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 i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $90 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $90 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 111.9 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core Ultra 5 245?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.8% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data and 14% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.8% more average FPS across 43 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 14% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 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 i7-13700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 245 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-13700K is 28.2% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $319 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 245 is also 12.5% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 111.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1851 + DDR5 setup, Core Ultra 5 245 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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). 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 i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	284 FPS	278 FPS
medium	268 FPS	263 FPS
high	223 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	230 FPS
medium	200 FPS	194 FPS
high	159 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	153 FPS
medium	134 FPS	128 FPS
high	103 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 5 245

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	689 FPS	668 FPS
medium	580 FPS	564 FPS
high	484 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	429 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	579 FPS
medium	525 FPS	509 FPS
high	441 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	342 FPS
medium	314 FPS	306 FPS
high	295 FPS	291 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	256 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 5 245

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	648 FPS	845 FPS
medium	530 FPS	689 FPS
high	467 FPS	613 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	525 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	730 FPS
medium	491 FPS	598 FPS
high	427 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	505 FPS
medium	374 FPS	425 FPS
high	339 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	324 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 5 245

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	970 FPS	1004 FPS
medium	883 FPS	956 FPS
high	766 FPS	834 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	758 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	865 FPS
medium	740 FPS	764 FPS
high	642 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	589 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	585 FPS
medium	515 FPS	525 FPS
high	463 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	417 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core Ultra 5 245

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core Ultra 5 245

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

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.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245 offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core Ultra 5 245's 40,165 — a 13.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+14%	14 / 14
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+6%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+25%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+50%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	45,784+14%	40,165
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 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 DDR5-5600 on the Core i7-13700K 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+78643100%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-13700K) and Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics (Core Ultra 5 245) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core Ultra 5 245
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245 debuted at $319. On MSRP ($409 vs $319), the Core Ultra 5 245 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 125.9 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 245 — making the Core Ultra 5 245 the 11.7% better value option.