SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

Get a comprehensive performance analysis of your gaming rig with detailed benchmarks, bottleneck detection, and upgrade recommendations

91 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 9% of systems. Capable of 4K Ultra gaming and advanced rendering.

4K 60+ FPSVR ReadyRay Tracing

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
84%
VS
GPU
97%
PROCESSOR

AMD Ryzen 5 5500

19,593 Benchmark Score
Top 16% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

60,347 Benchmark Score
Top 3% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →

Market Position

How your build compares to others
Budget
0-30
Mid-Range
30-60
High-End
60-85
Enthusiast
85-100
Your Build

Game Performance Benchmarks

Real-world 4K FPS in popular titles
View All Games →

Performance Insights

Tips to maximize your system

Optimal Performance

Your system is in the top tier. You can run any modern game at maximum settings.

4K Gaming Ready

Consider a 4K 144Hz monitor to fully utilize your hardware capabilities.

Compatible Games See what you can play Compare CPUs Find upgrades Compare GPUs Find upgrades

Performance Tiers Explained

90-100

Ultimate

4K Ultra gaming, VR ready, ray tracing enabled, professional workloads

4K 60+ FPS VR Ready
70-89

High-End

1440p Ultra or 4K High settings, excellent for modern AAA titles

1440p Ultra 4K High
50-69

Mid-Range

1080p Ultra or 1440p Medium, great value for most gamers

1080p Ultra 1440p Med
30-49

Entry Level

1080p Medium settings, suitable for eSports and older titles

1080p Med eSports
0-29

Legacy

Basic gaming, older titles, consider upgrading for modern games

720p-1080p Low Older Games

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 pairing is a study in extreme asymmetry, combining a value-oriented 6-core Zen 3 processor with the flagship Ada Lovelace GPU. The data paints a clear picture of a system where the CPU, despite being a capable performer, frequently becomes the limiting factor in high-refresh-rate scenarios. The benchmark results show a combined percentile of 81, with an average FPS across 53 games of 202.7 at 1080p ultra settings, yet the underlying scores reveal a significant gap in raw compute capability between the two components. This analysis will break down the specific strengths and weaknesses of this configuration, using measured data to project real-world performance across gaming, productivity, and content creation workloads.

CPU Analysis

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, built on TSMC's 7 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with a 65W TDP. The chip features a 16 MB L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, utilizing the AM4 socket with dual-channel DDR4 memory support, which provides 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. As a Cezanne-based part, it is a capable mainstream processor, with benchmark scores that place it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs.

In multi-threaded workloads, the 3DMark 16-thread score of 5386 and the max-thread score of 5411 show near-linear scaling, indicating the 12 threads are effectively utilized. Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16429 is a solid figure, placing it in the same performance tier as rivals like the Intel Core i5-12500, which has an average score of 19668 and a deltaPct of -0.4, meaning the Ryzen 5 5500 is about 0.4% slower in average benchmark score. The single-thread performance is respectable, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 836 and a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 973, which will handle everyday tasks and legacy software without issue.

For real workloads, the PassMark tests are revealing. The integer math score of 65001 and floating-point math score of 36815 indicate strong general-purpose compute, while the data compression score of 245533 is particularly high, suggesting efficient handling of archiving and file transfer tasks. However, the data encryption score of 14851 is more moderate, and the extended instructions score of 17236 shows that AVX workloads will not be its primary strength. The CPU's average benchmark score of 19593 puts it within a tight race against its nearest rivals, all within a 0.7% deltaPct range, confirming its position as a balanced mid-range option. This is a processor that will not bottleneck the GPU in heavily GPU-bound titles at 4K, but its limits become apparent in lighter, high-FPS games.

Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: At 1080p, the CPU often becomes the primary constraint. In esports titles like Counter-Strike 2, the system achieves 357.9 FPS, and in Valorant, it hits 381.1 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. However, the 3DMark 2-thread score of 1645 and single-thread score of 836 indicate that while the CPU is snappy, it can limit the RTX 4090 in very light titles, as seen in the lower scores for more demanding games at this resolution.

Streaming: The 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides enough headroom for simultaneous gaming and encoding. With a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16429, the CPU can handle x264 encoding at a reasonable preset while maintaining high frame rates. In Call of Duty: Warzone, the system delivers 120.2 FPS at 1080p, leaving enough CPU resources for a stream, though using the GPU's NVENC encoder would be more efficient and free up the CPU entirely.

Video Editing: The CPU's 12 threads will accelerate timeline preview and export in software like Premiere Pro, with the PassMark multithread score of 19330 indicating solid parallel performance. For a 4K export, the Cinebench R20 multicore score of 6900 suggests that renders will be faster than on a quad-core, but the 16 MB L3 cache is modest compared to higher-end chips. The RTX 4090 will dominate effects and rendering tasks, making this scenario heavily GPU-accelerated.

3D Rendering: In Blender or similar applications, the GPU is the star. The RTX 4090's FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS will crush render times, while the CPU handles scene preparation and physics calculations. The CPU's PassMark physics score of 896 is moderate, meaning complex simulations may not be as fast as with a higher-core-count chip, but the final render will be exceptionally quick.

Software Development: Compilation tasks will benefit from the 12 threads, with the 3DMark 8-thread score of 4593 showing reasonable scaling. The data encryption score of 14851 and extended instructions score of 17236 will handle code signing and cryptographic operations adequately. For a developer, this CPU is competent but not exceptional, and the GPU offers no direct benefit for most coding workflows.

Student and Office Work: This is a scenario where the hardware is massively over-provisioned. The CPU's Geekbench single-core score of 1730 ensures snappy responsiveness in spreadsheets, browsers, and document editors. The system will breeze through any office productivity task, and the GPU is entirely excessive for this use case, making it a clear mismatch for a typical student or office workstation.

Gaming Performance

Measured FPS data at ultra settings reveals a distinct pattern. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of extraordinary frame rates in CPU-light titles: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive hits 797.1 FPS, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege reaches 427 FPS, and Roblox achieves 462.1 FPS. However, in more demanding titles, the CPU becomes the bottleneck. Cyberpunk 2077 drops to 75.9 FPS at 1080p, and Ark: Survival Ascended falls to 52 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4090 is not fully utilized due to CPU limits.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on more load. Counter-Strike 2 still delivers 237.1 FPS, while Cyberpunk 2077 improves slightly to 70.7 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p in many titles is modest, which is typical when the CPU is the limiting factor. For example, Call of Duty: Warzone only drops from 120.2 FPS to 106.2 FPS, showing a 12% performance decrease, whereas a fully GPU-bound system would show a larger drop.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090's power is fully unleashed. Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 54.6 FPS, Red Dead Redemption 2 at 47.6 FPS, and Microsoft Flight Simulator at 76.6 FPS. The frame rates at 4K are far more consistent with what the GPU can deliver, indicating that the CPU is no longer the primary bottleneck. The average FPS across all games at 1080p is 202.7, which places this pair at rank 228 out of 3732 pairs, meaning it outperforms roughly 94% of tested configurations in terms of average FPS.

Who Should Build It

This pairing is designed for a specific niche: the enthusiast who already owns a high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K monitor and wants maximum graphical fidelity. The data shows that at 4K, the RTX 4090 provides playable frame rates in almost every title, from 48.1 FPS in The Medium to 338.9 FPS in Valorant. This is a 4K gaming machine first and foremost, where the CPU's limitations are less exposed.

For content creators working in 4K video editing or 3D rendering, the RTX 4090's 24 GB of VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth will handle massive textures and complex scenes. The Ryzen 5 5500 will serve as a workable entry point, but it is not the ideal partner for professional-grade workloads. Small business workstations that require CUDA acceleration for tasks like data visualization or machine learning inference could benefit, but the gaming focus of this build is clear.

The target user is a gamer who prioritizes visual quality over frame rate in competitive titles. This system will deliver 130.8 FPS in Counter-Strike 2 at 4K, which is still high, but the 1080p performance of 357.9 FPS is wasted unless paired with a 360Hz monitor. Builders should consider this a GPU-centric system where the CPU is a placeholder, and they should be prepared to upgrade the processor sooner rather than later.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data clearly shows the CPU is the primary bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p. Evidence comes from the FPS scaling across resolutions. In Ark: Survival Ascended, the frame rate drops from 52 FPS at 1080p to 33 FPS at 1440p, a 37% decrease, and then to 17 FPS at 4K, another 48% decrease. This scaling is inconsistent with a purely GPU-bound scenario, where the drop from 1080p to 4K is typically larger. Instead, it suggests the CPU is limiting the GPU's potential at lower resolutions.

The CPU's percentile of 73 versus the GPU's percentile of 88 illustrates the disparity. In lighter titles, the CPU is the limiting factor. For example, in Minecraft, the system hits 354 FPS at 1080p, but the CPU's single-thread score of 836 prevents the GPU from achieving even higher numbers. The GPU, with its 16384 shading units and 176 ROPs, is capable of far more.

At 4K, the bottleneck shifts almost entirely to the GPU. The 4K scores in games like Control at 79.5 FPS and Hitman 2 at 48.2 FPS are consistent with the GPU's raw pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s. The CPU's 3DMark max-thread score of 5411 is sufficient to feed the GPU at this resolution, as the workload is heavily pixel-bound. Therefore, the balance is heavily skewed: the CPU holds back the GPU at 1080p, while the GPU is the sole limit at 4K.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Ryzen 5 5500 is built on the AMD Socket AM4 platform, which supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3. The platform is mature and end-of-life for new flagship CPUs, but it offers a clear upgrade path. The most sensible next step is to replace the Ryzen 5 5500 with a higher-core-count Zen 3 or Zen 3+ processor, such as a 12-core or 16-core model, which would improve multi-threaded performance without changing the motherboard. The CPU's 65W TDP is low, and the RTX 4090's 450W TDP suggests a PSU of 850W is required, which is already specified.

The motherboard must support PCIe 4.0 to fully utilize the RTX 4090's bus interface, though the CPU only natively provides PCIe Gen 3. This means the GPU will run at PCIe 3.0 speeds unless paired with a compatible B550 or X570 motherboard. The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on the GPU is ample for future titles, and the memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s ensures it will not be a bottleneck. The system is limited by the platform's lack of PCIe 5.0 support, which is present on newer AMD and Intel platforms, but for current games, this is not a significant issue.

A sensible upgrade would be to move to a newer platform with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, but that requires a new motherboard and memory. For a more immediate improvement, upgrading the CPU to a higher-tier AM4 model would provide a substantial boost in CPU-bound scenarios. The RTX 4090 is already an end-of-life product, so the next upgrade would be a future generation GPU, which would require a more modern platform to avoid bottlenecking.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 19593, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, scores 19617, a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the Ryzen 5 5500 is 0.1% slower. The Intel Core i5-12500 scores 19668, putting the Ryzen 5 5500 at 0.4% slower. The Intel Core i7-10700F scores 19499, making the Ryzen 5 5500 0.5% faster. This places it in a tight performance cluster.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 60347, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, scores 60326, a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are statistically tied. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60140, making the RTX 4090 0.3% faster. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61896, making the RTX 4090 2.5% slower. This shows the RTX 4090 is a top-tier performer.

The combined percentile of this pairing is 81, reflecting the CPU's lower standing. The CPU's 3DMark scores range from 836 in single-thread to 5411 in max-thread, while the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 9223. The PassMark G3D score of 38194 and GPU compute score of 26613 highlight the GPU's dominance. The combined picture is one of an extremely powerful GPU paired with a mid-range CPU, resulting in a system that excels in GPU-bound workloads but underperforms in CPU-bound scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS across all games at 1080p for this pairing?

A: The average FPS across all tested games at 1920x1080 is 202.7, placing this pair at rank 228 out of 3732 pairs.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to the Intel Core i5-12500?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593, which is 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-12500's score of 19668.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and capacity?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, as the CPU's limitations are less exposed. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 54.6 FPS, which is consistent with GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the TDP of the CPU and the suggested PSU for the system?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 65W, and the suggested PSU for the system is 850W, which accounts for the GPU's 450W TDP.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread benchmark score?

A: The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score is 836, and its PassMark single-thread score is 3058, indicating solid but not class-leading single-core performance.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The RTX 4090 is in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a massive GPU built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features 16384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs, along with 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores. The GPU has a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, with a memory clock of 1313 MHz for 21 Gbps effective. It is equipped with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s.

The benchmark scores for the GPU are exceptional. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 demonstrates top-tier rasterization performance, while the Geekbench OpenCL score of 255416 and Vulkan score of 271631 show its compute and API efficiency. The PassMark G3D score of 38194 is a strong indicator of overall gaming performance, and the GPU compute score of 26613 reveals its capability in non-graphics workloads like rendering and machine learning.

In terms of rendering, the FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS is enormous, making it ideal for 3D rendering and simulation. The pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s ensure that it can handle extremely high resolutions and complex textures without issue. The 128 RT cores provide hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which is utilized in games like Cyberpunk 2077, where it achieves 75.9 FPS at 1080p. The 512 tensor cores enable DLSS and other AI-accelerated features, which can significantly boost frame rates in supported titles.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 60347 places it in the 88th percentile, and its nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, has a deltaPct of 0, showing they are statistically equivalent. This GPU is a professional-grade component, and its 24 GB of VRAM is sufficient for 8K texture packs and large 3D scenes. The data indicates that this GPU is the dominant component in the pairing, providing a massive performance ceiling that the Ryzen 5 5500 cannot always reach, particularly at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is higher.