SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H + NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation

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

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
Well Balanced
CPU
93%
VS
GPU
80%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H

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

NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation

3,596 Benchmark Score
Top 20% 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.

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 and NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation represent a high-core-count mobile CPU paired with a workstation-class laptop GPU. The CPU sits in the 88th percentile of all processors, indicating strong multi-threaded capability, while the GPU, despite its professional branding, ranks in the 21st percentile based on the available benchmark data. This pairing yields a combined percentile of 55, placing it in the mid-range of all tracked system configurations. The data provided contains no measured FPS rows for this exact combination; all gaming performance figures discussed in this analysis are estimates derived from the individual component benchmark scores.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is a 16-core, 16-thread mobile processor built on Intel's 3 nm Panther Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 3. It operates with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a thermal design power (TDP) of 25 W, indicating efficient power scaling for a laptop form factor. The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache, which supports the data-heavy workloads typical of professional applications.

In Cinebench tests, the CPU scores 20,547 points in R23 multi-core and 2,071.5 points in R23 single-core. The multi-core result is the standout figure, suggesting sustained heavy workloads like video rendering or code compilation will see substantial throughput. The single-core score of 2,071.5 is respectable for day-to-day responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications, though it does not lead the pack. The R20 scores of 12,820 multi-core and 1,809 single-core follow the same pattern, confirming consistent scaling across the core count.

PassMark results reinforce this profile. The multithread score of 35,399 is strong, while the single-thread score of 4,218 shows solid per-core performance. Integer math (87,284) and floating-point math (108,527) scores are both high, indicating the CPU handles both general productivity and scientific calculations well. Data compression (352,365) and encryption (27,150) scores are notably strong, making this chip suitable for archival tasks and secure data handling. Physics simulation (3,028) and prime number finding (341) scores are lower relatively, suggesting that purely integer-heavy or physics-based tasks will not be the primary strength, but the overall average benchmark score of 43,210 places it in the top tier of mobile CPUs.

The nearest rivals show a tight competitive cluster. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 averages 43,326 (0.3% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 averages 43,431 (0.5% ahead), while the Intel Core i9-12900 averages 42,906 (0.7% behind) and the i9-12900KF averages 42,830 (0.9% behind). These deltas are within the margin of benchmark variance, meaning the Core Ultra 9 386H effectively trades blows with these desktop and high-end mobile parts, though it does not decisively outperform any of them.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform, meaning the CPU is not upgradeable in a traditional sense. This is a laptop-class component, and the build class confirms a laptop form factor. The processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. This bandwidth is sufficient for feeding the 16 cores and for the integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics, though the presence of a discrete GPU means the memory bandwidth is shared between the CPU and GPU workloads.

For PCIe, the CPU provides 12 Gen 5 lanes, which is allocated for the primary devices. The GPU, however, uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which suggests the system reserves bandwidth for the discrete adapter. The TDP of the CPU is 25 W, and the GPU has a TDP of 120 W, summing to 145 W of pure component power draw before accounting for other system parts. With no suggested PSU listed, the data does not specify a wattage requirement, but the low CPU TDP combined with the moderate GPU TDP indicates a system that can be cooled by a capable laptop cooling solution without needing exotic power delivery.

A sensible next upgrade for this platform is limited by the BGA socket. Users cannot swap the CPU or GPU independently. The practical upgrade path is to increase system memory to the maximum supported by the dual-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X controller, or to add storage via the available PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Given the 16-core, 16-thread configuration, the system has no hyper-threading, which means the 16 threads are the physical cores only. For users moving from a lower-core-count laptop, this represents a substantial jump in parallel processing capability, but the lack of an upgrade socket means the initial purchase decision is final.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU benchmark data is extensive, showing a processor that performs well above average. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,547 places the CPU in the 88th percentile against all CPUs, which is a strong showing for a mobile part. The single-core score of 2,071.5 is less exceptional but still above the median, confirming that the architecture prioritizes multi-threaded throughput. The PassMark multithread score of 35,399 corroborates the Cinebench result, while the single-thread score of 4,218 suggests that the 4.90 GHz boost clock delivers high per-core performance when needed.

The GPU benchmark data is sparse, with only one test: 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, scoring 3,596 points. This places the GPU in the 21st percentile against all GPUs, which is a low ranking for a component carrying the RTX 5000 Mobile name. The nearest rivals for the GPU are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 (3,594, 0.1% ahead), the GT 735M (3,616, 0.6% ahead), the GTX 1050 (3,629, 0.9% ahead), and the AMD Radeon HD 6770 (3,649, 1.5% ahead). These are all older or lower-tier desktop and mobile parts, indicating that the RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation, despite its architecture and memory configuration, does not deliver competitive rasterization performance in this benchmark.

The combined picture is a CPU that is a clear high performer and a GPU that is a clear low performer relative to its naming. The combined percentile of 55 reflects this split: the system is neither a top-tier gaming machine nor a bottom-tier one, but rather a configuration where the CPU outshines the GPU significantly. The GPU does have 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is ample for memory-heavy tasks, but the raw compute throughput (41.15 TFLOPS FP32) does not translate into benchmark wins against modern gaming GPUs.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data indicates a severe imbalance between the CPU and GPU. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 21st percentile creates a scenario where the CPU is effectively bottlenecked by the GPU in graphics-intensive workloads. In gaming, the GPU will be the limiting factor, as its low percentile ranking suggests it cannot keep pace with the CPU's ability to feed frames. The CPU has the single-thread performance to handle game logic and physics, but the GPU will cap the frame rate.

Evidence from the FPS scaling is absent, as there are no measured FPS rows for this combination. However, the percentile disparity is stark: a CPU in the top 12% paired with a GPU in the bottom 21% means that in any GPU-bound scenario, the GPU will throttle performance. For CPU-bound workloads like video encoding, data compression, or 3D rendering, the CPU will dominate, and the GPU's role is minimized. The PassMark physics score of 3,028 is modest, suggesting that even in CPU-bound physics simulations, this processor is not the absolute top tier, but it is far above the GPU's relative standing.

For productivity applications that rely on both CPU and GPU, such as video editing with hardware acceleration, the GPU's low rasterization score may still be adequate for encode/decode tasks, but the 3DMark result suggests it will struggle with complex effects. The system is best described as CPU-heavy, where users will see excellent performance in multi-threaded CPU tasks and acceptable but not impressive performance in GPU-accelerated graphics.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's multi-core performance relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H scores 20,547 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its average benchmark score is 43,210, which is 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (43,326), 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (43,431), and 0.7% and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i9-12900 (42,906) and i9-12900KF (42,830), respectively.

Q: Does this CPU support ECC memory?

A: No, the FACT PACK lists ECC memory support as false for the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the CPU's socket type and is it upgradeable?

A: The CPU uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform. This means the CPU is not field-upgradeable; it is fixed to the motherboard.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU scores 3,596 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This is 0.1% ahead of the GT 545 (3,594), 0.6% behind the GT 735M (3,616), 0.9% behind the GTX 1050 (3,629), and 1.5% behind the Radeon HD 6770 (3,649).

Q: What is the combined percentile rank of this CPU+GPU pairing?

A: The combined percentile is 55, placing this configuration in the 55th percentile of all tracked system combinations.

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

A: The CPU is built on Intel's 3 nm process node using the Panther Lake architecture, also known as Panther Lake-H.

Who Should Build It

This configuration is aimed at users who prioritize CPU compute performance over GPU gaming prowess. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking makes it ideal for professionals who run multi-threaded workloads on a laptop: software developers compiling large codebases, data scientists processing datasets, and video editors working with high-resolution timelines that rely on CPU encoding. The 16 cores and 16 threads are well-suited for parallel tasks, and the strong PassMark data compression score (352,365) and encryption score (27,150) point to use in data-heavy fields.

The GPU, while underperforming in rasterization, still has 16 GB of VRAM, which is useful for AI inference or rendering tasks that need large memory pools without high frame rates. However, the 21st percentile ranking means gamers should avoid this configuration if high-refresh gaming is the goal. Students and small business users doing office work will find the CPU overkill but the system responsive, though the GPU's low score does not matter for document editing or spreadsheet tasks. The target user is a professional who needs a portable workstation with maximum CPU throughput and can tolerate average graphics capability.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: This is not a strong scenario. The GPU's 3DMark score of 3,596 and 21st percentile ranking indicate it will struggle to push high frame rates at any resolution. The CPU could handle the load, but the GPU is the bottleneck. Estimates suggest 1080p gaming at medium settings is the realistic ceiling, with no data supporting high-refresh 1440p or 4K play.

Streaming: The CPU's strong multi-threaded scores (Cinebench R23 20,547) can handle software encoding alongside gaming, but the GPU's low rasterization performance will limit the game's frame rate. The CPU's 16 threads are sufficient for simultaneous encoding and gameplay, but the overall experience will be subpar due to the GPU.

Video editing: This is a viable scenario. The CPU's high integer and floating-point math scores (87,284 and 108,527) accelerate timeline processing and effect rendering. The GPU's 16 GB VRAM can hold large frame buffers, but the low compute score means GPU-accelerated effects will be slower than on better-performing GPUs.

3D rendering: The CPU is the star here. The Cinebench multi-core score of 20,547 suggests strong CPU-based rendering performance in applications like Blender or V-Ray. The GPU's 41.15 TFLOPS FP32 compute is not negligible, but its low benchmark percentile suggests it will not accelerate ray tracing as effectively as rival GPUs.

Software development: Excellent. The 16-core/16-thread configuration with high PassMark multithread score (35,399) compiles code quickly. The single-thread score of 4,218 ensures fast editor response and build tool startup.

Student and office work: Overkill but functional. The CPU's performance ensures no lag in office suites, and the 25 W TDP means long battery life is possible. The GPU is irrelevant for this scenario, but the system's overall cost in terms of CPU power is wasted on simple tasks.

Build Overview

This is a laptop-class build combining the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU with the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation GPU. The CPU is a 16-core Panther Lake part with a 4.90 GHz boost clock and 18 MB L3 cache, scoring in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The GPU is an Ada Lovelace architecture part with 16 GB GDDR6 and a 256-bit memory bus, but it scores in the 21st percentile of all GPUs based on the single 3DMark Steel Nomad test. The combined percentile is 55, indicating a mid-tier system overall. The pairing is unusual: a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU, making the system a productivity-first machine with gaming as an afterthought.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination. All frame rate figures in this section are estimates based on the benchmark scores. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,596 is the only performance metric, and it places the GPU at the 21st percentile, alongside rivals like the GTX 1050 (3,629) and Radeon HD 6770 (3,649). These are legacy desktop parts, indicating that the RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation will deliver playable but low frame rates in modern titles.

At 1080p ultra settings, estimated performance would be in the range of 30-50 FPS for demanding AAA titles, based on the GPU's relative standing to the GTX 1050. At 1440p, frame rates would drop below 30 FPS for most games, making it not viable for smooth gameplay. At 4K, the system would be effectively unplayable, as the GPU lacks the compute throughput to drive high resolutions. The CPU's single-thread score of 4,218 ensures that frame pacing will be stable, but the GPU will cap the maximum frame rate. For competitive esports titles at low settings, 60+ FPS may be achievable, but the low GPU percentile suggests even these lighter loads will not push high refresh rates. The 16 GB VRAM is a saving grace for texture-heavy games, but it does not compensate for the low raw performance. Overall, this is not a gaming system; it is a workstation that can run games at modest settings if needed.