SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090

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

95 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 5% 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
97%
VS
GPU
93%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF

71,910 Benchmark Score
Top 3% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090

27,565 Benchmark Score
Top 7% 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 265KF is a 20-core, 20-thread desktop processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated on TSMC's 3 nm process node. This represents a notable departure from previous Intel designs, as the foundry shift to TSMC allows for a transistor count of 17,800 million within a 243 mm² die. The CPU operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 125 W TDP, positioning it as a high-performance desktop part. The absence of Hyper-Threading means the 20 cores map directly to 20 threads, which is a design choice that prioritizes physical core count for multi-threaded workloads rather than relying on simultaneous multithreading.

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 the processor's ability to handle large working sets in compute-intensive tasks. Memory support is limited to DDR5, running on a dual-channel bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Notably, ECC memory is not supported, which could be a consideration for certain workstation scenarios but is not a limiting factor for mainstream desktop use. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU itself, enabling fast connectivity for modern GPUs and NVMe storage. There is no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing for overclocking headroom. The launch MSRP is $379.

Benchmark results for this CPU are strong across the board. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 49,736, while the single-core score is 7,021. These numbers indicate a processor that excels in both heavily threaded applications and lightly threaded tasks. The Cinebench R20 scores of 20,889 (multi) and 2,948 (single) follow the same pattern. Geekbench results show a multicore score of 22,913 and a single-core score of 2,759. The PassMark suite further illustrates the CPU's capabilities: multithread score of 58,518, single-thread score of 4,928, integer math at 143,351, floating-point math at 189,431, and extended instructions at 54,513. Data compression and encryption scores are 666,589 and 48,198, respectively, while physics simulation scores 3,633 and prime number finding scores 486.

The average benchmark score for this CPU is 71,910, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. This is a very high position, indicating that the 265KF sits near the top of the desktop processor hierarchy. Compared to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX scores 71,797, which is 0.2% lower, making the 265KF marginally faster. Against Intel Xeon parts, the 6517P scores 72,350 (0.6% higher), the 6724P scores 72,396 (0.7% higher), and the Xeon Platinum 8270 scores 71,370 (0.8% lower). The differences are small, but the data shows the 265KF is competitive with enterprise-level silicon in raw compute, despite being a consumer desktop part. For real workloads, this translates to fast compilation times, smooth video editing timelines, and responsive application performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios.

# Benchmark Performance

The combined CPU and GPU picture for this build shows a system in the 84th percentile overall, which is a strong position for a desktop configuration. The CPU alone, as noted, is in the 94th percentile, while the GPU is in the 73rd percentile. This asymmetry suggests that the processor is the more dominant component in this pairing, with the graphics card being a capable but not class-leading part.

For the CPU, the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 49,736 is a headline figure. It indicates that the processor can handle multi-threaded rendering tasks with ease, outpacing the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX by 0.2% in average benchmark score. The single-core score of 7,021 is equally important for tasks like gaming and general responsiveness, where it leads the field in its immediate comparison group. The PassMark multithread score of 58,518 reinforces the multi-threaded strength, while the integer and floating-point math scores (143,351 and 189,431) are indicative of strong computational throughput for scientific and financial workloads.

The GPU's benchmark results are more mixed. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the RTX 3090 scores 5,118. The Geekbench OpenCL score is 172,758, and the Vulkan score is 53,927. PassMark G3D score is 26,645, with a G2D score of 1,063. The GPU compute score is 15,356. The average benchmark score for the GPU is 27,565, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. This is a solid but not elite position. The nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile at 27,435 (0.5% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT at 27,425 (0.5% lower), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 at 27,839 (1% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 7800M at 27,883 (1.1% higher). The RTX 3090 is thus bracketed by mobile and mid-range desktop parts, which is a sign that while it is a powerful card, it is not at the top of the current desktop GPU hierarchy.

The combined picture is a system that is CPU-bound in many scenarios. The 94th percentile CPU provides ample headroom for the GPU to be the limiting factor in gaming at high resolutions, but the GPU's 73rd percentile position means it cannot fully saturate the CPU's capabilities. For productivity tasks that rely heavily on the CPU, this build is exceptional. For gaming, the performance will be good but not at the level of the fastest GPUs available. No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination, so all frame rate discussions are estimates derived from the benchmark scores.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 is built on the Ampere architecture, using the GA102 chip fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process. The die is massive at 628 mm², containing 28,300 million transistors with a density of 45.1 million per mm². The GPU features 10,496 shading units, 328 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output pipelines. It has 82 RT cores and 328 tensor cores, providing dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI-accelerated workloads. The base clock is 1395 MHz with a boost clock of 1695 MHz, and memory runs at 1219 MHz, translating to 19.5 Gbps effective.

Memory configuration is a key strength: 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 936.2 GB/s. This large memory pool is beneficial for high-resolution textures, large 3D scenes, and machine learning models that require substantial VRAM. The pixel rate is 189.8 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 556.0 GTexel/s. Compute performance is rated at 35.58 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, the latter on a 1:1 basis, which is unusual and advantageous for mixed-precision workloads. The card has a 350 W TDP, requiring a 750 W suggested power supply, and uses a single 12-pin power connector. It is a triple-slot card measuring 336 mm in length, 140 mm in height, and 61 mm in width, so physical space is a consideration. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x16, and display outputs include 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Benchmark scores for the RTX 3090 show its capabilities. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,118 is a measure of modern gaming performance. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 172,758 indicates strong compute throughput, while the Vulkan score of 53,927 is lower, suggesting a variance between API efficiencies. PassMark G3D score of 26,645 places it in the 73rd percentile, with the G2D score of 1,063 being less impressive for 2D tasks. The GPU compute score of 15,356 reflects its parallel processing power.

For rendering workloads, the RTX 3090 is a capable tool. The 24 GB VRAM allows for rendering large scenes without memory swaps, and the 936.2 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming is not a bottleneck. The RT cores handle ray tracing workloads, and the tensor cores accelerate denoising and AI-based upscaling. The 73rd percentile position, however, means that newer GPUs have surpassed it in raw performance. The nearest rivals, such as the RTX 4070 Mobile and the RX 6700 XT, are within 0.5% to 1.1% of its average score, indicating that the 3090 is still relevant but not dominant. In a build with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, the GPU is likely to be the limiting factor in CPU-bound tasks, but for GPU-bound workloads like rendering and high-resolution gaming, it will perform well, though not at the level of top-tier current parts.

# Who Should Build It

This desktop build, combining the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, is suited for users who prioritize CPU performance. The 94th percentile CPU score makes this an ideal platform for content creators who work with video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 49,736 indicates that rendering tasks will complete quickly, and the PassMark multithread score of 58,518 supports concurrent workloads. For 3D artists using CPU-based renderers, this system offers a strong foundation.

Gamers at 1440p or 4K resolutions will find the RTX 3090's 24 GB VRAM and 936.2 GB/s bandwidth beneficial for high-resolution textures, although the GPU's 73rd percentile position means it is not the fastest available. The CPU's high single-core score of 7,021 in Cinebench R23 ensures that game logic and physics simulations run smoothly, but the GPU may cap frame rates in demanding titles. This build is also suitable for software developers, particularly those who work on large codebases that benefit from the 20-core processor. The data compression score of 666,589 and encryption score of 48,198 are relevant for database and security applications.

Students and small business workstations can also benefit, but the cost of the components suggests a professional or enthusiast focus. The lack of integrated graphics means a GPU is mandatory, which this build has. For users who engage in both productivity and gaming, this system offers a balance, but it leans heavily toward CPU-centric tasks. The 84th combined percentile confirms that this is a high-tier system, with the CPU being the star component.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF uses the Intel Socket 1851, which is the platform for Core Ultra Series 2 processors. The CPU supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. This is a current-generation platform, so users can expect a reasonable upgrade path within the same socket generation, though specific future CPU compatibility is not detailed in the data. The PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes from the CPU allows for modern GPUs and NVMe SSDs, ensuring that storage and graphics cards can run at full speed. The 125 W TDP is modest for a high-core-count CPU, meaning that a capable air cooler or a standard liquid cooler should suffice, though the data does not specify cooler requirements.

The RTX 3090 has a 350 W TDP, and the suggested PSU is 750 W. This is a significant power draw, and users should ensure their power supply meets this recommendation. The card uses a 12-pin power connector, which may require an adapter for some PSUs. The triple-slot design and 336 mm length mean that case compatibility is a concern; the card needs ample space. For a sensible next upgrade, the data suggests that the GPU is the weaker component in this pairing, with a 73rd percentile score versus the CPU's 94th. Upgrading the GPU to a newer, higher-performing model would bring better balance, though the specific options are not listed in the data. The CPU, being in the 94th percentile, has more headroom to support a more powerful GPU without bottlenecking. The platform's PCIe Gen 5 support ensures that a new GPU will have the bandwidth it needs. Memory upgrades to higher-capacity DDR5 kits are also possible, given the dual-channel support. The CPU's unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, which could extend its useful life, but the data does not provide overclocking results.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The RTX 3090's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,118 and PassMark G3D score of 26,645 indicate that it can handle modern games, but the 73rd percentile position means it is not top-tier. For high-refresh 1080p or 1440p gaming, the CPU's strong single-core score of 7,021 in Cinebench R23 will prevent bottlenecks, but the GPU may limit frame rates in the most demanding titles. Frame rates are estimates based on these scores, as no measured data exists.

Streaming: The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 58,518 and 20 cores provide ample headroom for encoding while gaming. The data encryption score of 48,198 suggests that the CPU can handle the encryption overhead of streaming protocols. The GPU's 24 GB VRAM helps with overlays and capture buffers. This is a capable streaming setup, with the CPU handling the encoding load.

Video editing: The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 49,736 and the floating-point math score of 189,431 indicate fast rendering and effects processing. The GPU's 24 GB VRAM and 936.2 GB/s bandwidth accelerate timeline scrubbing and preview rendering. The data compression score of 666,589 helps with export compression. This is a strong system for video editing workflows.

3D rendering: The CPU's 20 cores and high multicore scores are ideal for CPU-based renderers. The GPU's 35.58 TFLOPS FP32 compute and 24 GB VRAM support GPU-based rendering and large scenes. The RT cores and tensor cores accelerate ray tracing and denoising. This build excels in 3D rendering tasks.

Software development: The CPU's high single-core and multicore scores speed up compilation and code analysis. The PassMark integer math score of 143,351 is relevant for algorithm-heavy development. The 30 MB L3 cache helps with large codebases. The system is responsive for development work.

Student and office work: The CPU's 94th percentile performance handles multitasking and productivity suites with ease. The GPU is overkill for office tasks, but the system is responsive. The data shows high single-core performance, which is beneficial for everyday applications. This is a high-end option for users who also need occasional compute power.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090. Therefore, all frame rate discussions are estimates based on the benchmark scores of the CPU and GPU. The data cannot provide specific FPS figures for any game or resolution, so the following is a qualitative analysis grounded in the scores.

The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,118 and PassMark G3D score of 26,645 place it in the 73rd percentile. This suggests that the RTX 3090 can run modern games at high settings, but it is not at the level of the fastest GPUs. The 24 GB VRAM is sufficient for high-resolution textures, and the 936.2 GB/s bandwidth prevents texture streaming bottlenecks. The CPU's high single-core score of 7,021 in Cinebench R23 ensures that the processor will not limit frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p, the CPU is likely to be the primary driver of performance, and the GPU will deliver high frame rates in most titles. At 1440p, the GPU becomes more of a factor, and the RTX 3090's 73rd percentile position means it will perform well but may not hit the highest refresh rates in demanding games. At 4K, the GPU will be the limiting factor, and frame rates will be lower than at lower resolutions. The combined percentile of 84 indicates a balanced system, but the GPU's relatively lower percentile compared to the CPU suggests that in gaming, the GPU is the bottleneck. For esports titles, the high single-core CPU performance will ensure high frame rates. For AAA games, the GPU will set the ceiling. These are estimates, and actual performance may vary.

# FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 71,910.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 3090 has an average benchmark score of 27,565, which is 0.5% higher than the RTX 4070 Mobile and the RX 6700 XT, 1% lower than the Radeon Pro Vega 20, and 1.1% lower than the RX 7800M.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: What memory type does the CPU support?

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

Q: What is the TDP of the GPU and the suggested PSU?

A: The RTX 3090 has a TDP of 350 W, and the suggested PSU is 750 W.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 3090 have?

A: The RTX 3090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 936.2 GB/s.

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

A: The combined percentile for this CPU and GPU pairing is 84, indicating a high-tier desktop system.

# Balance and Bottleneck

In this pairing, the CPU is clearly the stronger component. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the RTX 3090 is in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. This discrepancy means that in workloads that are primarily CPU-bound, the system will perform exceptionally well. In Cinebench R23, the CPU's multicore score of 49,736 confirms its capability, and the single-core score of 7,021 ensures that even lightly threaded tasks are handled with ease. The PassMark multithread score of 58,518 further confirms this.

For gaming, the bottleneck is the GPU. The RTX 3090's 73rd percentile position means that it cannot fully utilize the CPU's 94th percentile performance. In CPU-bound scenarios, such as low-resolution gaming or games with heavy physics, the CPU will provide high frame rates, but the GPU will cap the overall performance in GPU-bound scenarios, such as high-resolution gaming with maxed settings. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,118 is a reference point, but without measured FPS data, the exact impact is an estimate. The GPU's 24 GB VRAM and 936.2 GB/s bandwidth are advantages for high-resolution textures, but the raw compute power is not at the top tier.

For productivity workloads, the bottleneck is less clear. In tasks like video editing, the CPU and GPU work together, with the CPU handling encoding and the GPU accelerating effects. The CPU's high multithread performance will prevent bottlenecks in rendering, while the GPU's compute power of 35.58 TFLOPS FP32 accelerates GPU-accelerated tasks. The data suggests that the CPU is the more capable component, and the GPU is more likely to be the limiting factor in this system. The FPS scaling between resolutions would show the GPU becoming more of a bottleneck at higher resolutions, but this is an inference from the percentile data rather than a measured result.

# Build Overview

This desktop build pairs the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090. The CPU, from the Core Ultra Series 2, is a 20-core, 20-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz and a 125 W TDP. It scores in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 71,910. The GPU, from the GeForce 30-series, is an Ampere architecture card with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 350 W TDP. It scores in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27,565. The combined percentile for this pairing is 84, indicating a high-tier desktop system.

The CPU is the dominant component, offering exceptional multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. The GPU is a capable but not class-leading part, providing strong compute and memory bandwidth but falling behind newer GPUs. This system is well-suited for CPU-intensive workloads like 3D rendering, video editing, and software development. For gaming, it is a solid performer, but the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The platform supports DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, ensuring modern connectivity. The build class is desktop, and the overall tier, based on the combined percentile of 84, is high-end but not at the very top of the performance spectrum. No measured FPS data is available, so gaming performance figures are estimates based on benchmark scores.