CPU vs CPU
Core i5-14400 vs Core Ultra 5 245K
The Core Ultra 5 245K is 16% faster in games but costs $292 more for the whole platform (processor, board, 32GB of memory and a cooler if needed). For value, the Core i5-14400 is the pick; pay up only for a high-refresh monitor or a very fast graphics card.
Key facts· updated
- The Core i5-14400 scores 58 and the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 67.1 for 1080p gaming in the Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, Oct 2026 (RTX 5090, fastest chip = 100).
- The Core Ultra 5 245K is 16% faster in games than the Core i5-14400 (Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, Oct 2026).
- The Core i5-14400 costs $208 and the Core Ultra 5 245K costs $180 (PC Atlas price check, Nov 3, 2026; catalog estimates, not live store prices).
- With the cheapest compatible board and 32GB of memory, it's $524 for the Core i5-14400 platform vs $816 for the Core Ultra 5 245K platform (PC Atlas price check, Nov 3, 2026; catalog estimates, not live store prices).
- The Core i5-14400 uses LGA1700 and the Core Ultra 5 245K uses LGA1851, so they need different motherboards.
| Spec | Core i5-14400 | Core Ultra 5 245K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score (1080p) | 58 | 67.1 |
| Price today | $208Sample | $180Sample |
| Platform cost today | $524Sample | $816Sample |
| Cores | 10 | 14 |
| Gaming power (approx.) | ~148 W | ~159 W |
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1851 |
| Memory | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Cooler in the box | Yes | No |
| Built-in graphics | Yes | Yes |
Gaming score: Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, “Gaming CPU Benchmarks Rankings 2026” (Oct 2026; 1080p, mix of High and Ultra settings, geometric mean of 17 games, relative to the Ryzen 7 9850X3D (= 100); NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition). Specs from maker pages (checked 2026-10-29). Platform cost = processor + cheapest compatible board + cheapest 32GB kit + cheapest cooler rated for the chip when none is in the box. Highlighted = better. Prices last checked ; Sample = PC Atlas catalog estimate, not a live store price.
Questions
Is the Core i5-14400 better than the Core Ultra 5 245K for gaming?
The Core Ultra 5 245K is 16% faster in games but costs $292 more for the whole platform (processor, board, 32GB of memory and a cooler if needed). For value, the Core i5-14400 is the pick; pay up only for a high-refresh monitor or a very fast graphics card.
How much faster is the Core Ultra 5 245K in games?
16% in the Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy (Oct 2026): a 1080p gaming score of 67.1 vs 58, tested with an RTX 5090 so the processor is the limit. At 1440p and 4K with a mid-range card the gap shrinks, often to nothing.
What does each one cost with a motherboard and memory?
Core i5-14400: about $524 with the MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 (mATX) and TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB 32GB (2x16) DDR4-3200 CL16. Core Ultra 5 245K: about $816 with the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi (mATX) and G.Skill Flare X5 32GB (2x16) DDR5-6000 CL30 plus the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black.
Can I upgrade the Core i5-14400 or Core Ultra 5 245K later?
LGA1700: end of the line. Intel's newer chips use LGA1851. LGA1851: Core Ultra 200S Plus is the newest chip for it; Intel hasn't announced more.