SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 7 265T + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

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

93 / 100
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Apex Performer

Top 7% 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
94%
VS
GPU
92%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 7 265T

47,697 Benchmark Score
Top 6% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

23,172 Benchmark Score
Top 8% 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

# Intel Core Ultra 7 265T + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: Benchmark Analysis

This desktop build pairs Intel's 20-core Core Ultra 7 265T, a 35 W TDP Arrow Lake-S processor on Socket 1851, with NVIDIA's Ampere-based GeForce RTX 3080, a 320 W card with 10 GB of GDDR6X memory. The combined system sits at the 79th percentile across all CPU+GPU pairs in the database, with the CPU at the 90th percentile versus all CPUs and the GPU at the 68th percentile versus all GPUs. Notably, there are no measured FPS rows for this exact combination in the FACT PACK — all frame-rate discussions below are estimates derived from the individual component benchmark scores.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T is a 20-core, 20-thread processor built on Intel's Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated on a TSMC 3 nm process node with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. It operates with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which is a wide frequency range that allows the chip to idle efficiently at low power while still delivering substantial single-thread performance when needed. The TDP is rated at 35 W, a notably low figure for a desktop part with this core count, suggesting the processor is designed for power-constrained environments that still require high throughput.

The cache hierarchy consists of 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This arrangement provides each core with substantial private cache for latency-sensitive workloads, while the shared L3 pool facilitates data sharing across all 20 cores. Memory support is dual-channel DDR5 with a peak bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, which aligns with the processor's positioning as a high-core-count part that needs fast memory to feed all its cores. The CPU exposes PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the processor, enabling high-bandwidth connectivity for storage and expansion cards.

The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units, which provides a fallback display output and basic GPU acceleration without a discrete card, though the presence of the RTX 3080 in this build makes that secondary. The processor is not multiplier-unlocked, so overclocking headroom is limited; users must rely on the stock boost behavior. The launch MSRP is $384, and the part number is SRQCS.

Benchmark results place this CPU at the 90th percentile versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 47,697. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 31,558 and the single-core score is 4,455. The multi-core result indicates strong sustained throughput across all 20 cores, which is typical of Arrow Lake's hybrid approach that balances performance and efficiency. The single-core score of 4,455 reflects the high 5.30 GHz boost clock and the architecture's improved IPC over prior generations. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 13,254 and single-core is 1,871, while in Cinebench R15 the scores are 3,180 multi-core and 449 single-core. These results scale consistently across Cinebench versions, confirming that the processor's performance is stable across different rendering workloads.

PassMark results further characterize the CPU. The multi-thread score is 37,084, with integer math at 104,943 and floating-point math at 129,817. The extended instructions score is 28,609, data encryption scores 29,687, and data compression scores 370,158. Random string sorting reaches 44,400, and find prime numbers scores 322. The physics score is 2,391, and the single-thread score is 4,338. These numbers indicate a processor that excels at parallel integer and floating-point workloads, with particularly strong performance in compression tasks that benefit from the high core count and large cache.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the 265T is closely matched with several other high-end parts. It is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945, 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D, 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 3900, and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H. These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning that in aggregate benchmark performance, the 265T trades blows with these competitors. However, the 35 W TDP distinguishes it — the 265T achieves this performance level at a much lower power envelope, which is a significant advantage for thermals and operating costs.

Benchmark Performance

The combined CPU and GPU benchmark picture shows a system at the 79th percentile overall, which indicates a capable machine for both compute and graphics tasks. The CPU's average benchmark score of 47,697 is the primary driver of this percentile, given that it sits at the 90th percentile versus all CPUs. The GPU, meanwhile, has an average benchmark score of 23,172 and sits at the 68th percentile versus all GPUs, which is a solid but not top-tier position.

The CPU's benchmark results across Cinebench and PassMark paint a picture of a processor that is strong in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31,558 is particularly notable, as it suggests the 20 cores are effectively utilized without significant thermal throttling, even at the low 35 W TDP. The single-core score of 4,455 is competitive with higher-TDP desktop parts, meaning the processor does not sacrifice responsiveness in lightly-threaded applications.

The GPU's benchmark scores include a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,407, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 152,423, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 33,620. PassMark results show a G3D score of 25,086, a G2D score of 1,054, and a GPU compute score of 14,397. The DirectX 12 PassMark score of 100 is the baseline for that test, while DirectX 11 scores 207, DirectX 10 scores 170, and DirectX 9 scores 258. These numbers indicate that the RTX 3080 is a mature, well-supported GPU that performs consistently across different API generations, though its percentile position at 68 suggests it is not at the current-generation compared to newer cards.

The GPU's nearest rivals in aggregate score are the NVIDIA P106-100 (0.3% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (0.3% ahead), the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (0.4% ahead), and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X (0.4% ahead). These deltas are all negative from the RTX 3080's perspective, meaning the 3080 is marginally behind these parts in average score. This is surprising given the 3080's raw specifications, but it reflects the fact that average benchmark scores can be skewed by specific test suites that favor different architectures.

The combined picture is a system where the CPU is the stronger component relative to its peers, while the GPU is competent but not exceptional in its percentile ranking. This means the CPU is well-positioned to feed the GPU in most workloads, but the GPU may be the limiting factor in highly graphics-intensive tasks. For compute-heavy workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering, the CPU's high percentile will shine; for gaming at high resolutions, the GPU's 68th percentile will cap performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's TDP and how does it affect system cooling?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T has a TDP of 35 W, which is very low for a 20-core desktop processor. This means the system requires minimal cooling — a capable air cooler is sufficient — and produces less heat output than typical high-core-count CPUs, which is beneficial for compact builds or noise-sensitive environments.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 3080 have and what type is it?

A: The RTX 3080 has 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. The memory clock is 1188 MHz, which translates to 19 Gbps effective. This configuration is adequate for 1440p gaming and many 4K titles, though some newer games at 4K with maximum textures may exceed 10 GB.

Q: What is the CPU's socket and memory support?

A: The CPU uses Intel Socket 1851 and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a maximum bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The processor also provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, which supports high-speed NVMe storage and graphics cards.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D in benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265T is 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D in average benchmark score. This means the two processors are essentially tied in aggregate performance, despite the 7900X3D's 3D V-Cache. The 265T achieves this parity at a much lower TDP (35 W versus the 7900X3D's higher figure, though that number is not in the FACT PACK).

Q: Does the GPU support real-time ray tracing and DLSS?

A: Yes, the RTX 3080 has 68 RT cores for ray tracing and 272 Tensor cores for AI-accelerated features. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which includes ray tracing and mesh shaders. The Tensor cores enable DLSS and other AI-based rendering features, improving performance in supported games.

Q: What is the GPU's power requirement?

A: The RTX 3080 has a TDP of 320 W and NVIDIA recommends a 700 W power supply. It uses a single 12-pin power connector and is a dual-slot card measuring 285 mm in length, 112 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. Ensure your case and PSU can accommodate these requirements.

Q: Is the CPU multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is not unlocked. The Core Ultra 7 265T is a locked processor, meaning users cannot overclock via the multiplier. The boost clock of 5.30 GHz is the maximum frequency the chip will reach under load, and any tuning must be done through other means such as BCLK adjustments, which are more limited.

Who Should Build It

This system targets users who need a high-core-count CPU for heavily threaded workloads but do not require the absolute fastest GPU on the market. The CPU's 90th percentile ranking makes it an excellent choice for content creators who work with video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation — tasks that scale well with 20 cores and benefit from the strong Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31,558. The low 35 W TDP also makes it attractive for professionals who run long compute jobs and care about energy consumption and thermal buildup in their workspace.

The RTX 3080's 68th percentile GPU ranking means it is well-suited for gamers at 1440p resolution, where it can deliver high frame rates in most titles, and for entry-level 4K gaming in less demanding games. It is also a capable GPU for GPU-accelerated rendering and AI inference, given its 8704 shading units and 272 Tensor cores. However, users who primarily play at 4K with maximum settings may find the 10 GB VRAM and the 68th percentile position limiting in the most demanding titles.

Students and small business users will benefit from the CPU's efficiency and the GPU's versatility. The 35 W TDP means the system can run in a quieter, lower-power configuration than many desktop builds, making it suitable for shared offices or dorm rooms. The CPU's strong PassMark multi-thread score of 37,084 indicates solid performance for database operations, spreadsheet calculations, and code compilation, while the GPU handles presentation graphics, light video editing, and any CUDA-accelerated workflows.

Gaming Performance

The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS data for this CPU+GPU combination, so all frame rate figures below are estimates derived from the individual benchmark scores of the Core Ultra 7 265T and the RTX 3080. The CPU's high single-core performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,455) ensures that the processor will not bottleneck the GPU in most gaming scenarios, as modern games typically rely on one or two fast cores for game logic and physics.

The RTX 3080's PassMark G3D score of 25,086 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,407 place it in a performance tier that is well-suited for 1440p gaming. At 1440p with ultra settings, this GPU can be expected to deliver high frame rates in most titles, typically above 60 FPS in demanding games and well above 100 FPS in lighter esports titles. At 4K resolution, the 10 GB VRAM and the GPU's 68th percentile position suggest that performance will be adequate but not exceptional — some games will require settings reductions to maintain playable frame rates, particularly those with large texture packs that exceed the VRAM capacity.

At 1080p, the RTX 3080 will often be CPU-limited in less demanding games, and the 265T's strong single-thread performance will allow the GPU to run at its full potential. This means that for competitive shooters and esports titles, the system is capable of very high refresh rate gaming, likely exceeding 144 FPS at 1080p in many cases. The GPU's DirectX 12 support and 68 RT cores also enable ray-traced effects in supported games, though enabling ray tracing at high resolutions will significantly impact frame rates, and DLSS via the Tensor cores can help offset that cost.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is built on the Ampere architecture using the GA102 chip, fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process with 28,300 million transistors on a 628 mm² die. The GPU has 8704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units. It operates with a base clock of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 1710 MHz, with a memory clock of 1188 MHz that translates to 19 Gbps effective. The memory subsystem consists of 10 GB of GDDR6X on a 320-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s.

The GPU's compute capabilities are substantial: it delivers 29.77 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 29.77 TFLOPS of FP16 performance in a 1:1 ratio. The pixel rate is 164.2 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 465.1 GTexel/s. These numbers indicate that the RTX 3080 is a powerful compute device for rendering, simulation, and machine learning workloads. The 68 RT cores provide dedicated hardware for ray tracing, and the 272 Tensor cores accelerate AI-based features like DLSS and other neural network operations.

In benchmark terms, the RTX 3080's average score of 23,172 places it at the 68th percentile versus all GPUs. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,407 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 152,423 demonstrate strong raw compute performance. The PassMark G3D score of 25,086 and GPU compute score of 14,397 further confirm its capability. However, its nearest rivals in aggregate score — the NVIDIA P106-100, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, AMD Radeon RX 6600M, and AMD Radeon R9 M290X — are all within 0.4% of its score, suggesting that the 3080 is in a crowded performance band where many GPUs cluster together.

The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with modern games and applications. Display outputs include one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4a ports, supporting high refresh rate monitors and multi-display setups. The card is dual-slot and requires a 700 W power supply, with a single 12-pin power connector. It is in end-of-life production status, meaning it is no longer being manufactured, but it remains a capable GPU for current software titles.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance balance in this system is asymmetric: the CPU is at the 90th percentile versus all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 68th percentile versus all GPUs. This means that in CPU-bound workloads — such as software compilation, data compression (PassMark score of 370,158), or physics simulations — the CPU will be the star, and the GPU will not limit performance. Conversely, in GPU-bound workloads like high-resolution gaming or heavy 3D rendering, the GPU will be the limiting factor, and the CPU will have headroom to spare.

In gaming at 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,455) will ensure that the RTX 3080 is fully utilized, and the bottleneck will be the GPU in most titles. At 1440p, the GPU's workload increases, and the 10 GB VRAM may become a constraint in games that use large texture sets, potentially causing the GPU to be the limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as its 68th percentile position means it will struggle to maintain high frame rates in demanding titles without settings reductions.

For productivity workloads, the CPU's multi-thread strength means it will handle parallel tasks efficiently, and the GPU's compute power will accelerate any CUDA-based workloads. The PassMark data compression score of 370,158 indicates strong performance in file archiving and data processing, while the GPU's 29.77 TFLOPS FP32 performance accelerates tasks like video encoding (if using NVENC) or scientific simulations. In mixed workloads, the system is well-balanced: the CPU can feed data to the GPU without stalling, and the GPU has enough compute power to handle most graphics tasks without overwhelming the CPU's memory bandwidth.

The 35 W TDP of the CPU also affects the system's thermal profile. Since the CPU produces very little heat, the GPU's 320 W TDP becomes the dominant heat source. This means the system's cooling solution must be designed around the GPU's thermal output, and the CPU cooler can be modest. The overall system power draw will be moderate for a desktop with a high-end GPU, and a 700 W power supply is recommended to handle peak loads.

Build Overview

This is a desktop-class build that pairs a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265T processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. The CPU is part of Intel's Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake architecture, and is designed for power-efficient high performance with a 35 W TDP. The GPU is part of NVIDIA's GeForce 30-series, based on Ampere, and is a high-end card from the previous generation that is now in end-of-life production status.

The combined system sits at the 79th percentile across all CPU+GPU pairs, meaning it outperforms roughly four out of five systems in the database. The CPU's 90th percentile ranking is the stronger component, while the GPU's 68th percentile is more modest. This pairing is best described as a productivity-first machine with solid gaming capabilities — it excels at CPU-intensive tasks like rendering, compilation, and data processing, while providing reliable but not top-tier gaming performance at 1440p and below.

The build class is desktop, indicating it is intended for a stationary workstation or gaming tower rather than a laptop. The CPU's low TDP and the GPU's dual-slot design make this a relatively compact build, though the GPU's 285 mm length requires a case with sufficient clearance. The system is not designed for extreme overclocking, as the CPU is multiplier-locked, but the stock performance is already strong. Overall, this is a high-performance desktop that prioritizes CPU throughput and efficiency, with a GPU that delivers solid graphics performance for most use cases.

Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: At 1080p and 1440p, the RTX 3080's strong compute performance (29.77 TFLOPS FP32) combined with the CPU's high single-thread score (4,455 in Cinebench R23) supports high frame rates in most titles. The GPU's 68th percentile position means it is not top-tier, but it is sufficient for 144 Hz monitors at 1080p in many games and at 1440p with some settings adjustments.

Streaming: The CPU's 20 cores provide ample headroom for encoding while gaming, and the GPU's NVENC hardware (via the Ampere architecture) can offload video encoding without impacting game performance. The low 35 W CPU TDP means the system runs cooler during long streaming sessions.

Video Editing: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31,558 accelerates timeline rendering and export, while the GPU's 10 GB VRAM and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth handle effects preview and GPU-accelerated encoding. This is a highly capable combination for 4K video editing in software like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

3D Rendering: The CPU's 20 cores deliver strong multi-threaded rendering performance (PassMark multi-thread score of 37,084), and the GPU's 8704 shading units accelerate GPU-based renderers like Blender Cycles or Octane. The 35 W TDP allows for long render jobs without excessive heat buildup.

Software Development: The CPU's high integer math score (104,943) and data compression score (370,158) indicate fast compilation times and efficient handling of large codebases. The GPU is less critical here, but its compute capability can accelerate tasks like unit testing on GPU or machine learning model training.

Student and Office Work: The system is overkill for typical office tasks, but the CPU's efficiency (35 W TDP) and the GPU's ability to accelerate spreadsheets, presentations, and light video conferencing make it a future-proof choice. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG graphics also provide a fallback if the discrete GPU is not needed.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T uses the Intel Socket 1851 platform, which is specific to Arrow Lake-based processors. This means any future CPU upgrade would require a processor that is compatible with this socket, and users are limited to the Core Ultra Series 2 lineup. The memory support is dual-channel DDR5, and the platform does not support ECC memory. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, which supports modern graphics cards and NVMe SSDs at full bandwidth.

The GPU's upgrade path is more straightforward, as it uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface that is backward and forward compatible with newer PCIe versions. The RTX 3080 is in end-of-life production status, so users looking to upgrade would move to a newer generation GPU, such as the GeForce 40-series (the successor to the 30-series). The current GPU has a 320 W TDP and requires a 700 W power supply, so a future GPU upgrade should consider the available PSU headroom — a higher-power GPU may necessitate a PSU upgrade.

The system's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is a potential bottleneck for the 20-core CPU in memory-intensive workloads. Upgrading to faster DDR5 memory could improve performance, but the platform's dual-channel configuration is a fixed constraint. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache is generous, but it is not as large as the 3D V-Cache on some AMD competitors, so workloads that are highly cache-sensitive may not see the same benefits.

For a sensible next upgrade, users should consider the GPU first, as it is the weaker component relative to its peers. A newer GPU with more VRAM and higher compute throughput would better match the CPU's 90th percentile performance. Alternatively, adding more storage or faster NVMe drives (via the PCIe Gen 5 lanes) would improve load times and data throughput. The CPU itself is unlikely to need an upgrade for several years, given its high core count and strong benchmark scores. The platform's socket longevity is uncertain, but for now, the system is well-configured for its intended workloads.