SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i3-12100F + NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF 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

81%

GPU

99%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i3-12100F

13,494 Benchmark Score

Top 19% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

117,088 Benchmark Score

Top 1% Market Ranking

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Market Position

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Budget

0-30

Mid-Range

30-60

High-End

60-85

Enthusiast

85-100

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Your system is in the top tier. You can run any modern game at maximum settings.

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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

# Balance and Bottleneck

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation pairing presents an interesting study in component balance, though the data reveals a distinct asymmetry in capability. The CPU sits at the 68th percentile among all processors, while the GPU commands a far more imposing 95th percentile position among all graphics cards. This 27-point gap in percentile ranking immediately signals that the graphics subsystem is the dominant half of this pairing in terms of raw performance tier.

The CPU's benchmark profile reinforces this interpretation. In 3DMark threading tests, the i3-12100F scores 4,051 with 16 threads, 2,859 with 4 threads, and 893 in single-thread. The scaling from 4 threads to 16 threads is nearly linear — 2,859 to 4,051 represents roughly a 42% improvement — which indicates the processor is efficiently utilizing additional cores, but the absolute ceiling is modest. Cinebench R23 multi-core of 11,860 versus single-core of 1,674 shows a ratio of about 7.1x, which for a 4-core/8-thread part suggests strong per-core efficiency but limited aggregate throughput.

The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 124,812 and Vulkan score of 109,364 dwarf the CPU's Geekbench multi-core of 7,252 — a factor of roughly 17x in compute throughput. This disparity means that in GPU-bound workloads such as 3D rendering, ray tracing, or high-resolution gaming, the RTX 4000 SFF Ada will be the limiting factor only in the sense that it is the component doing the heavy lifting; the CPU will not bottleneck it in most scenarios. Conversely, in CPU-bound tasks like physics simulation, data compression, or single-threaded productivity applications, the i3-12100F will set the pace, and the GPU's immense compute will sit partially idle.

The PassMark physics score of 985 and integer math score of 40,978 illustrate where the CPU excels and where it does not. Integer math is strong for a 4-core part, but physics simulation, which often scales with core count and memory latency, is comparatively weak. The data compression score of 160,452 and random string sorting of 15,809 indicate solid memory subsystem performance for the platform, but these are not workloads that stress the GPU.

In practical terms, the bottleneck shifts based on workload. For 1080p gaming with high frame rates, the CPU's single-thread score of 893 in 3DMark and PassMark single-thread of 3,444 will be the constraint, as lower resolutions place more emphasis on processor throughput. At higher resolutions or with ray tracing enabled, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor, and the CPU's modest 4-core/8-thread configuration will have ample headroom. The absence of measured FPS data means these conclusions are drawn from the benchmark scores themselves, which consistently place the GPU in a higher performance tier than the CPU.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 13,494, placing it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, scores 13,492 — a delta of 0% — meaning the i3-12100F is statistically indistinguishable from that part in aggregate performance. The Intel Core i5-9500 trails by 0.3% with a score of 13,452, while the Intel Core 5 120UL leads by 0.7% at 13,594, and the Intel Core i7-1250U trails by 1.1% at 13,351. These narrow margins indicate the i3-12100F sits in a dense cluster of mid-range processors, none of which has a decisive advantage in overall benchmark terms.

Drilling into specific tests, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,860 is the standout figure, representing strong sustained multi-threaded performance for a 58W TDP part. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 1,674 is respectable and indicates good per-thread efficiency from the Alder Lake architecture. Geekbench multi-core of 7,252 and single-core of 1,932 reinforce this picture — the CPU is capable in lightly-threaded tasks but does not compete with higher-core-count parts in heavily parallel workloads.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 117,088, placing it at the 95th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GB10, scores 117,393 with a delta of -0.3%, meaning the RTX 4000 SFF Ada trails by a hair. The AMD Radeon PRO W7700 leads by 1.6% with a score of 118,976, while the NVIDIA Tesla V100 SXM2 16 GB trails by 2.4% at 114,395, and the NVIDIA RTX A5500 Mobile trails by 2.8% at 113,944. The GPU is clearly in rarefied company — the 95th percentile means it outperforms roughly 95% of all GPUs in the database.

The combined picture is that of a workstation-class GPU paired with a mainstream desktop CPU. The combined percentile of 82 reflects the lower CPU score pulling down the overall ranking. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GPU's 124,812 is nearly 17x the CPU's multi-core score of 7,252, and the Vulkan score of 109,364 is similarly dominant. This is not a balanced pairing in the traditional gaming sense; it is a configuration where the GPU is intended to be the primary compute engine, and the CPU provides adequate support without being a bottleneck in GPU-centric workloads.

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10nm process node. It operates at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts to 4.30 GHz, with a TDP of 58W. The die size is 163 mm², and the cache hierarchy consists of 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a dual-channel memory platform supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, with PCIe Gen 5 providing 16 lanes from the CPU.

The benchmark scores reveal a processor that punches above its core count in single-threaded tasks. The 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and PassMark single-thread score of 3,444 are strong for a 4-core part, reflecting the high boost clock and efficient Alder Lake cores. The Cinebench R20 single-core score of 703 and R15 single-core of 168 corroborate this — the i3-12100F can hold its own against processors with more cores in lightly-threaded applications.

Multi-threaded performance is more modest. The Cinebench R23 multi-core of 11,860 is respectable but not exceptional, and the 3DMark 16-thread score of 4,051 shows that the processor reaches its multi-thread ceiling quickly. The PassMark multi-thread score of 14,015 and floating-point math score of 31,977 indicate reasonable throughput for office productivity and moderate content creation, but the processor will struggle with heavily parallel workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering at scale.

The data encryption score of 8,071 and extended instructions score of 10,842 suggest the CPU handles cryptographic workloads and SIMD operations competently. The find prime numbers score of 60 is low, reflecting the limited core count in a workload that scales nearly linearly with cores. For real workloads, this means the i3-12100F is well-suited for everyday computing, web browsing, office applications, and light-to-moderate content creation, but it is not a processor for heavy multi-threaded rendering or compilation tasks.

The 68th percentile ranking places it above the median CPU, and its nearest rivals — all within 1.1% delta — confirm it is a solid mid-range option. The launch MSRP of $97 positions it as an entry-level desktop processor, and the unlocked multiplier is not available (multiplierUnlocked: false), meaning overclocking is not supported.

# Who Should Build It

This pairing targets users who need serious GPU compute but do not require high-end CPU throughput. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation's 95th percentile ranking and 20 GB of VRAM make it a compelling choice for professionals working with large datasets, 3D scenes, or AI models. The CPU's 68th percentile ranking and 4-core/8-thread configuration are sufficient for feeding the GPU in most GPU-bound workloads, but not for CPU-heavy tasks.

Gamers at 1080p with high refresh rate monitors will find the CPU is the limiting factor in many titles, as the single-thread score of 893 in 3DMark and 3,444 in PassMark will cap frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. At 1440p or 4K, the GPU takes over as the bottleneck, and the i3-12100F will be less of a constraint. However, the GPU's workstation orientation — with 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and a 70W TDP — suggests this is not primarily a gaming card, though it will certainly game well.

Content creators working with GPU-accelerated rendering, such as Blender Cycles or Octane, will benefit from the RTX 4000 SFF Ada's 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. The 20 GB of VRAM with 280.0 GB/s bandwidth allows for large scenes and high-resolution textures that would exceed the memory capacity of consumer cards. Video editors using GPU-accelerated effects and exports will see the Geekbench OpenCL score of 124,812 translate into fast processing, though the CPU's modest multi-thread score of 14,015 in PassMark may bottleneck CPU-side encoding tasks.

Software developers compiling large codebases will find the i3-12100F adequate but not fast — the Cinebench R23 multi-core of 11,860 is acceptable for moderate projects, but large builds will take time. Students and small business workstations benefit from the low 58W CPU TDP and 70W GPU TDP, enabling compact, power-efficient builds that do not require elaborate cooling or high-wattage power supplies.

The combined 82nd percentile ranking indicates this is a system that outperforms the majority of desktop configurations, with the GPU providing the bulk of the performance advantage. Users who prioritize GPU compute over CPU throughput — such as data scientists, 3D artists, and video professionals — will find this pairing well-suited to their needs.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i3-12100F uses the Intel Socket 1700, which supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. This flexibility allows builders to choose between cost-effective DDR4 or higher-bandwidth DDR5, though the memory bandwidth figures are not provided in the data. The CPU provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which is ample for a single high-end GPU and one or two NVMe SSDs.

The GPU uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which is fully compatible with the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 slots — the GPU will run at PCIe 4.0 speeds, which is sufficient for its 280.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. The GPU's 70W TDP and suggested PSU of 250W mean that even a modest power supply can support this configuration. The combined TDP of the CPU (58W) and GPU (70W) totals 128W, leaving significant headroom on any PSU rated above 250W.

A sensible next upgrade would be a higher-core-count processor on the same LGA 1700 socket, such as a Core i5 or i7 from the 12th or 13th generation, which would improve multi-threaded performance without requiring a motherboard change. The CPU's 12 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel memory support would benefit from a processor with more cores and potentially more cache. However, the GPU is already at the 95th percentile, so upgrading it would yield diminishing returns unless moving to a top-tier workstation GPU.

The GPU's power connectors are listed as "None," meaning it draws power entirely from the PCIe slot, which simplifies installation and reduces cable management needs. The dual-slot form factor with a 168 mm length (6.6 inches) and 69 mm height (2.7 inches) makes it suitable for small form factor cases, aligning with the "SFF" designation. The 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support multi-monitor setups, though adapters may be needed for standard DisplayPort or HDMI connections.

# Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: At 1080p, the CPU's single-thread score of 3,444 in PassMark will limit frame rates in many titles, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. At 1440p or 4K, the GPU's 95th percentile ranking and 19.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance will dominate, delivering high frame rates in most games, though the lack of measured FPS data means these are estimates based on benchmark scores.

Streaming: The CPU's 4-core/8-thread configuration with a Cinebench R23 multi-core of 11,860 can handle software encoding at moderate settings, but the GPU's NVENC (via Ada Lovelace architecture) would be preferable for streaming. The 192 tensor cores and 48 RT cores can accelerate encoding and AI-enhanced streaming features, offloading the CPU for game rendering.

Video Editing: The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 124,812 and 20 GB VRAM will accelerate timeline playback, effects rendering, and exports in GPU-accelerated editors like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro. The CPU's multi-thread score of 14,015 in PassMark will handle proxy generation and CPU-side effects, but long 4K or 8K timelines may see CPU bottlenecks in certain operations.

3D Rendering: The RTX 4000 SFF Ada's 48 RT cores and 19.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance are well-suited for GPU rendering engines. The 20 GB VRAM allows for large scenes that exceed the 8-16 GB memory of consumer cards. The CPU's 11,860 Cinebench R23 multi-core score will handle scene preparation and physics, but final renders will be GPU-bound and fast.

Software Development: The i3-12100F's single-thread performance (1,932 Geekbench single-core) is adequate for code editing and IDE responsiveness, but the 4-core/8-thread configuration with 12 MB L3 cache will slow compilation of large projects. The GPU offers no direct benefit for most development tasks, though CUDA-based compute or machine learning development will leverage the 192 tensor cores effectively.

Student and Office Work: The 58W TDP CPU and 70W GPU make for a power-efficient system. The CPU's PassMark multi-thread of 14,015 and data compression of 160,452 handle spreadsheets, document processing, and web browsing with ease. The GPU is overkill for these tasks, but its presence ensures future-proofing for any GPU-accelerated applications the user may encounter.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is a workstation-class GPU built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD104 chip fabricated on TSMC's 5nm process. It contains 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, with a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². The GPU has 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units, producing a pixel rate of 99.84 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 299.5 GTexel/s.

The memory subsystem consists of 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 280.0 GB/s. The memory clock is 1750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective data rate. This capacity is the GPU's standout feature — 20 GB of VRAM is more than most consumer GPUs and enables large datasets, high-resolution textures, and complex 3D scenes to reside entirely in GPU memory.

The GPU's compute capabilities are impressive: 19.17 TFLOPS FP32 and 19.17 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1 ratio), which means no half-rate penalty for FP16 workloads. The 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores provide hardware acceleration for ray tracing and AI inference, respectively. The base clock of 720 MHz and boost clock of 1560 MHz are conservative, reflecting the 70W TDP and SFF (small form factor) design.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the GPU scores 124,812, and in Vulkan, 109,364. These scores place it at the 95th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms 95% of the database. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GB10, is 0.3% faster, while the AMD Radeon PRO W7700 is 1.6% faster. The NVIDIA Tesla V100 SXM2 16 GB trails by 2.4%, and the RTX A5500 Mobile by 2.8%. These tight margins indicate the RTX 4000 SFF Ada is at the top of its class, competing with much larger and more power-hungry workstation GPUs.

The GPU's 70W TDP and lack of power connectors mean it draws all power from the PCIe slot, making it an exceptionally efficient workstation GPU. The 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support multiple 4K displays. The dual-slot design and 168 mm length (6.6 inches) allow installation in compact cases, and the suggested PSU of 250W means even entry-level power supplies suffice.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop build combining the Intel Core i3-12100F, a 4-core/8-thread Alder Lake processor, with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation, a workstation GPU based on Ada Lovelace. The pairing represents a deliberate asymmetry: a mainstream, power-efficient CPU paired with a top-tier (95th percentile) GPU. The combined percentile of 82 reflects the CPU dragging down the overall ranking, but for GPU-centric workloads, this is a highly capable configuration.

The CPU's 68th percentile ranking and 13,494 average benchmark score place it in the mid-range of processors, while the GPU's 95th percentile and 117,088 average score place it near the top of all GPUs. This is not a balanced gaming rig in the traditional sense; it is a workstation-oriented build where the GPU is the primary compute engine and the CPU provides adequate support. The 58W CPU TDP and 70W GPU TDP result in a low total power draw, enabling compact, quiet, and energy-efficient systems.

The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation's 20 GB VRAM, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores make it a serious tool for professionals. The i3-12100F's 12 MB L3 cache and dual-channel memory support are sufficient for feeding the GPU in most workloads, but users with heavily multi-threaded CPU tasks will find the 4-core/8-thread configuration limiting. The build class is desktop, and the overall tier, at the 82nd combined percentile, is firmly above average, with the GPU providing the majority of the performance advantage.

# FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F is at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13,494.

Q: How does the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon PRO W7700?

A: The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation scores 117,088 on average, while the Radeon PRO W7700 scores 118,976, making the AMD card 1.6% faster.

Q: What is the GPU's memory capacity and bandwidth?

A: The GPU has 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing 280.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does the CPU support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory?

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

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

A: The combined percentile is 82, reflecting the CPU's 68th percentile and GPU's 95th percentile.

Q: What is the GPU's TDP and suggested PSU rating?

A: The GPU has a 70W TDP and a suggested PSU of 250W. It does not require any power connectors, drawing power entirely from the PCIe slot.

Q: How many RT cores and tensor cores does the GPU have?

A: The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination — the FACT PACK contains no measuredFps rows for the Intel Core i3-12100F with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation. Therefore, all frame rate discussions below are estimates derived from the benchmark scores, not measured results.

Based on the CPU's single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread of 893, PassMark single-thread of 3,444) and the GPU's 95th percentile ranking with 19.17 TFLOPS FP32, this system should deliver high frame rates at 1080p in most games, though CPU-bound titles may see the i3-12100F cap performance. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the primary driver, and its 20 GB VRAM and 280.0 GB/s bandwidth suggest it can handle high-resolution textures and demanding settings.

The GPU's 48 RT cores indicate strong ray tracing performance, likely enabling ray tracing at playable frame rates in supported titles, though the exact performance depends on the game and resolution. The 192 tensor cores support DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which can boost frame rates significantly in supported games. However, the workstation orientation of the GPU — with its 4x mini-DisplayPort outputs and 70W TDP — means it is not optimized for gaming in the same way as consumer GeForce cards, though its raw compute should translate to strong gaming performance.

For esports titles at 1080p, the CPU's single-thread performance will likely be the limiting factor, with frame rates potentially exceeding 144 FPS in lighter games but possibly struggling in more CPU-intensive titles. For AAA games at 1440p or 4K, the GPU's performance should be excellent, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom in most scenarios. These are estimates, and actual performance may vary based on game optimization, driver support, and system configuration.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i3-12100F + NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

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System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i3-12100F

NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

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Cyberpunk 2077

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Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

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Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

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Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

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