Core Ultra 5 245K vs Ryzen 7 8840HX

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 245K

2024

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $319 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8840HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Ryzen 7 8840HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (42,275 vs 43,417).

Core Ultra 5 245K

2024

Ryzen 7 8840HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $319 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8840HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (42,275 vs 43,417).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245K better than Ryzen 7 8840HX?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 2.7% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 245K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.1% 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 5 245K is the better fit. You are getting 2.7% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 245K is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245K is at an unclear MSRP at $319 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (136.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen 7 8840HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024) and 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 245K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 8840HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	281 FPS	267 FPS
medium	264 FPS	244 FPS
high	223 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	252 FPS
medium	195 FPS	206 FPS
high	159 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	175 FPS
medium	129 FPS	143 FPS
high	100 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	687 FPS	654 FPS
medium	578 FPS	566 FPS
high	480 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	438 FPS	367 FPS
1440p
low	596 FPS	554 FPS
medium	522 FPS	494 FPS
high	437 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	303 FPS
4K
low	353 FPS	312 FPS
medium	315 FPS	283 FPS
high	300 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	212 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	851 FPS	847 FPS
medium	694 FPS	677 FPS
high	617 FPS	599 FPS
ultra	528 FPS	514 FPS
1440p
low	731 FPS	676 FPS
medium	599 FPS	541 FPS
high	521 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	397 FPS
4K
low	506 FPS	483 FPS
medium	427 FPS	400 FPS
high	384 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	1085 FPS	1057 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	966 FPS
high	889 FPS	843 FPS
ultra	808 FPS	760 FPS
1440p
low	892 FPS	842 FPS
medium	789 FPS	747 FPS
high	687 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	611 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	604 FPS	619 FPS
medium	542 FPS	553 FPS
high	489 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245K and Ryzen 7 8840HX

Core Ultra 5 245K

The Core Ultra 5 245K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 43,417 points. Launch price was $319.

Ryzen 7 8840HX

The Ryzen 7 8840HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 April 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Dragon Range (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 42,275 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245K packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 5 245K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245K versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8840HX — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245K (base: 4.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245K uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 43,417 against the Ryzen 7 8840HX's 42,275 — a 2.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245K. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245K vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8840HX.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen 7 8840HX
Cores / Threads	14 / 14+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+2%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	4.2 GHz+45%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+200%	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-40%	5 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Dragon Range (2025)
PassMark	43,417+3%	42,275

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245K uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245K versus 5600 on the Ryzen 7 8840HX — the Core Ultra 5 245K supports 13.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245K supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 64 — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245K) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 8840HX) — the Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245K) and FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 7 8840HX).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen 7 8840HX
Socket	LGA1851	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	6400+14%	5600
Max RAM Capacity	192+200%	64
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core Ultra 5 245K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 8840HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8840HX). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 245K) and AMD Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 8840HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245K rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Ryzen 7 8840HX rivals Core i7-13700H.