SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12450HX + Intel Arc A550M

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

91 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 9% 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
86%
VS
GPU
96%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-12450HX

24,576 Benchmark Score
Top 14% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

Intel Arc A550M

49,737 Benchmark Score
Top 4% 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 i5-12450HX and Intel Arc A550M pairing represents a high-performing mobile combination, with the CPU landing in the 77th percentile of all processors and the GPU reaching the 86th percentile of all graphics cards. Combined, this system sits in the 82nd percentile of all tested builds, positioning it as a capable laptop platform for demanding workloads and high-refresh-rate gaming. The data confirms a well-balanced duo where the CPU’s strong multi-threaded performance complements the GPU’s exceptional compute throughput, though the distinct architectural strengths of each component create specific bottlenecks depending on the task.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i5-12450HX is an 8-core, 12-thread mobile processor built on the Alder Lake architecture using Intel’s 10 nm process. With a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, this chip is designed to deliver strong single-threaded responsiveness while maintaining substantial multi-core throughput for content creation and productivity. The cache hierarchy is generous: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps feed the cores efficiently during complex workloads. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and it offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, ensuring fast connectivity for storage and discrete graphics.

Benchmark results confirm the CPU’s broad capability. In Cinebench R23, the i5-12450HX scores 11390 in multi-core and 2119 in single-core, showing that it can handle both heavily threaded rendering tasks and lightly threaded applications with ease. The Cinebench R20 scores of 6304 multi-core and 889 single-core follow the same pattern, with the multi-core result being nearly seven times the single-core figure, indicating excellent scaling across its 12 threads. The PassMark suite further illustrates this: a multi-thread score of 18274, a single-thread score of 3340, and strong results in integer math (57189) and floating-point math (43126) suggest that the CPU is well-suited for scientific computing, financial modeling, and video encoding. The data compression score of 219707 and encryption score of 12110 highlight its ability to handle archival tasks and secure communications without becoming a bottleneck.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-12450HX’s average benchmark score of 24576 places it just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600 (24563) and 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9654P (24465). It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D (24709) by 0.5% and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (24728) by 0.6%. These deltas are minimal, meaning the i5-12450HX delivers performance statistically indistinguishable from these desktop-class rivals in aggregate benchmarks. For real workloads, this means a user upgrading from a mid-range desktop from the previous generation will see comparable or better performance in a laptop form factor. The 77th percentile ranking against all CPUs confirms that this is a top-quartile processor, capable of driving professional software like CAD tools, compilers, and 3D rendering engines without significant CPU-induced stalls.

Balance and Bottleneck

The benchmark data reveals a system where the GPU is the stronger component relative to its competition, but the CPU is not far behind. The GPU’s 86th percentile rank versus the CPU’s 77th percentile suggests that in gaming scenarios, the Arc A550M will often be the limiting factor at lower resolutions, while the CPU may become the constraint at higher resolutions or in CPU-intensive titles. However, the combined 82nd percentile for the build indicates that neither component is severely mismatched; this is not a case where a weak CPU starves a powerful GPU or vice versa.

Examining the specific benchmark scores, the CPU’s average benchmark score of 24576 is only 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600, which is a previous-generation desktop chip. This means the laptop CPU is effectively on par with a capable desktop processor from a few years ago, providing ample headroom for feeding the GPU. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 49737 is 2.6% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (48477), a high-end desktop graphics card, and only 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (49957). This indicates the Arc A550M is a high-end mobile part that can push frame rates aggressively, but its performance is so close to the CPU’s tier that neither will consistently dominate the other.

In CPU-bound workloads like physics simulation, where the PassMark physics score is 1086, the processor will dictate performance. In GPU-bound tasks like pixel rendering, where the GPU achieves a pixel rate of 131.2 GPixel/s, the graphics card will be the primary driver. The data shows that for typical gaming at 1080p or 1440p, the GPU’s 8.397 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 224.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth will be the limiting factor, especially in graphically intense scenes. Conversely, in esports titles or strategy games with heavy AI calculations, the CPU’s 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock will determine frame rates. Since no measured FPS data exists for this exact combination, the balance is inferred from the percentile gap: a 9-point difference is moderate, meaning the system is well-matched but will show CPU limitations in high-FPS, low-detail scenarios and GPU limitations in high-detail, high-resolution scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU’s average benchmark score and how does it compare to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450HX has an average benchmark score of 24576. This is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600 (24563), making the two effectively identical in aggregate performance.

Q: Does the GPU support ray tracing and modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the Intel Arc A550M features 16 dedicated RT cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it fully compatible with current ray-traced games and next-generation graphics features.

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

A: The combined system sits in the 82nd percentile of all builds, which places it well above the majority of laptops and desktops in the benchmark database.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does the GPU have?

A: The Arc A550M has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming at high settings.

Q: Is the CPU’s multi-threaded performance suitable for content creation?

A: Yes, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11390 and a PassMark multi-thread score of 18274, the 12-thread processor can handle video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation without major delays.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking and which desktop GPU is it closest to?

A: The GPU is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its average score of 49737 is 2.6% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (48477), indicating desktop-class performance in a mobile form factor.

Q: What memory types does the CPU support?

A: The i5-12450HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel interface, allowing system builders to choose between cost-effective DDR4 or higher-bandwidth DDR5.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i5-12450HX is built for the Intel BGA 1964 socket, which is a mobile platform, meaning the CPU is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be swapped for a different processor. The platform supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing flexibility for memory capacity and speed, though the exact maximum capacity is not specified in the data. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which is a forward-looking feature that allows for very fast NVMe storage and future expansion, though the GPU itself uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which is more than adequate for the Arc A550M’s bandwidth requirements.

The CPU’s thermal design power (TDP) is 55 W, while the GPU’s TDP is 60 W, creating a combined thermal load of 115 W plus ancillary components. The FACT PACK does not list a suggested PSU for this build, and since this is a laptop (buildClass: "laptop"), the power delivery is handled by the system’s internal power supply and battery, not a user-replaceable desktop PSU. Upgrading this system would involve replacing the entire laptop, as both the CPU and GPU are integrated into the motherboard. Given that the GPU is marked as "End-of-life" and the CPU is still "Active," a sensible next upgrade would be to a newer laptop platform with a more recent processor generation and a current-generation GPU. The memory upgrade path is the most practical: users could move from DDR4 to DDR5 or increase capacity to improve performance in memory-sensitive applications. The PCIe Gen 5 support from the CPU means that future storage drives with higher throughput can be installed, provided the laptop’s BIOS and physical slots support them.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU’s benchmark results are consistently strong across multiple test suites. In Cinebench R15, it scores 1512 multi-core and 213 single-core; in R20, 6304 multi-core and 889 single-core; and in R23, 11390 multi-core and 2119 single-core. The PassMark results show a single-thread score of 3340 and a multi-thread score of 18274, with specialized tests like data compression (219707), encryption (12110), and extended instructions (13832) all indicating robust performance for their respective tasks. The average CPU benchmark score is 24576, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals being the Intel Core i5-11600 (0.1% higher), AMD EPYC 9654P (0.5% higher), AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D (0.5% lower), and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (0.6% lower). This puts the i5-12450HX in the same performance class as these desktop chips, which is remarkable for a mobile processor.

For the GPU, the Geekbench scores are 49894 in OpenCL and 49580 in Vulkan, yielding an average of 49737. This places the Arc A550M in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (49957), which is 0.4% higher, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (50001), which is 0.5% higher, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (50951), which is 2.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (48477), which is 2.6% lower. The GPU’s performance is thus comparable to high-end desktop graphics cards from the previous generation, making this laptop capable of handling demanding graphics workloads. The combined picture is a system that ranks in the 82nd percentile overall, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of systems in the database, with both components contributing roughly equally to that high standing.

GPU Analysis

The Intel Arc A550M is based on the DG2-512 chip with the Xe-HPG architecture, manufactured on TSMC’s 6 nm process. The chip contains 21,700 million transistors on a 406 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 53.4 million per mm². This is a large, complex GPU for a mobile part, and it is configured with 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 64 render output units (ROPs). The GPU operates at a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost clock of 2050 MHz, with a memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It features 16 RT cores for ray tracing acceleration and supports a full suite of modern APIs, including DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The memory subsystem consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is sufficient for high-resolution textures and 1080p/1440p gaming, though it may be a limiting factor at 4K with ultra settings. The GPU’s compute capabilities are substantial: it delivers 8.397 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, 16.79 TFLOPS of FP16 (with a 2:1 ratio), a pixel rate of 131.2 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 262.4 GTexel/s. These figures indicate that the A550M is not just a gaming GPU but also a capable compute device for tasks like machine learning inference, video processing, and 3D rendering. The Geekbench scores of 49894 (OpenCL) and 49580 (Vulkan) confirm its strong compute throughput, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs and making it competitive with desktop parts like the Radeon RX 6800 XT, which it beats by 2.6%. For rendering workloads, the 16 RT cores and high FP32 count mean that ray-traced scenes and GPU-accelerated renderers will perform well, though the 8 GB VRAM may require texture streaming or reduced settings in very large scenes.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination, so all frame rate figures are qualitative estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 49737, which is 2.6% higher than the Radeon RX 6800 XT and only 0.4% lower than the RTX 5070 Ti, suggests that this laptop can deliver high frame rates in modern games at 1080p and 1440p with high to ultra settings. In esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, which are CPU-bound, the i5-12450HX’s single-thread score of 3340 and boost clock of 4.40 GHz should allow frame rates well above 144 FPS at 1080p, likely exceeding 200 FPS in less demanding scenes.

For AAA games, the GPU’s 8.397 TFLOPS of FP32 compute will be the primary driver. At 1080p ultra settings, games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed Mirage should run at 60-80 FPS, with the 8 GB VRAM being adequate for most titles. At 1440p, frame rates will drop to the 45-60 FPS range at ultra settings, but turning settings to high should restore playable frame rates above 60 FPS. The 224.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is a potential bottleneck at 1440p with high-resolution textures, but it is not a severe limitation. Ray tracing performance will be moderate; the 16 RT cores are present, but the 8.397 TFLOPS FP32 throughput limits the compute budget for ray-traced effects, so users should expect to enable DLSS-like upscaling or reduce ray tracing quality to maintain smooth performance. Overall, this system is best suited for 1080p high-refresh gaming and 1440p high-settings gaming, with 4K being possible only in less demanding titles or with significant settings reductions.

Build Overview

This build pairs the Intel Core i5-12450HX with the Intel Arc A550M in a laptop form factor (buildClass: "laptop"). The combination is a high-performance mobile workstation and gaming machine, evidenced by its combined 82nd percentile ranking. The CPU’s 77th percentile and GPU’s 86th percentile indicate that this system is positioned in the upper tier of all builds, with the GPU being the stronger component relative to its peers. The i5-12450HX is a mobile 12th Gen Core i5 processor with 8 cores and 12 threads, while the Arc A550M is a discrete mobile GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 and 2048 shading units. Together, they form a cohesive platform that excels in both productivity and gaming, with the CPU providing fast multi-threaded performance for rendering and the GPU delivering desktop-class graphics power. The system’s overall tier is high-end for a laptop, sitting above most mainstream machines and rivaling entry-level desktop configurations. It is not a budget or mid-range build; it is a serious tool for users who need substantial compute and graphics performance on the go.

Who Should Build It

This laptop configuration is ideal for gamers who play at 1080p with high refresh rates or 1440p with high settings, as the GPU’s performance relative to the Radeon RX 6800 XT (2.6% higher) and RTX 5070 Ti (0.4% lower) indicates it can handle demanding titles without compromise. Esports enthusiasts will benefit from the CPU’s strong single-thread score of 3340 and 4.40 GHz boost clock, which should deliver very high frame rates in competitive games. Content creators, particularly video editors and 3D artists, will find the CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11390 and the GPU’s 8.397 TFLOPS FP32 compute valuable for rendering and encoding workflows. Software developers can leverage the 12 threads for compilation and the GPU’s Vulkan 1.4 support for graphics programming. Students in engineering or computer science fields will appreciate the CPU’s data encryption score of 12110 and floating-point math score of 43126 for simulations and data analysis. Small business workstations that require occasional gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks, such as CAD or machine learning inference, will find this system capable, though the 8 GB VRAM may be limiting for very large models. The 86th percentile GPU ranking and 82nd combined percentile ensure that this build is a strong choice for anyone needing high performance in a mobile package, without the need for a desktop tower.