SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

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

Build Configuration

Select your components

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

98%

GPU

95%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

84,003 Benchmark Score

Top 2% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

40,377 Benchmark Score

Top 5% 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 pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 creates a high-end desktop configuration aimed at delivering strong performance across both gaming and productivity workloads. The data shows a system with a combined percentile ranking of 89, placing it well above the majority of tested configurations. The CPU, a 24-core Arrow Lake Refresh part, and the GPU, a Blackwell 2.0-based card with 12 GB of VRAM, offer distinct strengths that cater to different usage scenarios, from high-refresh-rate esports to demanding creative applications.

Gaming Performance

The measured FPS data for this system, captured at ultra settings across a wide range of titles, reveals a clear performance hierarchy that scales predictably with resolution. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptionally high frame rates, particularly in esports and competitive titles. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive runs at 599 FPS, Valorant hits 605 FPS, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege achieves 323 FPS, showcasing the CPU's strong single-threaded performance in less GPU-bound scenarios. Similarly, older or lighter titles like Roblox (350 FPS) and To The Core (272 FPS) demonstrate the system's ability to push well beyond the refresh rates of most monitors at this resolution.

The transition to 2560x1440 shows a more balanced workload between the CPU and GPU, with frame rates remaining highly playable. Call of Duty: Warzone runs at 167 FPS, Counter-Strike 2 at 179 FPS, and Valorant still reaches 530 FPS. The performance drop from 1080p is noticeable but expected, with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (60 FPS) and Red Dead Redemption 2 (54 FPS) hitting the 60 FPS target at high settings, while more demanding titles like Ark: Survival Ascended (25 FPS) begin to show the GPU's limitations. The average FPS across all tested games at this resolution is well within the range for smooth gameplay in most genres.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5070's 12 GB VRAM and 192-bit memory bus become the defining factors. The system still produces playable frame rates in many titles, with Call of Duty: Warzone (141 FPS) and Valorant (424 FPS) remaining exceptionally smooth. However, graphically intensive games see significant reductions: Cyberpunk 2077 drops to 39 FPS, Red Dead Redemption 2 to 36 FPS, and Ark: Survival Ascended to just 13 FPS, indicating that 4K ultra settings are only viable for less demanding or well-optimized titles. The data confirms that this pairing is best suited for 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming, with 1080p offering maximum performance and 4K requiring settings adjustments for AAA titles.

Benchmark Performance

The synthetic benchmark scores paint a detailed picture of this system's computational capabilities. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51,731 points places it in the top 96th percentile of all CPUs, evidence of its 24 cores and 24 threads. This is a significant result, positioning it just 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in average benchmark score (84,003 vs 83,807), making it a marginal but measurable improvement over its direct predecessor. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 7,303 points is equally strong, indicating excellent responsiveness in lightly-threaded tasks.

The GPU's performance, while solid, is less exceptional in synthetic tests. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,077 points and a Passmark G3D score of 29,137 contribute to an 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs. The average benchmark score of 40,377 places it in close competition with professional workstation cards like the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40,318, 0.1% ahead) and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40,063, 0.8% behind), which highlights its compute capabilities but also shows it is not at the very top of the consumer GPU hierarchy. The combined CPU and GPU scores result in an 89th combined percentile, indicating that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the GPU is a step below the absolute fastest cards available.

The Passmark data for the CPU shows a balanced workload profile. The multi-thread score of 60,860 and the floating-point math score of 214,760 indicate strong parallel processing capabilities, while the single-thread score of 4,823 confirms its prowess in tasks that rely on single-core speed. The data compression score of 698,346 and data encryption score of 52,563 further underscore its utility in data-intensive applications, making it a versatile processor for both gaming and professional use.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 263 mm² housing 31,100 million transistors. It features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This configuration is a significant upgrade in memory technology, but the 12 GB capacity and 192-bit bus width are the primary constraints on its performance at higher resolutions. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2325 MHz with a boost clock of 2512 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz with an effective speed of 28 Gbps.

With 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output pipelines, the RTX 5070 delivers a FP32 compute performance of 30.87 TFLOPS. It also includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, which are essential for ray tracing and AI-accelerated features like DLSS. The pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s are respectable for its class. In benchmark terms, its Geekbench OpenCL score of 172,660 and Vulkan score of 178,923 show strong compute capabilities, while the Passmark DirectX 11 score of 277 and DirectX 12 score of 108 indicate that its performance varies significantly across different API levels.

The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking and its close benchmark parity with older workstation cards like the AMD Radeon Pro 580 and Radeon Pro WX 7100 suggest that it is a strong mid-to-high-end performer, but not a flagship. For rendering workloads, the combination of 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores provides hardware acceleration for real-time ray tracing and AI-based upscaling, which is vital for modern game engines. However, the 12 GB VRAM may become a limiting factor for large 3D scenes or high-resolution textures in professional rendering applications, where the memory capacity is as important as raw compute power.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The platform is built around the Intel Socket 1851, which supports the Core Ultra Series 2 processors. The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support, which is a plus for workstation stability. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the GPU utilizes a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, ensuring ample bandwidth for the graphics card and future expansion cards.

The CPU has a TDP of 125 W, while the GPU has a TDP of 250 W, with a suggested PSU of 600 W. This leaves reasonable headroom for a typical system with a few drives and fans. The RTX 5070 requires a single 16-pin power connector and is a dual-slot card measuring 245 mm in length, which should fit in most mid-tower cases. A sensible next upgrade path would be to increase memory capacity for more demanding productivity tasks, as the dual-channel DDR5 support and ECC capability make the platform suitable for professional work. For gaming, the primary bottleneck is the GPU, so upgrading to a higher-tier Blackwell card with more VRAM would be the most impactful move, should the need arise for higher 4K performance. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking ensures it will not be a limiting factor for several generations of GPU upgrades.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC, with a die size of 243 mm² housing 17,800 million transistors. The CPU has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, and its multiplier is unlocked, allowing for overclocking. It features a cache hierarchy of 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, with a shared 36 MB L3 cache.

In benchmark tests, the CPU excels in multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51,731 and Cinebench R20 multicore score of 21,727 are strong indicators of its capability in video rendering, 3D modeling, and software compilation. The Passmark multithread score of 60,860 and integer math score of 166,194 further validate its performance in parallel processing tasks. The single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 score of 7,303 and Passmark single-thread score of 4,823, ensures that it also handles everyday applications and games smoothly, which is reflected in the high frame rates seen in esports titles.

The CPU's 96th percentile ranking places it among the top processors available, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which it outperforms by a slim 0.2% margin. Its average benchmark score of 84,003 is also competitive with server-class chips like the AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135, which it leads by 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively. This suggests that for a desktop platform, the 290K Plus offers exceptional compute power that can rival professional server hardware in certain tasks, making it an excellent choice for content creators and developers who require high throughput.

Who Should Build It

This build is a versatile configuration that serves a wide range of users, primarily aimed at those who demand high performance in both gaming and productivity. For gamers, the system is ideal for 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming, as evidenced by the 167 FPS in Call of Duty: Warzone and 179 FPS in Counter-Strike 2 at that resolution. It also provides a stellar 1080p experience with frame rates exceeding 500 FPS in esports titles like Valorant, making it perfect for competitive players. While it can handle 4K gaming, the frame rates in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (39 FPS) suggest that users would need to lower settings or rely on upscaling technologies.

Content creators, particularly video editors, 3D artists, and software developers, will benefit from the CPU's 24 cores and high multi-threaded scores. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51,731 ensures fast rendering times, and the Passmark data encryption score of 52,563 indicates strong performance in secure data handling. The ECC memory support adds a layer of reliability for long-running workstation tasks. Students and small business workstations can also leverage this power for data analysis, virtualization, and general productivity, though the high TDP and PSU requirements should be considered for smaller form factors. The platform is less suited for users on a tight budget or those who prioritize ultra-high 4K gaming performance over everything else, as the GPU's 12 GB VRAM is a notable limitation at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the combined performance percentile of this CPU and GPU configuration?

A: The combined percentile for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 5070 is 89, based on the average benchmark scores of both components.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: The 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84,003, which is 0.2% higher than the 285K’s score of 83,807, making it a marginal upgrade in overall performance.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth and type supported by the CPU?

A: The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a theoretical memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s.

Q: What is the VRAM capacity and bus width of the RTX 5070?

A: The RTX 5070 has 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the GPU's launch MSRP?

A: The GPU's launch MSRP is 549 USD.

Q: What is the suggested PSU wattage for this system?

A: The suggested PSU wattage is 600 W, which accounts for the GPU's 250 W TDP and the CPU's 125 W TDP.

Q: What kind of performance can be expected in 4K gaming?

A: At 3840x2160, performance varies widely. Lighter titles like Valorant hit 424 FPS, but demanding AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 only reach 39 FPS and Red Dead Redemption 2 runs at 36 FPS, indicating 4K is only viable for less demanding games.

Build Overview

This build pairs the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, a top-tier desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, a mainstream-to-high-end desktop GPU from the GeForce 50-series. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 96th percentile ranking, is a powerhouse for multi-threaded workloads. The GPU, with its 12 GB VRAM and 82nd percentile ranking, is a solid performer for 1440p gaming. Together, they form a desktop configuration that sits in the 89th combined percentile, representing a high-performance system that excels in gaming and productivity, though it is not the absolute fastest in either category.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance balance between the CPU and GPU is asymmetric, with the CPU being the stronger component relative to its peers. The CPU's 96th percentile versus the GPU's 82nd percentile indicates that the processor is relatively more powerful in its class. This is most evident in gaming benchmarks at lower resolutions, where the CPU's single-thread performance drives frame rates. At 1080p, the system achieves 605 FPS in Valorant and 599 FPS in CS:GO, showing that the CPU can feed the GPU far more frames than it can render in many scenarios, making the GPU the limiting factor.

As resolution increases, the bottleneck shifts more towards the GPU. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 1440p and 4K in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (80 to 60 to 39 FPS) and Red Dead Redemption 2 (73 to 54 to 36 FPS) is a classic sign of GPU limitation, as the load on the graphics card increases more than the CPU. In contrast, the CPU's performance is nearly constant across resolutions in these tests. The CPU's high multi-threaded scores, such as the Cinebench R23 multicore result of 51,731, mean it will not bottleneck the GPU in any gaming scenario. However, in compute-heavy tasks like 3D rendering, the CPU is the primary driver, and the GPU's 82nd percentile ranking would be the secondary consideration, making the system balanced for mixed workloads but GPU-limited in gaming at higher resolutions.

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

Market Position

Game Performance Benchmarks

Valorant

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Valorant

Valorant

Valorant

Performance Insights

Optimal Performance

4K Gaming Ready

Performance Tiers Explained

Ultimate

High-End

Mid-Range

Entry Level

Legacy

Gaming Performance

Benchmark Performance

GPU Analysis

Upgrade Path and Platform

CPU Analysis

Who Should Build It

FAQ

Build Overview

Balance and Bottleneck

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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