SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 5 135U + Intel Arc A350M

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

89 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 11% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
86%
VS
GPU
92%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 5 135U

22,618 Benchmark Score
Top 14% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

Intel Arc A350M

24,647 Benchmark Score
Top 8% 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

Strong Performance

Excellent for 1440p gaming. Most games will run at high/ultra settings smoothly.

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

This pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U and Intel Arc A350M represents a specific tier of mobile computing where efficiency and compact design are prioritized over raw performance. The benchmark data indicates a system that is solidly above average for general productivity and capable of light creative work, but it is not engineered for high-end gaming or professional-grade rendering. The CPU, with its 76th percentile ranking, is the stronger component, while the GPU, at the 70th percentile, provides a balanced but secondary contribution to the overall experience.

The data confirms that this is a laptop-class build with a combined percentile of 73, placing it firmly in the mid-range of the performance spectrum. It is a system designed for users who need a versatile machine for daily tasks, content consumption, and occasional creative projects, rather than a specialized tool for demanding workloads.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance tier of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U and Intel Arc A350M combination?

A: The build holds a combined percentile of 73, indicating it outperforms roughly 73% of all tested system configurations. This places it in the upper-mid-range tier for laptop performance.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U has an average benchmark score of 22618, which is essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-12500H (22625) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U (22791). It is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1270P and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13500H.

Q: What are the key specifications of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U processor?

A: It is a 12-core, 14-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7nm process. It has a base clock of 1600 MHz, a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, and a 15 W TDP. It features 12 MB of shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the performance level of the Intel Arc A350M graphics card?

A: The GPU has an average benchmark score of 24647, which places it in the 70th percentile of all GPUs. Its performance is comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 590, which is 0.4% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, which is 1.5% slower.

Q: Is this system suitable for gaming, and what kind of performance can be expected?

A: The data shows no measured FPS for this exact combination. Based on the GPU's 70th percentile and its similarity to a GTX 1630-class card, it is positioned for entry-level gaming at 1080p with lowered settings in modern titles, not high-refresh-rate or high-detail gaming.

Q: What kind of memory and storage expansion does the platform support?

A: The CPU supports DDR5 memory, with the specific type depending on the motherboard, and features a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The processor provides 12 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Q: What is the production status of the CPU and GPU?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is listed as "Active" in production, while the Intel Arc A350M is marked as "End-of-life." The CPU was released in December 2023, and the GPU was released in March 2022.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data presents a clear picture of a system where the CPU is the primary driver of performance. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U achieves an average benchmark score of 22618, placing it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs. This is a strong showing for a 15-watt mobile processor. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 9315 points and single-core score of 1563 points indicate a balanced capability for both multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks. This score is virtually identical to its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-12500H, showing that it trades blows with higher-power H-series parts.

The Intel Arc A350M, while the secondary component, still delivers respectable performance for its class. With an average benchmark score of 24647, it sits in the 70th percentile of all GPUs. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 24546 and Vulkan score of 24747 are nearly identical, suggesting consistent performance across different API loads. The data shows it performs within 1.5% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 and within 0.8% of the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, which contextualizes its capabilities as a modern entry-level discrete GPU.

The combined picture, reflected in the 73rd percentile for the build, is one of a well-matched pair. The CPU's strength in multi-core workloads complements the GPU's ability to handle modern graphics APIs. The system is not a high-end powerhouse, but the benchmark scores indicate it is a very competent all-rounder for a laptop, capable of handling productivity software with ease and providing a playable experience in less demanding games. The data strongly suggests that the CPU will often be waiting on the GPU in graphics-intensive tasks, while the CPU will be the limiting factor in heavily multi-threaded CPU workloads.

Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: This is not a target scenario for this build. The Arc A350M's performance, comparable to a GTX 1630, is insufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p in modern titles. The data suggests that users will need to significantly lower graphical settings and resolution to approach 60 FPS in most games, making high-refresh monitors a poor investment for this system.

Streaming: The CPU's strong multi-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 9315, provides ample headroom for software encoding. The 14 threads can handle both the game and the encoding workload at playable settings. The system is capable for entry-level streaming, though the GPU may struggle with the combined load of rendering and encoding in more demanding games.

Video Editing: The Ultra 5 135U's 12 cores and 14 threads, combined with its high Passmark multi-thread score of 17359, make it well-suited for video editing. It can handle 1080p timelines and light 4K work. The Arc A350M's 4 GB of VRAM and 112.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth will be a limiting factor for complex effects and high-resolution footage, but the CPU will keep the editing experience responsive.

3D Rendering: The CPU will be the workhorse in this scenario. Its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 5934 and R15 score of 1634 show it can handle CPU-based rendering tasks reasonably well for a mobile chip. The GPU, with only 3.379 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, is not suitable for GPU-accelerated rendering, which will be a significant bottleneck for this workload.

Software Development: The CPU's balanced performance is ideal for this task. The high single-core score of 3343 in Passmark ensures a responsive IDE, while the multi-core performance allows for fast code compilation. The system's memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s supports efficient multitasking between an editor, a browser, and a local development server.

Student and Office Work: This is an excellent fit. The 15 W TDP CPU ensures long battery life, while its performance is more than sufficient for word processing, spreadsheets, web browsing, and video conferencing. The GPU is irrelevant for these tasks, but the overall system responsiveness, driven by the CPU's 76th percentile score, will make the experience very smooth.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance balance is clearly tilted towards the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 135U's 76th percentile ranking is higher than the Arc A350M's 70th percentile, indicating the CPU is the stronger component relative to its peers. In gaming, the GPU will be the primary bottleneck. Its performance level, which is within 1.5% of a GTX 1630, will be the limiting factor for frame rates and graphical settings, even though the CPU has the power to feed it more frames.

Conversely, the GPU is not a bottleneck for most productivity tasks. The CPU's performance, particularly its multi-core scores, will be the determining factor for video encoding, 3D rendering, and code compilation. In these scenarios, the Arc A350M will be largely idle, and the system's speed will be defined by the CPU's ability to process instructions. The data suggests a well-balanced system for general use, where the CPU handles the heavy lifting for most applications, and the GPU only becomes the limiting factor in graphics-intensive workloads.

The lack of measured FPS data makes it difficult to assess the exact scaling of performance under gaming loads, but the benchmark scores point to a system where the GPU is the clear limiting factor in 3D applications. The 4 GB VRAM and 64-bit memory bus of the GPU will also restrict performance at higher resolutions and texture qualities, further cementing the CPU as the dominant component.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is a 12-core, 14-thread processor built on the Meteor Lake architecture. This is a significant architectural shift for Intel, using a 7nm process and a chiplet design. The CPU has a base clock of 1600 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a low 15 W TDP that highlights its efficiency focus. It features a 12 MB shared L3 cache and a dual-channel memory bus, supporting DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Benchmark results show that the CPU is a strong performer for its power class. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 9315 is competitive with higher-wattage H-series chips from the previous generation, as evidenced by its near-identical score to the Intel Core i5-12500H. Single-core performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 score of 1563, which is essential for snappy system responsiveness. The Passmark tests reveal specific strengths: a data compression score of 196712 and an integer math score of 56864, indicating robust performance for encryption, compression, and general computational tasks.

The 76th percentile ranking confirms that this is a top-quartile CPU. Its architecture provides an excellent balance of multi-core throughput and single-core speed, making it a versatile component for a wide range of workloads. The 14 threads (12 cores) allow for efficient handling of parallel tasks, while the high boost clock ensures that single-threaded applications run smoothly. This CPU is clearly the foundational piece of this build, providing a level of performance that outshines its modest TDP.

Who Should Build It

This system is designed for the mobile professional and the discerning student. The CPU's 76th percentile performance and the GPU's 70th percentile ranking make it a capable machine for a wide variety of tasks. It is an ideal choice for a student who needs a single device for coursework, research, and light gaming. The CPU's efficiency (15 W TDP) is perfect for all-day battery life on campus, while its performance ensures smooth multitasking with many browser tabs, office applications, and note-taking software.

For content creators, this is a suitable entry-level platform. The CPU's multi-core strength, demonstrated by a Cinebench R20 score of 5934, allows for competent photo editing and 1080p video editing. The GPU can assist with hardware acceleration in supported applications, but its 4 GB VRAM and modest compute power mean it is not for heavy 3D work. The system is a good fit for a small business workstation, where the CPU's reliability and performance for office productivity, data analysis, and light database work are more important than graphical capabilities.

Gamers looking to play esports titles or older AAA games at 1080p with medium settings will find this build acceptable. The GPU's performance, comparable to a GTX 1630, is adequate for this level of gaming. However, users who want to play the latest games at high settings or use a high-refresh-rate monitor should look elsewhere. This is a system for users who value versatility and efficiency over gaming prowess. It is not for the hardcore gamer or the professional 3D artist, but it is an excellent tool for the everyday user and the entry-level creator.

GPU Analysis

The Intel Arc A350M is a dedicated mobile GPU based on the Xe-HPG architecture, built on a 6nm process at TSMC. It is an entry-level part in Intel's Arc 3 series, powered by the DG2-128 chip. The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 112.0 GB/s. It operates at a base clock of 1150 MHz and a boost clock of 2200 MHz, with a TDP of 25 W.

In terms of compute, the GPU offers 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, along with 6 dedicated ray tracing cores. Its performance is rated at 3.379 TFLOPS for FP32 operations and 6.758 TFLOPS for FP16. The inclusion of ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) means it is technically capable of modern graphics features. Its Geekbench scores of 24546 (OpenCL) and 24747 (Vulkan) place it near the AMD Radeon RX 590 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, which are older desktop parts.

This places the A350M's performance in a specific niche. It is a modern GPU with feature support for the latest APIs, but its raw compute power is limited. The 64-bit memory bus and 4 GB VRAM are the main constraints, as they will limit performance in high-resolution textures and complex scenes. For rendering, the GPU is not a primary tool. Its FP32 performance is too low for serious 3D rendering workloads. However, it is a competent part for hardware-accelerated video encoding and decoding and for light gaming at 1080p. The data shows it as a capable entry-level mobile GPU, but one that is clearly the weaker link in this build.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The platform is built around the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U, which uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket. As a BGA (Ball Grid Array) socket, the CPU is soldered onto the motherboard, meaning it is not upgradeable. This is standard for ultraportable and mainstream laptops, where the entire system is designed around the processor and its thermal solution. The memory support is DDR5, with the exact type depending on the motherboard. The CPU supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it provides 12 PCIe Gen 4 lanes for connecting devices like SSDs.

The GPU is also soldered and cannot be upgraded. The Arc A350M uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface, which is sufficient for its performance level. The system's overall upgrade path is therefore limited to storage and memory, which are typically accessible in laptops. The CPU's TDP is 15 W, and the GPU's TDP is 25 W, so a laptop's power supply is designed for a combined thermal load. There is no `suggestedPsu` data, but given the low TDPs, the system's power delivery is not a limiting factor for performance.

A sensible next upgrade for a user of this system would be to ensure they have a fast NVMe SSD using the available PCIe Gen 4 lanes and to maximize the amount of DDR5 RAM installed. These are the only components that can be changed to improve performance. The CPU and GPU are fixed, and their performance is defined by the benchmarks. The platform is a closed, efficient design, and its performance tier is locked in at the time of purchase.

Build Overview

This build pairs the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U with the Intel Arc A350M in a laptop configuration. It is a mid-range mobile platform designed for a balance of performance and efficiency. The CPU is a 12-core, 14-thread Meteor Lake processor with a 15 W TDP, and the GPU is a 25 W entry-level Arc 3 discrete graphics card. Together, they form a system that scores in the 73rd percentile of all builds.

The overall tier is solidly mid-range. The CPU's 76th percentile and the GPU's 70th percentile contribute to a system that will handle the vast majority of everyday tasks with ease. It is not a high-end gaming machine or a workstation-class rendering system. Instead, it occupies a sweet spot for mainstream users, offering strong CPU performance for productivity and a capable-enough GPU for light gaming and multimedia tasks. This is a computer for users who value a thin, efficient, and reasonably powerful laptop that can do almost everything competently, even if it does not excel at any one thing.