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: +8.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,526 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $1,845 MSRP).
✅Delivers 472.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 22.0 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $1,845 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Xeon Gold 6416H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,606).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 45 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6416H, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Gold 6416H

2023

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (80 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 22.0 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($1,845 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W 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 Gold 6416H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $1,526 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $1,845 MSRP).
✅Delivers 472.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 22.0 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $1,845 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Xeon Gold 6416H needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 18 cores / 36 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,606).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 45 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Gold 6416H, which brings 18 cores / 36 threads and 80 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 22.0 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($1,845 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W 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 Gold 6416H?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Gold 6416H 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 Gold 6416H is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (45 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 $1,526 cheaper on MSRP at $319 MSRP versus $1,845 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Gold 6416H is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.1% better PassMark. It is also 472.1% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 22.0 PassMark/$), 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 a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023). 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.

Core Ultra 5 245 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6416H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
1080p
low	278 FPS	196 FPS
medium	263 FPS	160 FPS
high	222 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	158 FPS
medium	194 FPS	123 FPS
high	158 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	153 FPS	73 FPS
medium	128 FPS	60 FPS
high	100 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon Gold 6416H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
1080p
low	668 FPS	302 FPS
medium	564 FPS	269 FPS
high	469 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	579 FPS	260 FPS
medium	509 FPS	234 FPS
high	426 FPS	200 FPS
ultra	369 FPS	166 FPS
4K
low	342 FPS	163 FPS
medium	306 FPS	148 FPS
high	291 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	124 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon Gold 6416H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
1080p
low	845 FPS	1015 FPS
medium	689 FPS	974 FPS
high	613 FPS	902 FPS
ultra	525 FPS	819 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	847 FPS
medium	598 FPS	748 FPS
high	519 FPS	682 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	614 FPS
4K
low	505 FPS	531 FPS
medium	425 FPS	435 FPS
high	383 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	309 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon Gold 6416H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
1080p
low	1004 FPS	947 FPS
medium	956 FPS	856 FPS
high	834 FPS	728 FPS
ultra	758 FPS	630 FPS
1440p
low	865 FPS	735 FPS
medium	764 FPS	647 FPS
high	663 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	589 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	585 FPS	526 FPS
medium	525 FPS	470 FPS
high	472 FPS	412 FPS
ultra	417 FPS	355 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245 Open Xeon Gold 6416H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245 and Xeon Gold 6416H

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 Gold 6416H

The Xeon Gold 6416H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 40,606 points. Launch price was $1,444.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245 packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6416H offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon Gold 6416H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6416H — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6416H uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245 scores 40,165 against the Xeon Gold 6416H's 40,606 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon Gold 6416H. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245 vs 45 MB on the Xeon Gold 6416H.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	18 / 36+29%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+21%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+59%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	45 MB+88%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+50%	2 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	40,165	40,606+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Gold 6416H uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245 versus 4800 on the Xeon Gold 6416H — the Core Ultra 5 245 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6416H 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 Gold 6416H). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245) vs 80 (Xeon Gold 6416H) — the Xeon Gold 6416H offers 60 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245) and LGA4677 (Xeon Gold 6416H).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
Socket	LGA1851	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	6400+33%	4800
Max RAM Capacity	256	4096+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	80+300%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6416H 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 Gold 6416H requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Xeon Gold 6416H rivals EPYC 9254.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245	Xeon Gold 6416H
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 Gold 6416H debuted at $1845. On MSRP ($319 vs $1845), the Core Ultra 5 245 is $1526 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 245 delivers 125.9 pts/$ vs 22.0 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6416H — making the Core Ultra 5 245 the 140.5% better value option.