Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for the Core Ultra 5 245K
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
The Core Ultra 5 245K pairs well with mid-range cards for 1440p. Every pick has 12GB or more of VRAM, ordered by memory.
We ranked these graphics cards on GPU, VRAM and memory using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and where a maker leaves out thickness, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB
An XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC
A quiet/performance dual BIOS.
Best for: Buyers who want quiet/performance dual BIOS.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 5070
A dual BIOS.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS.
Our take Check price for ASUS SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 5070 (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge at 16GB. It matches the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge on cooler thickness (2-slot).
It is the only pick here with a 3290MHz boost clock; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB has a 3320MHz boost clock instead. You also get 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 249mm
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Recommended PSU: 550W
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 3290MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
Also Consider2 of 5
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
XFX's Swift RX 9060 XT is the cheapest 16GB card in this guide, with a dual-fan cooler and a 3320MHz boost.
Best for
- Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Skip if
- Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It suits 1440p at medium to high settings. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge at 16GB. Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 uses GDDR7 memory.
No other pick in this guide offers a 3320MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has a 3290MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 2-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
- Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler
- 3320MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the lower-cost NVIDIA route to 16GB at 1440p.
Best for
- Buyers who want quiet/performance dual BIOS.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is a 2.5-slot card with 0dB fan stop and dual-ball fan bearings. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge on video memory (16GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 at 2.5-slot.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge and ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB goes with GDDR6 memory. You get a 2632MHz (OC mode) boost clock here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and its a 3320MHz boost clock. It also comes with a quiet/performance dual BIOS. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the pricier ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2632MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Quiet/performance dual BIOS
- 0dB fan stop
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Zotac's RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC is a 2-slot, SFF-Ready card powered by a single 8-pin connector.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at 16GB. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on cooler thickness (2-slot). It shares an RTX 5060 Ti gpu with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB; the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 goes with an RTX 5070 gpu.
Like the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070, it has GDDR7 memory, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses GDDR6 memory. It also offers two 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop and a metal backplate. The Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Worth a Look5 of 5
ASUS SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 5070 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 is a 2.5-slot card with 12GB of GDDR7, a dual BIOS and a three-year warranty listed.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It suits 1440p in a compact case. Its 12GB video memory is the smallest in this group; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads at 16GB. On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at 2.5-slot.
No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5070 gpu; compare the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, which has an RTX 5060 Ti gpu. It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB goes with GDDR6 memory. It also comes with a phase-change GPU thermal pad.
The ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and the pricier Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Dual BIOS
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (16GB)
- Cooler thickness trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (2-slot)
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Cooling and extras
- We checked cooler design, fan-stop modes, dual BIOS, support brackets and display outputs.
- GPU and memory
- We compared the chip, video memory capacity and memory type stated in each listing.
- Price tier
- We grouped picks by price at the time of writing rather than by listed clock speed.
- Power
- We noted the power connector and recommended power supply where listed.
What to Look for in a GPUs for the Core Ultra 5 245K
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
Among these picks, video memory runs from 12GB on the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 to 16GB on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. Pick the lowest figure that covers your use; the extra usually costs more than it returns.
Treat 8GB of VRAM as the floor
Some recent games already push past 8GB at high texture settings. Cards with 12GB or 16GB give more room, especially at 1440p and above.
Two versions of the same chip can differ only in memory; check the capacity in the exact model name.
Plan the power connector and PSU
Cards use one or two 8-pin PCIe plugs or a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 plug. Confirm your power supply has the right cables and meets the maker's recommended wattage.
Compare upscaling and encoders
NVIDIA cards support DLSS, AMD cards FSR and Intel cards XeSS. Each game supports a different mix, so check the titles you play.
Streamers should also compare hardware video encoders.
Cooler size affects noise
Larger triple-fan coolers usually run quieter under load than compact dual-fan designs. A 0dB mode stops the fans at light load.
How to Choose a GPUs for the Core Ultra 5 245K
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler | XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | An XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler |
| Buyers who want quiet/performance dual BIOS | ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | A quiet/performance dual BIOS |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS | ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 | A dual BIOS |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2-slot |
| ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these graphics cards compare on cooler thickness?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, at 2-slot. The Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge follows at 2-slot, while the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 has 2.5-slot.
Which is the cheapest pick in this guide?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. It undercut the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB when we checked, while the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge cost the most of the group.
Should I choose AMD or NVIDIA?
Compare price and memory at your budget first, then features such as DLSS or FSR support in your games and hardware encoding if you stream.
Do I need a GPU support bracket?
Long, heavy cards can sag and stress the slot. Some come with a support stand or bracket; otherwise one is inexpensive to add.
Is an 8GB graphics card still enough?
For 1080p with tuned texture settings, often yes. For 1440p or high textures in new games, 12GB or 16GB is safer.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB for an XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for a quiet/performance dual BIOS and the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop if those matter more to you.
LGA1851 boards give the GPU PCIe 5.0 x16; any current card will run at full link width.