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 i9-12900KF

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.7% higher PassMark.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.4 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($564 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 245 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $245 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $564 MSRP).
✅Delivers 73.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 72.4 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $564 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Core i9-12900KF needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,858).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i9-12900KF

2021

Core Ultra 5 245

2025

Why buy it

✅+1.7% higher PassMark.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $245 less on MSRP ($319 MSRP vs $564 MSRP).
✅Delivers 73.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 125.9 vs 72.4 PassMark/$ ($319 MSRP vs $564 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Core i9-12900KF needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.4 vs 125.9 PassMark/$ ($564 MSRP vs $319 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 245 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (40,165 vs 40,858).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245 better than Core i9-12900KF?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 5 245 is ahead with a 11.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900KF pulls ahead with 1.7% better PassMark. Core i9-12900KF also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900KF is the better fit. You are getting 1.7% 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 Ultra 5 245 is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245 is $245 cheaper on MSRP at $319 MSRP versus $564 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i9-12900KF is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.7% better PassMark. It is also 73.8% better value on MSRP (125.9 vs 72.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i9-12900KF can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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 2021). 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 i9-12900KF Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	272 FPS	278 FPS
medium	261 FPS	263 FPS
high	215 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	185 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	230 FPS
medium	199 FPS	194 FPS
high	159 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	160 FPS	153 FPS
medium	137 FPS	128 FPS
high	106 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KF Open Core Ultra 5 245

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	638 FPS	668 FPS
medium	541 FPS	564 FPS
high	454 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	429 FPS
1440p
low	546 FPS	579 FPS
medium	483 FPS	509 FPS
high	408 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	354 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	321 FPS	342 FPS
medium	291 FPS	306 FPS
high	276 FPS	291 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	256 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KF Open Core Ultra 5 245

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	776 FPS	845 FPS
medium	620 FPS	689 FPS
high	545 FPS	613 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	525 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	730 FPS
medium	560 FPS	598 FPS
high	487 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	499 FPS	505 FPS
medium	418 FPS	425 FPS
high	379 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	320 FPS	324 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KF Open Core Ultra 5 245

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
1080p
low	911 FPS	1004 FPS
medium	824 FPS	956 FPS
high	712 FPS	834 FPS
ultra	642 FPS	758 FPS
1440p
low	781 FPS	865 FPS
medium	695 FPS	764 FPS
high	601 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	531 FPS	589 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	585 FPS
medium	484 FPS	525 FPS
high	433 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	379 FPS	417 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KF Open Core Ultra 5 245

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900KF and Core Ultra 5 245

Core i9-12900KF

The Core i9-12900KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 40,858 points. Launch price was $564.

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 i9-12900KF packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245 offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Core i9-12900KF has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-12900KF versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245 — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900KF (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-12900KF uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900KF scores 40,858 against the Core Ultra 5 245's 40,165 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i9-12900KF. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900KF vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245.

Feature	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+14%	14 / 14
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+2%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.5 GHz+9%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+25%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	40,858+2%	40,165
Cinebench R23 Multi	27,472	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,585	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	15,300	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900KF 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 DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-12900KF 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 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,Z790,B660,B760 (Core i9-12900KF) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245).

Feature	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+52428700%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-12900KF has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-12900KF) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245). The Core Ultra 5 245 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics), while the Core i9-12900KF requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900KF targets Extreme Gaming / Content Creation. Direct competitor: Core i9-12900KF rivals Ryzen 9 5950X; Core Ultra 5 245 rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i9-12900KF	Core Ultra 5 245
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Extreme Gaming / Content Creation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-12900KF launched at $564 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245 debuted at $319. On MSRP ($564 vs $319), the Core Ultra 5 245 is $245 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-12900KF delivers 72.4 pts/$ vs 125.9 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 245 — making the Core Ultra 5 245 the 53.9% better value option.