SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i3-12100E + AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE

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

90 / 100
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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
82%
VS
GPU
98%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i3-12100E

16,853 Benchmark Score
Top 18% Market Ranking
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GRAPHICS CARD

AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE

70,829 Benchmark Score
Top 2% 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

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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.

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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

# Intel Core i3-12100E + AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE: A Desktop Pairing with 81st-Percentile Potential

The Intel Core i3-12100E and AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE form a desktop build that sits at the 81st percentile among all CPU+GPU combinations in the database, with the processor ranking in the 70th percentile versus all CPUs and the graphics card reaching the 91st percentile versus all GPUs. This pairing is notable for its asymmetry: the GPU is clearly the stronger component, with an average benchmark score of 70,829, while the CPU's average benchmark score of 16,853 places it in a more modest tier. The data reveals a system where the graphics card has substantial headroom, and the four-core processor may be the limiting factor in certain workloads. The following analysis draws exclusively on the provided benchmark data, CPU and GPU specifications, and comparative metrics to assess what this pairing can and cannot do.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i3-12100E uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which is the foundation for Alder Lake-S generation processors. The CPU supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving builders flexibility in choosing memory technology based on platform and budget constraints. The memory bus is dual-channel, and the CPU does not support ECC memory, which positions this platform for consumer and mainstream workloads rather than mission-critical server applications. The processor provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, which is a forward-looking feature that allows for high-bandwidth storage and expansion cards, though the GPU in this pairing uses PCIe 4.0 x8, so the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 capability is not fully utilized by the graphics card.

The CPU has a thermal design power (TDP) of 60 watts, which is modest by desktop standards. This low power draw means that a wide range of cooling solutions can handle the processor, from stock coolers to entry-level aftermarket air coolers. The GPU has a TDP of 132 watts and a suggested power supply rating of 300 watts, which is quite conservative for a system with a discrete graphics card. The combined power requirements of the CPU and GPU suggest that a 300-watt PSU is sufficient, though builders may opt for a slightly larger unit for headroom. The GPU uses a single 8-pin power connector, which is standard for mid-range cards and compatible with most power supplies.

A sensible next upgrade path for this platform would be to replace the Core i3-12100E with a higher-core-count Alder Lake or Raptor Lake processor on the same Socket 1700, provided the motherboard's BIOS supports it. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and 4 cores with 8 threads are the primary compute resources, and upgrading to a processor with more cores would directly address the multi-threaded performance gaps seen in the benchmark data. Memory-wise, the dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 support means builders can increase capacity or speed without changing the motherboard, though the CPU's memory bandwidth is not specified in the data. The PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU also enable future NVMe storage upgrades that can take advantage of higher bandwidth than the GPU's PCIe 4.0 x8 interface.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's benchmark results show a clear split between single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, the Core i3-12100E scores 11,559 in multi-core and 1,631 in single-core. The single-core score of 1,631 places it in a competitive position for lightly-threaded tasks, while the multi-core score of 11,559 reflects the limitation of having only 4 physical cores. The Cinebench R20 results follow a similar pattern: 4,854 multi-core and 685 single-core. Geekbench scores are 7,661 multi-core and 2,202 single-core, with the single-core result being particularly strong for a 4-core part. The Passmark suite shows a multithread score of 14,271, a single-thread score of 3,438, and specific workloads like integer math at 40,885 and floating-point math at 31,919.

In comparison to its nearest rivals, the Core i3-12100E is essentially tied with several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 7335U has an average score of 16,827, which is 0.2% higher than the i3-12100E's 16,853. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS scores 16,902, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD EPYC 7702, a server processor, scores 16,932, which is 0.5% higher, while the Intel Core i5-1235U scores 16,770, which is 0.5% lower. These deltaPct values are all within 1% of each other, indicating that the i3-12100E's benchmark performance is practically indistinguishable from these rivals despite their different core counts and market segments.

The GPU's benchmark results are more emphatic. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Radeon RX 6600 LE scores 69,229, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 72,428, with an average benchmark score of 70,829. This places the GPU in the 91st percentile versus all GPUs, which is a strong showing. The nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A3000 Mobile with an average score of 70,140 (1.0% lower), the NVIDIA Quadro P6000 at 69,986 (1.2% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 6650M at 71,768 (1.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200 at 69,870 (1.4% lower). The GPU's 91st percentile ranking is substantially higher than the CPU's 70th percentile, and the combined 81st percentile of this pairing reflects the GPU lifting the overall performance tier.

The combined picture is one of a GPU-dominant system. The CPU provides adequate single-threaded performance and modest multi-threaded performance, while the GPU delivers near-top-tier graphics compute. The 81st combined percentile suggests that this system is capable of handling demanding graphics workloads, but the CPU may bottleneck in CPU-intensive scenarios.

Usage Scenarios

For high-refresh gaming at 1080p, the data suggests this pairing is well-suited. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking indicates strong graphics throughput, which is the primary driver of frame rates at this resolution. The CPU's single-thread score of 3,438 in Passmark and 1,631 in Cinebench R23 is sufficient to keep up with the GPU in most gaming scenarios, though the 4-core/8-thread configuration may struggle in games that scale well beyond 4 threads. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth provides adequate memory capacity and bandwidth for 1080p gaming at high settings.

Streaming while gaming is a more demanding scenario. The CPU's multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,559 and a Passmark multithread score of 14,271, may be insufficient for simultaneous game encoding and gameplay at high quality settings. The GPU has no dedicated encoder specifications in the data, so streaming would rely on CPU encoding, which could introduce performance drops in CPU-bound games. The data does not include any streaming-specific benchmarks, so this assessment is based on the CPU's modest multi-core scores.

Video editing workloads benefit from both CPU and GPU performance. The CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 7,661, handle timeline operations and codec processing, while the GPU's 1,792 shading units and 8.942 TFLOPS FP32 performance accelerate effects, color grading, and rendering. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking suggests it can handle 1080p and some 1440p video editing tasks, but the CPU may limit timeline responsiveness in projects with many layers or effects.

3D rendering is primarily a GPU workload for modern renderers. The Radeon RX 6600 LE's 8.942 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 28 ray tracing cores provide substantial compute for rendering tasks. The GPU's Geekbench Vulkan score of 72,428 indicates strong compute performance in graphics APIs. However, the CPU's 4-core configuration, with a Passmark physics score of 1,185, may slow down CPU-based physics simulation and scene preparation in rendering workflows.

Software development workloads are a mixed bag. The CPU's single-threaded performance, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2,202, is strong for code compilation tasks that are often single-threaded. The multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 4,854, is adequate for parallel builds but not exceptional. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking is largely irrelevant for most development tasks, though it could accelerate GPU compute in machine learning or data processing workloads.

Student and office work is a scenario where this pairing is overqualified. The CPU's single-thread performance and the GPU's powerful compute are far beyond what is needed for document editing, web browsing, or spreadsheet work. The system would handle these tasks with ease, but the GPU's capabilities would go largely unused in such workloads.

Who Should Build It

The target user for this CPU+GPU pairing is a gamer seeking high-refresh 1080p performance. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking and the CPU's 70th percentile ranking combine to deliver an 81st-percentile system that can handle demanding games at high settings. The 8 GB of VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are well-suited for 1080p gaming, and the CPU's strong single-thread performance supports the frame pacing needed for high-refresh displays.

Content creators working with video or 3D graphics would benefit from this pairing, particularly those whose workflows leverage GPU acceleration. The GPU's 28 ray tracing cores and 8.942 TFLOPS FP32 performance are relevant for 3D rendering and video effects, while the CPU provides adequate support for non-GPU tasks. However, creators who rely heavily on CPU multi-threading for rendering or encoding may find the 4-core processor limiting.

Software developers who work on GPU compute projects or game development would find value in this system. The GPU's Vulkan and OpenCL scores of 72,428 and 69,229, respectively, indicate strong compute performance for testing and development. The CPU's single-thread performance is sufficient for most coding tasks, and the 12 MB L3 cache helps with frequently accessed data.

Students and small business workstations are possible use cases, but the performance is far beyond what those workloads require. The system could serve as a general-purpose workstation, but the GPU's power and the CPU's modest multi-threading make it a better fit for graphics-intensive tasks than for office productivity.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i3-12100E is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node with a die size of 163 mm². The base clock is 3.20 GHz, and the boost clock reaches 4.20 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and the integrated UHD Graphics 730 provides basic display output, though the discrete GPU makes this unnecessary for most builds.

The benchmark scores reveal that the i3-12100E's single-threaded performance is its strength. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,631 and the Geekbench single-core score of 2,202 are competitive with processors that have far more cores. The Passmark single-thread score of 3,438 reinforces this, and the data compression score of 160,112 suggests strong performance in workloads that are sensitive to single-thread speed. The multi-threaded scores, however, tell a different story. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,559 is roughly 7x the single-core score, which is expected for a 4-core/8-thread part with good scaling, but it places the CPU behind many 6-core and 8-core competitors.

The Passmark tests provide additional insight. The integer math score of 40,885 and floating-point math score of 31,919 are moderate, while the extended instructions score of 10,814 indicates reasonable SIMD performance. The find prime numbers score of 63 is low, suggesting that the CPU is not optimized for this type of workload. The random string sorting score of 16,089 and data encryption score of 8,069 are mid-range. The physics score of 1,185 is modest, which could affect gaming physics simulations.

The nearest rival data shows that the i3-12100E performs within 0.5% of processors like the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U, AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS, AMD EPYC 7702, and Intel Core i5-1235U. This is remarkable given that the EPYC 7702 is a server processor with a vastly different core count, which suggests that the average benchmark score of 16,853 captures a specific performance envelope that these processors share. The 70th percentile versus all CPUs indicates that the i3-12100E outperforms the majority of processors in the database, but it is not a top-tier part.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's core and thread count?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100E has 4 cores and 8 threads, based on the Alder Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth and a memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective).

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 16,853 is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U, AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS, AMD EPYC 7702, and Intel Core i5-1235U, with deltaPct values ranging from -0.5% to 0.5%.

Q: What power supply is recommended for this GPU?

A: The suggested PSU for the Radeon RX 6600 LE is 300 watts, and the GPU uses a single 8-pin power connector.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i3-12100E does not support ECC memory, and it supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The GPU is in the 91st percentile versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70,829 from Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan results.

Q: What is the CPU's integrated graphics solution?

A: The CPU includes UHD Graphics 730 as integrated graphics, though the discrete AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE is the primary graphics solution in this build.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance asymmetry between the CPU and GPU is evident from their percentile rankings. The GPU's 91st percentile versus all GPUs is significantly higher than the CPU's 70th percentile versus all CPUs, indicating that the GPU is the stronger component in this pairing. In GPU-bound workloads like gaming at high resolutions or graphics rendering, the GPU will be the primary performance driver, and the CPU should be able to feed it adequately in most scenarios. However, in CPU-bound workloads such as physics simulation, data compression, or heavily multi-threaded tasks, the CPU's 4-core configuration will be the limiting factor.

The CPU's Passmark physics score of 1,185 is particularly low, which could impact gaming performance in titles with complex physics engines. The Passmark find prime numbers score of 63 is also low, though this is a niche workload. The multi-threaded scores, such as the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,559, are modest compared to higher-core-count processors, so any workload that scales well beyond 8 threads will be bottlenecked by the CPU.

The GPU's performance, with a Geekbench Vulkan score of 72,428 and OpenCL score of 69,229, is strong enough to handle demanding graphics workloads without being the bottleneck. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p gaming at high settings, and the 28 ray tracing cores support hardware-accelerated ray tracing. In gaming, the balance will depend on the specific title and settings. At 1080p with high frame rates, the CPU may become the bottleneck in games that are not well-optimized for multi-threading. At higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K, the GPU will be the primary bottleneck, and the CPU's performance will be less critical.

The combined 81st percentile suggests that this pairing is well-balanced for most workloads, with the GPU providing the bulk of the performance. The data does not include measured FPS values, so the extent of CPU bottlenecking in gaming cannot be quantified precisely, but the benchmark scores indicate that the GPU is capable of far more than the CPU can feed in some scenarios.

Build Overview

This is a desktop build pairing the Intel Core i3-12100E processor with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE graphics card. The CPU is a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake-S part with a 60 W TDP, and the GPU is a Navi 23 chip based on RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 132 W TDP and a suggested 300 W PSU. The combined percentile of this pairing is 81, which places it above the majority of CPU+GPU combinations in the database.

The CPU's 70th percentile versus all CPUs and the GPU's 91st percentile versus all GPUs indicate that this is a mid-to-high-tier system, with the GPU being the standout component. The CPU's average benchmark score of 16,853 is competitive with its nearest rivals, while the GPU's average benchmark score of 70,829 is near the top of its class. The system is capable of handling demanding graphics workloads, and the CPU provides sufficient single-threaded performance for responsive daily use.

The GPU's release date of 2023-12-07 and the CPU's release date of 2022-01-03 indicate that this is a relatively recent pairing, with the GPU being the newer component. The GPU's predecessor is Navi and its successor is Navi III, placing it within the Radeon RX 6000 series. The CPU is part of the Core 12th Gen series, with a production status of Active for both components.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination, so all frame rate discussions are estimates based on the benchmark scores. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking and its Geekbench Vulkan score of 72,428 suggest strong gaming performance, particularly at 1080p resolution where the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are well-matched to typical game requirements. The CPU's single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,631 and Passmark single-thread score of 3,438, should be sufficient to maintain high frame rates in most games.

At 1080p ultra settings, the GPU is likely to deliver high frame rates in esports titles and competitive games, given its strong compute performance. For more demanding AAA games, the GPU's 8.942 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 28 ray tracing cores suggest it can handle high settings, though ray tracing may require lower resolutions or settings to maintain playable frame rates. The CPU's 4-core configuration may limit performance in games that are heavily multi-threaded, but the strong single-thread scores mitigate this to some extent.

At 1440p, the GPU's performance will be more stressed, and frame rates will likely be lower than at 1080p. The 8 GB of VRAM is adequate for most 1440p games, but titles with high-resolution textures may approach the memory limit. At 4K, the GPU would struggle to maintain high frame rates at ultra settings, and the CPU's performance would be less of a factor. Overall, the estimated gaming performance is strong for 1080p high-refresh gaming, with the GPU being the primary driver of frame rates.

GPU Analysis

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE is based on the Navi 23 chip with RDNA 2.0 architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process node with 11,060 million transistors and a die size of 237 mm². The GPU has 1,792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, along with 28 ray tracing cores. The base clock is 1626 MHz, the boost clock is 2495 MHz, and the game clock is 2045 MHz. The memory runs at 1750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective speed, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth across a 128-bit bus.

The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, with a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The display outputs include 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, and the card is dual-slot with a length of 190 mm, height of 110 mm, and width of 40 mm. The TDP is 132 W, and the suggested PSU is 300 W.

The benchmark scores are strong, with a Geekbench OpenCL score of 69,229 and a Vulkan score of 72,428. These scores place the GPU in the 91st percentile versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70,829. The nearest rivals are all within 1.4% of this score, including the NVIDIA RTX A3000 Mobile at 70,140, the NVIDIA Quadro P6000 at 69,986, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M at 71,768, and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200 at 69,870. The GPU's pixel rate is 159.7 GPixel/s, texture rate is 279.4 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 8.942 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 17.88 TFLOPS (2:1).

For rendering workloads, the GPU's 28 ray tracing cores provide hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which is a significant feature for modern games and 3D applications. The 8 GB of VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p and some 1440p workloads, though the 128-bit bus limits memory bandwidth compared to wider-bus cards. The GPU's compute performance, as measured by the OpenCL and Vulkan scores, indicates strong performance in GPU-accelerated tasks like video encoding, image processing, and machine learning inference. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking makes it a high-performing component that can handle demanding graphics workloads, though the 8 GB VRAM may be a limitation for very high-resolution textures or large 3D scenes.