Intel has officially revealed the benchmark results for its latest Core Ultra 5 245K “Bolt Lake” desktop CPU. The new chip showcases a 6% performance uplift compared to its predecessor, the i5-14600K. Not only does it promise a speed boost, but it also delivers impressive thermal management and reduced power consumption.
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K: Key Specifications
The Core Ultra 5 245K maintains a 14-core configuration, split between 6 performance cores (P-cores) and 8 efficiency cores (E-cores). It features a total of 50MB of cache, split between 24MB of L3 and 26MB of L2 cache. The base clock speeds are set at 4.2 GHz for P-cores and 3.6 GHz for E-cores, with boost clocks reaching 5.2 GHz and 4.6 GHz respectively.
Key Specs:
- Cores/Threads: 14/14
- Base Clock (P/E cores): 4.2/3.6 GHz
- Boost Clock (P/E cores): 5.2/4.6 GHz
- Cache (L3/L2): 24MB / 26MB
- TDP: 125W (PL1), 159W (PL2)
Benchmark Results
In the CPU-z benchmark, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scored 850.6 in single-core performance and 10907.1 in multi-core tests. While it was marginally outpaced by the i5-14600K in single-core testing by 2.6%, it achieved a 6% advantage in multi-core performance. This improvement makes it a strong choice for multi-threaded tasks such as content creation and gaming.
| Processor | Single-Core Score | Multi-Core Score |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-14900K | 914 | 17385 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X | 789 | 15822 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 245K | 850 | 10907 |
| Intel Core i5-14600K | 873 | 10330 |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | 890 | 8750 |
Compared to the Ryzen 7 9700X, the Ultra 5 245K shows a slight edge, although it lags behind the more powerful Ryzen 9 7900X in multi-core workloads.
Power Consumption and Thermal Efficiency
The 245K was tested for its power efficiency and thermal performance, hitting a maximum temperature of 64°C under full load, consuming up to 160W of power. The benchmark was conducted using a standard 360mm AIO cooler, indicating that the CPU offers strong thermal management. Future optimizations via BIOS and microcode updates are expected to further reduce power consumption and enhance performance.
Comparison with Intel i5-14600K
While the i5-14600K benefits from more threads (20 threads vs. 14 threads in the 245K) and a slight clock speed boost (up to 5.3 GHz), the Core Ultra 5 245K counters with better efficiency and comparable multi-core performance. This balance of performance and energy consumption makes it a compelling choice for users looking for both speed and thermal efficiency.
Final Thoughts
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is poised to become a standout CPU if it can maintain these performance levels while continuing to lower power consumption. Its multi-core efficiency, cooler operating temperatures, and competitive power savings make it an attractive option for both professionals and gamers. As Intel’s Bolt Lake series prepares to launch alongside next-gen Z890 motherboards on October 24, further testing will reveal how it competes with both Intel’s and AMD’s latest offerings.
Key Specifications for Intel Bolt Lake CPUs (Initial Launch):
| CPU Name | Cores/Threads | Base Clock (P/E) | Max Boost (P/E) | Cache (L3/L2) | TDP (PL1/PL2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 285K | 24/24 | 3.7 / 3.2 GHz | 5.7 / 4.6 GHz | 36 MB / 40 MB | 125W / 250W |
| Core Ultra 7 265K | 20/20 | 3.9 / 3.3 GHz | 5.4 / 4.6 GHz | 30 MB / 36 MB | 125W / 250W |
| Core Ultra 5 245K | 14/14 | 4.2 / 3.6 GHz | 5.2 / 4.6 GHz | 24 MB / 26 MB | 125W / 159W |
These detailed specs highlight each model’s core configuration, clock speeds, and thermal design power (TDP), giving users the insight they need to decide which processor suits their requirements best. The Core Ultra 9 leads with its 24 cores, while the Core Ultra 5 balances efficiency and power consumption.
Stay tuned for further updates as Intel’s Bolt Lake series officially launches, bringing new performance benchmarks and detailed analysis.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 14th September 2024