Intel is launching five new Core Ultra Series 2 chips as part of its biggest CPU re-architecture in years. These are excellent options in terms of content creation performance and are also good for power efficiency, but gaming performance isn’t quite where it needs to be to compete with upcoming 14th-gen processors. Still, there are some highlights with the new design, and we’ve rounded up where the three main chips are in the US and UK.
To get started, click on the CPU you’re interested in, or scroll to see the full list!
| CPU core | Promote | L3 cache | L2 cache | Maximum power | Suggested retail price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super 9 285K | 24(8P+16E) | 5.7GHz | 36MB | 40MB | 250W | $589/£549 |
| Super 7 265K | 20(8P+12E) | 5.5GHz | 30MB | 36MB | 250W | $394/£379 |
| Super 7 265KF | 20(8P+12E) | 5.5GHz | 30MB | 36MB | 250W | $379/£359 |
| Super 5 245K | 14(6P+8E) | 5.2GHz | 24MB | 26MB | 159W | $309/£289 |
| Super 5 245KF | 14(6P+8E) | 5.2GHz | 24MB | 26MB | 159W | $294/£279 |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (£549/$589)
Let’s start with the most powerful chip – the Core Ultra 9 285K. This is a 24-core processor with a maximum boost clock of 5.7GHz and a TDP of 125W. Gaming performance varies widely, sometimes beating the Ryzen 9 9950X and 14900K and sometimes lagging behind 12th-gen parts – so expect the update to fix that. Content creation performance is generally excellent, tending to equal or exceed the 14900K, while power consumption is lower.
| Retailer | cheapest price | Suggested retail price/recommended retail price |
|---|---|---|
| All-wheel drive-IT | £549 | £549 |
| overclocker | £549 | £549 |
| e-buyer | £549 | £549 |
| scanning | £549 | £549 |
| copper clad laminate | £572 | £549 |
| Amazon UK | Pound sterling to be determined | £549 |
| Amazon US | $TBA | $629 |
| B&H Photo Video | $630 | $589 |
| best buy | $619 | $589 |
| newegg | $629 | $589 |
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (£380/$499)
As for the Core Ultra 7 265K, it’s a 20-core and thread processor with a base clock of 3.9GHz that can be boosted all the way to 5.5GHz. It has a reasonable 125W TDP, and a similar launch price to the old Core i7-14700K, which sold for £399/$410.
| Retailer | cheapest price | Suggested retail price/recommended retail price |
|---|---|---|
| All-wheel drive-IT | £379 | £379 |
| overclocker | £379 | £379 |
| e-buyer | £379 | £379 |
| scanning | £392 | £379 |
| copper clad laminate | Pound sterling to be determined | £379 |
| Amazon UK | Pound sterling to be determined | £379 |
| Amazon US | $404 | $409 |
| B&H Photo Video | $410 | $409 |
| best buy | $429 | $409 |
| newegg | $410 | $409 |
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (£290/$329)
Finally, there’s Intel’s Core Ultra 5 245K. This is a 14-core/thread chip with a base clock of 4.6Ghz and a boost frequency of 5.2GHz. The Core Ultra 7 265K has a TDP of 125W and is priced at £290/$329, a price reduction of £100/$80.
| Retailer | cheapest price | Suggested retail price/recommended retail price |
|---|---|---|
| All-wheel drive-IT | £289 | £289 |
| overclocker | £289 | £289 |
| e-buyer | £289 | £289 |
| scanning | £289 | £289 |
| copper clad laminate | £302 | £289 |
| Amazon UK | Pound sterling to be determined | £289 |
| Amazon US | $TBA | $329 |
| B&H Photo Video | $327 | $329 |
| best buy | $TBA | $329 |
| newegg | $319 | $329 |
FAQ
Which motherboards support the new Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chips?
Intel’s Z890 and B860 motherboards will support these Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chips out of the box. The previous generation option won’t cut it, as the new chips use the LGA 1851 socket, rather than the older LGA 1700 socket. Currently only the Z890 seems to be available, with the B860 expected to be launched later.
Which memory is best for Intel Core Ultra?
Unlike previous generations of Intel CPUs, where you could choose between DDR4 and DDR5, these new chips are a DDR5-only platform, so your old DDR4 RAM won’t work here. Instead, you need to buy a new DDR5 kit, starting with DDR5-4800 and working your way up to DDR5-6400 and beyond. DDR5-6000 is our generally recommended best choice, but we’ve tested DDR5-8400 using 285K with good results.
The usual RAM buying advice applies here. First, use two or four sticks to make sure you’re running in dual-channel mode, as you’ll suffer a serious performance hit with one stick. Second, make sure XMP, DOCP or EXPO are enabled in your motherboard BIOS to ensure you’re getting the rated speed – you can check your current RAM speed using a free tool like CPU-Z or Windows 11 Task Manager.
Which CPU coolers support Intel Core Ultra Series 2 / LGA 1851?
Existing LGA 1700 coolers are backwards compatible with the new LGA 1851 socket, so if you have an existing LGA 1700 Intel CPU, you should be suitable for these new chips as well.
Well, there you have it – the best prices on Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 2 processors, plus some advice. If you find one of these CPUs for a lower price, let us know and stay tuned @dealsfoundry on Twitter Check out more PC deals we’ve found.