SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX + Intel Arc A730M

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

Build Configuration

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PROCESSOR (CPU)

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GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

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96 Score

Top 4% Ranking

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%

GPU

96%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX

76,155 Benchmark Score

Top 3% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

Intel Arc A730M

45,592 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

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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.

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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 paired with the Intel Arc A730M represents a mobile computing platform that combines a high-core-count Arrow Lake-HX processor with a discrete Alchemist-generation GPU. This analysis draws exclusively from the provided benchmark data, which contains no measured FPS rows for this exact combination; therefore, all gaming frame rate discussions are estimates derived from the synthetic scores.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is a 24-core, 24-thread processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm TSMC process node. It carries a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a thermal design power of 55 W. The chip integrates 36 MB of shared L3 cache, alongside 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core. The architecture is described as Arrow Lake-HX, and the processor belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation.

Benchmark results show a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36429.5 and a single-core score of 2187.5. The multi-core figure places the CPU in the 95th percentile among all processors, indicating exceptional parallel throughput. The single-core score of 2187.5 suggests strong per-thread performance, which is critical for lightly threaded applications. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 20236, and the single-core score is 2856. The R15 results show 5656.5 multi-core and 323.5 single-core. These progressive scores across R15, R20, and R23 reflect consistent scaling with increased workload intensity.

PassMark tests further illuminate the CPU’s character. The multithread score is 56902, while the single-thread score is 4618. Integer math achieves 155076, and floating-point math reaches 194998. Data compression scores 631885, data encryption 48567, and extended instructions 49148. The find prime numbers test yields 460, which is notably lower than other integer-based results, suggesting the architecture favors certain instruction patterns over others. Random string sorting scores 77196, and physics processing scores 3476.

The average benchmark score is 76155, with the nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX at 76212, a delta of -0.1%. The AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P scores 76492 (-0.4%), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX scores 76513 (-0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 75779 (+0.5%). These deltas are all within one percentage point, meaning the Core Ultra 9 285HX sits in a tightly contested performance band. For real workloads, the 24 threads handle heavily parallel tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering with ease, while the high boost clock ensures responsive single-threaded operations such as code compilation or spreadsheet calculations.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data reveals a system where the CPU vastly outpaces the GPU in relative performance. The CPU’s 95th percentile rank contrasts sharply with the GPU’s 84th percentile rank. This imbalance suggests that in gaming workloads, the GPU will frequently become the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions where pixel throughput dominates. The CPU’s 24 threads and 5.50 GHz boost provide ample headroom for physics, AI, and game logic, but the GPU’s 12.60 TFLOPS FP32 throughput constrains frame generation.

For productivity tasks, the CPU takes the lead role. The multithread score of 56902 and floating-point math score of 194998 indicate that rendering, simulation, and data analysis workloads will scale well with the processor. Conversely, the GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1732 shows it can handle modern graphics APIs, but its performance ceiling is far below what the CPU can feed. In mixed workloads like streaming while gaming, the CPU’s 24 threads can handle encoding, while the GPU focuses on rendering, but the GPU’s capacity remains the bottleneck for frame rate.

The FPS scaling pattern, though not measured directly, can be inferred from the percentile gap. At 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread strength (4618 PassMark) may partially compensate for GPU limitations, but at 1440p and beyond, the GPU’s 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 96 ROPs become the binding constraint. The combined percentile of 90 reflects a system that is strong overall but not perfectly balanced—the CPU sits near the top of its class while the GPU is merely solidly above average.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36429.5 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 76155. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1732, with Geekbench OpenCL at 70352 and Vulkan at 64693. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 45592, placing it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. The combined percentile of 90 indicates that this pairing outperforms the vast majority of systems, but the CPU contributes disproportionately to that ranking.

Comparing the GPU to its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT scores 45384 (+0.5% delta), the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation scores 45972 (-0.8%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile scores 45152 (+1%), and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 scores 46043 (-1%). These deltas show the Arc A730M is effectively a mid-pack GPU, trading blows with professional and mobile offerings within a narrow band. The CPU, by contrast, sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, a desktop-class part.

The combined picture is one of a high-end mobile CPU paired with a mid-range mobile GPU. In CPU-bound tasks like code compilation or 3D rendering, the system performs near the top of the mobile spectrum. In GPU-bound tasks like gaming at high resolutions, the system performs adequately but not exceptionally. The 84th GPU percentile still means the Arc A730M outperforms most integrated graphics and entry-level discrete GPUs, but it is not in the same league as the CPU’s 95th percentile standing.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with the Intel Arc A730M combination, as the fact pack contains no measuredFps data. Therefore, all frame rate figures presented here are estimates based on the benchmark scores. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1732 and 12 GB of GDDR6 memory suggest it can handle modern titles at 1080p with medium to high settings, but the lack of direct measurements prevents precise claims.

At 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread score of 4618 should prevent most CPU bottlenecks, allowing the GPU’s 12.60 TFLOPS to drive frame rates. Estimated performance for esports titles like Counter-Strike or Valorant could reach high triple digits, but for AAA games, expect 60-90 FPS on medium settings. At 1440p, the GPU’s 336.0 GB/s bandwidth and 96 ROPs become limiting, with estimates dropping to 40-60 FPS on medium. At 4K, the Arc A730M would struggle, likely producing 20-30 FPS in demanding titles.

The GPU’s 24 ray tracing cores suggest some RT capability, but the 12.60 TFLOPS FP32 throughput indicates RT workloads will be heavy. The 12 GB VRAM is generous for a mobile GPU, providing headroom for high-resolution textures, but the 192-bit bus width limits memory bandwidth. Overall, this system is best suited for competitive gaming at 1080p or older AAA titles at medium settings, rather than pushing maximum details at high resolutions.

Who Should Build It

The target user for this combination is a mobile professional who needs extreme CPU performance for productivity tasks but only occasional gaming. The CPU’s 95th percentile rank makes it ideal for content creators working with video editing, 3D rendering, or software development, where the 24 threads and 36 MB L3 cache accelerate compile times and render passes. The GPU’s 84th percentile rank supports these workloads through GPU-accelerated effects and encoding, but it is not the primary strength.

Gamers at 1080p who prioritize frame rates over visual fidelity would find this system adequate, with the CPU ensuring no stutters from physics or AI, while the GPU delivers playable frame rates. Students in engineering or computer science fields would benefit from the CPU’s multithread performance for simulations and data analysis, while the GPU handles visualization tasks. Small business workstations running database queries or financial modeling would see excellent CPU throughput, with the GPU providing general-purpose compute for tasks like OpenCL acceleration.

This is not a system for high-refresh 1440p gaming or 4K content creation, as the GPU’s 84th percentile cannot match the CPU’s dominance. Users who prioritize gaming should seek a stronger GPU, while those who prioritize multi-threaded productivity will find the CPU exceptional.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: At 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread score of 4618 and boost clock of 5.50 GHz keep frame pacing consistent, but the GPU’s 12.60 TFLOPS and 1732 3DMark score limit maximum FPS. Estimated results favor 60-90 FPS in AAA titles, with esports titles potentially exceeding 144 FPS at lower settings.

Streaming: The 24 cores and 24 threads handle simultaneous game rendering and encoding without significant CPU contention. The CPU’s 56902 PassMark multithread score ensures no dropped frames during encoding, while the GPU’s 84th percentile rank maintains visual quality, though bitrate options may be constrained by GPU encode capabilities.

Video editing: The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36429.5 accelerates timeline playback and export rendering, while the GPU’s 70352 Geekbench OpenCL score assists with effects and color grading. The 12 GB VRAM allows for large preview buffers, and the 336.0 GB/s bandwidth handles high-bitrate footage.

3D rendering: The CPU’s 95th percentile rank and 24 threads excel in CPU-based renderers, with the 36429.5 R23 score indicating fast iteration times. GPU-based renderers will leverage the Arc A730M’s 12.60 TFLOPS, but the GPU’s 84th percentile means it is not a top-tier accelerating solution.

Software development: The CPU’s 631885 data compression score and 155076 integer math score speed up code compilation and binary analysis. The 36 MB L3 cache reduces memory latency for large codebases, and the 4618 single-thread score ensures responsive IDE interactions.

Student and office work: The CPU’s 2187.5 R23 single-core score handles spreadsheet recalculation and document formatting instantly, while the GPU’s Vulkan score of 64693 supports light 3D visualization in engineering coursework. The 55 W CPU TDP and 80 W GPU TDP make this a power-hungry but manageable laptop configuration.

GPU Analysis

The Intel Arc A730M uses the DG2-512 chip on the Xe-HPG architecture, manufactured on a 6 nm TSMC process. It contains 3072 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, with 24 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 2050 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The 12 GB of GDDR6 memory is connected via a 192-bit bus, yielding 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The pixel rate is 196.8 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 393.6 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 12.60 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 25.19 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio). The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, with a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface. The 21,700 million transistors on a 406 mm² die produce a transistor density of 53.4M per mm².

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1732 places the GPU in the 84th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 45592. The nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, scores 45384, a 0.5% delta. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 70352 and Vulkan score of 64693 indicate strong compute performance for a mobile GPU. For rendering workloads, the 12 GB VRAM allows for complex scenes, and the 336.0 GB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures, though the 192-bit bus limits bandwidth compared to wider-memory competitors.

The 24 RT cores provide hardware-accelerated ray tracing, but the 12.60 TFLOPS FP32 throughput means RT effects will carry a performance penalty. The 96 ROPs handle pixel output at 196.8 GPixel/s, which is sufficient for 1080p but strained at 1440p or 4K. Overall, the GPU is a capable mid-range mobile part, well-suited for 1080p gaming and compute tasks, but it does not match the CPU’s top-tier status.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU’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 does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score is 76155, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX (76212) and 0.5% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (75779).

Q: What is the GPU’s memory configuration?

A: The Intel Arc A730M has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s and a memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective).

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking?

A: The GPU is in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 45592, placing it near the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (45384, +0.5%).

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX supports ECC memory, and it uses dual-channel DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: What is the combined percentile of this build?

A: The combined percentile is 90, indicating the CPU+GPU pairing outperforms 90% of all systems, though the CPU (95th) dominates the GPU (84th).

Q: Is there measured FPS data for this combination?

A: No, the fact pack contains no measuredFps data for this exact CPU+GPU pairing, so all gaming frame rates are estimates from benchmark scores.

Build Overview

This is a laptop-class build (buildClass: "laptop") combining the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with the Intel Arc A730M. The CPU is a 24-thread Arrow Lake-HX processor in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is a 12 GB Alchemist-generation part in the 84th percentile. The combined percentile is 90, placing this system in the upper tier of mobile computing.

The CPU’s 55 W TDP and the GPU’s 80 W TDP indicate a power-hungry configuration, but the performance payoff is substantial for multi-threaded workloads. The CPU’s 36429.5 Cinebench R23 multi-core score rivals desktop-class processors, while the GPU’s 1732 3DMark Steel Nomad score is respectable for a mobile GPU. This pairing is not a gaming-first system, but rather a productivity-first platform with gaming capability as a secondary function.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket, which is a mobile-only package, meaning the processor is soldered and not upgradeable. The platform supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with ECC capability, and the CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The GPU uses PCIe 4.0 x16, which is backward compatible with the CPU’s PCIe Gen 5 lanes, though the GPU’s bandwidth is limited by its own interface.

The CPU’s TDP is 55 W, and the GPU’s TDP is 80 W, with no suggested PSU listed in the fact pack. For a laptop, this means the power delivery system is integrated, and there is no user-accessible PSU upgrade path. The GPU is marked as end-of-life, so future upgrades would require a full system replacement rather than a component swap.

A sensible next upgrade for this platform would be to increase memory capacity or speed, as the CPU supports DDR5 and the memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is a potential bottleneck for the 24-thread processor. The CPU’s unlocked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked: true) allows overclocking, but the mobile form factor limits thermal headroom. Given the GPU’s end-of-life status, users seeking more graphics performance would need to consider a new laptop with a newer GPU generation, while the CPU remains capable for years in productivity tasks.

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX + Intel Arc A730M

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX

Intel Arc A730M

Market Position

Game Performance Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

Performance Insights

Optimal Performance

4K Gaming Ready

Performance Tiers Explained

Ultimate

High-End

Mid-Range

Entry Level

Legacy

CPU Analysis

Balance and Bottleneck

Benchmark Performance

Gaming Performance

Who Should Build It

Usage Scenarios

GPU Analysis

FAQ

Build Overview

Upgrade Path and Platform

4K Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

1440p Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

1080p Gaming Performance

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

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