SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i3-12100 + NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation

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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90 Score

Top 10% Ranking

90 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 10% 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

80%

GPU

99%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i3-12100

12,054 Benchmark Score

Top 20% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation

184,664 Benchmark Score

Top 1% 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.

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 i3-12100 and NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation is an unconventional pairing that places a high-end workstation GPU alongside an entry-level desktop processor. The data shows a desktop-class build with a combined percentile of 83, indicating that this system, while anchored by a mid-pack CPU, is elevated to the upper echelon of overall performance by its GPU. This analysis examines the benchmark results to determine what this combination means for real workloads.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i3-12100 is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 60 W TDP. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The CPU features 12 MB of shared L3 cache, with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. It also includes integrated UHD Graphics 730 and provides PCIe Gen 5 connectivity with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The benchmark scores position this CPU at the 67th percentile among all CPUs, which is a strong result for a 4-core part. In multi-threaded tests, the i3-12100 scores 10,623 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 4,461 in Cinebench R20 multicore. The 3DMark results show a notable pattern: the 4-thread score is 2,845, but the 8-thread score jumps to 4,014, and the max-thread score is 4,004. This indicates that the processor scales well with additional threads up to its 8-thread limit, but adding more threads beyond that does not yield further gains, which is expected for a 4-core design.

Single-thread performance is a clear strength. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1,499, and the Geekbench single-core score is 1,962. The Passmark single-thread score of 3,173 reinforces this. In the 3DMark suite, the single-thread score is 890, while the 2-thread score is 1,645, showing efficient scaling across the first two threads. This makes the i3-12100 highly responsive for lightly-threaded tasks like general desktop use, web browsing, and older games that rely on single-core performance.

The nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all significantly more expensive or higher-tier processors: the Intel Xeon Gold 6314U (avg score 12,026, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U (12,019, 0.3% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X (12,000, 0.5% ahead). The i3-12100's average benchmark score is 12,054, putting it within 1.2% of the Intel Core i7-7700 (11,914). This shows that the i3-12100 delivers performance comparable to older high-end desktop processors, but with a much more modern architecture and feature set.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 12,054, placing it at the 67th percentile. The GPU, however, dominates the performance picture. The RTX 5000 Ada Generation scores 175,286 in Geekbench OpenCL and 194,041 in Geekbench Vulkan, with an average benchmark score of 184,664. This places the GPU at the 98th percentile among all GPUs, a dramatic separation from the CPU's 67th percentile.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80 GB (avg score 183,725, 0.5% behind) and the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB (187,147, 1.3% ahead). The RTX 5000 Ada also edges out the RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell (182,109, 1.4% behind) and the GeForce RTX 4090 D (178,050, 3.7% behind). This places the RTX 5000 Ada in the same performance class as the A100 datacenter accelerators, which is remarkable for a workstation card.

The combined picture is clear: this build is overwhelmingly GPU-bound. The CPU will not bottleneck the GPU in most compute-heavy tasks, but it will limit the system's ability to feed the GPU data quickly in scenarios that require high single-threaded throughput. For GPU-accelerated workloads like rendering, machine learning inference, or video encoding, the system will perform close to the level of a much more expensive CPU+GPU combination. For CPU-bound tasks like physics simulation or data compression, the system will perform at the level of the i3-12100's 67th percentile.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination, so all frame rate figures here are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU's 98th percentile position and the CPU's 67th percentile position suggest that at lower resolutions, the CPU will be the limiting factor in many games. At 1080p, where CPU overhead is more significant, the i3-12100's single-thread strength (3,173 Passmark single-thread) will help, but the 4-core design may cause frame hitches in modern titles that utilize more than 4 threads heavily.

At 1440p and especially 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. The RTX 5000 Ada's raw compute power (65.28 TFLOPS FP32) and high memory bandwidth (576.0 GB/s) will allow it to render at high settings with ease. The GPU's 32 GB of GDDR6 memory is more than sufficient for any current game at 4K with maximum texture quality. Estimated frame rates at 4K ultra settings should be well above 60 FPS in most titles, given the GPU's performance class (98th percentile, rivaling the RTX 4090 D which is only 3.7% behind).

However, users should temper expectations for 1080p high-refresh gaming. The i3-12100's 4-core/8-thread configuration may not sustain frame rates above 144 FPS in CPU-intensive games, even with a GPU this powerful. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 4,036 shows that the CPU's multi-threaded throughput is modest, which could bottleneck the GPU in esports titles that are CPU-bound.

Who Should Build It

This pairing is not a typical gaming build, but it has clear use cases for professionals who need massive GPU compute power without investing in a high-core-count CPU. Content creators working with 4K or 8K video editing, 3D rendering, or GPU-accelerated effects will benefit from the RTX 5000 Ada's 98th percentile GPU performance. The 32 GB VRAM and 576.0 GB/s bandwidth make it suitable for large texture sets and complex 3D scenes.

Developers working on machine learning or data science projects will find the GPU's 400 tensor cores and 65.28 TFLOPS FP16 performance useful for training and inference tasks. The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 175,286 indicates strong compute capabilities that rival datacenter accelerators like the A100.

Students and small business workstations that run GPU-accelerated applications but do not require heavy multi-threaded CPU work will see excellent performance. The i3-12100's 67th percentile CPU performance is sufficient for typical office tasks, web development, and light programming, while the GPU handles the heavy lifting. However, users who primarily run CPU-bound applications like software compilation or complex data analysis should look for a higher-core-count CPU.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12100 is at the 67th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12,054.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80 GB?

A: The RTX 5000 Ada Generation has an average benchmark score of 184,664, which is 0.5% behind the A100 SXM4 80 GB's score of 183,725.

Q: Does this system support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-12100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 5000 Ada Generation has a memory bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s, using a 256-bit bus with 32 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Q: Is the CPU overclockable?

A: No, the multiplier is unlocked is false for the Intel Core i3-12100, meaning it is not overclockable.

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

A: The RTX 5000 Ada Generation uses the Ada Lovelace architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process node, with the AD102 chip.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have?

A: The GPU has 32 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is more than enough for large datasets and high-resolution textures.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation is a workstation GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. The AD102 chip contains 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die. It has 12,800 shading units, 400 texture mapping units, and 176 render output units. The GPU is equipped with 100 RT cores and 400 tensor cores, providing hardware acceleration for ray tracing and AI workloads.

Memory configuration is substantial: 32 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 2250 MHz, with an effective speed of 18 Gbps. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1155 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz. This translates to a pixel rate of 448.8 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1,020.0 GTexel/s. Compute performance is rated at 65.28 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 (1:1 ratio).

The GPU's benchmark scores are exceptional. The Geekbench Vulkan score of 194,041 and OpenCL score of 175,286 place it at the 98th percentile among all GPUs. The average benchmark score of 184,664 puts it in direct competition with datacenter GPUs like the A100 series. The nearest rival, the A100 SXM4 80 GB, is only 0.5% behind, while the A100 SXM4 40 GB is 1.3% ahead. This indicates that the RTX 5000 Ada offers compute performance comparable to top-tier accelerators.

For rendering workloads, the 65.28 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 400 TMUs provide immense geometry and texture throughput. The 176 ROPs ensure high pixel fill rates, which is critical for high-resolution rendering. The 100 RT cores enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and the 400 tensor cores accelerate AI-based denoising and upscaling. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, covering the full spectrum of modern graphics APIs.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: At 1080p, the i3-12100's 4-core design may limit frame rates in CPU-intensive titles, but the GPU's raw power will push high FPS in most games. At 1440p and 4K, the RTX 5000 Ada's 98th percentile performance will deliver excellent frame rates, though the lack of measured FPS data means these are estimates.

Streaming: The GPU's NVENC encoder (implied by the Ada Lovelace architecture) can handle video encoding with minimal CPU overhead. The i3-12100's single-thread strength (3,173 Passmark) ensures smooth streaming software performance, but the 4-core limit may require careful setting management.

Video editing: The GPU's 32 GB VRAM and 576.0 GB/s bandwidth are ideal for 4K and 8K video timelines. The 65.28 TFLOPS FP32 performance accelerates effects and color grading. The CPU's 67th percentile score is sufficient for editing software, but export times may be slower than with higher-core CPUs.

3D rendering: This is the strongest scenario. GPU-accelerated renderers will utilize the RTX 5000 Ada's full compute power, rivaling the A100 in performance. The CPU's role is minimal in GPU rendering, so the i3-12100's modest multi-thread score (10,623 Cinebench R23) is not a significant bottleneck.

Software development: Compilation and code analysis are CPU-bound, so the i3-12100's 4 cores will limit performance. However, the GPU accelerates tasks like machine learning training and data processing. Developers working on AI projects will see strong performance.

Student and office work: The CPU's single-thread performance makes everyday tasks responsive. The GPU is overkill for office work, but it future-proofs the system for any compute-heavy coursework or research tasks.

Build Overview

This is a desktop build that pairs an entry-level Intel Core i3-12100 with a flagship workstation GPU, the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation. The CPU is a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake part with a 67th percentile ranking, while the GPU is a 32 GB Ada Lovelace workstation card at the 98th percentile. The combined percentile of 83 reflects the dominance of the GPU in the overall performance profile.

The CPU has a launch MSRP of $122. The GPU does not have a listed launch MSRP. This is a specialized configuration: it is not balanced for general use, but it is highly effective for GPU-compute workloads. The system's overall tier is defined by the GPU's performance class, which rivals datacenter accelerators like the A100. Users are effectively getting workstation-level GPU compute with a budget CPU, which is a valid strategy for specific use cases.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance imbalance between the CPU and GPU is extreme. The CPU sits at the 67th percentile, while the GPU is at the 98th percentile, a gap of 31 percentile points. In GPU-bound workloads like rendering, machine learning, and video encoding, the GPU will be the primary performance driver, and the CPU will rarely bottleneck. The GPU's average score of 184,664 is over 15 times the CPU's average score of 12,054.

However, in CPU-bound workloads, the bottleneck is clear. The i3-12100's 4-core design limits multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by the 3DMark scores: the 8-thread score of 4,014 is nearly identical to the max-thread score of 4,004, showing no scaling beyond 8 threads. For gaming at lower resolutions, the CPU is likely the limiting factor. The lack of measured FPS data prevents precise quantification, but the CPU's 67th percentile versus the GPU's 98th percentile suggests that at 1080p, the CPU will hold back the GPU in many titles.

At higher resolutions, the bottleneck shifts to the GPU, which is where this build shines. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K will be less dramatic than with a balanced system, because the GPU has so much headroom that the CPU becomes the constraint at lower resolutions. For users who prioritize GPU compute or high-resolution rendering, this imbalance is acceptable. For users who want consistent high-refresh gaming at 1080p, a stronger CPU would be necessary.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i3-12100 + NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i3-12100

NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation

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

Benchmark Performance

Gaming Performance

Who Should Build It

FAQ

GPU Analysis

Usage Scenarios

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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