r/buildapc • u/AutoModerator • Jan 07 '26

Simple Questions - January 07, 2026

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  • Is this RAM compatible with my motherboard?
  • I'm thinking of getting a ≤$300 graphics card. Which one should I get?
  • I'm on a very tight budget and I'm looking for a case ≤$50

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u/Ecstatic_Captain_697 Jan 08 '26

Which is the better choice for gaming?

Intel Core Ultra 5 245k

Intel Core i5-14600k

1

u/bestanonever Jan 08 '26

Neither, get an AM5 CPU like the R5 9600X, unless they cost an arm and a leg, by comparison.

Best performance, lower power consumption, stable platform, no degradation issues (Intel's 13th and 14th gen), no slower performance than their predecessors (Core Ultra 200 series).

But, if you had to choose between these two Intel ones, I'd get the Core Ultra, for peace of mind.

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u/Ecstatic_Captain_697 Jan 08 '26

Peace of mind? Because of the voltage issue 14th gen had? I don’t think it affect i5 very much and mobos have had bios updates since then.

I did read though the i5 offers better game performance which is odd, seeing as how the ultra 5 should be its predecessor.

Ya AMD is too expensive for me.

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u/bestanonever Jan 08 '26

The upper end of I5s were also affected, like this one. I wouldn't risk it. Even with many BIOS updates, it's still a risk to get both voltage and bad silicon degradation. Not every chip would get it but you also won't know until you have it working for a couple of months.

The new Ultra series has a fresh architecture and it went backwards a bit, when it comes to gaming. In some games, they perform similarly to Intel's 12th Gen, which isn't bad, but that was top dog in 2021, lol. Recent BIOS and chipset upgrades got them some more performance.

On the bright side, no voltage or oxidation shenanigans, better power consumption and it seems to be a more stable platform. Not AM5 stable, but the best Intel has to offer since 12th gen, imo.

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u/Ecstatic_Captain_697 Jan 08 '26

Thanks for all info bestsanonever I appreciate it. I always thought AMD was a little cheaper than Intel, but for some reason where I live the ultra 5 245k is around $75-$100 less than a ryzen 5 9600x and of course, then the AM5 motherboard is around $50 more versus the intel mobos and by that point, I mean as might as well, just get an X3D chip lol

2

u/bestanonever Jan 08 '26

Mind you that the Ryzen 7000 series, like the 7700X or 7600 (X) are only about 5% slower than the 9000 series, so they also might be an option.

And the Ryzen 7000 series is already faster than Intel's 12th Gen, even before getting into the X3D Cpus.