SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX + NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh

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

84 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 16% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
94%
VS
GPU
74%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX

52,073 Benchmark Score
Top 6% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh

0 Benchmark Score
Top 26% 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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX paired with the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh represents a specific laptop configuration that targets professional workloads with a secondary focus on gaming. This analysis examines the performance data, platform characteristics, and usage scenarios for this pairing, based strictly on the available benchmark information. The data shows a CPU that sits in the 91st percentile among all processors, while the GPU is positioned at the 50th percentile among all graphics cards, indicating a significant performance disparity that shapes the system's overall capabilities. The combined percentile for this build is 71, placing it above the median for laptop configurations but below the top tier of performance systems.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is built on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process node with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. It belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, with the "HX" designation indicating a mobile-focused, high-performance variant. The processor features 14 cores and 14 threads, which is notable for the absence of hyper-threading — each core handles exactly one thread. The base clock runs at 2.90 GHz, with a boost clock reaching 5.10 GHz, providing substantial single-thread headroom for burst workloads.

The cache hierarchy consists of 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, delivering 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The CPU also incorporates Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units, providing integrated graphics capability alongside the discrete GPU. The processor supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, enabling fast connectivity to storage and expansion devices.

Benchmark results reveal strong multi-core performance relative to its mobile positioning. In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 34,731 points in multi-core and 4,903 in single-core. The R20 results show 14,587 multi-core and 2,059 single-core, while R15 yields 3,500 multi-core and 494 single-core. These scores indicate a processor that can handle demanding rendering tasks, though the 14-thread limit means heavily parallel workloads that scale beyond 14 threads will not see additional benefit. PassMark results reinforce this picture: multithread score of 40,849, single-thread score of 4,683, integer math at 97,177, floating-point math at 129,819, and data compression at 426,417.

The average benchmark score of 52,073 places this CPU in the 91st percentile of all processors. The nearest rivals show remarkable proximity in performance: the AMD EPYC 8124P scores 52,121 (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X scores 51,947 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i7-14700 scores 52,301 (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i9-13900F scores 51,730 (0.7% higher). This places the Ultra 5 235HX in the same performance class as high-end desktop processors from the previous generation, which is impressive for a mobile chip. The 55 W TDP indicates that this performance comes at a moderate power envelope for a laptop processor, though the unlocked multiplier suggests potential for enthusiast tuning within thermal limits.

The data shows that the CPU's single-thread performance, with a R23 score of 4,903, is competitive for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications. The multi-thread performance, while not class-leading, is sufficient for content creation tasks like video editing and 3D rendering, especially when compared to older mobile processors. The combination of 14 cores without hyper-threading means the CPU excels in workloads that favor physical cores but may lag in scenarios designed for many logical threads.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's benchmark results demonstrate a processor that punches above its mobile weight class. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34,731 positions it within striking distance of desktop-class processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which achieves an average score of 51,947 across all benchmarks — just 0.2% higher than this mobile chip's average of 52,073. The Intel Core i7-14700 scores 52,301, only 0.4% above the Ultra 5 235HX, and the Intel Core i9-13900F at 51,730 is 0.7% lower. This cluster of rivals within a 1.1% band demonstrates that the Ultra 5 235HX delivers desktop-equivalent performance in a laptop form factor.

The 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs means this processor outperforms approximately 91% of all processors in the benchmark database. This is a strong position for a mobile chip, indicating it can handle demanding computational tasks without compromise. The PassMark results provide additional context: the multithread score of 40,849 and single-thread score of 4,683 show balanced performance across both parallel and sequential workloads. Data encryption at 32,697 and extended instructions at 34,808 indicate solid cryptographic and SIMD performance, useful for security-sensitive applications and scientific computing.

The GPU side of the equation is markedly different. The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh is based on the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It uses 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die. The GPU has 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units, along with 30 ray tracing cores and 240 tensor cores. Memory consists of 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The boost clock reaches 1,380 MHz, producing 5.299 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The GPU's percentile ranking is 50, placing it exactly at the median of all GPUs in the database. This is a significant contrast to the CPU's 91st percentile. The combined percentile for the build is 71, reflecting the CPU's strength pulling the overall score upward despite the GPU's mid-range positioning. Since no measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination, gaming performance must be inferred from the benchmark scores rather than direct measurements.

The combined picture shows a system where the CPU substantially outperforms the GPU. This creates a configuration where the processor is capable of feeding much more powerful graphics hardware without becoming a bottleneck, but the GPU limits the system's overall gaming and graphics performance. For professional applications that use both CPU and GPU, such as rendering or video editing, the CPU will handle geometry and physics calculations efficiently while the GPU manages graphics output.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination, so all gaming frame rates discussed here are estimates derived from the benchmark scores rather than direct measurements. The data clearly indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX provides more than adequate processing power for gaming, with its 91st percentile CPU ranking and strong single-thread performance of 4,903 in Cinebench R23 ensuring that the processor will not limit frame rates in most games. The bottleneck resides firmly with the GPU.

The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh, positioned at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, offers performance typical of a mid-range mobile graphics solution. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 192-bit bus delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, this GPU can handle most games at 1080p with medium to high settings, though it will struggle with 4K resolutions or maximum quality presets in demanding titles. The 5.299 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 88.32 GPixel/s pixel rate suggest it can maintain playable frame rates in esports titles and older games, but newer AAA releases will require settings adjustments.

For competitive games like first-person shooters and MOBAs, which are typically CPU-bound, the Ultra 5 235HX's strong single-thread performance will allow the GPU to operate at its maximum potential. The 4,903 single-core score in Cinebench R23 indicates the CPU can handle high frame rate scenarios without bottlenecking the GPU. However, the GPU's 50th percentile ranking means that at higher resolutions, the graphics card will be the limiting factor, capping performance below what the CPU could theoretically support.

At 1080p, the estimated performance would be adequate for 60 FPS in most titles at medium settings, with potential for higher frame rates in less demanding games. At 1440p, the GPU's 6 GB memory capacity and bandwidth will become more stressed, likely requiring reduced settings to maintain smooth gameplay. At 4K, the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh would be severely limited, with playable performance restricted to older or less demanding titles. The ray tracing cores, while present, are from the Turing generation and will provide modest ray-traced performance at best, particularly at higher resolutions.

The 30 ray tracing cores and 240 tensor cores enable DLSS support, which can help offset the GPU's raw performance limitations by rendering at lower resolutions and upscaling. This feature could extend the GPU's viability for gaming, but the overall estimate remains that this is not a high-refresh-rate gaming system. The data suggests frame rates in the 40-70 FPS range for modern AAA titles at 1080p with medium settings, with esports titles potentially reaching 100+ FPS at lower settings.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket, which is a ball grid array package soldered to the motherboard. This means the CPU is not upgradeable in the traditional sense — users cannot swap it for a different processor. The socket supports the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, and the 3 nm process node and 55 W TDP indicate a modern, power-efficient design. The platform supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. This is the current standard for high-performance laptops, and the memory bandwidth is sufficient for the CPU's needs.

The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes from the CPU provides ample bandwidth for the latest NVMe SSDs and future peripherals. This ensures storage and expansion devices will not be bottlenecked by the platform. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units provides a fallback display output and basic graphics acceleration if the discrete GPU is disabled or fails. The CPU's unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking in supported laptops, though the BGA package and laptop thermal constraints may limit practical overclocking headroom.

The GPU is an NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh with an 80 W TDP, connected via PCIe 3.0 x16. The suggested PSU is not specified in the data, but the combined TDP of CPU (55 W) and GPU (80 W) totals 135 W, which is manageable for most laptop power adapters. The GPU uses an MXM module form factor, which theoretically allows for GPU upgrades in laptops that support MXM replacements. However, this is rare in modern laptops, and the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh is already end-of-life, so finding a compatible upgrade may be challenging. The successor is listed as Ampere-MW, indicating the next generation of mobile workstation GPUs.

The platform supports ECC memory? The data indicates ECC memory is not supported, which may be a consideration for certain professional workloads that require error-correcting memory. The memory support is limited to DDR5, meaning older DDR4 modules are not compatible. For a sensible next upgrade path, the primary consideration would be maximizing the memory capacity and speed within the DDR5 standard, as the CPU and GPU are both soldered or module-based and not easily replaceable. The storage can be upgraded via PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drives to fully utilize the available bandwidth.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance balance in this system is heavily skewed toward the CPU. With the CPU at the 91st percentile and the GPU at the 50th percentile, the processor is the dominant component in nearly every workload. This creates a clear bottleneck scenario where the GPU limits performance in graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming and GPU-accelerated rendering. The CPU has substantial headroom to drive a much more powerful GPU, meaning the processor will rarely be the limiting factor in any application.

In CPU-bound workloads like software compilation, data processing, and scientific computing, the Ultra 5 235HX will deliver excellent performance, operating at a level comparable to desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and Intel Core i7-14700. The PassMark multithread score of 40,849 and the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34,731 demonstrate that the CPU can handle demanding parallel tasks without difficulty. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for these workloads.

In GPU-bound workloads like gaming at high resolutions, video encoding, and 3D rendering with GPU acceleration, the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh will be the limiting factor. The GPU's 50th percentile ranking means it performs at the median level among all GPUs, so it will not deliver high-end gaming performance. The 6 GB memory capacity is adequate for 1080p gaming but may be insufficient for 4K textures or large 3D scenes. The 336.0 GB/s bandwidth and 5.299 TFLOPS of FP32 performance place it in the mid-range of mobile GPUs from its generation.

The FPS scaling evidence, while estimated due to lack of measured data, indicates that increasing resolution will disproportionately impact performance due to the GPU's limitations. At 1080p, the CPU can feed the GPU adequately, but at 1440p and above, the GPU will become increasingly stressed, and frame rates will drop more significantly than they would with a higher-tier GPU. The combined percentile of 71 reflects this imbalance — the system is better than most laptops but does not reach the top tier because the GPU holds it back from the CPU's potential.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's performance ranking compared to other processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 52,073. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 8124P (52,121, 0.1% lower), AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (51,947, 0.2% higher), Intel Core i7-14700 (52,301, 0.4% lower), and Intel Core i9-13900F (51,730, 0.7% higher).

Q: How much memory bandwidth does the CPU support?

A: The CPU supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, providing 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What is the GPU's architecture and manufacturing process?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh uses the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It has 30 ray tracing cores and 240 tensor cores, with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus delivering 336.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Is the CPU upgradeable?

A: No, the CPU uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket, which is a ball grid array package soldered to the motherboard. The CPU cannot be replaced or upgraded in a typical laptop configuration.

Q: What is the combined performance percentile of this build?

A: The combined percentile for this CPU+GPU pairing is 71, reflecting the CPU's strong 91st percentile ranking tempered by the GPU's 50th percentile position. This places the system above the median but below top-tier configurations.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the CPU includes Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units, providing integrated graphics capability alongside the discrete NVIDIA Quadro GPU.

Q: What is the GPU's production status?

A: The GPU is end-of-life, with a release date of May 2019. Its predecessor is Quadro Pascal-M and its successor is Ampere-MW.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: This system is not ideal for high-refresh gaming. The GPU's 50th percentile performance limits frame rates, and while the CPU's strong single-thread performance of 4,903 in Cinebench R23 prevents CPU bottlenecks, the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh will cap frame rates below what high-refresh monitors demand. Estimated performance at 1080p medium settings is 40-70 FPS in modern AAA titles.

Streaming: The CPU's 14 cores and 14 threads provide adequate processing power for software encoding while gaming, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34,731. The PassMark data compression score of 426,417 indicates solid performance for streaming workloads. The GPU's NVENC encoder, supported by the Turing architecture, provides hardware encoding that offloads the CPU.

Video editing: The CPU's strong multi-threaded performance, with a PassMark multithread score of 40,849, supports timeline scrubbing, effects processing, and export rendering. The GPU's 6 GB memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate acceleration for effects and color grading, though the 50th percentile GPU performance may slow GPU-accelerated exports.

3D rendering: The CPU handles CPU-based rendering workloads efficiently, with Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34,731 putting it on par with desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. For GPU-based rendering, the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh's 5.299 TFLOPS and 30 ray tracing cores provide moderate performance, sufficient for smaller scenes but not for large production work.

Software development: The CPU's 91st percentile ranking ensures fast compilation times and responsive development environments. The single-thread score of 4,683 and integer math score of 97,177 indicate strong performance for code compilation and analysis tools. The 24 MB L3 cache helps with frequently accessed code and data.

Student and office work: This system is overkill for basic productivity tasks. The CPU's performance far exceeds what word processing, spreadsheet, and web browsing require. The GPU's 50th percentile performance is more than adequate for office applications, and the integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics provides a low-power fallback for everyday use.

Build Overview

This configuration pairs the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, a 14-core Arrow Lake mobile processor, with the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh, a Turing-architecture workstation GPU. The build class is laptop, indicating this is a mobile workstation or high-performance laptop configuration. The CPU is manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the GPU uses a 12 nm process with 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 52,073 places it at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, making it one of the faster processors available. The GPU, with an average benchmark score of 0 and a 50th percentile ranking, is a mid-range mobile graphics solution. The combined percentile of 71 indicates this system is above average overall, but the significant disparity between CPU and GPU performance is the defining characteristic of this build. The CPU rivals high-end desktop processors from the previous generation, with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X scoring 0.2% higher and the Intel Core i9-13900F scoring 0.7% lower.

The TDP figures show a 55 W CPU and an 80 W GPU, totaling 135 W, which is reasonable for a laptop. The GPU's MXM module form factor and end-of-life status suggest this is a mature platform that may be approaching replacement. The CPU's unlocked multiplier and PCIe Gen 5 support indicate modern features, while the GPU's PCIe 3.0 x16 interface is a generation behind the CPU's capabilities. Overall, this is a laptop designed for professional workloads that favor CPU performance, with gaming and GPU acceleration as secondary considerations.

Who Should Build It

This system targets users who prioritize CPU-intensive professional workloads over graphics performance. Content creators working with video editing, 3D rendering, and software development will benefit most from the Ultra 5 235HX's 91st percentile CPU performance. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34,731 and single-core score of 4,903 provide the computational power needed for rendering, compiling, and simulation tasks. The PassMark multithread score of 40,849 confirms strong parallel processing capability.

Gamers at 1080p with medium settings will find this system capable, but those seeking high-refresh or 1440p gaming should look elsewhere. The GPU's 50th percentile performance and 6 GB memory capacity limit its gaming potential, making it more suitable for esports titles and older games than modern AAA releases at high settings. Students in engineering, computer science, or data science programs will appreciate the CPU's performance for computational coursework, while the GPU provides adequate graphics for visualization and basic CAD work.

Small business workstations that run CPU-intensive applications like accounting software, database management, and data analysis tools will perform well, with the CPU's data compression score of 426,417 and encryption score of 32,697 supporting these workloads. The lack of ECC memory support may be a consideration for mission-critical applications, but for general professional use, the system provides a strong balance of CPU performance and portability. Mobile professionals who need desktop-class processing power in a laptop form factor are the primary target audience for this configuration.