SYSTEM ANALYZER

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

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

93 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 7% 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%
VS
GPU
99%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-12600K

27,578 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

# FAQ

Q: What is the Intel Core i5-12600K's position among all CPUs?

A: The i5-12600K sits in the 79th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27,578. It matches the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X exactly (0% delta), trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X by 0.2%, and leads the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H by 0.3%.

Q: How does the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation compare to its closest workstation rivals?

A: This GPU ranks in the 95th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 135,218. It is statistically tied with the NVIDIA A10M (0% delta), trails the AMD Radeon PRO W6800 by 0.1%, and sits 0.9% behind the AMD Radeon PRO V620.

Q: What are the CPU's core and thread specifications?

A: The i5-12600K has 10 cores and 16 threads, based on Intel's Alder Lake architecture. It runs on a 10 nm process node with a die size of 215 mm², and features base and boost clocks of 3.70 GHz and 4.90 GHz respectively.

Q: What memory and PCIe capabilities does the CPU offer?

A: The i5-12600K supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. It provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, and includes integrated UHD Graphics 770 for basic display output.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The RTX 4000 Ada Generation has 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering 360.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 2250 MHz, translating to 18 Gbps effective.

Q: Does the GPU support hardware ray tracing and AI acceleration?

A: Yes, the RTX 4000 Ada Generation includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, and its FP32 and FP16 throughput are both rated at 26.73 TFLOPS.

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

A: The combination of the i5-12600K and RTX 4000 Ada Generation achieves an 87th percentile ranking across all desktop builds. No measured FPS data exists for this exact pairing, so all frame rate expectations must be derived from the individual benchmark scores.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The data reveals a system where the GPU is the clear performance leader. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation ranks in the 95th percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-12600K sits in the 79th percentile among all CPUs. This 16-percentage-point gap suggests that in most graphics-bound workloads, the CPU will not be the limiting factor — the GPU's massive compute advantage will dominate.

In threaded workloads, the i5-12600K shows strong scaling from 2 threads to 8 threads, with 3DMark scores rising from 1,989 at 2 threads to 6,144 at 8 threads, and reaching 7,975 at 16 threads. This indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU adequately in modern games and applications that leverage multiple cores. However, the single-thread score of 1,016 suggests that lightly-threaded tasks may leave GPU performance underutilized if the game engine has a single dominant thread.

The GPU's FP32 throughput of 26.73 TFLOPS vastly exceeds what the CPU can generate in terms of geometry and draw calls. In real-world terms, this means that at lower resolutions or in CPU-bound scenarios, the i5-12600K could become the bottleneck. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 3,926 is respectable but not class-leading, which matters for games that rely heavily on a single core for physics or game logic.

For productivity workloads, the balance shifts. The CPU's multi-threaded Cinebench R23 score of 17,491 and Geekbench multi-core score of 12,599 indicate solid parallel performance, but the GPU's 20 GB VRAM and 360.0 GB/s bandwidth make it far more capable for rendering and compute tasks. In video encoding, for instance, the GPU's tensor cores and RT cores would accelerate workloads far beyond what the CPU alone could handle.

The 125 W TDP of the CPU and 130 W TDP of the GPU are relatively balanced, with the suggested PSU of 300 W for the GPU indicating that power delivery is not likely to be a constraint. The data suggests that users should pair this CPU with the GPU for graphics-intensive tasks, but should expect CPU limitations in scenarios requiring extremely high frame rates at lower resolutions or in single-threaded productivity applications.

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i5-12600K is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor built on the Alder Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. The die measures 215 mm², and the cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, giving builders flexibility in platform choices.

Benchmark data shows a processor that scales well with thread count. The 3DMark scores progress from 1,016 single-thread to 1,989 at 2 threads, 3,794 at 4 threads, 6,144 at 8 threads, and 7,975 at 16 threads. The near-identical scores between 16 threads (7,975) and max threads (7,966) indicate that the CPU's 16 threads are fully utilized without additional overhead from scheduling or thermal constraints.

Cinebench results reinforce this picture. The R23 multi-core score of 17,491 is roughly 9.2 times the single-core score of 1,907, demonstrating excellent parallel scaling for a mainstream desktop chip. The R20 multi-core score of 9,821 and R15 multi-core score of 2,555 follow the expected progression. Geekbench results show a single-core score of 2,190 and multi-core score of 12,599, a ratio of about 5.75, which is lower than Cinebench's scaling due to different workload characteristics.

PassMark results provide insight into specific workload types. Integer math scores 87,776, floating-point math scores 67,217, and extended instructions score 22,002. Data compression scores 344,071, while data encryption scores 18,485. The random string sorting score of 35,704 and physics score of 1,525 round out the picture. These numbers indicate strong integer performance for general computing, but relatively modest encryption throughput, which could matter for security-focused applications.

The CPU's 79th percentile ranking places it in the upper-middle tier of all processors. It matches the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X exactly (0% delta), trails the Ryzen 5 7600X by a mere 0.2%, and leads the Core Ultra 5 125H by 0.3%. This positions the i5-12600K as a highly competitive mainstream option, particularly for users who need strong multi-threaded performance without stepping up to higher-core-count HEDT platforms.

# Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: The i5-12600K's single-thread score of 1,016 in 3DMark and PassMark single-thread score of 3,926 provide a solid foundation for high-refresh gaming. The CPU's 4.90 GHz boost clock and 16 threads ensure that modern game engines can utilize multiple cores, but the GPU's 95th percentile ranking will be the primary driver for frame rates. Users targeting 144 Hz or higher at 1080p should expect the CPU to keep pace with the GPU in most titles.

Streaming: The combination of the CPU's 16 threads and the GPU's 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores creates a capable streaming setup. The CPU can handle game logic and physics while the GPU's NVENC-class hardware (implied by the tensor cores) offloads encoding tasks. The PassMark multi-thread score of 27,608 indicates sufficient headroom for simultaneous gaming and encoding workloads.

Video Editing: The i5-12600K's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17,491 and the GPU's 26.73 TFLOPS FP32 throughput make this pairing well-suited for video editing. Timeline scrubbing and effects rendering will leverage both the CPU's 10 cores and the GPU's 20 GB VRAM for preview and final output. The 360.0 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures smooth handling of high-resolution footage.

3D Rendering: The RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 20 GB GDDR6 memory and 64 ROPs deliver strong performance for GPU-based rendering engines. The CPU's role is less critical here, but its 10 cores and 16 threads handle scene preparation and geometry processing. Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 9,821 suggests the CPU can manage moderately complex scenes without becoming a bottleneck.

Software Development: The CPU's 79th percentile ranking and strong integer math score of 87,776 in PassMark support compilation and code analysis tasks. The 20 MB L3 cache helps with frequently accessed code segments, and the dual-channel DDR5 support (with appropriate motherboard) provides memory bandwidth for large build processes. The GPU's compute capability accelerates testing and simulation workloads.

Student and Office Work: For everyday productivity, the i5-12600K's single-thread performance and the GPU's idle efficiency make this pairing overkill but highly responsive. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback if the discrete GPU is not needed, and the CPU's 10 cores handle multitasking across office suites, web browsers, and communication tools without strain. The PassMark data compression score of 344,071 indicates fast file operations for document-heavy workflows.

# Benchmark Performance

The i5-12600K achieves an average benchmark score of 27,578, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, scores identically at 27,578. The Ryzen 5 7600X scores 27,636 (0.2% higher), while the Ryzen 7 5800 scores 27,535 (0.2% lower) and the Core Ultra 5 125H scores 27,507 (0.3% lower). This places the i5-12600K in a tightly contested performance tier where differences between rivals are negligible.

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation achieves an average benchmark score of 135,218, ranking in the 95th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA A10M, scores 135,230 (0.0% difference). The AMD Radeon PRO W6800 scores 135,396 (0.1% higher), the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo scores 135,774 (0.4% higher), and the Radeon PRO V620 scores 136,472 (0.9% higher). The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 146,593 and Vulkan score of 123,842 demonstrate its compute strength across different APIs.

The combined system ranks in the 87th percentile of all desktop builds. This indicates that the pairing is well above average, with the GPU contributing more to the overall performance tier than the CPU. The 21.5% difference in average scores between the two components (135,218 vs 27,578) underscores the GPU's dominance in raw compute throughput.

In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 17,491 multi-core and 1,907 single-core, a ratio of 9.17 that suggests exceptional multi-threading efficiency. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 7,975 versus the max-thread score of 7,966 (a 0.1% difference) confirms that the CPU's 16 threads are the ceiling for its parallel performance. Geekbench multi-core of 12,599 and single-core of 2,190 provide additional context, with the multi-core advantage being 5.75 times the single-core score.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU+GPU combination in the FACT PACK. Therefore, all frame rate expectations are estimates derived from the benchmark scores of each component.

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 95th percentile GPU ranking and 26.73 TFLOPS FP32 throughput suggest very high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p in most titles. The 20 GB VRAM provides ample capacity for high-resolution textures, and the 360.0 GB/s bandwidth supports high-speed data streaming for open-world games. The 48 RT cores enable hardware ray tracing, though enabling RT effects will reduce frame rates relative to rasterized rendering.

The i5-12600K's single-thread 3DMark score of 1,016 and PassMark single-thread score of 3,926 indicate that the CPU can support high frame rates in lightly-threaded game engines. The 16 threads handle modern multi-threaded engines well, as evidenced by the 3DMark 8-thread score of 6,144 versus 16-thread score of 7,975 — a 29.8% improvement from doubling threads.

At 4K resolution, the GPU will become the dominant factor, and the CPU's performance will be less impactful. The GPU's 139.2 GPixel/s pixel rate and 64 ROPs support high-resolution rendering, but the 160-bit memory bus, while paired with 360.0 GB/s bandwidth, may limit performance in memory-bandwidth-intensive scenarios. At 1080p, the CPU's 4.90 GHz boost clock and 16 threads should prevent it from becoming a consistent bottleneck in most titles.

For competitive gaming at high refresh rates, the single-thread performance is adequate but not exceptional, and users should expect some CPU limitations in titles that are heavily dependent on a single core. For story-driven games at 1440p or 4K, the GPU will dominate, and the CPU will provide sufficient support for consistent frame delivery.

# Who Should Build It

This system targets users who require professional-grade GPU compute performance without sacrificing CPU versatility. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 95th percentile ranking and 20 GB VRAM make it ideal for 3D artists, video editors, and engineers working with large datasets. The i5-12600K's 79th percentile CPU performance ensures that the system handles general productivity, compilation, and multitasking without becoming a weak link.

Gamers at 1440p or 4K resolutions will benefit most from this pairing, as the GPU's massive compute advantage dominates frame rates at these settings. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads provide enough headroom for modern game engines, though enthusiasts seeking maximum frame rates at 1080p may find the CPU limiting in some titles.

Content creators working with video editing, motion graphics, or 3D rendering will appreciate the GPU's 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores for accelerated workflows. The 20 GB VRAM allows for large scenes and high-resolution textures without memory swapping. Software developers building and testing applications can leverage the CPU's 16 threads for compilation while using the GPU for parallel compute tasks.

Students and office workers in technical fields will find this system more than capable for their needs, though it exceeds the requirements for basic productivity. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback for troubleshooting or low-power scenarios. Small business workstations requiring reliable performance for CAD, simulation, or data analysis will benefit from the GPU's workstation-class features and the CPU's balanced performance.

# Build Overview

This desktop build pairs the Intel Core i5-12600K with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation, creating a system that ranks in the 87th percentile of all desktop configurations. The CPU is a 10-core, 16-thread Alder Lake processor with a 125 W TDP, while the GPU is a workstation-class Ada Lovelace card with a 130 W TDP. The combined system targets professional and prosumer workloads where GPU compute is paramount.

The CPU's 79th percentile ranking places it in the upper-midrange of all processors, while the GPU's 95th percentile ranking puts it near the top of all graphics cards. This asymmetry means the system's overall tier is defined primarily by the GPU, with the CPU providing competent but not class-leading support. The 10 nm CPU process and 5 nm GPU process reflect different design priorities: the CPU focuses on balanced multi-threading and single-thread responsiveness, while the GPU emphasizes raw compute throughput.

The build's desktop class means it is intended for stationary use with dedicated cooling and power delivery. The GPU's single-slot design and 245 mm length make it suitable for compact workstation chassis, while the CPU's unlocked multiplier (confirmed by its "true" multiplierUnlocked status) allows for overclocking with appropriate cooling. The combination of DDR4 and DDR5 memory support gives builders choice in platform cost and performance.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation is built on the AD104 chip using TSMC's 5 nm process, with 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. It features 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1500 MHz and boosts to 2175 MHz, delivering a pixel rate of 139.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 417.6 GTexel/s.

Memory consists of 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus, providing 360.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 2250 MHz memory clock translates to 18 Gbps effective. This capacity is substantial for workstation workloads, allowing large models and high-resolution textures to reside entirely in VRAM. However, the 160-bit bus width is narrower than typical for this performance class, which could limit memory-intensive operations.

The GPU includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI inference. FP32 and FP16 throughput are both rated at 26.73 TFLOPS, indicating balanced compute capabilities for graphics and compute workloads. The 130 W TDP is modest for the performance level, and the suggested PSU of 300 W reflects the GPU's power efficiency.

In Geekbench, the GPU scores 146,593 in OpenCL and 123,842 in Vulkan, demonstrating strong cross-API compute performance. The 95th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it in the top tier, statistically tied with the NVIDIA A10M (0% delta) and within 0.9% of the AMD Radeon PRO V620. The 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support multi-monitor professional setups, and the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface provides ample bandwidth for data transfer.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i5-12600K uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, enabling high-bandwidth connections for the GPU and NVMe storage. The 125 W TDP suggests that most mid-range air or liquid coolers will suffice, and the unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking with appropriate motherboard support.

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface and requires a single 16-pin power connector. The 130 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU indicate that this GPU is power-efficient, meaning existing power supplies with sufficient wattage and the correct connector can support it. The single-slot design and 245 mm length provide compatibility with most desktop cases.

For future upgrades, the Socket 1700 platform supports 12th Gen Core processors, and users can consider higher-tier CPUs within the same generation. Memory upgrades are straightforward given the dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 support, though users must choose one memory type at purchase. The GPU's PCIe 4.0 x16 interface is backward-compatible with older PCIe versions, and the 20 GB VRAM provides headroom for future software demands.

Given the GPU's 95th percentile ranking, a sensible next upgrade would be a CPU with higher single-thread performance or more cores to better match the GPU's compute capabilities. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking leaves room for improvement, and upgrading to a higher-core-count Socket 1700 processor could reduce potential CPU bottlenecks in multi-threaded workloads. Alternatively, users prioritizing gaming at lower resolutions might consider a CPU with stronger single-thread performance to maximize frame rates in lightly-threaded titles.