SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-14901E + AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

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

Build Configuration

Select your components

PROCESSOR (CPU)

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GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

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90 Score

Top 10% Ranking

90 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 10% 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

92%

GPU

87%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-14901E

37,911 Benchmark Score

Top 8% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

11,842 Benchmark Score

Top 13% 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

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-14901E is a desktop processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². Despite carrying the Core i9 branding, this chip features 8 cores and 16 threads, which is a notable departure from the higher-core-count i9 models in the same generation. The base clock sits at 2.80 GHz, with a boost clock reaching 5.60 GHz, giving it strong single-thread headroom for workloads that depend on frequency rather than raw core count.

The cache hierarchy is substantial: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 36 MB L3 cache. This large L3 allocation helps with data-heavy tasks and keeps frequently accessed information close to the cores, reducing latency. The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it includes ECC memory support, which makes it suitable for workstation or server-adjacent use cases where data integrity is critical. Integrated UHD Graphics 770 is present, providing a basic display output fallback, though the system's discrete GPU handles graphics duties.

Benchmark results paint a clear picture of the CPU's capabilities. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 25753, while the single-core score is 3635. The multi-core figure indicates strong sustained throughput for rendering and compilation tasks, though the 8-core/16-thread layout means it won't match higher-core-count competitors in heavily parallel workloads. The single-core score is excellent, positioning it well for applications that rely on per-thread performance, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity software. Cinebench R20 shows a similar pattern: 10816 multi-core and 1526 single-core, while R15 delivers 2595 multi-core and 366 single-core.

PassMark results add more texture. The multi-thread score is 30298, with single-thread at 4354. Integer math hits 112736, floating-point math reaches 81089, and extended instructions score 17249. Data compression is strong at 288777, while data encryption scores 18571. The find prime numbers test is notably low at 189, which suggests the architecture doesn't excel at that specific integer-heavy operation, but this is a niche workload. Physics simulation scores 3041, and random string sorting hits 39138. The average benchmark score is 37911, placing this CPU at the 86th percentile among all CPUs. This is a high-ranking position, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market.

Comparing to nearest rivals, the Core i9-14901E sits almost exactly level with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which averages 37904, a delta of 0%. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X scores 37943, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i9 is marginally behind. The Intel Core 5 211E scores 37829, a delta of 0.2% in the i9's favor, and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 scores 37804, a delta of 0.3%. These differences are within noise, so the i9-14901E is effectively tied with these competitors in overall CPU performance. For real workloads, this means the i9-14901E won't be a bottleneck in mixed-use scenarios, but it also doesn't pull decisively ahead of its peers.

# GPU Analysis

The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is a compact desktop GPU based on the Navi 24 chip, built on RDNA 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 6 nm process. The die is small at 107 mm², housing 5,400 million transistors, which gives a transistor density of 50.5 million per mm². This is an entry-level part designed for 1080p gaming and basic compute tasks, not for high-end rendering or 4K workloads.

Memory configuration is a critical limiting factor. The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 143.9 GB/s. This is a modest amount of VRAM and bandwidth, which will constrain performance in modern games with high-resolution textures or in GPU compute tasks that require large data sets. The memory clock runs at 2248 MHz, translating to 18 Gbps effective. Clocks for the GPU core are a base of 2310 MHz, a game clock of 2610 MHz, and a boost clock of 2815 MHz. These are decent frequencies for the architecture, but the small memory bus and limited VRAM cap overall throughput.

Compute resources include 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. The GPU has 16 ray accelerators (RT cores) for ray tracing, though the performance here will be limited by the low shading unit count and memory bandwidth. There are no tensor cores, so AI-accelerated workloads will rely on standard shader compute. Pixel rate is 90.08 GPixel/s, texture rate is 180.2 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 5.765 TFLOPS. FP16 reaches 11.53 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio. These figures place it firmly in the entry-level segment.

Benchmark scores reflect this positioning. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the score is 235, which is low, indicating poor performance in modern DirectX 12 titles at high settings. Geekbench OpenCL scores 48289, and Vulkan scores 54724, both modest numbers. PassMark results show DirectX 10 at 60, DirectX 11 at 90, DirectX 12 at 38, and DirectX 9 at 108. The G2D score is 815, while the G3D score is 9608. GPU compute is 4456. The average benchmark score is 11842, placing this GPU at the 51st percentile among all GPUs — exactly the median, meaning half of GPUs perform better and half worse.

Nearest rivals show close competition. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 scores 11960, a delta of -1%, meaning the RX 6500 XT is 1% behind. The GTX 960A scores 11998, a delta of -1.3%, so the RX 6500 XT is 1.3% behind. The GTX 1660 scores 11680, a delta of 1.4% in favor of the RX 6500 XT. The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT scores 11627, a delta of 1.9% in favor of the RX 6500 XT. These deltas are all within a couple of percentage points, so the RX 6500 XT performs nearly identically to these cards, despite the GTX 1080 and RX 7800 XT being higher-tier products in their respective lineups. For rendering, this GPU can handle light 1080p gaming and basic video playback, but it will struggle with ray tracing or high-fidelity graphics settings.

# FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-14901E support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the CPU supports ECC memory, which is a useful feature for workstation builds where data integrity is important.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT?

A: The GPU has 143.9 GB/s of memory bandwidth, achieved with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus.

Q: How does the Core i9-14901E compare to the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X in average benchmark score?

A: The Core i9-14901E scores 37911, while the Ryzen 7 9700X scores 37943, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i9 is essentially tied with the Ryzen 7.

Q: What DirectX version does the RX 6500 XT support?

A: The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), along with OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: Is the Core i9-14901E a good choice for single-threaded workloads?

A: Yes, the single-core score of 3635 in Cinebench R23 and 4354 in PassMark single-thread indicates strong per-thread performance, suitable for lightly threaded applications.

Q: What power supply is suggested for the RX 6500 XT?

A: The suggested PSU is 300 W, which is a modest requirement given the GPU's 107 W TDP.

Q: What is the percentile rank of the RX 6500 XT among all GPUs?

A: The GPU sits at the 51st percentile, meaning it performs better than half of all GPUs in the benchmark database.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Core i9-14901E uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which is well-established in the desktop market. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving builders flexibility in choosing memory based on motherboard support and budget. The memory bus is dual-channel, so a matching pair of DIMMs is recommended for optimal bandwidth. ECC memory support is included, which is a rarity for consumer platforms and opens the door to entry-level server or workstation builds. PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes is available from the CPU, providing high-bandwidth connectivity for modern SSDs and GPUs, though the RX 6500 XT uses PCIe 4.0 x4.

The CPU's TDP is 65 W, which is low for a Core i9 part, meaning a modest air cooler will suffice for most use cases. The GPU's TDP is 107 W, and the suggested PSU is 300 W. This combined power draw is low, so a quality 300 W power supply is adequate, though most builders would opt for a slightly higher-wattage unit for headroom. The GPU uses a single 6-pin power connector, and it is a dual-slot card, so it will fit in most standard ATX or micro-ATX cases.

For a sensible next upgrade, the priority should be the GPU. The RX 6500 XT is the clear bottleneck in this pairing, and upgrading to a higher-tier card would unlock the CPU's full potential. The CPU's 86th percentile rank means it has substantial headroom for more powerful GPUs. Since the CPU supports PCIe Gen 5, a modern GPU with PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 will work without issue. Memory is another consideration: if the build uses DDR4, moving to DDR5 would require a motherboard change, but the CPU's support for both means the current platform is not locked into one memory type.

# Benchmark Performance

The combined picture from benchmark data shows a CPU that is strong and a GPU that is average. The Core i9-14901E has an average benchmark score of 37911, ranking at the 86th percentile among all CPUs. This puts it in the top 14% of processors, indicating high overall performance. The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT has an average benchmark score of 11842, ranking at the 51st percentile among all GPUs — dead center in the distribution. The combined percentile for this pairing is 69, reflecting the GPU's lower standing relative to the CPU.

Specific CPU scores highlight its strengths: Cinebench R23 multi-core at 25753 and single-core at 3635. PassMark multi-thread at 30298 and single-thread at 4354. These numbers show a processor that excels at both multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks, making it versatile across various workloads. The GPU's scores are less impressive: 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 at 235, PassMark G3D at 9608, and PassMark GPU compute at 4456. The low Steel Nomad score is particularly telling, as it indicates poor performance in modern DX12 games at high settings.

The delta between CPU and GPU percentiles is significant — 35 points. This means the CPU is dramatically more capable than the GPU, and in most workloads, the GPU will be the limiting factor. For gaming, this means the system will deliver frame rates consistent with the GPU's entry-level class, regardless of the CPU's power. For productivity tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering that rely on the CPU, the system will perform well, but GPU-accelerated rendering will be slow.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination — the FACT PACK contains no measuredFps data. All FPS figures discussed here are estimates derived from the benchmark scores, and they should be treated as approximations rather than definitive measurements.

Based on the RX 6500 XT's benchmark performance, particularly the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 235 and the PassMark G3D score of 9608, this GPU is suited for 1080p gaming at low to medium settings in most titles. The 4 GB VRAM will be a constraint in modern games with high-resolution textures, causing stuttering or reduced texture quality in games that exceed 4 GB usage. The 64-bit memory bus and 143.9 GB/s bandwidth further limit performance, especially at higher resolutions or with anti-aliasing enabled.

For esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, which are not graphically demanding, the system should achieve playable frame rates at 1080p with competitive settings, given the CPU's strong single-thread performance. For AAA games, expect lower frame rates, and users may need to drop settings to low or medium to maintain smooth gameplay. Ray tracing is technically supported via the 16 RT cores, but performance will be poor, and it's not recommended to enable it except for testing purposes.

The CPU's high single-core score (3635 in Cinebench R23) ensures that the system won't be CPU-limited in gaming scenarios, even with a modest GPU. This means the frame rates will be dictated almost entirely by the GPU, and the CPU will have plenty of headroom to handle game logic and physics without bottlenecking.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The balance in this system is heavily skewed toward the CPU. The Core i9-14901E's 86th percentile rank versus the RX 6500 XT's 51st percentile creates a 35-point gap, which is substantial. In gaming workloads, the GPU will be the bottleneck in nearly every scenario. The GPU's low 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 235 and PassMark G3D of 9608 indicate it can't push high frame rates in demanding titles, regardless of the CPU's capability. The CPU's high single-thread performance ensures game logic is handled quickly, but the GPU will limit frame output.

In CPU-bound workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, or data compilation, the balance flips. The GPU's compute performance (PassMark GPU compute at 4456) is adequate for light acceleration, but the CPU's multi-thread score of 30298 in PassMark means it will carry most of the load. For tasks like Cinebench rendering, the GPU is not involved, and the CPU performs at its 86th percentile level. This makes the system suitable for productivity work that relies on the CPU, but less so for GPU-accelerated tasks like machine learning or high-end video editing.

The FPS scaling in games, if it were measured, would likely show a flat curve where increasing resolution or settings doesn't change the frame rate much because the GPU is maxed out. The CPU would have significant headroom, meaning upgrading the GPU would provide a large performance uplift in gaming, potentially doubling or tripling frame rates depending on the new GPU's tier.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop-class build pairing an Intel Core i9-14901E with an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT. The CPU is a high-end processor in terms of performance, ranking at the 86th percentile, while the GPU is a mid-tier entry-level card at the 51st percentile. The combined percentile of 69 reflects a system that is above average overall, but the GPU drags down the total.

The CPU is a Raptor Lake refresh part with 8 cores and 16 threads, a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, and 36 MB of L3 cache. It's designed for desktop use and supports DDR4/DDR5 memory with ECC. The GPU is an RDNA 2 part with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, a 64-bit bus, and 1024 shading units. It's an end-of-life product, released in early 2022, and its production status is listed as "End-of-life," meaning it's no longer in active production.

The tier positioning here is clear: the CPU belongs in a high-performance workstation or enthusiast desktop, while the GPU belongs in a budget gaming or office PC. The mismatch means this build is not well-balanced for gaming, but it could serve as a productivity machine with basic graphics capability. The CPU's ECC support and strong multi-threaded performance make it suitable for entry-level server or workstation tasks, but the GPU limits the system's overall utility for graphics-intensive work.

# Who Should Build It

This pairing targets users who prioritize CPU performance over GPU performance. Content creators who work with CPU-intensive applications like video encoding, 3D modeling (CPU-based), or software compilation will benefit from the i9-14901E's strong multi-threaded scores — the Cinebench R23 multi-core of 25753 and PassMark multi-thread of 30298 are competitive with much more expensive processors. Students in computer science or engineering fields who run simulations or compile code will see excellent performance, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running computations.

Small business workstations that run database applications, financial modeling, or virtualization could leverage the CPU's data compression (288777 in PassMark) and encryption (18571) scores, which indicate strong throughput for these tasks. The GPU is sufficient for office productivity, web browsing, and 2D applications, making this a functional, if not glamorous, workstation GPU.

Gamers should approach this build with caution. At 1080p with low settings, the RX 6500 XT can handle esports titles and older games, but for modern AAA games, the experience will be underwhelming. Gamers at 1440p or 4K should look elsewhere, as the 4 GB VRAM and 64-bit bus are insufficient for those resolutions. Developers who write code and occasionally test games might find this acceptable, but they would be better served by a more balanced GPU.

The ideal user is someone who needs a powerful CPU for work and plays light games on the side, not someone whose primary use case is gaming. The CPU's 86th percentile rank ensures it won't be outdated soon, and the platform's support for DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 means there's room to upgrade the GPU later without changing the motherboard. This is a build for a professional who wants a responsive workstation with the option to add a better GPU down the line.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-14901E + AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i9-14901E

AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

Market Position

Game Performance Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

Performance Insights

Optimal Performance

4K Gaming Ready

Performance Tiers Explained

Ultimate

High-End

Mid-Range

Entry Level

Legacy

4K Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

1440p Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

1080p Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

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