SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

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

88 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 12% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
96%
VS
GPU
79%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus

66,855 Benchmark Score
Top 4% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
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
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 250K Plus is an 18-core, 18-thread desktop processor built on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process node. The die contains 17,800 million transistors across a 243 mm² area, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The CPU's 125 W TDP places it in the mainstream performance tier, while its unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking headroom.

The cache hierarchy is substantial: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, delivering 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. ECC memory support is included, which matters for workstation reliability. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, enabling high-speed connectivity for GPUs and NVMe storage. Integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units provides a fallback display output, though the pairing with a discrete GPU makes this secondary.

Benchmark data shows a processor that excels in multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30,867 points places the CPU at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of desktop processors. The single-core score of 2,261 in Cinebench R23 is strong for everyday responsiveness, while the multicore result reveals the real muscle. In PassMark tests, the multithread score of 51,596 and single-thread score of 4,757 reinforce this picture.

The average benchmark score of 66,855 positions this CPU within a tight competitive cluster. The nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4465P, scores 66,925 — a delta of just -0.1 percent, meaning the Ultra 5 250K Plus trails by a negligible margin. The Intel Xeon 6515P sits 0.2 percent ahead at 67,006. The Core Ultra 9 275HX leads by 0.9 percent with 67,469. Interestingly, the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus — the integrated-graphics-disabled variant — scores 66,159, which is 1.1 percent lower than the 250K Plus, showing the iGPU-enabled version actually benchmarks slightly higher in this dataset.

For real workloads, these numbers translate into strong rendering performance in Cinebench-class applications, fast data compression (PassMark score of 568,721), and capable encryption throughput (42,144 in PassMark data encryption). The floating-point math score of 162,692 indicates solid scientific computing capability, while the integer math score of 125,091 supports general productivity tasks. The extended instructions score of 44,565 suggests the CPU handles SIMD-heavy code well. The physics score of 3,494 in PassMark is modest, which hints that the CPU may not be the primary driver in physics simulation scenarios — the GPU often takes that role.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's Cinebench R15 multicore score is 4,640, with a single-core score of 328. In Cinebench R20, the multicore result reaches 18,442 and single-core hits 2,603. These progressive benchmarks show scaling that is consistent with an 18-thread design — the multicore advantage grows as the workload becomes more demanding. The R23 multicore score of 30,867 represents roughly a 67 percent improvement over the R20 result, which reflects the heavier workload in R23.

The GPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010, presents a very different performance profile. Its sole benchmark result — 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 — is 2,893. This places the GPU at the 18th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it sits well below the median. The nearest rivals are instructive: the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB scores 2,907 (0.5 percent ahead), the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF scores 2,910 (0.6 percent ahead), and the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB scores 2,913 (0.7 percent ahead). The Quadro P600 leads by 1.0 percent with 2,923. This clustering around 2,900 indicates the RTX 4010 is positioned at a specific performance tier, and the deltas are so small that real-world differences would be within run-to-run variance.

The combined picture is starkly asymmetric. The CPU sits at the 93rd percentile, a top-tier performer. The GPU sits at the 18th percentile, a low-end part. The combined percentile for the system is 56, which reflects the averaging of these two very different components. The CPU's average benchmark score of 66,855 dwarfs the GPU's 2,893, meaning the processor is roughly 23 times more powerful relative to their respective performance pools.

This pairing produces a system where the CPU is never the limiting factor in graphics-bound workloads. The data shows a processor capable of feeding even high-end GPUs without bottlenecking, paired with a GPU that will cap performance at modest levels. For CPU-bound tasks like compilation, rendering, or data processing, the system performs at a high level. For GPU-bound tasks like gaming at high resolutions or GPU rendering, the system's performance is constrained by the RTX 4010.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus compare to its closest rival?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 66,855 is 0.1 percent behind the AMD EPYC 4465P (66,925) and 0.2 percent behind the Intel Xeon 6515P (67,006). It is 0.9 percent behind the Core Ultra 9 275HX but 1.1 percent ahead of the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile and what does it mean?

A: The RTX 4010 sits at the 18th percentile among all GPUs. This means 82 percent of GPUs benchmarked perform better. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2,893 is within 1 percent of the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB, RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF, RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB, and Quadro P600.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports ECC memory. The memory interface is dual-channel DDR5 with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC capability is listed in the specifications.

Q: What is the combined system percentile?

A: The combined percentile for this CPU-GPU pairing is 56. This reflects the CPU's high 93rd percentile and the GPU's low 18th percentile, producing a mid-range combined score.

Q: What PCIe version and lane count does the CPU provide?

A: The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The GPU itself uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, so it will operate at PCIe 4.0 speeds with 8 lanes, leaving the faster Gen 5 lanes available for other devices.

Q: What is the GPU's VRAM and bandwidth?

A: The RTX 4010 has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 1500 MHz with 12 Gbps effective speed.

Q: What is the CPU's process node and foundry?

A: The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. The die size is 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The performance asymmetry between these two components is the defining characteristic of this build. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking versus the GPU's 18th percentile creates a situation where the GPU is the clear bottleneck in graphics-intensive workloads. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2,893 for the GPU indicates that any game or rendering task relying on the GPU will hit a performance ceiling far below what the CPU can support.

In CPU-bound workloads — data compression (568,721 in PassMark), multithreaded rendering (30,867 in Cinebench R23), or integer math (125,091) — the system performs at a level consistent with top-tier desktop processors. The 18 threads and 5.30 GHz boost clock ensure that even heavily threaded applications are handled with ease. The bottleneck in these scenarios shifts to memory bandwidth (115.2 GB/s) or storage, not the CPU itself.

For gaming, the bottleneck is almost entirely the GPU. The RTX 4010's 4 GB VRAM and 96 GB/s bandwidth are limiting factors at higher resolutions and texture settings. The CPU could easily feed a much more powerful GPU, as evidenced by its 93rd percentile ranking. In GPU-bound scenarios, the system will perform like an entry-level graphics solution regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

The FPS scaling picture is not measurable from this data because no measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps data, so all frame-rate expectations must be inferred from the benchmark scores. The GPU's 18th percentile position suggests that frame rates in modern titles will be modest, while the CPU's high percentile ensures frame pacing and minimum frame rates will be stable where the GPU can keep up.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 is built on the GA107 chip using Samsung's 8 nm process, containing 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die. The transistor density of 43.5 million per square millimeter is moderate by current standards. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1417 MHz with a boost clock of 1762 MHz, which are conservative figures reflecting its 50 W TDP. This low power draw requires no power connectors and enables a single-slot design measuring 163 mm in length.

Memory configuration is the most significant limitation. The 4 GB GDDR6 VRAM on a 64-bit bus provides 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. At 1500 MHz with 12 Gbps effective speed, this memory subsystem is suited for 1080p gaming at medium settings, but will struggle with high-resolution textures or heavy VRAM usage. The 64-bit bus width is half of what many modern GPUs use, making bandwidth a potential constraint in memory-intensive workloads.

Compute resources include 768 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The pixel rate of 28.19 GPixel/s and texture rate of 42.29 GTexel/s reflect the modest 2.706 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The FP16 throughput matches FP32 at 2.706 TFLOPS, indicating no dedicated half-precision acceleration. Ray tracing is handled by 6 RT cores, and AI workloads are supported by 24 tensor cores. These are present but limited in number, suggesting the RTX 4010 can accelerate RT and DLSS tasks, though not at the level of higher-tier 40-series cards.

The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,893 places it at the 18th percentile. The nearest rivals cluster tightly: the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB is 0.5 percent ahead, the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF is 0.6 percent ahead, and the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB is 0.7 percent ahead. This means the RTX 4010 performs nearly identically to these cards in this specific benchmark, despite having less VRAM and a narrower memory bus than the 4060 Ti variants. The Quadro P600 leads by 1.0 percent. The practical implication is that the RTX 4010 delivers usable performance for esports titles and older games, but rendering modern AAA games at high settings will produce frame rates below what most gamers expect.

The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is sufficient for the GPU's bandwidth needs, and the four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support multi-monitor setups. API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with current software. With no power connectors required and a suggested PSU of 250 W, this GPU is exceptionally easy to integrate into small form factor builds.

# Who Should Build It

This system targets users who need high CPU throughput but only modest graphics performance. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking makes it an excellent choice for developers compiling large codebases, students running computational workloads, or small business workstations handling data processing. The 18 threads and high boost clock accelerate compilation, spreadsheet analysis, and database operations.

Content creators working primarily with CPU-based rendering — such as software renderers or video encoding that uses x264/x265 — will benefit from the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30,867. The data compression score of 568,721 in PassMark indicates strong performance for archiving and file operations. For GPU-accelerated rendering, however, the RTX 4010's 2.706 TFLOPS will limit output to simple scenes or low resolutions.

Gamers at 1080p with low-to-medium settings will find this build adequate for competitive titles, where the CPU's strong single-core performance (4,757 in PassMark) ensures high minimum frame rates. Gamers targeting 1440p or 4K, or those wanting high settings in modern AAA games, will be disappointed by the GPU's 18th percentile position.

The ECC memory support and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make this a viable entry workstation platform. The CPU's active production status and recent release date suggest long-term availability. The unlocked multiplier appeals to enthusiasts who want to extract additional performance, though the 125 W TDP limits overclocking headroom.

# Gaming Performance

There are no measured FPS rows for this exact CPU-GPU combination — the FACT PACK contains no measuredFps data — so all frame-rate expectations are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2,893 and its 18th percentile ranking provide the primary reference points.

Based on the GPU's performance tier, 1080p gaming is the realistic target. Esports titles like competitive shooters and MOBAs, which are typically CPU-bound, will run at high frame rates thanks to the CPU's single-thread score of 4,757 in PassMark. The CPU's boost clock of 5.30 GHz ensures responsive gameplay in CPU-limited scenarios.

Modern AAA games at 1080p with high settings will likely produce frame rates in the mid-range, with the 4 GB VRAM becoming a constraint for games that use high-resolution texture packs. Games that are well-optimized for the 40-series architecture, leveraging the 6 RT cores and 24 tensor cores for DLSS, may perform better than the raw FP32 numbers suggest. However, the 96 GB/s memory bandwidth is the hard ceiling for texture streaming.

At 1440p, frame rates will drop significantly as the GPU becomes fully saturated. The 64-bit memory bus and 4 GB VRAM will cause stuttering in games that exceed the memory capacity. The CPU's high percentile ensures that frame time variance is low where the GPU can maintain output, but the overall experience will be entry-level.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop build pairing the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010. The CPU is a high-end mainstream processor — 18 cores, 18 threads, 5.30 GHz boost — while the GPU is an entry-level graphics card with 4 GB VRAM and a 50 W TDP. The combined percentile of 56 places this system in the mid-range tier overall, but this average masks the extreme disparity between components.

The CPU represents the top tier of desktop processors at the 93rd percentile. Its average benchmark score of 66,855 rivals server-class chips like the AMD EPYC 4465P and Intel Xeon 6515P. The GPU, at the 18th percentile with an average score of 2,893, is positioned at the low end of the graphics spectrum, performing within 1 percent of cards like the RTX 4060 Ti and Quadro P600 in the Steel Nomad test.

This pairing is unusual: a processor that could drive a flagship GPU is matched with a card that is several tiers below that class. The system's performance profile is bifurcated. For CPU-intensive tasks, it competes with high-end workstations. For GPU-intensive tasks, it competes with entry-level gaming laptops. The 125 W CPU TDP plus the 50 W GPU TDP means the system draws minimal power, and the suggested PSU of 250 W confirms this is a low-power build despite the powerful processor.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The CPU's single-thread performance (4,757 in PassMark, 2,261 in Cinebench R23) can drive high frame rates in esports titles, but the GPU's 18th percentile limits overall FPS. Competitive games at 1080p with low settings will benefit from the CPU's responsiveness, but the GPU will cap performance below what the CPU can support.

Streaming: The CPU's 18 threads handle encoding workloads effectively. The PassMark multithread score of 51,596 suggests x264 encoding at reasonable presets is viable. The GPU's tensor cores (24) can accelerate NVENC-like workloads, though the 4 GB VRAM may limit simultaneous game capture and rendering.

Video editing: CPU-based timeline rendering and export benefit from the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30,867. The 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth handles multiple video streams. GPU-accelerated effects and color grading will be limited by the RTX 4010's 2.706 TFLOPS, making proxy-based workflows necessary for complex projects.

3D rendering: CPU rendering in applications like Blender's Cycles or V-Ray will perform well, with the 30,867 Cinebench R23 score indicating strong multi-core scaling. GPU rendering in OptiX or CUDA will be slow due to the RTX 4010's limited compute resources and 96 GB/s bandwidth, making it unsuitable for production rendering.

Software development: Compilation and testing are excellent on this platform. The 18 threads accelerate build times, and the PassMark integer math score of 125,091 supports heavy logic workloads. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes allow fast NVMe storage for large repositories, and ECC memory support reduces crash risk in long-running test suites.

Student and office work: This system is overkill for document processing, web browsing, and spreadsheets. The CPU's 93rd percentile ensures instant responsiveness, while the GPU's modest capabilities are sufficient for office applications. The low power draw (50 W GPU, 125 W CPU) keeps electricity costs and heat output minimal.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU uses the Intel Socket 1851 platform, which is current for the Core Ultra Series 2. Memory support is DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, with ECC enabled for error-correcting workloads. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU provide headroom for high-bandwidth devices. The GPU uses PCIe 4.0 x8, which is backward compatible with the Gen 5 slots.

The 125 W CPU TDP and 50 W GPU TDP mean the suggested PSU of 250 W is sufficient. This leaves no headroom for significant GPU upgrades without also replacing the power supply. A future GPU upgrade to a higher-tier card would require both a new PSU and consideration of the PCIe lane allocation.

The most sensible next upgrade is the GPU. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking means it can support substantially more powerful graphics cards without becoming a bottleneck. Replacing the RTX 4010 with a mid-range or high-end GPU would transform the system from a CPU-focused workstation into a balanced gaming or rendering machine. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes ensure bandwidth is not a constraint for any current GPU.

The CPU itself is near the top of its platform, with the Core Ultra 9 275HX scoring only 0.9 percent higher in aggregate benchmarks. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking to extract marginal gains. The 3 nm TSMC process node and active production status suggest this platform will remain relevant for several years, though DDR5 memory capacity and bandwidth (115.2 GB/s) may become limiting as workloads grow.

For users who prioritize CPU performance and can accept entry-level graphics, this platform is well-positioned. The upgrade path is clear: keep the CPU, replace the GPU and PSU when graphics demands increase. The motherboard's PCIe Gen 5 support ensures compatibility with future storage and accelerator cards.