SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile

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

92 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 8% 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
93%
VS
GPU
92%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H

43,210 Benchmark Score
Top 7% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile

22,729 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 386H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile represents a high-end laptop configuration that sits at the intersection of workstation-class CPU performance and upper-midrange mobile graphics. The data shows a system that excels in multi-threaded productivity tasks while providing a solid foundation for 1080p and 1440p gaming. This analysis draws exclusively from the benchmark scores and architectural details in the FACT PACK to interpret what this pairing means for different workloads.

Balance and Bottleneck

The fundamental question for any CPU-GPU pairing is which component limits performance in which scenario. The benchmark data suggests a surprisingly balanced system, with each component dominating different workload categories. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking among all processors indicates it is a top-tier mobile compute part, while the GPU's 67th percentile ranking positions it as a competent but not flagship graphics solution. This 21-percentage-point gap in percentile positioning is significant and suggests that in gaming scenarios, the GPU will almost certainly be the primary bottleneck, while in productivity and compute-heavy tasks, the CPU will be the limiting factor.

The CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 35,399 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,547 demonstrate substantial processing headroom. In contrast, the GPU's PassMark G3D score of 17,469 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 89,420 indicate that while the graphics processor is capable, it does not match the relative strength of the CPU within their respective markets. For gaming, this means the RTX 4060 Mobile will define the maximum achievable frame rates. The CPU has enough single-thread performance—evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,071.5 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4,218—to feed the GPU effectively without introducing a processor-side bottleneck.

For productivity workloads, the balance shifts. The CPU's 16 cores and 16 threads provide substantial parallel processing capability, but the lack of hyper-threading means the GPU's parallel compute capabilities, with 3,072 shading units and 96 tensor cores, may actually offload certain tasks more efficiently. In scenarios like video encoding or 3D rendering that leverage GPU acceleration, the balance is more even. The PassMark GPU compute score of 6,816 suggests the RTX 4060 Mobile can handle compute offload tasks, but the CPU remains the dominant force for general-purpose multi-threaded work. The data implies that users will encounter GPU bottlenecks in gaming and CPU bottlenecks in heavily threaded CPU-only workloads, making this a system where neither component is consistently wasted.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score of 43,210 places it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, a strong showing for a mobile processor. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385, scores 43,326, a mere 0.3% difference, indicating near-parity performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 trails by 0.5% with a score of 43,431, while the Intel Core i9-12900 comes in 0.7% ahead with 42,906, and the i9-12900KF leads this comparison group by 0.9% with 42,830. These deltas are remarkably small, suggesting that the Core Ultra 9 386H sits in a performance cluster where architectural differences translate to negligible real-world gains.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 22,729 places it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs. The closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22,895, just 0.7% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT trails by 0.8% with a score of 22,549, while the Intel Arc B580 leads by 1.3% at 23,021, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile is 1.3% behind at 22,435. This tight grouping around the RTX 4060 Mobile's score indicates that it competes directly with previous-generation desktop cards and current mid-range mobile options.

The combined percentile of 78 for this pairing reflects a system that is stronger than the GPU alone but slightly weaker than the CPU alone. The data shows a configuration where the CPU outperforms the GPU relative to their respective markets, creating a system that is better suited for productivity than for extreme high-refresh-rate gaming at maximum settings.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process node. It features a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 25 W TDP that is remarkably low for a processor with this level of performance. The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache. Memory support includes DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s.

The benchmark results reveal a processor that excels in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,547 is impressive for a 25 W mobile part, while the single-core score of 2,071.5 indicates strong per-core performance. The PassMark multi-thread score of 35,399 and integer math score of 87,284 suggest robust general-purpose computing capability. The floating-point math score of 108,527 is particularly strong, indicating good performance in scientific and engineering applications. The data compression score of 352,365 and encryption score of 27,150 show that the processor handles data-intensive tasks well, which is relevant for database work and file compression utilities.

The 16 threads without hyper-threading is an interesting design choice. For workloads that scale with thread count, this processor relies on its physical cores. The extended instructions score of 29,138 suggests good support for modern instruction sets, which benefits applications that leverage AVX-512 or similar extensions. The find prime numbers score of 341 is a more specialized metric, but the physics score of 3,028 indicates that the processor handles simulation workloads competently. Overall, the data portrays a CPU that rivals desktop processors from a few generations ago while consuming a fraction of the power.

Gaming Performance

The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS data for this specific CPU-GPU combination, so all frame rate discussions are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 17,469 and its percentile ranking of 67 indicate that this system should handle modern games at 1080p with high settings comfortably. The RTX 4060 Mobile's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth provide sufficient memory throughput for most titles at this resolution.

Based on the GPU's proximity to the desktop RTX 2080 (0.7% difference in average score), the estimated 1080p ultra settings performance would be in the range of 60-100 FPS for demanding AAA titles, with lighter esports titles exceeding 144 FPS. At 1440p, the 8 GB VRAM capacity and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth may become limiting factors in the most demanding titles, with estimated frame rates dropping to 45-75 FPS on ultra settings. The 90.72 GPixel/s pixel rate and 181.4 GTexel/s texture rate support these estimates, as they align with mid-range desktop GPUs.

The CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by the Cinebench R20 single-core score of 1,809 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,218, ensures that it will not bottleneck the GPU in most gaming scenarios. The 18 MB L3 cache is adequate for gaming workloads, and the 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient for feeding the GPU. For ray tracing workloads, the GPU's 24 RT cores provide hardware acceleration, but given the GPU's overall performance tier, ray tracing at high settings may require DLSS or similar upscaling technologies to maintain playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in multi-threaded performance?

A: The Core Ultra 9 386H scores 43,210 on average, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385's 43,326. This indicates that the two processors are effectively tied in overall performance, with differences well within run-to-run variance.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how does it affect gaming?

A: The RTX 4060 Mobile has a 128-bit memory bus with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is sufficient for 1080p gaming but may limit performance at higher resolutions or in games with heavy texture streaming.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration with a maximum bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s.

Q: What is the power consumption of the CPU and GPU?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 25 W, while the GPU has a TDP of 115 W. This combined power envelope is typical for a high-performance laptop configuration.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the RTX 2080 desktop card?

A: The RTX 4060 Mobile scores 22,729 on average, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 2080's 22,895. This suggests that the mobile GPU performs nearly identically to the previous-generation desktop card.

Q: What is the CPU's thread count and why is it notable?

A: The CPU has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning it does not support hyper-threading. This is notable because most competing 16-core processors offer 32 threads, but the Core Ultra 9 386H relies on its physical cores and high clock speeds to compensate.

Q: What is the GPU's architecture and process node?

A: The RTX 4060 Mobile is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD107 chip, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. It contains 18,900 million transistors on a 159 mm² die.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD107 chip, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process node. The GPU contains 18,900 million transistors on a 159 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 118.9M per mm². The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory operates at 2000 MHz with a 16 Gbps effective data rate across a 128-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The core clock runs at 1545 MHz base and 1890 MHz boost.

The GPU features 3,072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster operation units. For compute acceleration, it includes 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based features. The FP32 performance is rated at 11.61 TFLOPS, with FP16 performance also at 11.61 TFLOPS due to the 1:1 ratio. The pixel rate is 90.72 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 181.4 GTexel/s. The GPU connects via PCIe 4.0 x8 and consumes 115 W of power.

The benchmark scores show a GPU that performs well in both graphics and compute tasks. The PassMark G3D score of 17,469 places it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs, while the Geekbench OpenCL score of 89,420 and Vulkan score of 89,569 demonstrate strong compute and API performance. The PassMark GPU compute score of 6,816 indicates that the GPU can handle general-purpose compute workloads, though it is not a compute-focused part. DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with modern gaming features, while OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4 support provide flexibility for professional applications.

The GPU's 67th percentile ranking puts it in competition with previous-generation desktop cards like the RTX 2080 and current mid-range options like the Intel Arc B580. The tight deltaPct values among its nearest rivals—ranging from -1.3% to +1.3%—indicate that the RTX 4060 Mobile is positioned in a highly competitive segment where small architectural differences determine leadership. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is becoming a consideration point for future titles, but for current games at 1080p and 1440p, it remains adequate.

Who Should Build It

This laptop configuration is designed for professionals and enthusiasts who need a balance of CPU and GPU performance. The 88th percentile CPU ranking makes it suitable for software developers compiling large codebases, data scientists running complex analyses, and engineers using simulation tools. The PassMark multi-thread score of 35,399 and integer math score of 87,284 support these use cases. Content creators working with video editing or 3D rendering will benefit from the CPU's strong multi-core performance and the GPU's compute capabilities, though the GPU's 67th percentile ranking means it is not the primary choice for GPU-accelerated rendering.

Gamers who prioritize 1080p high-refresh-rate gaming will find this system capable, with estimated performance in the 60-100 FPS range on ultra settings for demanding titles. Students in engineering or computer science programs will appreciate the CPU's single-thread performance for daily use and multi-thread performance for project work. Small business workstations that need reliable performance for office applications, data processing, and occasional media creation will find this configuration well-suited. The 25 W CPU TDP combined with the 115 W GPU TDP suggests a laptop that can be reasonably cooled, making it suitable for users who need sustained performance without excessive fan noise.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform, meaning the processor is not upgradeable. The system supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration with a maximum bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The GPU connects via PCIe 4.0 x8, and the CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes for other devices. The integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics provides a fallback display output, though the discrete GPU will be the primary rendering solution.

The 25 W CPU TDP and 115 W GPU TDP combine for a total of 140 W, which is a manageable power envelope for a laptop. The GPU has no external power connectors, relying on the motherboard for power delivery. The suggested PSU is not specified, but the power requirements suggest that a standard high-performance laptop power adapter will suffice. The lack of ECC memory support means this platform is not ideal for mission-critical data integrity applications.

The platform's upgrade path is limited by the mobile form factor. The only practical upgrades are memory and storage, assuming the laptop provides accessible slots. The PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU could support next-generation NVMe SSDs or other high-bandwidth peripherals. For users considering a future upgrade, the GPU's placement in the 67th percentile suggests that a future laptop with a higher-tier GPU would be necessary to significantly improve gaming performance, while the CPU's 88th percentile placement means it will remain relevant for longer.

Build Overview

This is a laptop-class configuration, as indicated by the buildClass designation. The pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile creates a system that is heavily weighted toward CPU performance. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 67th percentile ranking creates a combined percentile of 78, which reflects the system's overall position among all laptop configurations. This is a high-end productivity laptop with gaming capabilities, rather than a gaming-first system with adequate productivity performance.

The architecture pair of Panther Lake CPU and Ada Lovelace GPU represents two of the most advanced mobile architectures available. The CPU's 3 nm process node and the GPU's 5 nm process node indicate that both components are built on state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. The system is designed for users who need serious computational power in a portable form factor, with the GPU providing enough graphics performance for modern games and GPU-accelerated applications.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The RTX 4060 Mobile with a PassMark G3D score of 17,469 is expected to deliver 60-100 FPS at 1080p ultra settings in demanding titles. The CPU's single-thread score of 4,218 ensures minimal bottlenecking, making this suitable for 144Hz displays in esports titles, though 240Hz displays would require lowering settings.

Streaming: The GPU's 96 tensor cores and 24 RT cores provide hardware acceleration for encoding and decoding. The CPU's 16 cores can handle simultaneous gaming and streaming workloads, with the PassMark multi-thread score of 35,399 indicating sufficient headroom for encoding overhead.

Video editing: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,547 and the GPU's compute performance make this system capable of handling 4K video editing. The 8 GB VRAM may limit preview quality with heavy effects, but the overall performance is sufficient for professional workflows.

3D rendering: The CPU's floating-point math score of 108,527 suggests strong CPU-based rendering performance. The GPU's FP32 performance of 11.61 TFLOPS supports GPU-accelerated rendering, though the 67th percentile GPU ranking means it is not a dedicated rendering workstation.

Software development: The CPU's integer math score of 87,284 and multi-thread score of 35,399 indicate fast compilation times. The 16 physical cores handle parallel builds well, and the 18 MB L3 cache reduces memory latency for large codebases.

Student and office work: The CPU's 25 W TDP allows for efficient daily use with long battery life. The single-thread performance of 4,218 ensures responsive application usage, while the integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics provides a power-efficient fallback for basic tasks when the discrete GPU is not needed.