SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 5 225 + NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation

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

95 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 5% 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
91%
VS
GPU
99%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 5 225

36,938 Benchmark Score
Top 9% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation

135,218 Benchmark Score
Top 1% 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
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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 Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread desktop processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture and manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process node. It belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, and its design philosophy prioritizes efficiency and single-thread responsiveness over raw multi-thread throughput. The CPU operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which is a substantial frequency headroom for demanding workloads that scale with clock speed rather than core count.

The cache hierarchy is notable for its per-core allocation: 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, combined with a 20 MB shared L3 cache. This structure supports low-latency access to frequently used data, which benefits single-threaded applications and gaming workloads. The processor supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and it provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, enabling high-speed connectivity for modern GPUs and NVMe storage.

Benchmark results paint a clear picture of the CPU's capabilities. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 25,891 points in multi-core and 3,655 points in single-core tests. The single-core score is particularly strong, indicating excellent per-thread performance that translates to snappy responsiveness in everyday tasks and gaming. The multi-core score, while respectable, reflects the modest 10-thread count; the chip is not designed to compete with high-core-count workstation processors in heavily threaded rendering or compilation workloads.

In PassMark tests, the CPU demonstrates balanced performance across different instruction types. Integer math scores 65,345, floating-point math reaches 92,038, and extended instructions hit 27,162. Data compression achieves 302,811, while data encryption scores 22,285. The multithread score of 30,459 and single-thread score of 4,412 further confirm the CPU's profile as a strong single-threaded performer with adequate multi-threaded capabilities for mainstream tasks. The physics score of 2,342 and prime number finding score of 358 are more modest, reflecting the limits of the 10-thread design in certain computational patterns.

The CPU sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database, with an average benchmark score of 36,938. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F matches it with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D trails by 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 0.4% behind, and the Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.5% behind. This grouping indicates that the Core Ultra 5 225 performs essentially on par with these alternatives, with differences well within the margin of benchmark variance. The 3 nm process node and Arrow Lake architecture deliver competitive performance per watt, though the 65 W TDP suggests a focus on efficiency rather than extreme performance.

# Benchmark Performance

The combined system, pairing the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation, achieves a combined percentile of 90 among all tracked desktop configurations. This places the system in the top decile of performance, indicating a well-balanced pairing capable of handling demanding workloads across CPU and GPU intensive tasks.

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation GPU delivers strong compute results in synthetic benchmarks. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 146,593, while in Geekbench Vulkan it reaches 123,842. These scores place the GPU at the 95th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 135,218. The GPU's nearest rivals show remarkable parity: the NVIDIA A10M matches with a 0% delta, the AMD Radeon PRO W6800 is 0.1% behind, the AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo trails by 0.4%, and the AMD Radeon PRO V620 is 0.9% behind. This clustering indicates that the RTX 4000 Ada Generation is competitively positioned within the workstation GPU segment, with no single rival holding a decisive advantage in raw compute throughput.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 36,938, combined with the GPU's 135,218 average, creates a system where neither component dramatically outclasses the other. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking and the GPU's 95th percentile ranking suggest that the GPU is the stronger component relative to its peers, but the CPU is sufficient to feed the GPU in most workloads.

The Cinebench R20 results for the CPU — 6,317 multi-core and 891 single-core — align with the R23 scores in showing a processor that excels in lightly threaded tasks. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30,459 and single-thread score of 4,412 reinforce this assessment. For workloads that combine CPU and GPU processing, such as video encoding with GPU acceleration or ray tracing with CPU-based scene management, this pairing provides a solid foundation.

It is important to note that no measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU-GPU combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps entries, so all frame rate discussions in this analysis are estimates derived from the benchmark scores and component characteristics, not direct measurements.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,412, ensures that the processor can keep up with modern game engines that rely heavily on a few fast cores. The GPU's 95th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it can drive high frame rates at competitive settings. This combination is well-suited for high-refresh gaming, though exact frame rates depend on the specific title and resolution.

Streaming: The 10-core, 10-thread design with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz provides adequate headroom for running a game while encoding video. The GPU's Tensor cores and Ada Lovelace architecture support hardware-accelerated encoding, which offloads the streaming workload from the CPU. The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 30,459 suggests it can handle the concurrent demands of gaming and encoding, though users running very CPU-intensive games may need to rely on GPU encoding to maintain smooth performance.

Video editing: The combination of the CPU's 25,891 Cinebench R23 multi-core score and the GPU's 146,593 Geekbench OpenCL score is well-matched for video editing workflows. Timeline scrubbing and effects preview rely on CPU performance, while rendering and export benefit from GPU acceleration. The 20 GB VRAM on the GPU provides ample capacity for high-resolution video timelines and complex effects.

3D rendering: The CPU's 10 threads limit its performance in CPU-based rendering, as indicated by the 25,891 multi-core score in Cinebench R23. However, GPU-accelerated renderers will leverage the RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 26.73 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 48 RT cores to deliver strong results. For hybrid rendering pipelines that use both CPU and GPU, the balance is tilted toward the GPU, which is advantageous for GPU-accelerated render engines.

Software development: The CPU's strong single-thread performance and 20 MB of L3 cache benefit compilation and code analysis tasks that are often single-threaded or lightly threaded. The PassMark integer math score of 65,345 indicates solid performance for general-purpose computing. The 10-thread design may limit parallel builds, but the 4.90 GHz boost clock helps with latency-sensitive developer tools.

Student and office work: This system is substantially more powerful than needed for typical productivity tasks. The CPU's single-thread performance ensures snappy application launches and responsive multitasking, while the GPU's capabilities are largely unused in office workloads. The 65 W CPU TDP and 130 W GPU TDP keep power consumption reasonable for a desktop workstation, and the system is capable of handling any student or office workload without strain.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU-GPU combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFpsUltraByGame entries, so all frame rate figures discussed here are estimates based on the benchmark scores and component specifications, not direct measurements. The following analysis should be treated as a projection from synthetic benchmarks rather than empirical gaming data.

The CPU's single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,412, places it in a strong position for gaming. Modern game engines typically rely on a handful of threads for the main game loop, physics, and AI, and the Core Ultra 5 225's 4.90 GHz boost clock provides the per-thread speed needed to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The 20 MB L3 cache further helps by reducing memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 146,593 and Vulkan score of 123,842 indicate substantial compute capability. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 26.73 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, combined with 48 RT cores and 192 Tensor cores, suggests strong performance in both rasterized and ray-traced gaming. The 20 GB of GDDR6 memory with 360.0 GB/s bandwidth provides ample capacity for high-resolution textures and modern game assets.

At 1080p resolution, the CPU's single-thread performance will likely be the limiting factor in many titles, as the GPU has enough headroom to render frames faster than the CPU can issue draw calls. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the primary determinant of frame rates, and the RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 95th percentile ranking suggests it can deliver high frame rates at these resolutions, particularly with DLSS or other upscaling techniques enabled. The 160-bit memory bus and 20 GB VRAM configuration are unusual for a gaming GPU — the memory capacity is generous, but the bus width is narrower than typical gaming GPUs in this performance class, which may impact performance at very high resolutions in memory-bandwidth-intensive titles.

# Who Should Build It

This system is best suited for professionals and enthusiasts who need strong GPU compute performance with a capable but not excessive CPU. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 95th percentile ranking among all GPUs makes it a compelling choice for 3D artists, video editors, and engineers who rely on GPU-accelerated rendering and simulation. The 20 GB VRAM accommodates large scenes and high-resolution textures without memory swapping, and the single-slot design allows for dense workstation configurations.

Gamers targeting 1440p or 4K resolution with high settings will find this system well-matched, provided the games they play benefit more from GPU performance than CPU throughput. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking and strong single-thread scores support high-refresh gaming at 1080p, though the GPU's capabilities exceed what most 1080p titles require.

Content creators who work with video editing, color grading, and effects will benefit from the GPU's compute performance and the CPU's responsive single-threaded operation. Software developers who value fast compilation and responsive tooling will appreciate the CPU's single-thread scores, though teams working on very large codebases may want more cores. Students and small business users will find this system overqualified for their needs, but it offers headroom for future workloads and demanding applications.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation is a workstation GPU built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD104 chip manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process with 35,800 million transistors. The GPU features 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units, providing a balanced configuration for compute and graphics workloads.

Memory specifications are distinctive: 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus, delivering 360.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed. The 20 GB capacity is generous for workstation tasks, enabling large datasets and complex scenes to reside entirely in VRAM. The 160-bit bus width is narrower than typical for GPUs in this performance class, which may constrain performance in memory-bandwidth-intensive workloads, but the high effective memory speed partially compensates.

The GPU operates at a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 2175 MHz, achieving a pixel rate of 139.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 417.6 GTexel/s. FP32 performance reaches 26.73 TFLOPS, with FP16 performance also at 26.73 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), indicating that the GPU does not have a dedicated FP16 acceleration path. The 48 RT cores and 192 Tensor cores provide hardware acceleration for ray tracing and AI workloads, respectively.

The GPU's compute capabilities are reflected in its Geekbench scores: 146,593 in OpenCL and 123,842 in Vulkan. These scores place the GPU at the 95th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 135,218. The nearest rivals — the NVIDIA A10M at 0% delta, AMD Radeon PRO W6800 at -0.1%, AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo at -0.4%, and AMD Radeon PRO V620 at -0.9% — demonstrate that the RTX 4000 Ada Generation is competitively positioned within the workstation GPU market.

The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with modern graphics APIs. It connects via PCIe 4.0 x16 and requires a single 16-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W. The 130 W TDP is modest for a GPU with this compute capability, and the single-slot form factor (245 mm length, 112 mm height) makes it suitable for space-constrained workstation builds. Display output is provided through four DisplayPort 1.4a connectors.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The combined system percentile of 90 indicates a generally well-balanced configuration, but workload-specific analysis reveals where each component takes the lead. The CPU's 85th percentile and the GPU's 95th percentile suggest that the GPU is relatively stronger compared to its peers than the CPU is compared to its peers. In GPU-bound workloads such as rendering, ray tracing, and compute-heavy simulation, the RTX 4000 Ada Generation will be the primary performance driver, and the CPU will likely not present a significant limitation.

In CPU-bound workloads such as physics simulation, game logic, and single-threaded applications, the Core Ultra 5 225's strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655) will be the determining factor. The CPU's 10-thread design limits its multi-threaded throughput, as evidenced by the 25,891 Cinebench R23 multi-core score, which is modest compared to higher-core-count processors. In heavily threaded workloads, the GPU's compute capabilities may remain underutilized if the CPU cannot feed data fast enough.

Gaming performance will see the CPU as the bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings, where the GPU can render frames faster than the CPU can process game logic. At higher resolutions and settings, the GPU becomes the limiter. The lack of measured FPS data for this combination prevents precise bottleneck quantification, but the benchmark scores indicate that the GPU has more headroom relative to the CPU in compute workloads.

The memory subsystem also plays a role in balance. The CPU's dual-channel DDR5 support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, combined with the GPU's 360.0 GB/s VRAM bandwidth, provides adequate data throughput for most workloads. The 20 MB L3 cache on the CPU helps mitigate memory latency, while the GPU's 20 GB VRAM capacity prevents memory swapping in large workloads.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Intel Socket 1851 platform, which supports DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, enabling high-bandwidth connections for modern GPUs and NVMe storage. The platform does not support ECC memory, which may be a consideration for professional workloads that require error correction.

The GPU connects via PCIe 4.0 x16 and requires a 300 W suggested PSU, with a 130 W TDP and single 16-pin power connector. The system's power requirements are modest, leaving headroom for future upgrades within the same PSU budget. The CPU's 65 W TDP is efficient, and the GPU's 130 W TDP is low for its performance class.

A sensible next upgrade would be a higher-core-count CPU on the same Socket 1851 platform, provided the motherboard supports it with a BIOS update. The Arrow Lake architecture supports a range of processors, and moving to a model with more cores would improve multi-threaded performance in rendering and compilation workloads. Alternatively, adding more DDR5 memory (the current system supports dual-channel configurations) would benefit memory-intensive applications.

For GPU upgrades, the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface provides backward compatibility with newer PCIe 5.0 GPUs, though at reduced bandwidth. The 300 W suggested PSU provides adequate headroom for a more power-hungry GPU, as the current GPU's 130 W TDP leaves approximately 170 W of additional capacity within the suggested PSU rating. The single-slot form factor of the current GPU can be replaced with a larger card if the chassis allows, and the four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs provide ample display connectivity.

The platform's lack of ECC memory support and the CPU's locked multiplier may limit its appeal for certain professional and enthusiast use cases, but the combination of Socket 1851, DDR5, and PCIe Gen 5 provides a modern foundation for future upgrades.

# FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's core and thread count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads, with no hyper-threading support.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 36,938 is essentially identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0% delta), and it trails the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D by 0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 by 0.4%, and the Intel Core i9-12900T by 0.5%.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, with 360.0 GB/s of bandwidth and an effective memory speed of 18 Gbps.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking?

A: The GPU sits at the 95th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 135,218.

Q: What power supply is recommended for this GPU?

A: The suggested PSU is 300 W, and the GPU has a TDP of 130 W with a single 16-pin power connector.

Q: Does this system support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the CPU's launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP is $246.

Q: What is the CPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The CPU supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: What is the GPU's FP32 performance?

A: The GPU delivers 26.73 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, with FP16 also at 26.73 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio).