Quick Answer
For 1440p ultrawide (3440×1440) gaming, the Core Ultra 5 245K paired with an RTX 4070 Ti Super (~R14,500 at Evetech) delivers 80–100 fps in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy — strong enough for 100 Hz ultrawide panels at medium-to-high quality. Total build cost sits around R32,000–R36,000, making this the best Rand-per-frame entry into ultrawide 1440p without crossing into flagship GPU territory. The 245K is not the bottleneck at this resolution; the GPU determines nearly all performance.
Why 1440p Ultrawide Shifts the GPU Equation
At 3440×1440, the GPU handles roughly 78% more pixels than standard 2560×1440. This makes the CPU increasingly irrelevant to average fps — the 245K and 285K will perform within 2–4 fps of each other at this resolution in most titles. This is exactly why the 245K represents exceptional Rand-per-frame value at ultrawide: you pay significantly less for the CPU while GPU-side performance is identical regardless of CPU tier.
Recommended 245K Ultrawide Build
CPU: Core Ultra 5 245K (R6,500). Board: MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi (R5,200). RAM: 32 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 (R2,800). GPU: RTX 4070 Ti Super (R14,500) — targets 80–100 fps at 1440p ultrawide Ultra settings. PSU: 850W 80+ Gold (R2,200) — necessary for the higher TGP of the 4070 Ti Super. Storage: 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe (R900). Cooler: 240mm AIO (~R1,500). Estimated total: R33,600–R37,000 depending on case and accessories.
GPU Alternatives for Ultrawide 1440p
RTX 4070 Super (R11,000): 60–80 fps at 1440p ultrawide Ultra — solid at medium-high settings, targets 100 fps at medium. RTX 4070 Ti Super (R14,500): 80–100 fps at Ultra — most complete ultrawide experience without compromising settings. RX 7900 GRE (~R13,000): Competitive rasterisation at slightly lower ZAR cost. The 4070 Ti Super is recommended for SA buyers who want to max settings at ultrawide without frame drops below 60 fps.
FAQ
Is the Core Ultra 5 245K good enough for 1440p ultrawide gaming?
Yes — at 3440×1440, the GPU is the sole bottleneck and the 245K performs identically to the flagship 285K in nearly all gaming scenarios. The 245K saves R3,000–R5,000 over the 285K, money better spent on a GPU tier increase that directly benefits ultrawide frame rates.
What GPU should I pair with the 245K for 1440p ultrawide at 100+ fps?
The RTX 4070 Ti Super (R14,500 at Evetech) targets 100+ fps at 1440p ultrawide in most titles at high-ultra settings. For strictly 60–80 fps ultrawide gaming, the RTX 4070 Super (R11,000) is sufficient and saves R3,500 on the total build cost.
How much PSU wattage do I need for a Core Ultra 5 245K with RTX 4070 Ti Super?
A minimum of 850W 80+ Gold is recommended for the 245K and RTX 4070 Ti Super combination. The 4070 Ti Super has a 285W TGP and the 245K can draw up to 125W PL1, totalling 410W under full combined load. An 850W PSU provides adequate headroom with room for future upgrades.
Application Optimizer in the Z890 BIOS for the Core Ultra 5 245K — it intelligently routes gaming workloads to P-cores while handling background tasks on E-cores, delivering 3–6 fps uplift in CPU-sensitive titles at 1440p ultrawide.