SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 285 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

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

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
97%
VS
GPU
96%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 285

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

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

41,187 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
View All Games →

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

# FAQ

Q: What is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 and how does it fit into Intel's lineup?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake-S architecture using a 3 nm process node from TSMC. It features 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. It carries a launch MSRP of $579 and sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What graphics card is paired with this CPU, and how does it compare to similar GPUs?

A: The pairing includes an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, based on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip manufactured on Samsung's 8 nm process. The GPU holds the 83rd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, which scores 0.8% higher, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 trails by 2%.

Q: How much memory does the RTX 3080 Ti have, and what is its bandwidth?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti comes with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 1188 MHz, translating to 19 Gbps effective. This configuration provides substantial memory throughput for high-resolution textures and compute workloads.

Q: What is the combined performance percentile of this CPU+GPU pairing?

A: The combined percentile for this desktop build is 89, placing it in the upper tier of all desktop configurations. This reflects the strong synergy between a 95th-percentile CPU and an 83rd-percentile GPU, though the GPU is the lower-performing component in the pairing.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 9 285 support ECC memory and what is the memory channel layout?

A: Yes, the Core Ultra 9 285 supports ECC memory. It uses dual-channel DDR5 memory with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The processor also provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, enabling high-speed connectivity for storage and expansion cards.

Q: What are the key benchmark scores for the Core Ultra 9 285 in Cinebench?

A: The CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 48945 and a single-core score of 6909. In Cinebench R20, it scores 20556 multi-core and 2901 single-core, while in Cinebench R15 it reaches 4933 multi-core and 696 single-core. These scores indicate strong multi-threaded performance for a 24-thread processor.

Q: Is there measured FPS data available for this specific CPU+GPU combination?

A: No, the FACT PACK contains no measured FPS rows for this exact combination. All FPS discussions must be treated as estimates derived from the CPU and GPU benchmark scores, not from actual game testing. The dataIsMeasured flag is false, so frame expectations accordingly.

Gaming Performance

Since no measured FPS data exists for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 paired with the RTX 3080 Ti, all gaming performance figures are estimates based on the underlying benchmark scores. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6909 and the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077 together suggest a system capable of high-refresh gaming at 1440p and solid 4K performance, though the exact frame rates cannot be verified.

The RTX 3080 Ti's PassMark G3D score of 26896 places it in the 83rd percentile, indicating strong rasterization performance. Its FP32 throughput of 34.10 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 186.5 GPixel/s support demanding gaming workloads. For esports titles and less demanding games, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (4881 in PassMark single-thread) should prevent bottlenecks, potentially allowing frame rates well above 144 Hz at 1080p.

At 1440p, the GPU becomes the primary determinant of FPS, and the 912.4 GB/s memory bandwidth should handle high-resolution textures without stuttering. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for most current titles at ultra settings, though future releases may push beyond this limit at 4K. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with modern rendering features.

For 4K gaming, the RTX 3080 Ti's 83rd percentile ranking suggests playable frame rates in most titles, but the absence of measured data means these are educated guesses. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking ensures it will not hold back the GPU at any resolution, as its single-core and multi-core scores are both well above average.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is a 24-core, 24-thread desktop processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-S codename. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. This advanced process node contributes to its 65 W TDP, a remarkably low figure for a 24-core chip, making it an efficient choice for high-performance desktop workloads.

The processor's cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is beneficial for workloads with high data locality, such as database operations and scientific simulations. The PassMark data compression score of 602121 and data encryption score of 46949 highlight its strength in data-intensive tasks.

In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 48945 places it in the 95th percentile, while the single-core score of 6909 is equally impressive. The PassMark multi-thread score of 56602 and integer math score of 164869 further underscore its multi-threaded capabilities. The floating point math score of 194988 suggests strong performance in scientific and engineering applications.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 8224P (0.1% lower average score), AMD EPYC 4545P (0.2% higher), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (0.3% lower), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (0.3% lower). These narrow deltas indicate that the Core Ultra 9 285 is competitive with top-tier server and workstation processors, though it is a desktop part.

The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU provides basic display output and light GPU acceleration, but it is insufficient for gaming. The unlocked multiplier is false, meaning overclocking is not supported, but the base and boost clocks of 2.50 GHz and 5.60 GHz already offer strong single-thread performance. The 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth via dual-channel DDR5 is adequate for most applications, though it is lower than what high-end HEDT platforms offer.

Balance and Bottleneck

The combined percentile of 89 for this pairing reveals a system where the CPU (95th percentile) significantly outperforms the GPU (83rd percentile). This imbalance suggests that the RTX 3080 Ti will be the limiting factor in most gaming workloads, particularly at higher resolutions where GPU load dominates. At 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread score of 4881 in PassMark may still allow the GPU to reach its full potential, but at 1440p and 4K, the GPU's 83rd percentile ranking becomes the clear constraint.

The PassMark physics score of 3598, while lower than other metrics, indicates that the CPU handles physics calculations well, reducing the risk of CPU-side bottlenecks in games with heavy physics simulation. The extended instructions score of 45357 suggests strong AVX-512 or similar vector processing capabilities, which can benefit emulation and scientific workloads but has mixed impact on gaming.

The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 26896 versus the CPU's average benchmark score of 75488 (which is influenced by the CPU's combined benchmark suite) shows that the GPU delivers roughly one-third the computational throughput of the CPU in their respective benchmark aggregates. This ratio implies that CPU-intensive tasks will complete much faster than GPU-bound tasks, making the system more balanced for content creation than pure gaming.

In GPU compute workloads, the RTX 3080 Ti's PassMark GPU compute score of 15282 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 170037 indicate solid performance, but the CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 56602 suggests that CPU-based rendering may sometimes outpace GPU-based rendering depending on the application. The 350 W TDP of the GPU versus the 65 W TDP of the CPU creates a power imbalance that favors CPU-heavy workloads in efficiency terms.

Benchmark Performance

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 achieves an average benchmark score of 75488, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are separated by less than 0.3%, indicating a highly competitive performance tier. The AMD EPYC 4545P is the only rival with a higher average score (75582, 0.2% higher), while the AMD EPYC 8224P scores 0.1% lower and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO variants score 0.3% lower.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 41187, placing it in the 83rd percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, scores 0.8% higher, while the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB and Tesla M40 score 1.2% and 1.7% lower respectively. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 2% lower, making the RTX 3080 Ti competitive with newer mid-range cards despite its age.

In Cinebench R23, the CPU's multi-core score of 48945 is exceptional for a 24-thread processor, while the single-core score of 6909 demonstrates strong per-thread performance. The PassMark single-thread score of 4881 confirms this pattern. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077 for the GPU indicates moderate DirectX 12 performance, while the Geekbench Vulkan score of 192697 shows strong cross-API compatibility.

The PassMark DirectX 11 score of 223 and DirectX 12 score of 110 for the GPU are relatively low, suggesting that DX12 performance may be a weak point. However, the PassMark G3D score of 26896 provides a more holistic view of gaming performance. The CPU's data compression score of 602121 is noteworthy, indicating excellent performance in file archiving and compression workloads.

Who Should Build It

This desktop build targets users who prioritize CPU-heavy workloads over GPU-bound tasks. The 95th-percentile CPU with 24 cores and 24 threads is ideal for content creators working with video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation, where the multi-core scores of 48945 in Cinebench R23 and 56602 in PassMark multi-thread directly translate to faster render times and reduced compile durations.

Gamers at 1440p resolution will benefit from the RTX 3080 Ti's 83rd percentile ranking, which should deliver high refresh rates in most titles, though the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (6909 in Cinebench R23 single-core) ensures minimal bottlenecking, making this a viable high-refresh gaming system for competitive shooters and esports titles.

Software developers will appreciate the CPU's extended instructions score of 45357 and integer math score of 164869, which accelerate code compilation and data processing tasks. The ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running build processes, while the 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes allow for fast NVMe storage and expansion cards.

Students and small business users performing office work, spreadsheet analysis, and light content creation will find the system overpowered but highly responsive. The 65 W CPU TDP keeps power consumption manageable, while the GPU's 350 W TDP is only activated during graphics-intensive tasks. For users who occasionally game but primarily work, this pairing offers a strong balance.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip containing 28,300 million transistors on a 628 mm² die, manufactured on Samsung's 8 nm process. It features 10,240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 raster operation pipelines, providing substantial raw compute power. The FP32 throughput of 34.10 TFLOPS and FP16 throughput of 34.10 TFLOPS (1:1) enable both gaming and compute workloads.

The GPU includes 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores, supporting hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based features like DLSS. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus delivers 912.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is essential for high-resolution textures and large datasets. The memory clock runs at 1188 MHz, achieving 19 Gbps effective throughput.

In benchmark tests, the GPU scores 5077 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 170037 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 192697 in Geekbench Vulkan. The PassMark G3D score of 26896 and GPU compute score of 15282 provide additional performance references. The pixel rate of 186.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 532.8 GTexel/s indicate strong fill rates for high-resolution rendering.

The GPU's 83rd percentile ranking places it ahead of the Tesla M40 variants but behind the Radeon Pro 5300. Its DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with the latest gaming features, while OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4 support cover legacy and modern APIs. The 350 W TDP requires robust cooling and a 750 W suggested PSU, with a dual-slot design and 1x 12-pin power connector.

Build Overview

This desktop build pairs the Intel Core Ultra 9 285, a 24-core Arrow Lake processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, an Ampere-based GPU from the GeForce 30-series. The CPU was released in late 2024 with a launch MSRP of $579, while the GPU launched in mid-2021 with a launch MSRP of 1,199 USD. This combination targets high-end desktop workloads with a combined percentile of 89.

The CPU's 95th percentile ranking places it among the top processors available, while the GPU's 83rd percentile ranking is solid but not top-tier. This creates a system where the CPU is significantly more capable than the GPU, making it better suited for productivity tasks than pure gaming. The 65 W CPU TDP and 350 W GPU TDP require a 750 W PSU, which is standard for high-performance desktops.

The build class is desktop, confirming it is a stationary system designed for performance rather than portability. The CPU's ECC memory support and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make it suitable for workstation-like applications, while the GPU's 12 GB VRAM and 912.4 GB/s bandwidth handle graphics-intensive tasks. Overall, this is a high-performance desktop with a CPU-first design philosophy.

Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: The RTX 3080 Ti's 83rd percentile GPU ranking and 34.10 TFLOPS FP32 performance support high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, though exact FPS is unmeasured. The CPU's single-core score of 6909 in Cinebench R23 minimizes bottlenecking in CPU-bound titles, but the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Streaming: The CPU's 24 cores and 24 threads provide ample headroom for encoding while gaming. The PassMark multi-thread score of 56602 and data encryption score of 46949 indicate strong processing power for software encoding, while the GPU's NVENC (via tensor cores) can offload encoding tasks. The 12 GB VRAM ensures no memory contention between game and stream.

Video Editing: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 48945 accelerates rendering and export times in applications like Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The GPU's 912.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 186.5 GPixel/s pixel rate handle effects and color grading. The combined percentile of 89 suggests a capable editing workstation.

3D Rendering: The CPU's 24-thread performance (20556 in Cinebench R20 multi-core) excels in CPU-based renderers, while the GPU's 15282 PassMark GPU compute score supports GPU-accelerated rendering. The 17,800 million transistors in the CPU and 28,300 million in the GPU provide substantial compute resources for complex scenes.

Software Development: The CPU's extended instructions score of 45357 and integer math score of 164869 speed up compilation and testing. The 65 W TDP keeps power costs low during long build sessions, while ECC memory support protects against data corruption in critical development environments.

Student and Office Work: The system is overkill for document editing and web browsing, but the CPU's 4881 PassMark single-thread score ensures instant responsiveness. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics can handle basic display output without activating the power-hungry GPU, reducing energy consumption during typical office tasks.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Intel Socket 1851 platform, which supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the processor, enabling high-speed NVMe SSDs and GPUs. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is sufficient for current applications, but future upgrades may benefit from faster DDR5 modules if the platform supports them.

The RTX 3080 Ti uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which is backward compatible with the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 lanes. A future GPU upgrade could take advantage of PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth, but the current GPU's 912.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 350 W TDP are well-supported by the 750 W suggested PSU. The dual-slot design and 285 mm length require a spacious case.

The CPU's 65 W TDP leaves significant power headroom for a more powerful GPU. The suggested PSU of 750 W can handle the current GPU's 350 W TDP, but a future GPU with higher power draw may require a larger PSU. The CPU's 24 threads and 36 MB L3 cache are future-proof for years, making the CPU the more durable component in this pairing.

A sensible next upgrade would be a newer GPU with higher percentile ranking, as the CPU's 95th percentile leaves room for a 90th+ percentile GPU. The PCIe Gen 5 lanes and 20-lane count ensure compatibility with next-generation GPUs. Alternatively, additional DDR5 memory (beyond the dual-channel configuration) could improve memory-bound workloads, though the 102.4 GB/s bandwidth is already adequate for most tasks.