Core Ultra 5 245K + GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB bottleneck at 1080p
A current-generation 1080p build where the sensible move is a better card, not a better chip. The 16 GB version is the one to buy.
GPU limited, which is optimal for gaming
- Memory 16 GB
- Storage NVMe SSD no cost
- Video memory 16 GB
The short answer
At 1080p for gaming the Core Ultra 5 245K could feed about 160 fps, but the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB tops out near 120 fps, so the card is the limiting part. That is the normal and preferable situation in a gaming PC.
The same parts at other resolutions
| Resolution | Estimated FPS | Verdict | Unused |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 120 | GPU limited, which is optimal for gaming | 25% |
| 1440p | 91 | The graphics card is the bottleneck | 43.1% |
| 4K | 54 | The graphics card is the bottleneck | 66.3% |
This table is the whole argument against treating a bottleneck percentage as a property of two parts. It is a property of two parts and a workload.
What to do
- This is the normal state for a gaming PC. The graphics card should be the part working hardest.
- Lower shadow, reflection and ray tracing settings first. They cost the most frames for the least visual difference.
- Turn on DLSS, FSR or XeSS in quality mode. It raises frame rate specifically when the card is the limit.
- If you want a real jump, a faster graphics card is the upgrade that will actually show up. The Core Ultra 5 245K has room to feed a quicker card.
Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 245K |
| Cores / threads | 14 / 14 |
| Graphics card | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB |
| Video memory | 16 GB |
| Assumed workload | Gaming |
| Assumed memory | 16 GB |
| Assumed storage | NVMe SSD |
Change the memory, drive and workload assumptions in the calculator, or see more pairings for the Core Ultra 5 245K or the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB.
Questions people ask about this pairing
Does the Core Ultra 5 245K bottleneck the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
At 1080p for gaming the Core Ultra 5 245K could feed about 160 fps, but the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB tops out near 120 fps, so the card is the limiting part. That is the normal and preferable situation in a gaming PC.
What frame rate should I expect at 1080p?
Around 120 FPS as a modelled average across recent AAA titles at high settings. Competitive shooters and older games will run considerably higher; heavy ray tracing will run lower.
Should I upgrade the graphics card?
If you want a real jump, a faster graphics card is the upgrade that will actually show up. The Core Ultra 5 245K has room to feed a quicker card.
Does the answer change at other resolutions?
At 1440p the estimate is about 91 FPS and the verdict is "The graphics card is the bottleneck". At 4K the estimate is about 54 FPS and the verdict is "The graphics card is the bottleneck".