Quick Answer

The Core Ultra 5 245 does not limit DirectStorage performance — as with all current desktop CPUs, DirectStorage 1.2 bypasses the CPU for asset decompression and routes data from NVMe directly to GPU VRAM. The Core Ultra 5 245 on the Z890 platform with a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot is well-positioned for DirectStorage-ready builds in SA, with PCIe 5.0 NVMe delivering 12,000–14,000MB/s sequential reads.

Core Ultra 5 245 Platform and DirectStorage

The Core Ultra 5 245 is part of Intel's Arrow Lake generation on the Z890 platform. Z890 motherboards include PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots natively, enabling PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs for maximum DirectStorage bandwidth. Key platform specs for DirectStorage builds:

  • PCIe 5.0 x16 GPU slot — paired with RTX 40-series or later GPUs
  • PCIe 5.0 x4 primary M.2 slot — enables PCIe 5.0 NVMe (12,000–14,000MB/s reads)
  • DDR5 support up to DDR5-6400+ — adequate memory bandwidth for asset staging

For SA buyers building a Core Ultra 5 245 system today, a PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD (~R4,500–R6,000 for 2TB at Evetech) future-proofs the storage stack for upcoming DirectStorage 1.2 and 2.0 titles. PCIe 4.0 NVMe is the budget-appropriate choice at ~R3,200 for 2TB.

FAQ

Does the Core Ultra 5 245 improve DirectStorage loading versus older Intel CPUs?

No — CPU generation has no effect on DirectStorage loading times. The Core Ultra 5 245 and an older i7-12700K show identical DirectStorage load performance on the same NVMe and GPU. The NVMe sequential read speed and GPU VRAM bandwidth are the only hardware variables that affect DirectStorage performance.

What NVMe SSD should I pair with the Core Ultra 5 245 for DirectStorage in SA?

A PCIe 4.0 NVMe (Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, R3,200) is the correct balance for current DirectStorage game titles. Upgrade to PCIe 5.0 NVMe (R4,500–R6,000) if the build will also use the SSD for video editing or future titles with more demanding DS 1.2 asset streaming — the Z890 platform supports PCIe 5.0 M.2 natively.

Is the Z890 platform better than Z790 for DirectStorage builds in SA?

For DirectStorage specifically, Z890 adds PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots natively on all boards (versus Z790 where PCIe 5.0 M.2 is board-dependent). This makes Z890 a more consistent platform for future-proofing DirectStorage builds. The Arrow Lake CPU itself does not improve DS performance; the platform's PCIe 5.0 M.2 support is the relevant advantage.

TIP

Z890 board with the Core Ultra 5 245, install your primary OS and DirectStorage games on the PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot (typically M2_1 or labelled PCIe 5.0 in the manual) to ensure the game drive benefits from full PCIe 5.0 bandwidth. Installing on a PCIe 4.0 secondary slot halves the available NVMe bandwidth for DirectStorage asset streaming.