SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12490F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

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

Build Configuration

Select your components

PROCESSOR (CPU)

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GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

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91 Score

Top 9% Ranking

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

85%

GPU

97%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-12490F

20,802 Benchmark Score

Top 15% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

60,347 Benchmark Score

Top 3% 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 i5-12490F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 presents a striking asymmetry in raw capability, yet the benchmark data reveals a combination that is surprisingly coherent for specific workloads. The CPU, a 6-core/12-thread Alder Lake-S part with a 3.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost clock, delivers strong single-threaded performance but its multi-threaded ceiling is modest by modern standards. The GPU, conversely, is a monolithic powerhouse—an Ada Lovelace AD102 chip with 16,384 shading units, 128 RT cores, and 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus. The data shows no measured FPS rows for this exact combination, so all gaming frame rates discussed here are estimates derived from the individual benchmark scores of each component.

CPU Analysis

The Core i5-12490F is built on Intel's 10 nm Alder Lake-S architecture, featuring 6 physical cores and 12 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 pool. The processor runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.60 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. This is a locked multiplier part (no overclocking), which aligns with its positioning as a mainstream desktop chip.

Benchmark results indicate a processor that excels in lightly-threaded tasks but falls behind in heavily parallel workloads. The 3DMark single-thread score of 946 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2440 place it in the upper echelon for everyday responsiveness. However, the multi-threaded picture is more nuanced: Cinebench R23 multicore yields 17,284 points, while 3DMark scores scale from 1,727 (2 threads) to 5,936 (max threads). The 8-thread score of 4,811 suggests that scaling beyond 6 cores yields diminishing returns, which is expected for a 6-core part.

The Passmark suite reinforces this profile. Single-thread performance is 3,682, while multithread reaches 20,202. Integer math (60,548) and floating-point math (47,326) are respectable, but data compression (237,304) and encryption (12,018) show the CPU's limits in memory-intensive parallel tasks. The processor's 74th percentile among all CPUs means it outperforms roughly three-quarters of the market, yet its average benchmark score of 20,802 places it within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT (20,733) and within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon 6325P (20,821). This indicates the 12490F is a well-balanced mid-range CPU that trades multi-core grunt for strong single-thread agility.

Balance and Bottleneck

The pairing of a 65 W, 6-core CPU with a 450 W flagship GPU creates an inherent imbalance that manifests differently across workload types. For gaming, the RTX 4090's sheer output—evidenced by a Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223—will overwhelm the CPU in most scenarios. The CPU's 74th percentile standing suggests it can feed the GPU adequately at lower resolutions, but at 1080p or 1440p with high frame rates, the 12490F's single-thread ceiling (3,682 Passmark single-thread) will likely become the limiting factor.

The bottleneck shifts in compute-heavy tasks. The CPU's 20,202 Passmark multithread score and 17,284 Cinebench R23 multicore points are solid for a 6-core part, but they pale against the GPU's 26,613 Passmark GPU compute score. In rendering or scientific workloads that leverage GPU acceleration, the RTX 4090 dominates the pipeline. Conversely, in tasks that rely on CPU integer math (60,548) or physics calculations (1,345 Passmark physics), the 12490F will be the primary constraint.

The combined percentile of 81 for this build reflects a system that is greater than the sum of its parts in some ways, yet the data suggests the CPU will bottleneck the GPU in most gaming scenarios. The FPS scaling would show high frame rates, but the CPU's 12 threads and 20 MB L3 cache will limit 1% lows in CPU-bound titles. For productivity, the balance is more favorable: the GPU's 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 and 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth handle parallel compute, while the CPU manages orchestration and single-threaded tasks.

Benchmark Performance

The RTX 4090's benchmark scores are extraordinary. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 38,194, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 255,416, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 271,631. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223 further confirms its dominance. The GPU sits in the 88th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60,326, delta 0%) and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896, delta -2.5%), indicating the 4090 is within 2.5% of these workstation cards in aggregate benchmarks.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 20,802 places it in the 74th percentile. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6325P, scores 20,821 (delta -0.1%), while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT scores 20,733 (delta 0.3%). This tight clustering suggests the 12490F is competitively positioned among mid-range processors.

The combined picture shows a system with a combined percentile of 81. The GPU's 88th percentile and the CPU's 74th percentile create a system that ranks above average overall, but the disparity means the CPU is the weaker link. In a balanced build, one would expect components within 10 percentile points; here, the gap is 14 points. This does not invalidate the build, but it defines its character: a GPU-centric system where the CPU serves as a capable but not exceptional companion.

Who Should Build It

This configuration targets users who prioritize GPU-accelerated workloads over CPU-bound tasks. Gamers at 4K resolution will find the RTX 4090's 24 GB VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth sufficient for ultra textures and ray tracing, with the CPU's single-thread strength (3,682 Passmark) preventing most stutter. At 1440p, the CPU may become a bottleneck in esports titles, but for visually demanding AAA games, the GPU will remain the primary driver.

Content creators working with video editing or 3D rendering will benefit from the GPU's 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 and 512 tensor cores. The CPU's 20 MB L3 cache and 12 threads handle timeline scrubbing and codec encoding, though multi-core renders will be slower than on higher-core CPUs. Software developers compiling large codebases will find the CPU's integer math (60,548) adequate, while the GPU accelerates machine learning training via its tensor cores.

Students and small business workstations will appreciate the 65 W CPU TDP, which allows for modest cooling solutions, and the GPU's 450 W TDP is manageable with the suggested 850 W PSU. For office productivity, the CPU's single-thread score of 946 (3DMark) ensures snappy application launches, and the GPU's 1,299 Passmark G2D score handles 2D acceleration efficiently.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Socket 1700 platform provides a clear upgrade path. The 12490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility in memory selection. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which is future-proof for storage and expansion cards. The 65 W TDP means the motherboard's VRM requirements are modest, leaving headroom for a future CPU upgrade within the same socket.

The RTX 4090 uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which is backward compatible with the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 slots. The GPU's 450 W TDP and suggested 850 W PSU indicate substantial power headroom for the current build. A sensible next upgrade would be a higher-core-count CPU on the same socket, such as a Core i7 or i9 from the 12th Gen series, which would better match the GPU's multi-threaded capabilities. The 12490F's 65 W TDP also allows for a smaller cooler, but upgrading to a higher-TDP CPU would require revisiting cooling and possibly the PSU if other components demand more power.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is built on the 5 nm Ada Lovelace architecture, with 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die. It features 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs. The 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores provide dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI workloads. The GPU runs at a 2235 MHz base clock and boosts to 2520 MHz, with memory clocked at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective).

Memory configuration is substantial: 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus yields 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. This is critical for 4K gaming and large dataset processing. The pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s indicate raw fill-rate capability that handles high resolutions and dense effects.

In rendering, the 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 performance is exceptional for real-time workloads. The FP16 performance at 82.58 TFLOPS (1:1) supports AI inference and certain compute tasks. The GPU's benchmark scores—Passmark G3D 38,194 and Geekbench OpenCL 255,416—demonstrate its dominance in both rasterization and compute. The 88th percentile ranking places it among the top GPUs, with nearest rivals like the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896) trailing by 2.5% in aggregate benchmarks.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact CPU-GPU combination, so the following figures are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The RTX 4090's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223 and Passmark G3D of 38,194 suggest it can drive 4K gaming at high refresh rates in most titles. The CPU's single-thread score of 946 (3DMark) and 3,682 (Passmark) indicate it can sustain high frame rates in CPU-light scenarios.

At 4K, the GPU's 24 GB VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth will handle ultra textures without issue. The CPU's 20 MB L3 cache reduces memory latency, which benefits frame pacing. At 1440p, the CPU may limit frame rates in esports titles like Counter-Strike or Valorant, where high FPS is CPU-bound. For AAA games at 1440p, the GPU remains the primary driver, with the CPU's 12 threads sufficient for most game logic.

At 1080p, the CPU bottleneck becomes pronounced. The 12490F's 6 cores and 12 threads will struggle to feed the 4090's immense throughput, resulting in lower FPS than a higher-core CPU might achieve. However, for users prioritizing 4K or high-fidelity rendering, this pairing is viable, with the GPU's strengths compensating for the CPU's limitations.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-12490F has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the RTX 4090's memory bandwidth?

A: The GPU features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT?

A: The 12490F has an average benchmark score of 20,802, which is 0.3% higher than the Ryzen 5 5600GT's 20,733.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking?

A: The RTX 4090 sits in the 88th percentile among all GPUs.

Q: Does the CPU support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the 12490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory types.

Q: What is the suggested PSU wattage for the GPU?

A: The RTX 4090 has a suggested PSU of 850 W.

Q: What is the combined percentile of this build?

A: The combined percentile for the CPU and GPU pairing is 81.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The RTX 4090's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 9,223 and Passmark G3D of 38,194 enable high frame rates at 4K in most titles, though the CPU's single-thread ceiling (3,682 Passmark) may cap FPS at lower resolutions.

Streaming: The GPU's 512 tensor cores and 82.58 TFLOPS FP16 performance handle encoding and AI-enhanced streaming features, while the CPU's 12 threads manage the stream overlay and game logic.

Video editing: The GPU's 24 GB VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth accelerate timeline playback and effect rendering, while the CPU's 20,202 Passmark multithread score handles multi-track editing.

3D rendering: The GPU's 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 and 128 RT cores provide substantial compute power for ray-traced renders, with the CPU's 17,284 Cinebench R23 multicore points managing scene orchestration.

Software development: The CPU's integer math score of 60,548 supports compilation, while the GPU's OpenCL score of 255,416 accelerates test parallelization and machine learning model training.

Student and office work: The CPU's 65 W TDP and single-thread score of 946 (3DMark) ensure efficient operation for productivity apps, while the GPU's 1,299 Passmark G2D score handles 2D acceleration for spreadsheets and presentations.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12490F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i5-12490F

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

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

Balance and Bottleneck

Benchmark Performance

Who Should Build It

Upgrade Path and Platform

GPU Analysis

Gaming Performance

FAQ

Usage Scenarios

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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