SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 5 235T + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 TiM

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

83 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 17% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
92%
VS
GPU
74%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 5 235T

38,561 Benchmark Score
Top 8% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 TiM

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

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is a 14-core, 14-thread desktop processor built on Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a 2.20 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock, drawing 65 W TDP. The chip carries 24 MB of shared L3 cache, with 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core. This is a locked multiplier part, so overclocking headroom is not part of its design. The processor supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU.

Benchmark data places this chip at the 86th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 38561. That puts it in a tight cluster with the Intel Core i5-14500, which scores 38531 — a delta of merely 0.1%. The Xeon w3-2525 trails by 0.4%, while the Core 9 270H and Core Ultra 9 285H are 0.6% and 0.7% behind respectively. What this means is that the 235T sits at the top of a very narrow performance band where four rivals are all within one percent of each other. In practical terms, the differences among these chips will be invisible in most real workloads.

Cinebench results reinforce this positioning. The multi-core score of 26232 in Cinebench R23 shows strong sustained throughput for a 65 W part. Single-core performance is equally notable: 3703 in R23 and 373 in R15. These numbers indicate that the Arrow Lake architecture delivers excellent per-thread performance, which matters for older software and lightly threaded tasks. The Passmark suite shows a balanced profile: 30918 in multithread, 4339 in single-thread, 84244 in integer math, 106546 in floating-point math, and 295100 in data compression. The encryption score of 23457 and extended instructions score of 23212 suggest capable AES and SIMD throughput. The physics score of 2157 and prime number finding score of 318 are more modest, but these are niche workloads.

The 3 nm process node and 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die indicate a dense, modern design. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU provides basic display output without a discrete GPU. For a desktop processor, the 65 W TDP is efficient, and the combination of high single-core and competitive multi-core scores makes this a versatile CPU for productivity and content creation alike.

# Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: The single-core score of 4339 in Passmark and 3703 in Cinebench R23 positions this CPU to drive high frame rates in games that depend on strong per-thread performance. The 86th percentile standing among all CPUs means it will not be the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, though the GPU pairing will ultimately dictate frame rates at higher resolutions.

Streaming: The 14 cores and 14 threads provide enough parallel throughput for encoding and broadcasting workloads. The multithread score of 30918 in Passmark indicates headroom for simultaneous game capture and stream output. The 24 MB L3 cache helps with the frequent data movement that streaming requires.

Video Editing: Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26232 and Passmark multithread score of 30918 show strong rendering capability for timeline playback and export tasks. The floating-point math score of 106546 supports effects processing and color grading. The data compression score of 295100 aids in file handling and project archival.

3D Rendering: The multi-core performance, evidenced by the R20 score of 11017 and R15 score of 2644, provides solid performance for CPU-based renderers. This is not a workstation-class chip, but it sits 0.4% above the Xeon w3-2525, indicating it can handle moderate rendering workloads without complaint.

Software Development: The single-thread score of 4339 in Passmark ensures snappy compilation of single-file changes, while the multithread score supports parallel builds. The encryption score of 23457 helps with secure operations, and the extended instructions score of 23212 indicates good SIMD support for optimized code paths.

Student and Office Work: The 65 W TDP and integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics make this an efficient choice for everyday computing. The single-core strength handles document processing and web browsing with ease, and the low power draw keeps systems quiet and cool. The 86th percentile standing ensures it will comfortably exceed the requirements of typical academic and office software.

# Balance and Bottleneck

In this pairing, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 TiM carries the 50th percentile position among all GPUs, while the CPU sits at the 86th percentile. This creates a clear CPU-favored balance: the processor has substantially more relative performance headroom than the graphics card. In CPU-bound workloads like data compression, encryption, and physics calculations, the 235T will perform at its high percentile level, and the GPU will not interfere. In GPU-bound tasks like gaming at higher resolutions, the RTX 3070 TiM will be the limiting factor, capping frame rates below what the CPU could otherwise support.

The combined percentile for this build is 68, which reflects the GPU dragging the overall position down from the CPU's 86th percentile. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth will constrain texture-heavy workloads at high resolutions, while the CPU's 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is more than adequate for its role. The FPS scaling in games will depend on resolution: at 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance will keep frame times low, but the GPU will still set the ceiling; at 1440p and above, the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck. For productivity tasks, the CPU is the clear workhorse, and the GPU contributes only where accelerated rendering or compute is involved.

# Who Should Build It

This build targets gamers who play at 1080p or 1440p with high refresh rates, where the RTX 3070 TiM's 50th percentile standing provides solid frame rates and the CPU's 86th percentile ensures no processing bottleneck. Content creators working with video editing and 3D rendering will benefit from the CPU's multi-core throughput — the R23 score of 26232 is competitive with the Core i5-14500, which it beats by 0.1% — while the GPU accelerates effects and previews. Software developers will appreciate the fast single-thread performance for compilation and the multithread capacity for parallel builds. Students and small business users will find the 65 W TDP and integrated graphics appealing for quiet, efficient workstations that still deliver strong performance when needed. The build's combined percentile of 68 indicates a balanced mid-range system that will serve users who need both CPU and GPU power without pushing into enthusiast territory.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses Intel Socket 1851, which is specific to the Core Ultra Series 2 desktop lineup. It supports DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which gives ample bandwidth for modern GPUs and NVMe storage. The 65 W TDP means the stock cooling solution is sufficient, and the platform does not demand exotic power delivery. The suggested PSU for the RTX 3070 TiM is 550 W, which provides headroom for the combined system draw — the CPU's 65 W and GPU's 220 W TDP are well within that range. A sensible next upgrade would be a higher-tier Core Ultra Series 2 processor on the same socket, should more cores or higher clocks become necessary. The GPU, being end-of-life with a successor already released, is the more likely candidate for an early upgrade; the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface on the RTX 3070 TiM will not bottleneck a newer card, and the 550 W PSU may need adjustment depending on the replacement's power requirements.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 TiM is an Ampere-architecture GPU built on Samsung's 8 nm process, featuring 17,400 million transistors on a 392 mm² die. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU runs at a 915 MHz base clock and 1410 MHz boost clock, with memory at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It has 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units. The 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores provide hardware acceleration for RT and AI workloads. Compute performance is rated at 16.60 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, with pixel rate of 135.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 259.4 GTexel/s.

This GPU sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, which means it is exactly average in the current landscape. The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but will become a constraint at 4K or with high-resolution texture packs. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the memory size but not exceptional. The RT cores enable ray tracing at playable frame rates in less demanding titles, while the tensor cores support DLSS, which can extend the GPU's useful life. The triple-slot cooler and 270 mm length make it a large card, and the 1x 8-pin power connector keeps installation simple. The GPU is end-of-life, with the GeForce 40 series as its successor, so buyers should be aware that this is a mature product. Display outputs include 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, supporting modern monitors. API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 38561, placing it at the 86th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-14500 at 38531, just 0.1% behind. The Xeon w3-2525 scores 38392 (0.4% behind), the Core 9 270H scores 38335 (0.6% behind), and the Core Ultra 9 285H scores 38312 (0.7% behind). This indicates that the 235T is the top performer in a very tight group, but the margins are negligible. The GPU, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 0 and sits at the 50th percentile, with no rival data available for comparison.

The combined percentile for this pairing is 68, which reflects the average of a strong CPU and an average GPU. In Cinebench R23, the CPU's 26232 multi-core and 3703 single-core scores demonstrate its capability in both parallel and single-threaded workloads. The Passmark multithread score of 30918 and single-thread score of 4339 corroborate this. The data shows a system that excels at CPU-heavy tasks — rendering, compilation, data processing — while the GPU provides solid but not exceptional graphics performance. The absence of measured FPS data for this exact combination means all gaming performance figures are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The CPU's 86th percentile suggests it will not bottleneck the GPU, but the GPU's 50th percentile indicates it will be the limiting factor in graphics-intensive scenarios.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T compare to the Intel Core i5-14500?

A: The 235T has an average benchmark score of 38561, which is 0.1% higher than the i5-14500's 38531. This places the 235T narrowly ahead, but the difference is within noise and will not be perceptible in real workloads.

Q: Is 8 GB of VRAM on the RTX 3070 TiM enough for modern gaming?

A: The 8 GB GDDR6 memory with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming at high settings. At higher resolutions or with demanding texture packs, the VRAM capacity may become a constraint.

Q: What is the power consumption of this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The CPU has a 65 W TDP and the GPU has a 220 W TDP. The suggested PSU for the GPU is 550 W, which provides adequate headroom for the full system.

Q: Does the CPU support overclocking?

A: No. The multiplier is locked, so the 235T cannot be overclocked. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz is the maximum achievable frequency.

Q: What memory type does this platform use?

A: The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: How does the GPU perform in ray tracing workloads?

A: The RTX 3070 TiM has 46 ray tracing cores, which provide hardware acceleration for RT effects. The GPU's 50th percentile standing means ray tracing performance is average compared to the broader GPU market.

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

A: The combined percentile is 68, reflecting the CPU's 86th percentile and the GPU's 50th percentile. This indicates a system that is stronger in CPU-bound tasks than GPU-bound ones.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 TiM. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps rows for this exact combination. All frame rate figures discussed here are estimates derived from the benchmark scores of each component.

The CPU's 86th percentile standing and strong single-thread performance — Passmark single-thread score of 4339 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3703 — indicate it will deliver high frame rates in CPU-bound game scenarios. The GPU's 50th percentile standing, with 16.60 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, suggests it will provide playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with high settings. At 1080p, the system should achieve high frame rates in most titles, with the GPU being the primary limiter. At 1440p, frame rates will decrease as the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 50th percentile performance become more significant factors. At 4K, the GPU will struggle to maintain high frame rates, and the VRAM capacity will likely force lower texture settings. The CPU will not bottleneck the GPU at any resolution, given its substantial performance advantage. Ray tracing performance will be modest, as the GPU's 46 RT cores are adequate but not exceptional. DLSS support via the 184 tensor cores can help recover frame rates in supported titles. Overall, this pairing is best suited for 1080p high-refresh gaming or 1440p at moderate settings, with the GPU as the limiting factor in both scenarios.