SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX + Intel Arc A530M

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

Build Configuration

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PROCESSOR (CPU)

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GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

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96 Score

Top 4% Ranking

96 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 4% 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

96%

GPU

96%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX

62,738 Benchmark Score

Top 4% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

Intel Arc A530M

46,614 Benchmark Score

Top 4% 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 7 255HX is a 20-core, 20-thread mobile processor built on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process node. It is part of Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 lineup, targeting high-performance laptops. The chip integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, with a cache hierarchy comprising 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Base and boost clocks are 2.40 GHz and 5.20 GHz respectively, with a 55 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier for enthusiast tuning.

Benchmark data reveals a processor that excels in multi-threaded throughput. In Cinebench R23, the 255HX scores 32,612 points in multi-core and 2,163 points in single-core. The R20 results show 17,187 multi-core and 2,426 single-core, while R15 produces 4,916 multi-core and 327 single-core. These scores place the CPU at the 93rd percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 62,738. The nearest rival comparison shows a tightly contested field: the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 scores 62,839 (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 465 scores 62,498 (0.4% lower), the Intel Core i7-13790F scores 63,080 (0.5% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX scores 63,173 (0.7% higher). The 255HX sits essentially at parity with these competitors, differing by less than one percent in aggregate performance.

PassMark results add granularity to the performance picture. The multi-thread score of 48,234 and single-thread score of 4,562 indicate strong parallel and serial execution capabilities. Integer math reaches 127,126, floating-point math hits 160,624, and extended instruction throughput is 41,247. Data compression scores 515,143, while encryption achieves 39,499. Random string sorting completes at 62,591, and prime number finding scores 400. The physics workload scores 2,926. For real-world workloads, the multi-core strength translates directly to rendering, compilation, and scientific computing tasks, where the 20 threads can be fully utilized. The single-core performance, while not class-leading, is sufficient for responsive everyday use and lightly-threaded applications.

The architecture's efficiency is notable. Arrow Lake-HX on a 3 nm process delivers high performance per watt, which is critical for laptop thermal budgets. The 55 W TDP allows sustained boost operation without excessive throttling in well-designed cooling solutions. The L3 cache size of 30 MB is generous, reducing memory latency for frequently accessed data. Memory support is DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, providing 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth — sufficient to feed the 20 cores in memory-intensive workloads. ECC memory is not supported, which limits the chip's appeal for mission-critical error-sensitive deployments.

# Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: The CPU's 5.20 GHz boost clock and strong single-core score of 2,163 in Cinebench R23 ensure the 255HX can keep up with high-frame-rate gaming demands. The 93rd percentile CPU ranking means it will not be the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, though the GPU pairing (analyzed below) determines final FPS.

Streaming: Multi-threaded performance is critical for encoding while gaming. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,612 provides ample headroom for software encoding, while the 20 threads allow simultaneous game rendering, encoder threads, and streaming overhead. The data encryption score of 39,499 also indicates solid security-related processing for stream authentication and DRM.

Video Editing: Timeline scrubbing, effects rendering, and export encoding all benefit from multi-core throughput. The 48,234 PassMark multi-thread score and 160,624 floating-point math score suggest strong performance in video processing pipelines that rely on floating-point transforms and parallel frame rendering. The 30 MB L3 cache aids in large working sets common in video projects.

3D Rendering: This is the CPU's strongest scenario. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,612 is a direct indicator of rendering capability, and the 20-core configuration scales well across render engines that exploit thread-level parallelism. The data compression score of 515,143 also helps in scene file I/O and asset loading.

Software Development: Compilation is heavily multi-threaded, and the 255HX's 20 threads shine here. The integer math score of 127,126 reflects strong arithmetic throughput for code generation and optimization passes. The 93rd percentile ranking means build times will be competitive with desktop-class processors.

Student and Office Work: The single-core score of 2,163 in R23 and 4,562 in PassMark single-thread ensure snappy response in document editing, spreadsheets, and web browsing. The 55 W TDP means the laptop can operate quietly and with reasonable battery life for productivity tasks, while the 20 threads handle occasional bursts of parallel work like data analysis in Python or MATLAB.

# GPU Analysis

The Intel Arc A530M is a mobile discrete GPU based on the Xe-HPG architecture, specifically the DG2-256 chip manufactured on TSMC's 6 nm process. It contains 11,500 million transistors on a 269 mm² die, with a transistor density of 42.8M per mm². The GPU features 1,536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines. Clock speeds are 900 MHz base and 1,300 MHz boost, producing a pixel rate of 62.40 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 124.8 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance is 3.994 TFLOPS for FP32 and 7.987 TFLOPS for FP16 (2:1 ratio).

Memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, running at 1,750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), yielding 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a moderate amount of VRAM for a mobile GPU — sufficient for 1080p gaming with high textures, and adequate for 1440p in many titles, but potentially limiting at higher resolutions or with extreme texture packs. The 128-bit bus width and 224 GB/s bandwidth are mid-range figures, placing the A530M in the performance tier between entry-level and mainstream mobile GPUs.

Ray tracing is supported via 12 dedicated RT cores, which is a modest count. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with modern game APIs. The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface provides sufficient bandwidth for the GPU's data transfer needs, though a x16 connection would offer more headroom. The 65 W TDP indicates this is a power-efficient chip suitable for thinner laptops, but the low boost clock of 1,300 MHz suggests it is not designed for maximum performance per watt at the expense of raw throughput.

Benchmark results show a Geekbench OpenCL score of 49,735 and a Vulkan score of 43,492, placing the GPU at the 85th percentile among all GPUs. The average benchmark score is 46,614. Nearest rival comparisons show tight competition: the AMD Radeon RX 5600M scores 46,601 (0% difference), the AMD Radeon RX 6550M scores 46,702 (0.2% higher), the NVIDIA RTX A2000 scores 46,043 (1.2% lower), and the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation scores 45,972 (1.4% lower). The A530M is effectively within 1.4% of all these competitors, indicating a well-tuned mid-range mobile GPU.

For rendering workloads, the FP32 throughput of 3.994 TFLOPS is a key metric. This places the A530M in a range suitable for 1080p gaming at medium-to-high settings, and for entry-level 3D rendering and GPU compute tasks. The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for most current game textures at 1080p, and the 224 GB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution texture streaming without severe bottlenecks. Ray tracing performance will be limited by the 12 RT cores, so ray-traced effects will require lower settings or resolutions.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The 255HX CPU sits at the 93rd percentile, while the A530M GPU sits at the 85th percentile. This 8-point gap indicates the CPU is the stronger component relative to its peers. In gaming workloads, the GPU will typically be the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions where the CPU's advantage in single-core performance is less relevant. The CPU's 2,163 single-core score in Cinebench R23 ensures it can feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic without becoming a bottleneck at frame rates the A530M can achieve.

Conversely, in CPU-intensive tasks like 3D rendering, video encoding, and software compilation, the 255HX will dominate, and the GPU's role is minimal. The CPU's 20 threads and 32,612 multi-core R23 score will handle these workloads efficiently, while the GPU's 3.994 TFLOPS FP32 is insufficient for GPU-accelerated rendering to be the primary path in most production scenarios. For mixed workloads like gaming while streaming, the CPU handles both game logic and encoding threads, with the GPU focusing on rendering — a division that plays to the strengths of both components.

The memory subsystem is a potential point of balance. The CPU's 102.4 GB/s DDR5 bandwidth is generous, and the GPU's 224 GB/s GDDR6 bandwidth is adequate. Neither component is severely starved for bandwidth in their respective roles. However, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM could become a bottleneck in texture-heavy games at 1440p or with high-resolution mods, while the CPU's 30 MB L3 cache mitigates memory latency for frequently accessed data.

The TDP balance is notable: the CPU at 55 W and GPU at 65 W combine for 120 W of processor power, which is manageable in a laptop chassis with proper cooling. This balance suggests a system that can sustain both CPU and GPU load simultaneously without one component throttling the other, assuming adequate thermal design.

# Benchmark Performance

The combined benchmark picture shows a laptop configuration ranked at the 89th percentile overall, reflecting the pairing of a 93rd-percentile CPU with an 85th-percentile GPU. No measured FPS data exists for this specific combination, so all frame rate discussion is estimated from the benchmark scores rather than direct testing.

The CPU's strongest results are in multi-threaded tests: Cinebench R23 multi-core 32,612, R20 multi-core 17,187, and R15 multi-core 4,916. PassMark multi-thread reaches 48,234, with integer math at 127,126 and floating-point math at 160,624. Single-thread performance is solid but not exceptional: Cinebench R23 single-core 2,163, R20 single-core 2,426, R15 single-core 327, and PassMark single-thread 4,562. The average CPU benchmark score of 62,738 places it just 0.2% below the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 and 0.7% below the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX, while being 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 465 and 0.5% below the Intel Core i7-13790F.

The GPU's Geekbench scores are 49,735 for OpenCL and 43,492 for Vulkan, with an average of 46,614. This sits exactly at parity with the AMD Radeon RX 5600M (0% delta), 0.2% below the Radeon RX 6550M, 1.2% above the RTX A2000, and 1.4% above the RTX 5880 Ada Generation.

Combined, the system's 89th-percentile ranking means it outperforms roughly 89% of all laptop configurations in the database. The CPU carries the system's performance ceiling, while the GPU represents a mid-range component that will handle 1080p gaming competently and 1440p at reduced settings. For CPU-bound workloads like rendering and compilation, the system performs near the top of the laptop hierarchy; for GPU-bound gaming, it performs solidly in the mid-high range.

# Who Should Build It

Gamers at 1080p: The A530M's 85th-percentile GPU ranking and 8 GB VRAM make this configuration suitable for 1080p gaming at medium-to-high settings. The CPU's 93rd-percentile ranking ensures no CPU-induced frame drops in esports titles or demanding AAA games at this resolution. Estimated FPS will be competitive with systems featuring the Radeon RX 5600M or RX 6550M, given the near-identical GPU scores.

Gamers at 1440p: This resolution will stress the GPU more heavily. The 224 GB/s bandwidth and 3.994 TFLOPS FP32 will handle 1440p in many titles, but settings will need to be reduced in graphically intensive games. The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for most 1440p textures, though not for ultra-quality packs. The CPU will not bottleneck at this resolution.

Content Creators: Video editors and 3D artists benefit from the CPU's 20-thread configuration. The 32,612 Cinebench R23 multi-core score enables efficient rendering and encoding, while the GPU's 8 GB VRAM supports GPU-accelerated effects and preview rendering. The combination handles 4K video timelines and moderate 3D scenes comfortably.

Software Developers: The 127,126 integer math score and 48,234 multi-thread PassMark score accelerate compilation, testing, and container workloads. The 55 W CPU TDP allows sustained build sessions without thermal throttling in a well-designed laptop.

Students: The single-core performance of 4,562 in PassMark ensures responsive daily use for research, writing, and coding. The 20 cores provide future-proofing for increasingly parallel academic software, and the 93rd-percentile CPU ranking means this laptop will remain competitive throughout a multi-year degree program.

Small Business Workstations: The combination of a 93rd-percentile CPU and 85th-percentile GPU handles office productivity, data analysis, CAD, and light video production. The 89th-percentile overall ranking indicates a professional-grade machine capable of varied workloads without specialization.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185?

A: The two processors are effectively tied. The Ryzen AI Embedded P185 scores an average of 62,839, which is 0.2% higher than the 255HX's 62,738. This difference is negligible in real-world use.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The Intel Arc A530M has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, running at 1,750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective speed, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does the CPU support overclocking?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked, allowing enthusiast users to adjust clock speeds on the 55 W TDP processor with a 5.20 GHz boost clock.

Q: What is the combined performance percentile of this laptop configuration?

A: The system ranks at the 89th percentile overall, driven by the CPU's 93rd-percentile ranking and the GPU's 85th-percentile ranking.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX is manufactured on a 3 nm process node by TSMC, containing 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Q: Which GPU is the Arc A530M most comparable to?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5600M is the closest rival, with an average score of 46,601 versus the A530M's 46,614, a 0% difference. The Radeon RX 6550M is 0.2% faster.

Q: What is the GPU's ray tracing capability?

A: The Arc A530M includes 12 dedicated RT cores, supporting ray-traced effects in games, though the modest RT core count means ray tracing will require lower settings for playable frame rates.

# Build Overview

This is a laptop-class configuration pairing the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX processor with the Intel Arc A530M GPU. The CPU is a 20-core, 20-thread Arrow Lake-HX chip with a 5.20 GHz boost clock and 55 W TDP, ranking at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs. The GPU is an Xe-HPG architecture mobile discrete graphics chip with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 1,536 shading units, and a 65 W TDP, ranking at the 85th percentile among all GPUs.

The combined system ranks at the 89th percentile overall, indicating a high-performance laptop configuration that sits above the majority of systems in the database. The CPU is the stronger component relative to its peers, while the GPU is solidly mid-range. This is not a flagship ultra-high-end laptop, but rather a well-balanced system that excels in CPU-intensive workloads and handles gaming competently at 1080p.

The architecture represents Intel's second generation of Core Ultra processors (Series 2) combined with the first generation of Arc mobile GPUs (Alchemist). The CPU's 3 nm process node and the GPU's 6 nm process node both come from TSMC, indicating a modern, power-efficient design. The 120 W combined TDP (55 W CPU + 65 W GPU) is manageable for a laptop chassis, allowing for thin designs without compromising performance.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform — the CPU is not upgradeable in the traditional sense. Users cannot swap the processor for a different model; the chip is permanently attached to the motherboard. The same applies to the Arc A530M GPU, which is also soldered. Therefore, the upgrade path for this laptop is limited to components that are user-accessible: memory, storage, and potentially Wi-Fi modules.

Memory support is DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, providing 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Upgrading to higher-capacity or faster DDR5 modules is possible if the laptop's BIOS supports it, though the 20-core CPU will benefit most from capacity rather than speed in multi-threaded workloads. The system does not support ECC memory, so standard unbuffered DDR5 is the only option.

PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 20 lanes available from the CPU. This provides ample bandwidth for NVMe SSDs and other high-speed peripherals. The GPU uses PCIe 4.0 x8, which is a separate interface. Users can upgrade storage to Gen 5 NVMe drives for faster load times and data transfer, though the practical benefit over Gen 4 is limited in most applications.

The suggested PSU is not specified in the data, but the CPU's 55 W TDP and GPU's 65 W TDP indicate a total processor power draw of 120 W. A laptop power adapter in the 180-240 W range would be typical for this class, but without a suggested PSU value, this is speculative. The system's power delivery must accommodate simultaneous CPU and GPU boost clocks, which could draw more than the TDP figures during short bursts.

The most sensible next upgrade for this system is memory capacity, particularly for users running virtual machines, large datasets, or heavy multitasking. Adding more DDR5 RAM would allow the 20-core CPU to handle more parallel tasks without memory pressure. Storage upgrades are also straightforward, with PCIe Gen 5 support providing headroom for future high-speed SSDs. The CPU and GPU, being soldered, are not upgradeable, so users should consider their performance needs carefully before purchasing this configuration — the 93rd-percentile CPU and 85th-percentile GPU are fixed for the laptop's lifespan.

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX + Intel Arc A530M

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX

Intel Arc A530M

Market Position

Game Performance Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

Performance Insights

Optimal Performance

4K Gaming Ready

Performance Tiers Explained

Ultimate

High-End

Mid-Range

Entry Level

Legacy

4K Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

1440p Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

1080p Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

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