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Core Ultra 5 245K vs Core i5-14600K: Gaming Performance & Bottleneck (2026)

The Core i5-14600K is slightly faster for gaming: 150 vs 144 FPS in AAA games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, a 4% lead over the Core Ultra 5 245K. Newer isn't faster here: the Core i5-14600K is 1 year older and still wins in games. The gap holds at 1440p (4%) because even there the CPU, not the RTX 5090, sets the frame rate. In esports games like CS2 it's 374 vs 390 FPS, and in CPU-heavy titles such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 79 vs 82 FPS at 1440p. 1% lows, which decide how smooth a game feels, come in at 101 vs 105 FPS. With a more typical RTX 5070 at 1440p they land at 101 and 101 FPS, effectively the same. The Core Ultra 5 245K sits on LGA1851 and the Core i5-14600K on LGA1700, so switching means a new motherboard. The Core i5-14600K has more threads (20 vs 14), which helps streaming and productivity more than gaming.

Relative performance

Faster CPU = 100%. Average FPS at High settings with an RTX 5090.

AAA games, 1080p

Core Ultra 5 245K96%
Core i5-14600K100%

144 vs 150 FPS · Core i5-14600K +4%

Esports, 1080p

Core Ultra 5 245K96%
Core i5-14600K100%

374 vs 390 FPS · Core i5-14600K +4%

CPU-heavy games, 1440p

Core Ultra 5 245K96%
Core i5-14600K100%

79 vs 82 FPS · Core i5-14600K +4%

FPS with an RTX 5090

Average FPS, no upscaling. The fastest GPU, so the processor sets the pace.

SettingCore Ultra 5 245KCore i5-14600KLead
1080p High, AAA144150i5-14600K +4%
1440p High, AAA143148i5-14600K +4%
1080p esports374390i5-14600K +4%
1440p CPU-heavy7982i5-14600K +4%

Specifications

Gaming index: Ryzen 7 9800X3D = 100.

SpecCore Ultra 5 245KCore i5-14600K
Cores / threads14 / 1414 / 20
SocketLGA1851LGA1700
Released20242023
3D V-CacheNoNo
Gaming index7275

Which GPUs can it drive?

Strongest common GPU each CPU keeps under a 10% CPU bottleneck at 1440p High.

ProcessorStrongest GPUFPS
Core Ultra 5 245KRTX 5080131
Core i5-14600KRTX 4090142

Which should you buy?

Buy the Core i5-14600K if you want the faster gaming CPU: it's 4% ahead at 1080p with a high-end card. The Core Ultra 5 245K makes sense if it costs at least 4% less, or if you pair it with a mid-range GPU that hides the difference. Already own the Core Ultra 5 245K? The Core i5-14600K is only 4% faster at 1080p and is older hardware, so switching is rarely worth it.

Buy the Core Ultra 5 245K if…

  • it costs at least 4% less, or you game at 1440p and above where the gap shrinks.
  • you pair it with a mid-range card: with an RTX 5070 at 1440p the two are level.

Buy the Core i5-14600K if…

  • you play at high refresh rates: 4% more FPS at 1080p with a fast GPU.
  • you care about smoothness: 1% lows of 105 vs 101 FPS at 1080p.
  • you play strategy, sims or MMOs: 82 vs 79 FPS in CPU-heavy games.
  • you also stream, edit video or compile code: 14 cores / 20 threads vs 14 / 14.
  • you plan a faster graphics card: it keeps up with GPUs up to the RTX 4090 at 1440p.
  • you already own an LGA1700 motherboard: it's a drop-in upgrade with no new board or RAM.

Check your build

These numbers use an RTX 5090 to isolate the processor. Your own graphics card, resolution and settings change the result, so run your exact parts through the calculator.

Check Core Ultra 5 245K + RTX 5080 Check Core i5-14600K + RTX 4090

Popular builds with these CPUs

Core i5-14600K + RTX 5070 Ti1440p · GPU-limited 17% · ≈121 FPSCore i5-14600K + RTX 50701440p · GPU-limited 32% · ≈101 FPSCore i5-14600K + RX 9070 XT1440p · GPU-limited 19% · ≈119 FPS

Core Ultra 5 245K vs Core i5-14600K: quick answers

Is the Core Ultra 5 245K better than the Core i5-14600K for gaming?

No. The Core i5-14600K is about 4% faster at 1080p with an RTX 5090 and 4% faster at 1440p. The gap is smaller with a mid-range graphics card, which becomes the limit first.

How many FPS do the Core Ultra 5 245K and Core i5-14600K get?

Paired with an RTX 5090 at High settings, the Core Ultra 5 245K averages about 144 FPS at 1080p and 143 at 1440p in AAA games, and 374 FPS in esports titles. The Core i5-14600K averages 150, 148 and 390 FPS.

Which graphics card should I pair with the Core Ultra 5 245K or Core i5-14600K?

For a CPU bottleneck under 10% at 1440p, the Core Ultra 5 245K keeps up with cards up to the RTX 5080 and the Core i5-14600K keeps up with cards up to the RTX 4090. Any slower card is a safe match. At 4K both CPUs can drive faster GPUs, and at 1080p they need slower ones.