SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12600 + NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation

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

Build Configuration

Select your components

PROCESSOR (CPU)

▼

GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

▼

94 Score

Top 6% Ranking

94 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 6% 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

88%

GPU

99%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-12600

28,646 Benchmark Score

Top 12% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation

135,218 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

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

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i5-12600 is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts up to 4.80 GHz, drawing 65 W TDP. The chip features a hybrid cache layout: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Despite its modest core count, the i5-12600 achieves an 80th percentile ranking among all CPUs, indicating it outperforms roughly four-fifths of all processors in the database.

Cinebench results paint a clear picture of its capability. The R23 multicore score of 18105 places it firmly in the upper-midrange tier, while the R23 single-core score of 2556 demonstrates strong per-thread performance. The R20 scores (7604 multicore, 1073 single-core) and R15 scores (1824 multicore, 257 single-core) follow the same pattern: solid scaling across all rendering workloads. For real-world tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, and software compilation, the i5-12600 delivers responsive performance without requiring exotic cooling or power delivery.

PassMark integer math scores of 66123 and floating-point math of 50838 indicate robust ALU/FPU throughput. The data compression score of 252160 is particularly strong, suggesting quick archive handling and file operations. Data encryption at 13084 shows capable AES performance, though not top-tier. The extended instructions score of 17027 confirms solid SIMD execution, beneficial for scientific computing and media processing. Multithreaded PassMark at 21399 and single-thread at 3823 align with the CPU's 80th percentile standing.

The nearest rival comparison shows the i5-12600 sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core 5 220H and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS, and within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 7203P. The Intel Core i5-13500T edges it out by just 0.1%. This tight clustering means the i5-12600 is performance-equivalent to a broad range of competing chips, making architectural differences and platform features the differentiators rather than raw speed.

Memory support spans both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, giving builders flexibility. The lack of ECC support and locked multiplier position this chip for mainstream desktops rather than servers or overclocking enthusiasts. Integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides basic display output and hardware acceleration, which is useful for troubleshooting or light office work without a discrete GPU. PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes ensures modern GPU and NVMe connectivity, future-proofing storage and expansion.

# FAQ

Q: How does the i5-12600 compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-13500T?

A: The i5-13500T has an average benchmark score of 28670, which is 0.1% higher than the i5-12600's 28646. The difference is negligible, meaning the two CPUs perform within statistical noise of each other across typical workloads.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and what does it mean?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation sits at the 95th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it outperforms 95% of graphics cards in the database. Its average benchmark score of 135218 places it in the top 5% of all recorded GPUs.

Q: Does the i5-12600 support overclocking?

A: No. The multiplier is locked, indicated by the multiplierUnlocked field being false. This means users cannot adjust clock multipliers to push the CPU beyond its factory boost of 4.80 GHz.

Q: What memory types can this CPU use?

A: The i5-12600 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. Builders can choose between the lower cost of DDR4 or the higher bandwidth of DDR5, depending on motherboard selection.

Q: How does the RTX 4000 Ada Generation compare to the AMD Radeon PRO W6800?

A: The RTX 4000 Ada has an average score of 135218, which is 0.1% lower than the PRO W6800's 135396. The performance difference is minimal, though the NVIDIA card offers a different feature set with its Ada Lovelace architecture.

Q: What is the CPU's TDP and what does it imply for cooling?

A: The TDP is 65 W, a modest figure for a desktop processor. This allows for compact air coolers and efficient system designs, though the 4.80 GHz boost clock may still generate meaningful heat under sustained loads.

Q: Can this CPU handle encryption workloads?

A: Yes, the PassMark data encryption score of 13084 indicates solid AES-NI performance. This supports VPN connections, encrypted storage, and secure communications without significant performance degradation.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation is a workstation-class GPU built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process at TSMC. The AD104 chip packs 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 121.8 million per mm². The GPU features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units, along with 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. This hardware configuration targets professional rendering, AI inference, and ray-traced workloads.

Memory specifications are substantial: 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus delivers 360.0 GB/s bandwidth. The memory clock runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed. For workstation tasks like large 3D scenes, machine learning datasets, or high-resolution textures, the 20 GB capacity provides ample headroom. The 160-bit bus width is narrower than some rivals, but the high memory clock compensates to maintain competitive bandwidth.

Core clocks are set at 1500 MHz base and 2175 MHz boost. Pixel rate reaches 139.2 GPixel/s, and texture rate hits 417.6 GTexel/s. FP32 performance of 26.73 TFLOPS matches FP16 at 26.73 TFLOPS (1:1), meaning the card handles both single-precision and half-precision workloads at the same speed. This parity is notable for scientific computing where FP16 acceleration matters. The tensor cores enable DLSS and AI-accelerated features, while the 48 RT cores provide dedicated ray-tracing hardware.

Geekbench scores reflect the card's position. OpenCL score of 146593 and Vulkan score of 123842 show strong compute capability. The 95th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms its high-end status. Nearest rivals include the NVIDIA A10M (score 135230, 0% delta), AMD Radeon PRO W6800 (score 135396, -0.1% delta), AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo (score 135774, -0.4% delta), and AMD Radeon PRO V620 (score 136472, -0.9% delta). The RTX 4000 Ada sits at 135218, placing it essentially tied with the A10M and within 1% of the AMD competitors.

Power draw is 130 W TDP with a suggested 300 W PSU. The single-slot design and 245 mm length make it suitable for compact workstation builds, though the 1x 16-pin power connector requires modern PSU compatibility. Display output includes 4x DisplayPort 1.4a, supporting multi-monitor professional setups. API support covers DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with current and near-future software.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The i5-12600 at the 80th CPU percentile pairs with the RTX 4000 Ada at the 95th GPU percentile. This creates a clear hierarchy: the GPU is the dominant component, capable of outperforming the CPU in compute-heavy tasks. The combined percentile of 88 reflects a system where the GPU carries more weight in overall performance.

In CPU-bound workloads like physics simulation, data compression, or single-threaded applications, the i5-12600 will set the ceiling. Its PassMark physics score of 1365 and single-thread score of 3823 indicate solid but not exceptional performance. The GPU will idle while waiting for CPU results in these scenarios. Conversely, in GPU-bound tasks like rendering, ray tracing, or machine learning inference, the RTX 4000 Ada will be the limiting factor, with the CPU providing adequate data feeding.

The 65 W TDP of the CPU versus the 130 W TDP of the GPU suggests a balanced power draw, with the GPU consuming twice the power of the CPU under full load. This ratio is typical for a workstation pairing where the GPU accelerates parallel workloads while the CPU handles orchestration and serial tasks. The 300 W suggested PSU provides headroom for both components plus system peripherals.

For gaming, the FPS is likely GPU-limited at lower resolutions when the CPU can keep up, but CPU-bound at higher resolutions if the GPU's 360.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes insufficient. The 20 GB VRAM ensures texture loading won't be a bottleneck in most titles, but the CPU's 6 cores may limit frame pacing in heavily threaded games. The lack of measured FPS data means these are estimates derived from benchmark percentiles, not direct measurements.

# Who Should Build It

This pairing targets professionals who need serious GPU compute without sacrificing CPU responsiveness. The 95th percentile GPU serves 3D artists, video editors, and AI researchers who render scenes, process large datasets, or train models. The 80th percentile CPU handles the associated compilation, asset management, and system overhead. This is a workstation-class build for small studios, freelance creators, and engineering teams.

Developers writing CUDA or OpenCL code will benefit from the tensor cores and 26.73 TFLOPS FP32 performance. Data scientists running inference or fine-tuning models can leverage the 20 GB VRAM for batch processing. Students in computer graphics or machine learning programs would find this system capable of handling coursework and research projects, though the component costs suggest a professional budget rather than a student one.

Small business workstations handling CAD, architectural visualization, or video production would see tangible benefits. The single-slot GPU fits in standard workstation chassis, and the 4x DisplayPort outputs support multi-monitor productivity setups. The CPU's DDR4/DDR5 flexibility allows builders to choose memory based on budget, while the 65 W TDP keeps cooling requirements modest.

Gamers at 1440p or 4K resolution would appreciate the GPU's high percentile, though the CPU might limit some CPU-intensive titles. The system is not optimized for pure gaming due to the workstation-class GPU focus, but it would handle gaming competently as a secondary function. The lack of measured FPS data makes precise gaming performance speculative.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact CPU+GPU combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps data, so all gaming performance figures are estimates derived from the benchmark scores and percentile rankings. The GPU's 95th percentile and the CPU's 80th percentile suggest strong gaming capability, but specific frame rates cannot be stated with certainty.

Based on the RTX 4000 Ada's 26.73 TFLOPS and 20 GB VRAM, the GPU should handle modern titles at high settings in 1440p and 4K resolutions. The 360.0 GB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures, and the RT cores enable ray-traced effects. The CPU's 4.80 GHz boost clock and 12 threads provide adequate single-thread performance for game logic, though the 6-core configuration may bottleneck in games that scale beyond 8 threads.

Titles that rely heavily on single-core performance will see the CPU's 2556 Cinebench R23 single-core score as the limiting factor. Multi-threaded games will benefit from the 18105 R23 multicore score, but the GPU will likely be the bottleneck at higher resolutions. Esports titles at 1080p might be CPU-limited, while AAA games at 4K will be GPU-limited. Without measured data, these remain qualitative assessments.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The i5-12600 uses Intel Socket 1700, which supports 12th Gen Core processors. Memory options include both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, allowing builders to select their preferred platform. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the GPU and storage, ensuring current-generation bandwidth. The GPU uses PCIe 4.0 x16, which is backward compatible with the CPU's Gen 5 slots.

A sensible next upgrade would be a higher-core-count CPU on the same socket, such as a 13th Gen part, though the exact models are not specified in the data. The 65 W TDP leaves thermal headroom for a more powerful processor, provided the motherboard's VRM can handle it. Memory can be expanded or upgraded to higher-speed DDR5 if the motherboard supports it.

The GPU's 300 W suggested PSU means the system has significant headroom for additional drives, fans, or peripherals. The 130 W TDP of the GPU is modest for a workstation card, allowing for a compact PSU if the rest of the system is efficient. The single-slot design and 245 mm length fit most cases, and the 1x 16-pin power connector is standard on modern PSUs.

Future upgrades could include a higher-tier RTX workstation GPU from the same Ada generation, though the 95th percentile already places this card near the top. The 20 GB VRAM provides longevity for growing dataset sizes, and the 48 RT cores ensure ray-tracing capabilities for years to come. The CPU's locked multiplier means overclocking is not an upgrade path, so any CPU improvement requires a chip replacement.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop build pairing the Intel Core i5-12600 with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation. The CPU ranks at the 80th percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 95th percentile among all GPUs. The combined percentile of 88 places this system in the upper tier of desktop configurations, suitable for professional workstation tasks.

The i5-12600 is a mainstream desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the RTX 4000 Ada is a workstation GPU with 6144 shading units and 20 GB of GDDR6 memory. The disparity in percentiles (80 vs 95) indicates the GPU is the stronger component, making this a GPU-centric build. The CPU provides solid general-purpose performance, but the GPU dominates in parallel compute workloads.

This pairing suits professionals who prioritize GPU acceleration for rendering, AI, or scientific computing. The CPU handles system tasks and serial workloads competently, while the GPU accelerates the heavy parallel lifting. The overall tier is high-end desktop, positioned between mainstream gaming rigs and multi-socket workstation servers.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 28646, placing it at the 80th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-13500T, scores 28670 with a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i5-12600 is essentially tied. The AMD EPYC 7203P scores 28583 (+0.2%), the Intel Core 5 220H scores 28574 (+0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS scores 28549 (+0.3%). These deltas confirm the i5-12600 performs within a fraction of a percent of its closest competitors.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 135218, placing it at the 95th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA A10M, scores 135230 with a 0% delta, indicating a perfect tie. The AMD Radeon PRO W6800 scores 135396 (-0.1%), the AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo scores 135774 (-0.4%), and the AMD Radeon PRO V620 scores 136472 (-0.9%). The GPU is slightly behind the A10M but ahead of the AMD workstation cards.

The combined picture shows a system where the GPU outperforms the CPU by a significant margin in percentile terms. The CPU's 80th percentile is respectable, but the GPU's 95th percentile boosts the overall system to the 88th combined percentile. This means the GPU will be the primary performance driver in most workloads, particularly those that scale well with parallel processing. The CPU will be the limiting factor in serial tasks, but its strong single-core performance (2556 in R23 single-core) mitigates this concern.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12600 + NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i5-12600

NVIDIA RTX 4000 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

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

Related Processors

Related Graphics Cards

Compare Your CPU

Compare Your GPU

Related PC Builds

Same CPU with Different GPUs

Same GPU with Different CPUs

Other Popular Builds