SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12600K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D

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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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 i5-12600K

27,578 Benchmark Score

Top 12% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D

178,050 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 i5-12600K is a desktop processor built on the Alder Lake architecture, utilizing a 10 nm process node from Intel. This is a 10-core, 16-thread part with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The hybrid design of Alder Lake-S combines performance and efficiency cores, which is reflected in the benchmark data showing strong scaling from 2 threads up to the maximum thread count. The CPU has a 125 W TDP, a 20 MB shared L3 cache, and per-core L1 and L2 caches of 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, giving builders flexibility in platform cost and memory speed.

The benchmark scores for the 3DMark suite reveal a clear thread-scaling pattern. The 2-thread score is 1989, the 4-thread score jumps to 3794, the 8-thread score reaches 6144, and the 16-thread (max threads) score is 7966. The near-linear scaling from 2 to 8 threads indicates excellent utilization of the performance cores, while the modest gain from 8 to 16 threads suggests the efficiency cores contribute meaningfully but with diminishing returns. The single-thread score of 1016 and the 16-thread score of 7966 place this CPU in a competitive position, with the 16-thread result being roughly 7.8 times the single-thread score. This scaling behavior matters for real workloads: applications that use fewer than 8 threads will rely heavily on the fast performance cores, while heavily threaded tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering will leverage the full 16-thread capacity.

Cinebench results reinforce this picture. The R23 multicore score of 17491 is substantial for a 125 W part, while the single-core score of 1907 shows strong per-thread performance. The ratio between multicore and single-core in R23 is about 9.2 times, consistent with the 3DMark thread scaling. Geekbench multicore and single-core scores of 12599 and 2190 respectively align with these findings. The Passmark suite adds workload-specific insight: integer math scores 87776, floating-point math scores 67217, and extended instructions (SIMD) score 22002. Data compression hits 344071, while data encryption reaches 18485. These numbers indicate that the CPU is particularly strong in integer and floating-point workloads, with the extended instruction score suggesting good SIMD throughput for media processing.

The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus of 79 means it outperforms 79% of all CPUs in the database, placing it in the upper quintile. Its average benchmark score of 27578 exactly matches the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, with a deltaPct of 0. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, while being 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X. These deltas are within noise, indicating that the i5-12600K sits in a tightly competitive cluster with these rivals. For real-world use, this means the CPU is a balanced choice for both productivity and gaming, with no single rival having a decisive edge in aggregate performance.

# Benchmark Performance

The GPU in this build, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D, is an absolute powerhouse. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 8587, which is a demanding next-generation test. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 278621 and Vulkan score of 246941 further demonstrate its compute capability. The GPU's percentileVsAllGpus is 98, meaning it outperforms 98% of all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 178050 places it just 2.2% behind the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell, 3.1% behind the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80 GB, 3.6% behind the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation, and 4.9% behind the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB. These rivals are professional-grade or data-center parts, so the RTX 4090 D's position among them highlights its exceptional performance in both gaming and compute contexts.

The combined percentile for this CPU+GPU pairing is 89, indicating that the build outperforms 89% of all system combinations in the database. The CPU's 79th percentile and the GPU's 98th percentile create a notable imbalance: the GPU is in the top 2% of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the top 21% of all CPUs. The data shows that the CPU will be the limiting factor in graphics-bound tasks, but the system as a whole is still exceptionally fast.

It is important to note that this FACT PACK contains no measured FPS data for this exact CPU+GPU combination. The measuredFpsUltraByGame field is empty, and dataIsMeasured is false. Therefore, all FPS discussions in this analysis are estimates derived from the benchmark scores, not direct measurements. The CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread scores, combined with the GPU's top-tier compute and graphics scores, suggest that this pairing is capable of very high frame rates, but precise numbers cannot be stated as measured fact.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12600K compare to its closest rivals?

A: The i5-12600K has an average benchmark score of 27578, which is identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (deltaPct 0). It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, while being 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X. These differences are negligible in real-world performance.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D has a percentileVsAllGpus of 98, meaning it performs better than 98% of all GPUs in the database. This places it in the top tier of graphics hardware, with an average benchmark score of 178050.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the stronger component in this build?

A: The GPU is significantly stronger relative to its peers. The GPU sits at the 98th percentile, while the CPU sits at the 79th percentile. The combined percentile for the build is 89, reflecting the GPU's dominance in the overall performance picture.

Q: What memory types does this CPU support?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. This gives builders the option to use either previous-generation DDR4 or newer DDR5 modules, depending on motherboard choice and budget.

Q: What is the power requirement for the GPU?

A: The RTX 4090 D has a TDP of 425 W and requires a suggested PSU of 800 W. It uses a single 16-pin power connector and is a triple-slot card with dimensions of 304 mm in length, 137 mm in height, and 61 mm in width.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-12600K includes UHD Graphics 770. This provides a basic display output capability without a discrete GPU, which can be useful for troubleshooting or office tasks, though the RTX 4090 D will handle all graphics workloads in this build.

Q: What is the production status of the CPU and GPU?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K is listed as Active in production, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D is listed as End-of-life. The GPU's successor is the GeForce 50 series, and its predecessor is the GeForce 30 series.

# Who Should Build It

This build targets users who prioritize GPU performance above all else. The RTX 4090 D's 98th percentile ranking means it is among the fastest graphics cards available, suited for 4K gaming, high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, and GPU-accelerated rendering. The CPU's 79th percentile and strong multi-thread scores (Cinebench R23 multicore of 17491) make it a capable partner for content creators who work with video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation, though it will not keep pace with the GPU in heavily threaded tasks.

Gamers at 4K resolution will benefit the most, as the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, reducing the CPU's importance. Content creators working with GPU-accelerated renderers like Blender or Octane will see exceptional performance from the 24 GB VRAM and 73.54 TFLOPS FP32 compute. Software developers compiling code will appreciate the 16 threads and high single-thread score of 1907 in Cinebench R23, which speed up both compilation and interactive development.

Students and small business workstations can also benefit, particularly if their workloads involve GPU compute, data analysis, or CAD. The CPU's Passmark data compression score of 344071 and integer math score of 87776 indicate strong general productivity performance. However, for office-only tasks that do not utilize the GPU, this build is overkill; a less powerful GPU would suffice, but the system's 89th combined percentile ensures it handles any task without difficulty.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i5-12600K uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and the GPU uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface. This is a mature platform, and while the socket has been superseded by newer Intel platforms, the i5-12600K remains an active production part.

For memory, builders can choose DDR4 for lower cost or DDR5 for higher bandwidth, though the CPU's memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. The platform supports both, and the choice will affect overall system performance, particularly in memory-sensitive workloads. The CPU is multiplier-unlocked, allowing overclocking on compatible Z-series motherboards, though the data does not include overclocked benchmark results.

The GPU requires a suggested PSU of 800 W, which is substantial headroom for a system with a 125 W CPU and a 425 W GPU. The combined TDP of 550 W leaves room for other components, so an 800 W PSU provides adequate margin. The GPU is a triple-slot card, so case compatibility is a consideration, but the 304 mm length is standard for high-end cards. A sensible next upgrade would be a stronger CPU on a newer platform, as the GPU's 98th percentile will outlast the CPU's 79th percentile. However, the current CPU is sufficient for most workloads, and the GPU's end-of-life status means future upgrades should focus on the CPU and platform first.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The AD102 chip contains 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die, with a transistor density of 125.3 million per mm². The GPU has 14592 shading units, 456 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, along with 114 RT cores and 456 tensor cores. The base clock is 2280 MHz, with a boost clock of 2520 MHz, and memory runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for high-resolution textures and large datasets.

The pixel rate is 443.5 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 1,149.1 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 73.54 TFLOPS, with FP16 also at 73.54 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio). The RT cores handle ray tracing, while the tensor cores accelerate AI workloads like DLSS. The 114 RT cores and 456 tensor cores are the highest counts in the GeForce 40-series lineup, making this GPU exceptionally well-suited for ray-traced gaming and AI inference.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 8587 is a demanding next-gen test, placing the GPU in the top 2% of all GPUs. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 278621 and Vulkan score of 246941 highlight its compute capability for rendering and scientific workloads. The GPU's nearest rivals are professional and data-center parts, with the RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell being 2.2% faster, and the A100 SXM4 variants being 3.1% to 4.9% faster. This indicates that the RTX 4090 D is not just a gaming card but also a serious compute device, though its end-of-life status means it has been superseded by the GeForce 50 series.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The performance imbalance between the CPU and GPU is significant. The CPU's 79th percentile and the GPU's 98th percentile mean that in most gaming scenarios, the GPU will be waiting on the CPU. The 3DMark CPU scores show strong single-thread performance (1016 single-thread, 1989 for 2 threads), but the GPU's massive compute power (73.54 TFLOPS) can outpace the CPU in many scenarios. At lower resolutions like 1080p, the CPU will be the bottleneck, limiting frame rates to what the i5-12600K can feed. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the system will be more balanced.

The combined percentile of 89 reflects this imbalance: the build is stronger than 89% of all systems, but the CPU is the weaker link. For productivity tasks, the CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17491 is respectable but not top-tier, while the GPU's compute scores are near the top. This means GPU-accelerated workloads like rendering or AI will see massive performance, while CPU-bound tasks like physics simulation or spreadsheet calculations will be more modest. The Passmark physics score of 1525 is a weak point, indicating that the CPU may struggle with complex physics simulations in games, further emphasizing the GPU bottleneck in gaming.

In terms of FPS scaling, without measured data, estimates suggest that at 1080p, the CPU will hold back the GPU in many titles, resulting in frame rates that are good but not maximized. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU takes over, and frame rates will scale with the GPU's capabilities. The 24 GB VRAM ensures no memory-related bottlenecks at any resolution, even with ultra textures and ray tracing enabled.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop build pairing the Intel Core i5-12600K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D. It is a combination of a mid-range to upper-mid-range CPU with a top-tier enthusiast GPU. The build's combined percentile of 89 places it in the top 11% of all system combinations in the database. The CPU is in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 98th percentile of all GPUs.

The class is desktop, and the overall tier is high-end, driven almost entirely by the GPU. The RTX 4090 D's average benchmark score of 178050 is the dominant factor in the build's performance profile. The CPU's average score of 27578 is respectable but does not match the GPU's relative standing. This is a build for users who want maximum GPU performance and are willing to accept a CPU that is good but not at the same tier.

The launch MSRP for the CPU is $289, and the GPU has a launch MSRP of 1,599 USD, though pricing is not analyzed further. The GPU is end-of-life, with the GeForce 50 series as its successor, which may affect availability. The CPU is still active in production, making it a reliable choice for new builds on the Socket 1700 platform.

# Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: The RTX 4090 D's 98th percentile and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 8587 indicate exceptional raw graphics power. At 1440p and 4K, this GPU can drive high refresh rates in demanding titles, though the CPU's 79th percentile may limit 1080p performance. The 24 GB VRAM ensures no texture memory limitations.

Streaming: The GPU's NVENC encoder (implied by the GeForce 40-series architecture with 456 tensor cores and 114 RT cores) handles video encoding without taxing the CPU. The CPU's 16 threads and Passmark integer math score of 87776 provide sufficient headroom for streaming software, though the GPU will handle most of the encoding load.

Video Editing: The GPU's 73.54 TFLOPS FP32 and 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth accelerate effects, color grading, and export in GPU-accelerated editors. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17491 handles timeline scrubbing and CPU-based effects, making this a fast editing workstation.

3D Rendering: The GPU's 14592 shading units and 114 RT cores deliver massive render performance in GPU-accelerated engines. The 24 GB VRAM allows for large scenes and high-resolution textures. The CPU's 16 threads will handle scene setup and physics, but the GPU dominates render times.

Software Development: The CPU's single-thread score of 1907 in Cinebench R23 and 16 threads speed up compilation and code analysis. The Passmark data compression score of 344071 indicates fast file operations. The GPU's compute power is useful for tasks like machine learning model training or data processing.

Student and Office Work: This build is overkill for typical office tasks, but the CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 3926 ensures snappy application responsiveness. The GPU's power is unused in basic productivity, but the system will handle any academic workload, including CAD or scientific computing, without breaking a sweat.

# Gaming Performance

The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS rows for this exact CPU+GPU combination. The measuredFpsUltraByGame field is empty, and dataIsMeasured is false. Therefore, the following FPS figures are estimates based on the benchmark scores, not direct measurements.

Based on the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 8587 and its 98th percentile, the RTX 4090 D is expected to deliver extremely high frame rates at 1440p and 4K in most games. The CPU's single-thread score of 1016 in 3DMark and 1907 in Cinebench R23 suggests that at 1080p, the CPU may become a bottleneck in CPU-intensive titles, potentially limiting frame rates to what the i5-12600K can produce.

At 4K ultra settings, the GPU is likely the primary determinant of performance, and its 24 GB VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth suggest that even the most demanding games with ultra textures and ray tracing will run smoothly. The GPU's 114 RT cores provide strong ray tracing performance, and the 456 tensor cores enable DLSS, which can boost frame rates further. At 1440p, the balance between CPU and GPU is better, and frame rates are expected to be very high. At 1080p, the CPU will likely limit performance, but frame rates will still be well above 60 FPS in most titles. These are estimates; the actual FPS will vary by game and settings, but the benchmark data indicates a build that is exceptionally strong for gaming at high resolutions.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12600K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i5-12600K

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D

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

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