SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX + Intel Arc A350M

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
92%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX

76,155 Benchmark Score
Top 3% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

Intel Arc A350M

24,647 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
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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is the flagship mobile processor of the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture and fabricated on a TSMC 3 nm process with 17,800 million transistors within a 243 mm² die. This 24-core, 24-thread CPU operates from a 2.80 GHz base clock up to a 5.50 GHz boost clock, paired with 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core. Its benchmark profile places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 76155, positioning it as a top-tier mobile processor.

CPU Analysis

The Core Ultra 9 285HX presents a distinctive core configuration: 24 physical cores with 24 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. This design choice prioritizes raw core count over thread duplication, which explains its multi-threaded performance characteristics. In Cinebench R23 multi-core testing, the CPU scores 36429.5 points, while the single-core score reaches 2187.5 points. These results indicate strong scaling across workloads that can utilize all 24 physical cores, while the single-core performance remains competitive for tasks that depend on lower thread counts.

The memory subsystem consists of dual-channel DDR5 support with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and ECC memory capability, making this processor suitable for workstation-class workloads where data integrity is paramount. The PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, providing substantial bandwidth for high-speed storage and expansion devices. The processor also includes integrated Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, offering a fallback display and basic graphics capability.

The benchmark results reveal a processor that excels in multi-threaded environments. In Cinebench R20 Multi-core, the 285HX achieves 20236 points, while the single-core test yields 2856 points. The Cinebench R15 results follow the same pattern: 5656.5 multi-core and 323.5 single-core. These scores place the processor in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 76155. When compared to nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 76212, a delta of -0.1%, while the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P scores 76492 at -0.4%. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX scores 76513 at -0.5%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 75779 at 0.5%. This places the 285HX within a tight cluster of high-performance processors.

The PassMark suite provides additional insight into workload-specific behavior. The multi-thread score is 56902, with integer math at 155076 and floating-point math at 194998. Data compression scores 631885, while data encryption reaches 48567. The extended instructions score 49148, and random string sorting achieves 77196. The single-thread score is 4618, and the physics score is 3476. The find prime numbers score is 460. These numbers suggest that the processor handles both integer-heavy and floating-point-heavy workloads with ease, making it a versatile choice for scientific computing, data analysis, and content creation.

Balance and Bottleneck

The pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with the Intel Arc A350M creates an interesting balance dynamic. The CPU operates in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 70th percentile of all GPUs. The combined percentile for this pairing is 83rd, indicating a system where the CPU is the dominant component.

In gaming workloads, the Arc A350M with its 4 GB GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus with 112.0 GB/s bandwidth will likely become the limiting factor before the CPU reaches its potential. The GPU's 768 shading units and 3.379 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are sufficient for entry-level gaming but will not push the 285HX to its limits. The CPU has significantly more compute headroom than the GPU can utilize in most gaming scenarios, creating a GPU-bound situation in graphics-intensive tasks.

However, in CPU-bound workloads such as data compression, encryption, and multi-threaded rendering, the CPU's strengths come to the forefront. The Passmatch data compression score of 155851 and the multi-thread score of 56902 indicate that the CPU can handle heavy parallel workloads without GPU assistance. In these scenarios, the GPU's role is less critical, and the system's overall performance is driven by the CPU's 24 cores.

The 83rd combined percentile reflects a system that is well-above average but not top-tier in every aspect. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking is the system's main strength, while the GPU's 70th percentile ranking is a secondary consideration. For workloads that rely heavily on the CPU, the system performs exceptionally well; for workloads that depend on the GPU, the performance is more moderate.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU benchmark scores are consistently strong. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 36429.5 and the single-core is 2187.5. The Cinebench R20 results show 20236 multi-core and 2856 single-core. The Cinebench R15 results show 5656.5 multi-core and 323.5 single-core. These scores place the CPU in the 95th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 76155.

The GPU benchmarks show more modest results. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Arc A350M scores 24546, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 24747. The average benchmark score for the GPU is 24647, placing it in the 70th percentile of all GPUs. When compared to rivals, the AMD Radeon RX 590 scores 24744 at -0.4%, the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile scores 24763 at -0.5%, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT scores 24442 at 0.8%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 scores 24277 at 1.5%. These deltas show that the Arc A350M is competitive with these GPUs, within a range of 1.5% or less.

The combined picture is a system that excels in CPU-intensive tasks and offers capable entry-level GPU performance. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking means it outperforms 95% of all CPUs, while the GPU's 70th percentile means it outperforms 70% of all GPUs. The overall combined percentile of 83rd reflects a system that is above average but not at the absolute top of the performance curve.

Who Should Build It

This CPU+GPU pairing suits users who prioritize CPU performance for productivity workloads but do not require high-end GPU performance. Content creators who work with multi-threaded rendering engines will benefit from the 24 cores and the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36429.5. The GPU's 4 GB GDDR6 memory and 112 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for entry-level video editing and light 3D work.

Software developers and data scientists who use CPU-intensive compilers, data compression tools, and encryption algorithms will find the CPU's Passmatch scores compelling. The data compression score of 631885 and the encryption score of 48567 indicate strong performance in these areas. The ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running computations.

Students and small business workstations that need a responsive system for everyday tasks will benefit from the CPU's 95th percentile ranking. The single-thread performance of 4618 in Passmark ensures smooth application responsiveness. The GPU's 70th percentile ranking is sufficient for office productivity, web browsing, and media playback.

Gamers at 1080p with lower graphics settings will find this system acceptable, but those seeking high-refresh or 1440p gaming should look elsewhere. The GPU's 3.379 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 24 ROPs limit its ability to drive high-resolution displays in demanding games.

FAQ

Q: What is the processor's core and thread count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does the CPU have?

A: The CPU has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The Intel Arc A350M has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus with a bandwidth of 112.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking?

A: The CPU is in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 76155.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking?

A: The GPU is in the 70th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 24647.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the CPU supports ECC memory, which is important for data integrity in professional workloads.

Q: What is the process node for the CPU?

A: The CPU is fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The GPU's 3.379 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 24 ROPs are sufficient for 1080p gaming at moderate settings, but the 4 GB VRAM and 112 GB/s bandwidth may limit texture quality and resolution. Users seeking 144Hz or 1440p gaming will need to lower settings to maintain frame rates.

Streaming: The CPU's 24 cores provide strong encoding headroom for x264 streaming, while the GPU's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 can handle newer encoding APIs. The CPU's multi-thread score of 56902 in Passmark indicates that it can handle encoding and gaming simultaneously without excessive frame drops.

Video editing: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36429.5 and the Passmatch floating-point score of 194998 make it capable of handling 4K video editing and rendering. The GPU's 6 RT cores and 768 shading units can assist with effects and acceleration but may be a limiting factor for complex projects.

3D rendering: The CPU's 24 cores excel at CPU-based rendering, as shown by the high multi-core scores. The GPU's 3.379 TFLOPS can handle some GPU-accelerated rendering but is not a primary strength. For CPU-heavy render engines like Blender's Cycles, this system will perform well.

Software development: The CPU's high single-thread score of 4618 and the multi-thread score of 56902 in Passmatch make it suitable for compiling large codebases. The ECC support ensures data integrity during long build processes. The GPU is sufficient for desktop environments and light GPU computing.

Student and office work: The CPU's 95th percentile ranking and the GPU's 70th percentile provide smooth performance for web browsing, document editing, and productivity suites. The system will handle multiple monitors and applications without lag, and the CPU's single-thread performance keeps the interface responsive.

GPU Analysis

The Intel Arc A350M is built on the Xe-HPG architecture with a DG2-128 chip on a 6 nm process. It has 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, with a transistor density of 45.9 million per mm². The GPU operates at a base clock of 1150 MHz and a boost clock of 2200 MHz, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz or 14 Gbps effective.

The memory subsystem consists of 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, providing 112.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. It has 6 RT cores, and the FP32 performance is 3.379 TFLOPS. The FP16 performance is 6.758 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio. The pixel rate is 52.80 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 105.6 GTexel/s.

The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. It connects via a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The TDP is 25 W, and it is classified as IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width of IGP. The display outputs are portable device dependent, meaning they vary by the laptop manufacturer.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the GPU scores 24546, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 24747. The average benchmark score is 24647, placing it in the 70th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 590, which scores 24744 at -0.4%, and the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile, which scores 24763 at -0.5%. The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT scores 24442 at 0.8%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 scores 24277 at 1.5%.

Build Overview

This pairing combines the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, a 24-core mobile CPU with a 95th percentile ranking, with the Intel Arc A350M, a mobile GPU with a 70th percentile ranking. The build class is laptop, and the combined percentile is 83rd. This indicates a system that is above average in overall performance, with the CPU being the dominant component.

The CPU's 55W TDP is relatively high for a laptop, but the 24 cores require substantial power. The GPU's 25W TDP is modest, contributing to a balanced thermal profile. The system is designed for users who need significant CPU performance in a mobile form factor, with adequate GPU capability for entry-level graphics tasks.

The Intel Arc A350M is marked as end-of-life, while the CPU is active. This suggests that the GPU may be replaced in future systems, but the CPU platform is current. The overall tier is solidly above average, with the CPU's 95th percentile being the primary driver of the system's performance.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket, which is a mobile platform. The memory support is DDR5, dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The CPU supports ECC memory, which is a valuable feature for professional workloads.

The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, providing high bandwidth for NVMe storage and other peripherals. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, which can serve as a fallback display adapter.

For upgrades, the CPU is the main component, and the platform is designed for the 285HX. The GPU is end-of-life, so future upgrades would require a new system. The memory can be upgraded to higher-capacity DDR5 modules, and the storage can be expanded via the PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The system has no suggested PSU, as it is a laptop, and power is provided by the laptop's power adapter.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and the Intel Arc A350M. The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS rows, so all FPS figures are estimates based on the benchmark scores.

The GPU's 3.379 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 112 GB/s bandwidth suggest that the system can handle 1080p gaming at low-to-medium settings in most titles. The 4 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p textures but may be limited for 1440p or high-texture packs. The CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures that the system will not be CPU-bound in most games.

For esports titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends, the system can likely achieve 60-100 FPS at 1080p with reduced settings. For more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, the system may struggle to maintain 60 FPS at 1080p with medium settings. The RT cores are present but limited to 6, so ray tracing will be a performance hit.

The GPU's 70th percentile ranking indicates that it is above average for all GPUs, but the 4 GB VRAM and 64-bit bus are entry-level specifications. Users should expect a playable experience at 1080p with a 30 FPS target in most titles, and 60 FPS in less demanding games.