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 i9-14900HX

2024

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.9 vs 147.7 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).

Core Ultra 5 245KF

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $374 less on MSRP ($294 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 120.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 147.7 vs 66.9 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,424 vs 44,685).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900HX.

Core i9-14900HX

2024

Core Ultra 5 245KF

2024

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Why buy it

✅Costs $374 less on MSRP ($294 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).
✅Delivers 120.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 147.7 vs 66.9 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $668 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.9 vs 147.7 PassMark/$ ($668 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,424 vs 44,685).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 36 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-14900HX.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-14900HX better than Core Ultra 5 245KF?

Yes. Core i9-14900HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.9% 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 i9-14900HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.0% 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 i9-14900HX is the better fit. You are getting 2.9% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Core i9-14900HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 245KF makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-14900HX is 127.2% more expensive on MSRP at $668 MSRP versus $294 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 245KF is also 120.8% better value on MSRP (147.7 vs 66.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-14900HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 50% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 24 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 32 threads instead of 14/14. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i9-14900HX Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	318 FPS	282 FPS
medium	309 FPS	264 FPS
high	244 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	276 FPS	233 FPS
medium	238 FPS	195 FPS
high	176 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	155 FPS
medium	162 FPS	129 FPS
high	121 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i9-14900HX Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	497 FPS	687 FPS
medium	436 FPS	578 FPS
high	355 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	438 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	596 FPS
medium	381 FPS	522 FPS
high	317 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	258 FPS	377 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	353 FPS
medium	217 FPS	315 FPS
high	206 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	180 FPS	263 FPS

Open Core i9-14900HX Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	761 FPS	851 FPS
medium	626 FPS	694 FPS
high	542 FPS	617 FPS
ultra	466 FPS	528 FPS
1440p
low	681 FPS	731 FPS
medium	568 FPS	599 FPS
high	486 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	425 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	501 FPS	506 FPS
medium	439 FPS	427 FPS
high	392 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	334 FPS	324 FPS

Open Core i9-14900HX Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	1001 FPS	1086 FPS
medium	896 FPS	1015 FPS
high	783 FPS	889 FPS
ultra	696 FPS	808 FPS
1440p
low	831 FPS	892 FPS
medium	731 FPS	789 FPS
high	639 FPS	687 FPS
ultra	561 FPS	611 FPS
4K
low	613 FPS	604 FPS
medium	549 FPS	542 FPS
high	485 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	425 FPS	432 FPS

Open Core i9-14900HX Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-14900HX and Core Ultra 5 245KF

Core i9-14900HX

The Core i9-14900HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 44,685 points. Launch price was $499.

Core Ultra 5 245KF

The Core Ultra 5 245KF 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: 43,424 points. Launch price was $294.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-14900HX packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Core i9-14900HX has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.7 GHz on the Core i9-14900HX versus 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245KF — a 9.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-14900HX (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i9-14900HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh (2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 245KF uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-14900HX scores 44,685 against the Core Ultra 5 245KF's 43,424 — a 2.9% lead for the Core i9-14900HX. L3 cache: 36 MB (total) on the Core i9-14900HX vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Feature	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+71%	14 / 14
Boost Clock	5.7 GHz+10%	5.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	4.2 GHz+91%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)+50%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+50%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-HX Refresh (2024)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	44,685+3%	43,424
Cinebench R23 Multi	35,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	3,000	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	17,500	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-14900HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 245KF uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-14900HX versus 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245KF — the Core Ultra 5 245KF supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 192 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM770,WM790 (Core i9-14900HX) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245KF).

Feature	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+104857500%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-14900HX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245KF). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-14900HX) and Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 245KF) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-14900HX targets Flagship Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-14900HX rivals Ryzen 9 7945HX; Core Ultra 5 245KF rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i9-14900HX	Core Ultra 5 245KF
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Flagship Gaming Laptop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-14900HX launched at $668 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF debuted at $294. On MSRP ($668 vs $294), the Core Ultra 5 245KF is $374 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-14900HX delivers 66.9 pts/$ vs 147.7 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 245KF — making the Core Ultra 5 245KF the 75.3% better value option.