SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2

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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86 Score

Top 14% Ranking

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

98%

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 290K Plus

84,003 Benchmark Score

Top 2% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2

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

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread desktop processor built on TSMC's 3 nm process node, with Arrow Lake Refresh as its codename. It belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation and carries a 125 W TDP. The CPU operates with a 3.70 GHz base clock and reaches 5.80 GHz boost, with an unlocked multiplier for enthusiast overclocking. The cache hierarchy consists of 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, providing 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported — a notable feature for workstation-oriented builds.

Benchmark results show this processor is exceptionally strong in multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier rendering performance. The single-core R23 score of 7,303 confirms that lightly-threaded tasks also execute swiftly. In Cinebench R20, the CPU scores 21,727 multi-core and 3,067 single-core, while Cinebench R15 results are 5,214 multi-core and 736 single-core. These numbers paint a consistent picture: the 290K Plus sustains high throughput regardless of thread count.

The average benchmark score of 84,003 places it just 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (83,807), meaning the two processors are functionally tied in overall performance. It also edges out the AMD EPYC 4584PX by 1.1% (83,090) and the AMD EPYC 9135 by 1.2% (82,980), while trailing the AMD EPYC 7F72 by 1.3% (85,072). The deltaPct values are small, suggesting that this CPU competes at the top of the desktop and workstation spectrum, with no single dominant rival across all tests.

PassMark results reinforce the multi-threaded strength. The multi-thread score of 60,860 is substantial, while single-thread performance is 4,823. Integer math scores 166,194 and floating-point math hits 214,760, showing balanced arithmetic capability. Data compression reaches 698,346, data encryption 52,563, and extended instructions 52,338. Random string sorting scores 79,744, find prime numbers 503, and physics 3,315. For real workloads, this means video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific computation, and database operations all benefit from the high core count and strong per-core efficiency.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The system pairs the 290K Plus with an NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2 GPU, and the combined percentile is 73. This indicates that the CPU is substantially more capable than the GPU in relative terms — the CPU sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 50th percentile of all GPUs. The imbalance suggests that CPU-bound workloads will not be limited by compute, but GPU-heavy tasks will be constrained by the graphics card's mid-tier standing.

Since no measured FPS data exists for this combination, FPS scaling must be inferred from benchmark scores. The CPU's high single-thread score of 4,823 in PassMark and 7,303 in Cinebench R23 single-core indicates that frame delivery in games will not be bottlenecked by processor logic at typical resolutions. However, the GPU's 50th percentile position means that at higher resolutions or with demanding graphics settings, the graphics card becomes the limiting factor. The data shows a 46-point percentile gap between CPU and GPU, which is evidence of a CPU-heavy configuration where the GPU is the weaker link.

The CPU's 125 W TDP is modest relative to its performance, meaning power draw is not likely to be a system constraint. The GPU's 150 W TDP is also moderate, and with no suggested PSU specified and no power connectors required (the GPU is an IGP form factor), the overall power envelope is manageable. The memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s on the CPU side could be a potential bottleneck for certain data-intensive workloads, but it is adequate for gaming and general productivity.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to 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 83,807. This delta is within measurement noise, so the two CPUs perform essentially identically in aggregate benchmarks.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all processors?

A: The 290K Plus ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly 96% of processors in the benchmark database. This places it firmly in the high-end desktop segment.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory is supported. This is a relevant feature for workstation builds where data integrity is critical, such as financial modeling or scientific computing.

Q: What is the memory configuration and bandwidth?

A: The CPU supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a maximum bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. It does not support DDR4, so the build requires a DDR5-capable motherboard.

Q: How fast is the CPU in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 7,303, and PassMark single-thread is 4,823. These are strong numbers that indicate excellent responsiveness in everyday applications and games that rely on single-core performance.

Q: What is the process node and die size?

A: The CPU is manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process node, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The small process node contributes to the 125 W TDP despite the high core count.

Q: Is there integrated graphics on the CPU?

A: Yes, the CPU includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. This provides basic display output and acceleration for media tasks, but it is not intended for serious gaming or compute workloads.

# Who Should Build It

The 96th percentile CPU ranking makes this build attractive for users who need maximum processor throughput. Gamers targeting high-refresh-rate displays at 1080p or 1440p will find the CPU's single-thread performance sufficient to push high frame rates, though the GPU's 50th percentile position may cap ultimate FPS in graphically intense titles.

Content creators working with video editing, 3D rendering, or visual effects will benefit from the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731, which indicates rapid export and render times. The 24 cores and 24 threads handle parallel workloads efficiently, and the 36 MB L3 cache reduces memory latency for large datasets.

Software developers compiling large codebases will see meaningful gains from the multi-threaded performance, particularly in build systems that parallelize across cores. The PassMark integer math score of 166,194 and data compression score of 698,346 suggest strong throughput for compilation and packaging tasks.

Students and small business workstations that run office applications, web browsing, and light programming will find the CPU overkill, but the headroom ensures longevity. The ECC memory support adds reliability for small business servers or workstations handling sensitive data. The 3 nm process node and 125 W TDP also mean the system runs efficiently, reducing heat output in office environments.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The CPU's single-thread performance is excellent, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,303 and PassMark single-thread of 4,823. This ensures that game logic and physics calculations are not a bottleneck. However, the GPU's 50th percentile ranking means that at 1080p with high refresh rates, the graphics card will likely limit FPS in demanding titles.

Streaming and content creation: The 24-core design with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 handles simultaneous encoding and gaming without stutter. The PassMark multi-thread score of 60,860 supports smooth transcoding, and the 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth aids in moving large video buffers.

Video editing: Timeline scrubbing and preview rendering rely on both single-thread responsiveness and multi-thread export capability. The R20 multi-core score of 21,727 and single-core score of 3,067 indicate that both aspects are well covered, making 4K or even 8K editing feasible.

3D rendering: The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 5,214 is a strong indicator for CPU-based renderers like V-Ray or Blender's Cycles. The 36 MB L3 cache helps keep geometry data close to the cores, reducing memory stalls.

Software development: Compilation times benefit from the multi-threaded PassMark score of 60,860, and the data encryption score of 52,563 supports secure build pipelines. The 24 threads allow parallel compilation of independent modules, cutting iteration cycles.

Student and office work: The CPU is vastly overprovisioned for documents, spreadsheets, and web browsing, but the efficiency of the 3 nm process keeps power draw at 125 W TDP, making it a quiet and cool-running option for a shared workspace.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2 is a mobile-class GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD103 chip manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It has 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die, with a transistor density of 121.1M per mm². The GPU operates at a base clock of 930 MHz and boosts to 1680 MHz, with memory running at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). It has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The compute configuration includes 9,728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output units. Ray tracing is handled by 76 RT cores, and AI acceleration by 304 tensor cores. The pixel rate is 188.2 GPixel/s and texture rate is 510.7 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 32.69 TFLOPS, with FP16 at the same 32.69 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio). The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it fully featured for modern gaming and rendering APIs.

The GPU's 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates mid-tier performance. With an average benchmark score of 0 and no nearest rivals listed, direct comparisons are not available, but the 16 GB VRAM and 576 GB/s bandwidth are respectable for professional workloads. The 150 W TDP is low for the performance class, and the IGP slot width means it is designed for embedded or compact systems rather than standard desktop expansion slots.

For 3D rendering, the 76 RT cores accelerate ray-traced scenes, and the 32.69 TFLOPS FP32 throughput handles rasterization and compute shaders effectively. The 304 tensor cores enable DLSS and AI-based denoising, which can improve real-time rendering quality. In non-gaming workloads like CUDA-accelerated simulation or machine learning inference, the tensor cores provide meaningful acceleration, though the 50th percentile position means it is not a top-tier compute card.

# Benchmark Performance

The combined system percentile is 73, placing it in the upper quartile of all CPU+GPU pairings in the database. The CPU's average benchmark score is 84,003, which is the primary driver of this ranking. The GPU has an average benchmark score of 0 in the FACT PACK, meaning no GPU benchmark scores are recorded, so its percentile of 50 is based on external data not detailed here.

The CPU's individual benchmark scores are uniformly strong: Cinebench R23 multi-core at 51,731, R20 multi-core at 21,727, and R15 multi-core at 5,214. Single-core scores are 7,303 (R23), 3,067 (R20), and 736 (R15). PassMark tests show multi-thread at 60,860, single-thread at 4,823, and various math and compression scores that all exceed typical desktop processors.

The nearest rival comparison shows the CPU is 0.2% ahead of the 285K, 1.1% ahead of the EPYC 4584PX, 1.2% ahead of the EPYC 9135, and 1.3% behind the EPYC 7F72. These small deltas indicate that the 290K Plus is a top-5 performer in the database, with no clear winner among its immediate rivals. The combined picture is a system that excels at CPU-intensive tasks but is held back by a mid-tier GPU in graphics-bound workloads.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU uses Intel Socket 1851, which is specific to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. The platform supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a maximum bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, which is unusual for a consumer desktop platform and adds server-grade reliability. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, providing high-bandwidth access for the latest NVMe SSDs and graphics cards.

The CPU's 125 W TDP is modest, and the GPU's 150 W TDP brings the total to 275 W for the two main components. The GPU has no power connectors and is an IGP form factor, meaning it draws power from the motherboard rather than a dedicated PSU cable. No suggested PSU is listed, but the low power draw implies a standard 500-600 W power supply would be sufficient, though no specific wattage is stated in the FACT PACK.

A sensible next upgrade would be to replace the GPU with a higher-performing model, as the CPU's 96th percentile ranking leaves ample headroom. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes support a modern high-end graphics card or multiple NVMe drives. The 3 nm process and 125 W TDP also mean the CPU has thermal headroom for overclocking, given the unlocked multiplier. For memory, the dual-channel DDR5 configuration could be maxed out to increase bandwidth beyond the current 115.2 GB/s, depending on the installed modules.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop-class build that pairs the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, a 24-core processor at the 96th CPU percentile, with the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2, a 50th percentile GPU. The CPU is designed for high-end desktop workloads, as indicated by its market segment and 125 W TDP. The GPU is a mobile/embedded part, given its IGP slot width and "Embedded" designation, which is unusual in a desktop build.

The overall tier of this system, at the 73rd combined percentile, is upper-mid-range. The CPU is a top performer, but the GPU drags the combined score down. This is a processor-first build where the CPU is the star, and the GPU is a supporting component. The 24-core CPU with 24 threads and 5.80 GHz boost is positioned for heavy multi-threaded tasks, while the GPU's 16 GB VRAM and 576 GB/s bandwidth handle graphics duties at a competent but not elite level.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFpsUltraByGame entries, and dataIsMeasured is false. Therefore, all frame rate discussions are estimates derived from the benchmark scores.

Based on the CPU's single-thread PassMark score of 4,823 and Cinebench R23 single-core of 7,303, the processor can deliver high frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. For games that rely heavily on a single core, such as esports titles or older engines, the CPU will not be the limiting factor. The GPU's 50th percentile ranking suggests that at 1080p with ultra settings, most modern games will run at playable frame rates, likely in the 60-100 FPS range depending on the title, though exact numbers cannot be confirmed.

At 1440p, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM and 576 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for high textures, but the 32.69 TFLOPS FP32 throughput may limit performance in graphically intensive scenes. At 4K, the GPU is likely to be the bottleneck, with frame rates dropping below 60 FPS in demanding titles. The CPU's 96th percentile ensures that even at lower resolutions, the processor will not cause stutters or frame drops. For competitive gaming at 1080p with reduced settings, the system should sustain high refresh rates, but the GPU's mid-tier position means it is not optimized for 240Hz or higher displays in AAA titles.

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2

Power Build

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus

NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation X2

Market Position

Game Performance Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

Performance Insights

Strong Performance

Bottleneck Detected

Performance Tiers Explained

Ultimate

High-End

Mid-Range

Entry Level

Legacy

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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