CPU Showdown

Core Ultra 5 245KvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Core Ultra 5 245K is a capable mid-range desktop chip for mainstream builders, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a high-core-count workstation monster aimed at professionals handling heavy multi-threaded workloads.

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
14C / 14T · 125W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
Intel

Core Ultra 5 245K

Arrow Lake-S · 3 nm · 2024

26score
4.2/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
14 / 14
TDP
125W
Boost Clock
5.2 GHz
L3 Cache
24 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

56score
4.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 48
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core Ultra 5 245K
26
Ryzen Threadripper 9960XWinner
56
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X leads by 115.4% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#49Core Ultra 5 245KF26
#50Core Ultra 5 245K26
#51Core i9-13900T26
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore Ultra 5 245KRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores1424
Threads1448
Base Clock4.2 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.2 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache42 MB24 MB
L3 Cache24 MB128 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel® Graphics
Power
Base TDP125W350W
General
Process3 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X wins overall for heavy multitasking and professional workloads, but the Core Ultra 5 245K is a more practical choice for mainstream users.

Best value

The Core Ultra 5 245K offers better value for most buyers, giving solid everyday performance at lower power and cost.

When the other wins

The weaker Core Ultra 5 245K is the right choice for a compact gaming PC where high core counts are unnecessary.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core Ultra 5 245K better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (56 vs 26 out of 100), so it leads the Core Ultra 5 245K in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core Ultra 5 245K?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 115% faster than the Core Ultra 5 245K overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core Ultra 5 245K or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core Ultra 5 245K is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.