SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 5 235T + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

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

85 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 15% 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
79%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 5 235T

38,561 Benchmark Score
Top 8% Market Ranking
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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

2,893 Benchmark Score
Top 21% 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

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

# Intel Core Ultra 5 235T + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010: A Desktop Pairing Defined by Extreme Contrast

This desktop build pairs Intel's 14-core Core Ultra 5 235T, a 65 W Arrow Lake processor that lands in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4010, a 50 W Ampere entry-point GPU that sits in just the 18th percentile of all GPUs. The combined percentile for this pairing is 52, indicating a system that splits its personality: the CPU is a high-end multi-threaded workhorse, while the GPU is a modest, low-power rendering solution. The data shows no measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination, so all gaming frame rates discussed here are estimates derived from benchmark scores rather than direct testing. This is a machine built for productivity and compute tasks that lean on the processor, with gaming capabilities that will be constrained by the graphics card's limited memory bandwidth and shading throughput.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses the Intel Socket 1851, which is the LGA 1851 platform designed for Arrow Lake-S desktop processors. This socket supports DDR5 memory only, with a dual-channel memory bus providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The platform does not support ECC memory, which is worth noting for users considering this for error-sensitive workstation tasks. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the processor itself, giving ample bandwidth for a modern GPU and one or more Gen 5 NVMe drives. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units, so the system can display output even without a discrete GPU installed.

The power envelope here is remarkably low for the performance on offer. The CPU has a TDP of 65 W, while the RTX 4010 has a TDP of 50 W, and the suggested PSU for the GPU is 250 W. This means a modest power supply will comfortably handle the entire system, with no power connectors required on the GPU itself (it draws power directly from the PCIe slot). The RTX 4010 is a single-slot card measuring 163 mm in length and 69 mm in height, making it suitable for compact cases where space is at a premium.

For a sensible next upgrade, the platform's headroom is substantial. The 65 W TDP of the 235T suggests it is a low-power variant within the Arrow Lake lineup, so users who later want more CPU performance could potentially move to a higher-TDP Socket 1851 processor without changing the motherboard. On the GPU side, the PCIe Gen 5 lanes and the 250 W suggested PSU leave considerable room for a much more powerful graphics card. The glaring mismatch in the current build is the GPU; upgrading to a mid-range or higher GPU would transform the system's gaming and rendering capabilities while keeping the CPU relevant for years. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is standard for dual-channel DDR5 and should not bottleneck future upgrades.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 38561, which places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. This is a strong result, but the nearest rival data shows just how tightly packed the competition is. The Intel Core i5-14500 scores 38531, a delta of only 0.1% behind the 235T. The Intel Xeon w3-2525 is 0.4% behind, the Intel Core 9 270H is 0.6% behind, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H is 0.7% behind. In practical terms, the 235T is effectively tied with these processors, all of which are within a fraction of a percent of each other. This means the 235T is not a category leader in raw average score, but it is firmly in the upper echelon of desktop CPUs, trading blows with both workstation Xeons and high-end mobile parts.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 2893 from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 18th percentile of all GPUs. This is a low position, and the nearest rivals are surprising. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB scores 2907 (0.5% higher), the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF scores 2910 (0.6% higher), and the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB scores 2913 (0.7% higher). The NVIDIA Quadro P600 scores 2923 (1% higher). The data shows that despite the RTX 4010's low absolute performance tier, its Steel Nomad score is only about 1% below these much more substantial GPUs. This is a quirk of the benchmark or the specific test conditions, but it means the RTX 4010 is not catastrophically far behind in this particular metric, even though its overall percentile suggests it is a very low-end part.

The combined picture is one of extreme imbalance. The CPU is a top-14% performer globally, while the GPU is in the bottom 18% globally. The combined percentile of 52 reflects this split, landing exactly in the middle. For any workload that is heavily multi-threaded and CPU-bound, this system will perform exceptionally well. For any task that relies on GPU compute or rendering, the system will be limited by the RTX 4010.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning it lacks Hyper-Threading (each core handles a single thread). The base clock is 2.20 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It is built on a 3 nm process node from TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The architecture is Arrow Lake, specifically Arrow Lake-S, and it is part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

The benchmark scores paint a clear picture of a processor that excels in multi-threaded throughput. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 26232, while the single-core score is 3703. The ratio between these (roughly 7:1) indicates strong scaling across the 14 cores. The Cinebench R20 scores are 11017 multi-core and 1555 single-core, and the R15 scores are 2644 multi-core and 373 single-core. The PassMark tests show a similar trend: multi-thread score of 30918, single-thread score of 4339, and a physics score of 2157.

For real workloads, these numbers indicate a processor that can handle heavy parallel tasks with ease. The data compression score of 295100 and integer math score of 84244 suggest strong performance in data processing and general computation. The floating point math score of 106546 is also robust. The extended instructions score of 23212 and data encryption score of 23457 show that the CPU handles SIMD and cryptographic workloads competently. The prime number finding score of 318 is relatively low, which is typical for a non-server chip lacking specialized optimizations for that specific task. The random string sorting score of 35377 rounds out a profile that is well-suited for compilation, rendering, scientific computing, and any task that can use 14 full cores.

The 86th percentile ranking confirms that this is a high-end desktop CPU, despite its modest 65 W TDP. The fact that it is within 0.7% of the Core Ultra 9 285H in average score is notable, as that is a higher-tier part in Intel's mobile lineup.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data reveals a severe bottleneck situation. The CPU is operating in the 86th percentile, while the GPU sits in the 18th percentile. In any gaming or GPU-accelerated workload, the RTX 4010 will be the limiting factor by a wide margin. The CPU has enough single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3703) to feed a much faster GPU, so the processor will rarely be the constraint in frame rate scenarios.

Conversely, in CPU-bound tasks like video encoding, code compilation, or data analysis, the system will perform at a level consistent with its 86th percentile CPU ranking. The GPU will not interfere with these workloads unless they use GPU acceleration. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30918 and the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26232 confirm that the CPU is ready for demanding compute tasks.

The evidence from the percentile gap (86 vs 18) is stark. The FPS scaling in gaming will be dictated almost entirely by the GPU's capabilities. Even a modest CPU upgrade would not improve gaming performance, because the GPU is the hard ceiling. The suggested PSU of 250 W for the GPU, combined with the CPU's 65 W TDP, means the system draws very little power, but this efficiency comes at the cost of GPU headroom. The RTX 4010's 50 W TDP and 96.00 GB/s memory bandwidth are the clear limiting factors for any 3D workload.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact CPU+GPU combination in the FACT PACK, so all gaming frame rates below are estimates derived from the benchmark scores rather than direct measurement. The data shows no measured FPS data across any games or resolutions, and this analysis will treat all FPS figures as qualitative expectations based on the GPU's 18th percentile ranking and its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2893.

The RTX 4010 is a 4 GB GDDR6 GPU with a 64-bit memory bus and 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. This is a very low memory bandwidth figure, which will severely limit performance at higher resolutions and with texture-heavy games. The GPU has 768 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, with a pixel rate of 28.19 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 42.29 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 2.706 TFLOPS, which is entry-level by modern standards.

For 1080p gaming, the estimates suggest that this GPU will handle older or less demanding titles at low to medium settings, but it will struggle with modern AAA games. The 4 GB VRAM is a significant limitation, as many current games require more than 4 GB even at 1080p with high textures. The 64-bit memory bus and 96 GB/s bandwidth will cause frame rate drops in scenes with high geometry complexity or large texture loads. At 1440p or 4K, the GPU is not realistically viable for modern gaming; the memory bandwidth and compute power are simply too low.

The CPU will not be the bottleneck here, as its single-core performance is strong enough to keep up with any game. The system's gaming profile is therefore defined by the GPU's constraints. Users should expect a console-like experience from several generations ago, not a modern high-refresh-rate gaming rig.

Who Should Build It

This build targets users whose primary workloads are CPU-intensive and who need only basic GPU acceleration. The 86th percentile CPU ranking makes this an excellent choice for content creators who work with video encoding, 3D rendering (CPU-based), or software development. The PassMark data compression score of 295100 and integer math score of 84244 indicate strong performance in data-heavy tasks, which suits small business workstations handling databases or financial modeling.

Students in engineering or computer science fields would benefit from the CPU's multi-threaded power for compilation and simulation, while the low power draw (65 W CPU + 50 W GPU) makes it a practical choice for a quiet, efficient desktop. Developers who run virtual machines or containerized workloads will appreciate the 14 full cores and the lack of Hyper-Threading, which can be beneficial for predictable scheduling in some environments.

For gamers, this is not a recommended build. The GPU's 18th percentile ranking and 4 GB VRAM limit it to esports titles at low settings. However, for users who need a workstation that can occasionally play older or less demanding games, the system will suffice. The 65 W TDP and single-slot GPU make it suitable for compact or office environments where space and noise are concerns. The absence of ECC memory support means it is not ideal for mission-critical server workloads, but it is more than adequate for a high-performance desktop workstation.

FAQ

Q: What is the combined performance percentile of this CPU+GPU pairing?

A: The combined percentile is 52, which puts it exactly in the middle of all desktop systems. This reflects the stark contrast between the CPU's 86th percentile and the GPU's 18th percentile.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14500?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T has an average benchmark score of 38561, which is 0.1% higher than the Core i5-14500's score of 38531. This effectively makes them performance equals.

Q: Does the RTX 4010 support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the GPU has 6 RT cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4. However, given its low FP32 throughput of 2.706 TFLOPS, ray tracing performance will be very limited.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the RTX 4010?

A: It has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 96.00 GB/s and a memory clock of 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective).

Q: What socket does the Core Ultra 5 235T use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1851, which is the LGA 1851 platform for Arrow Lake-S desktop processors. It supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Is the RTX 4010 a single-slot card?

A: Yes, it is a single-slot card measuring 163 mm in length and 69 mm in height. It requires no power connectors and has a suggested PSU of 250 W.

Q: What is the TDP of both components in this build?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 65 W, and the GPU has a TDP of 50 W. This makes for a very low-power system overall, with the GPU drawing power directly from the PCIe slot.

Build Overview

This is a desktop-class build (buildClass: "desktop") that pairs Intel's Core Ultra 5 235T with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4010. The CPU is a 14-core Arrow Lake processor on a 3 nm TSMC node, released on 2025-01-06 with a launch MSRP of $247. The GPU is an Ampere-based GA107 chip on an 8 nm Samsung node, released on 2024-04-15, with no launch MSRP listed in the data. The overall tier from the percentiles is a study in contrast: the CPU is in the top 14% of all processors (86th percentile), while the GPU is in the bottom 18% (18th percentile). The combined percentile of 52 places this system exactly at the median of all builds, but that median position hides the extreme imbalance. The system is effectively a high-end CPU workstation with a placeholder GPU, suitable for compute tasks but not for modern gaming.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 is built on the Ampere architecture with the GA107 chip, manufactured by Samsung on an 8 nm process. It contains 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, with a transistor density of 43.5 million per mm². The GPU has 768 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units, along with 6 RT cores and 24 tensor cores. The base clock is 1417 MHz, with a boost clock of 1762 MHz, and the memory runs at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective).

The memory subsystem is the most limiting factor: 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus provides only 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a very narrow bus, and it will throttle performance in any memory-intensive workload. The pixel rate is 28.19 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 42.29 GTexel/s, while FP32 performance is 2.706 TFLOPS with FP16 at 2.706 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio). The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, and it has 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the GPU scores 2893, which places it in the 18th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals are the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB at 2907 (0.5% higher), the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF at 2910 (0.6% higher), and the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB at 2913 (0.7% higher). The data shows the RTX 4010 is within 1% of these GPUs in this specific test, yet its overall percentile is much lower, suggesting that the Steel Nomad test does not fully capture the GPU's weaknesses (likely the 4 GB VRAM and low bandwidth). For rendering and compute tasks, the low VRAM capacity and 96 GB/s bandwidth will cause significant performance drops in scenes exceeding 4 GB, and the 2.706 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is entry-level. The GPU is best suited for basic display output, light 2D work, and older or low-end 3D applications, not for serious rendering or modern gaming.