FPS
medium	598 FPS	640 FPS
high	519 FPS	606 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	539 FPS
4K
low	505 FPS	477 FPS
medium	425 FPS	376 FPS
high	383 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon 6515P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
1080p
low	1004 FPS	928 FPS
medium	956 FPS	839 FPS
high	834 FPS	725 FPS
ultra	758 FPS	625 FPS
1440p
low	865 FPS	715 FPS
medium	764 FPS	629 FPS
high	663 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	589 FPS	463 FPS
4K
low	585 FPS	517 FPS
medium	525 FPS	462 FPS
high	472 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	417 FPS	351 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon 6515P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245 and Xeon 6515P

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.

Xeon 6515P

The Xeon 6515P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 72 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 40,720 points. Launch price was $740.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245 packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon 6515P offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon 6515P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon 6515P — a 29.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon 6515P uses Granite Rapids (2024−2025) (Intel 3 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245 scores 40,165 against the Xeon 6515P's 40,720 — a 1.4% lead for the Xeon 6515P. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245 vs 72 MB (total) on the Xeon 6515P.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	16 / 32+14%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+34%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+52%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	72 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+50%	2 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	Intel 3 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Granite Rapids (2024−2025)
PassMark	40,165	40,720+1%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon 6515P uses LGA4710 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 6400 memory speed. The Xeon 6515P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 256 — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 5 245) vs 8 (Xeon 6515P). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245) vs 88 (Xeon 6515P) — the Xeon 6515P offers 68 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245) and LGA4710 (Xeon 6515P).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
Socket	LGA1851	LGA4710
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	6400	6400
Max RAM Capacity	256	4096+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	88+340%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon 6515P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core Ultra 5 245 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics), while the Xeon 6515P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Xeon 6515P rivals EPYC 9534.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon 6515P
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 245 launched at $319 MSRP, while the Xeon 6515P debuted at $740. On MSRP ($319 vs $740), the Core Ultra 5 245 is $421 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 245 delivers 125.9 pts/$ vs 55.0 pts/$ for the Xeon 6515P — making the Core Ultra 5 245 the 78.4% better value option.