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 i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245T across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 32,444).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Core Ultra 5 245T

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +35.9% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 221.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core Ultra 5 245T

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +35.9% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Delivers 221.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245T across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 32,444).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245T better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 35.9% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data, 125.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 245T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 35.9% more average FPS across 5 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 245T is the better fit. You are getting 125.4% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core Ultra 5 245T is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245T is $115 cheaper on MSRP at $270 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 35.9% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 221.3% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), 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 245T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 14 threads instead of 8/8. 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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
1080p
low	308 FPS	262 FPS
medium	278 FPS	252 FPS
high	231 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	220 FPS
medium	221 FPS	189 FPS
high	178 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	149 FPS
medium	140 FPS	127 FPS
high	108 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 245T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
1080p
low	360 FPS	361 FPS
medium	321 FPS	307 FPS
high	291 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	233 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	316 FPS
medium	282 FPS	279 FPS
high	258 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	200 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	187 FPS
medium	221 FPS	170 FPS
high	208 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	141 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 245T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
1080p
low	360 FPS	811 FPS
medium	360 FPS	685 FPS
high	360 FPS	610 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	727 FPS
medium	360 FPS	596 FPS
high	360 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	504 FPS
medium	360 FPS	425 FPS
high	360 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	323 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 245T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
1080p
low	360 FPS	811 FPS
medium	360 FPS	811 FPS
high	360 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	704 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	811 FPS
medium	360 FPS	722 FPS
high	360 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	552 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	554 FPS
medium	360 FPS	500 FPS
high	360 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	394 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 245T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core Ultra 5 245T

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core Ultra 5 245T

The Core Ultra 5 245T 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 2.2 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: 32,444 points. Launch price was $270.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245T offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 245T has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245T — a 4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245T (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core Ultra 5 245T's 32,444 — a 77.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245T. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245T.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	14 / 14+75%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.1 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+64%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	3 MB (per core)+1100%
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	14,397	32,444+125%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245T — the Core Ultra 5 245T supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245T supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 20 (Core Ultra 5 245T) — the Core Ultra 5 245T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
Socket	LGA1151	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and Arc Xe-LPG 64EU (Core Ultra 5 245T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Core Ultra 5 245T targets Desktop Low Power.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 245T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	Arc Xe-LPG 64EU
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Desktop Low Power

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245T debuted at $270. On MSRP ($385 vs $270), the Core Ultra 5 245T is $115 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 120.2 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 245T — making the Core Ultra 5 245T the 105.1% better value option.