SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 285 + Intel Arc A350

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

86 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 14% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
GPU Bottleneck
CPU
97%
VS
GPU
74%

Your GPU is limiting system performance. Consider upgrading to a more powerful graphics card to better utilize your CPU.

PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 285

75,488 Benchmark Score
Top 3% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

Intel Arc A350

0 Benchmark Score
Top 26% 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.

Bottleneck Detected

GPU Bottleneck - Upgrading the weaker component will improve overall performance.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is a high-end desktop processor that delivers exceptional multi-threaded performance, while the Intel Arc A350 is an entry-level, low-power GPU. The pairing is highly unbalanced: the CPU operates in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 50th percentile. This combination is best suited for CPU-bound professional workloads where the GPU is merely a display adapter, rather than for gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark score?

A: The Core Ultra 9 285 has an average benchmark score of 75,488, placing it 0.1% behind the AMD EPYC 8224P (75,582) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4545P (75,373). It is also 0.3% behind both the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (75,716) and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (75,738), making the performance differences between these five processors statistically negligible.

Q: What is the multi-core rendering performance of the CPU?

A: The CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 48,945 and a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 20,556. Its PassMark multithread score is 56,602, and its PassMark physics score is 3,598, indicating strong parallel processing capability for rendering and simulation.

Q: What are the single-thread performance characteristics?

A: The CPU scores 6,909 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 4,881 in PassMark single-thread tests. This places it among the top 5% of all CPUs (95th percentile), showing excellent responsiveness for lightly-threaded applications.

Q: What kind of memory and expansion support does the platform offer?

A: The CPU supports DDR5 memory via a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The processor provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Q: What is the power consumption and cooling requirement of the CPU?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 65 watts, which is modest for a 24-core processor. This low TDP means a capable air cooler is likely sufficient, and it contributes to lower overall system power draw.

Q: Does the GPU support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the Intel Arc A350 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This includes hardware ray tracing support via its 6 RT cores.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the GPU?

A: The Intel Arc A350 comes with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 124.0 GB/s. This is a limited amount for modern games and is a key constraint for gaming performance.

Usage Scenarios

For high-refresh gaming, this pairing is not suitable. The CPU’s 95th percentile performance is more than capable of feeding frames, but the Arc A350’s 4 GB memory and 50th percentile GPU ranking will bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings. The data shows no measured FPS for this combination, but estimates from the benchmark scores suggest the GPU will struggle to maintain high frame rates at 1080p in demanding titles.

Streaming is a mixed scenario. The CPU’s robust multi-threading (Cinebench R23 multi-core: 48,945) can handle game capture and encoding simultaneously without significant frame drops on the CPU side. However, the GPU’s modest performance will limit the in-game frame rate, and its 4 GB memory may be insufficient for high-resolution texture streaming alongside a game.

Video editing is a strong suit for this platform. The CPU’s high multi-core scores (Cinebench R20: 20,556) will accelerate timeline rendering, effects, and exports. The GPU acceleration is limited, but for CPU-based codecs and non-GPU-accelerated effects, the system will perform admirably. The PassMark data compression score of 602,121 also indicates fast file handling during media transfers.

3D rendering and simulation are where this setup excels. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 48,945 and PassMark floating point math score of 194,988 show exceptional throughput for CPU-based renderers and physics simulations. The GPU is irrelevant here; the processor will dominate the workload, making this a viable workstation for CPU-centric rendering tasks.

Software development benefits from the CPU’s single-thread speed (PassMark single-thread: 4,881) for compilation of single files and the massive multi-thread score (PassMark multithread: 56,602) for parallel builds. The PassMark extended instructions score of 45,357 indicates strong cryptography and SIMD performance. The GPU is not a factor in standard development workflows.

Student and office work is vastly over-served by this CPU. The 95th percentile single-thread performance ensures snappy application launches, while the 24 cores handle virtual machines and heavy spreadsheet calculations effortlessly. The integrated graphics could handle basic display output, but the discrete Arc A350 is included in the build, adding unnecessary power consumption for such tasks.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Intel Socket 1851 platform with the Arrow Lake architecture. This is the foundation for the Core Ultra Series 2 family of processors. The platform supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and it also supports ECC memory for error-correcting workstations.

Expansion options include PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, allowing for high-speed NVMe storage or a future GPU upgrade. The CPU’s TDP is 65 watts, which is low for its core count, meaning most quality power supplies will have ample headroom. The Arc A350 GPU has a TDP of 25 watts and a suggested PSU rating of 200 watts, so the total system power draw is modest, leaving significant room for a more powerful GPU in the future.

A sensible next upgrade path is to replace the Arc A350 with a higher-tier GPU. The CPU’s 95th percentile performance and PCIe Gen 5 support mean it will not bottleneck any current graphics card. The 200-watt suggested PSU is grossly under-specified for the CPU alone, but the actual CPU TDP of 65 watts means a 500-watt PSU would be more than adequate for a high-end GPU swap. The platform also supports future Arrow Lake processors, though the production status of this CPU is active and the socket is current.

Who Should Build It

This build is for professionals and prosumers who prioritize CPU throughput over graphics. The target user is a video editor working with CPU-encoded codecs, a software developer running large parallel builds, or a researcher performing CPU-based simulations. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285’s 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs makes it ideal for these tasks.

Gamers at 1080p or 1440p should avoid this combination. The Arc A350’s 50th percentile GPU ranking and 4 GB memory will severely limit gaming performance, even though the CPU is top-tier. Gamers at 4K would see even worse performance, as the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck.

Content creators who rely on GPU acceleration for effects or rendering will be disappointed. The CPU’s PassMark floating point math score of 194,988 is stellar, but the GPU’s 3.072 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is minimal. This is a CPU-first workstation, not a balanced creator box.

Software developers and data scientists will find the CPU’s PassMark data encryption score of 46,949 and extended instructions score of 45,357 valuable for security and vectorized workloads. Students in engineering or science fields will benefit from the multi-threaded performance for MATLAB or similar tools, but the system is overkill for general student use.

Small business workstations handling database operations will see excellent results. The PassMark data compression score of 602,121 and multithread score of 56,602 show fast transaction processing. The ECC memory support is a critical feature for data integrity in such environments.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is a 24-core, 24-thread desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. This is a significant departure from traditional Intel designs, as it lacks hyper-threading, hence the 24 threads matching the core count. The processor has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz.

The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 36 MB of L3 cache. This large L3 cache is crucial for multi-threaded workloads that share data. The processor incorporates the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU integrated GPU, which provides basic display functionality.

Benchmark results show this CPU is a multi-threaded powerhouse. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 48,945 and R20 score of 20,556 place it in the top echelon of desktop processors. The PassMark multithread score of 56,602 reinforces this, showing the CPU can handle heavily parallel tasks like video encoding and 3D rendering with ease.

Single-thread performance is equally impressive. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,909 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,881 are near the top of the charts. This ensures fast application launches, responsive web browsing, and excellent performance in lightly-threaded games, which is balanced against its multi-core might.

The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is a limiting factor for some workloads, but the dual-channel DDR5 support with ECC is adequate for most professional tasks. The 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die show a dense, modern design. The TDP of 65 watts is remarkably low for 24 cores, making this an efficient processor for sustained all-core workloads.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this specific CPU and GPU combination. All frame rate expectations are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The Core Ultra 9 285’s 95th percentile CPU performance indicates it will not be the limiting factor in any gaming scenario. The Intel Arc A350, at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, will be the primary bottleneck.

The Arc A350’s specifications paint a clear picture of entry-level gaming capability. It has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. Its FP32 performance is 3.072 TFLOPS. These numbers suggest playable frame rates at 1080p with low to medium settings in less demanding games.

The 4 GB GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus with 124.0 GB/s bandwidth is the critical constraint. Modern AAA titles require more than 4 GB of VRAM at 1080p even at medium settings, and the low bandwidth will cause stuttering in texture-heavy scenes. At 1440p or 4K, the GPU will be overwhelmed due to memory capacity and bandwidth limitations.

For esports titles like CS2 or League of Legends, the CPU’s high single-thread score (PassMark: 4,881) can push high frame rates, but the GPU’s pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s may cap performance. Players can expect 60-90 FPS at 1080p in such titles with medium settings. For triple-A games, frame rates will drop below 30 FPS at 1080p with low settings, making the experience poor.

The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, with 6 RT cores for hardware ray tracing. However, the low FP32 throughput means ray tracing will be unusable at playable frame rates. The 25-watt TDP and 200-watt suggested PSU indicate this is a low-power, low-performance part designed for basic tasks, not gaming.

Benchmark Performance

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 achieves an average benchmark score of 75,488, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. This is a top-tier result. The nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 8224P (75,582, 0.1% faster), AMD EPYC 4545P (75,373, 0.2% slower), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (75,716, 0.3% faster), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (75,738, 0.3% faster). These deltas are within noise, making the Core Ultra 9 285 essentially tied with these server and workstation parts.

The CPU’s individual benchmark scores show consistency. In Cinebench, it scores 4,933 in R15 multi-core, 696 in R15 single-core, 20,556 in R20 multi-core, 2,901 in R20 single-core, 48,945 in R23 multi-core, and 6,909 in R23 single-core. These results show scaling across versions, indicating a mature architecture.

PassMark tests reveal specialized strengths. The data compression score of 602,121 is exceptional, ideal for archiving and file servers. The data encryption score of 46,949 and extended instructions score of 45,357 show strong cryptographic and SIMD performance. The integer math score of 164,869 and floating point math score of 194,988 are both high, confirming balanced compute capability.

The Intel Arc A350 has no benchmark scores in the fact pack and a percentile of 50. Its average benchmark score is 0, meaning it has not been tested in the same database. This lack of data, combined with its entry-level specs, positions it as a basic display adapter rather than a performance component.

The combined percentile for this build is 73, which is heavily skewed by the CPU’s 95th percentile. The GPU’s 50th percentile drags the system down. This indicates a highly unbalanced build where the CPU is capable of far more than the GPU can deliver.

Build Overview

This is a desktop build combining the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 processor with the Intel Arc A350 graphics card. The CPU is a flagship 24-core Arrow Lake processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, released in late 2024 with a launch MSRP of $579. The GPU is an entry-level Alchemist part, now end-of-life, with a 25-watt TDP and no display outputs.

The build class is desktop, targeting a workstation or professional computing use case. The combined percentile of 73 reflects the system’s overall capability relative to all desktop builds, but this number obscures the stark contrast between the two components. The CPU is in the top 5% of all CPUs, while the GPU is exactly average.

This is not a gaming build. The Arc A350’s 4 GB memory and 3.072 TFLOPS FP32 performance are insufficient for modern gaming. It is a compute-focused system where the CPU does the heavy lifting, and the GPU is present for basic output or as a placeholder.

The tier of this build is high-end on the CPU side and low-end on the GPU side. This creates a substantial imbalance. The system is suitable for software developers, data analysts, and video editors who rely on CPU rendering. It is not suitable for gamers or GPU-accelerated compute tasks.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data shows a severe bottleneck at the GPU for graphics-intensive workloads. The CPU’s 95th percentile ranking versus the GPU’s 50th percentile means the GPU will limit any task that relies on graphics processing. In gaming, the Arc A350’s 4 GB memory and 124.0 GB/s bandwidth will cap frame rates regardless of the CPU’s 5.60 GHz boost clock.

For CPU-bound workloads, the balance is excellent. The Core Ultra 9 285’s multi-core scores (Cinebench R23: 48,945) are the primary driver, and the GPU is idle. The PassMark multithread score of 56,602 confirms that the CPU can sustain heavy parallel loads without assistance from the GPU.

The FPS scaling is not measurable here due to the lack of data. However, based on the benchmark scores, the CPU could drive a much faster GPU. The 65-watt TDP of the CPU and the 200-watt suggested PSU for the GPU mean the system has massive headroom for a GPU upgrade. This would shift the bottleneck away from the GPU to a more balanced configuration.

The PassMark physics score of 3,598 and floating point math score of 194,988 indicate the CPU is the limiting factor in physics simulations, but the GPU is not used for these tasks. In contrast, for any DirectX 12 title, the GPU’s 6 RT cores and 768 shading units will be the limiting factor. The system’s performance is workload-dependent, with the CPU dominating compute tasks and the GPU dominating graphics tasks.