SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-12600KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

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

89 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 11% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
88%
VS
GPU
90%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-12600KF

27,799 Benchmark Score
Top 12% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

17,208 Benchmark Score
Top 10% 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

Strong Performance

Excellent for 1440p gaming. Most games will run at high/ultra settings smoothly.

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 i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 form a classic desktop pairing that targets high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming. The CPU, a 10-core Alder Lake part with 16 threads, posts an average benchmark score of 27799, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. The GPU, an Ampere-based GA104 chip, delivers an average score of 17208 and sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Together, this build achieves a combined percentile of 70 and ranks 1423rd out of 3732 pairs for average FPS across a wide game library, with a measured average of 138.1 frames per second. The data reveals a well-matched system where the CPU’s strong multi-threaded performance complements the GPU’s capable rasterization, though specific workloads will highlight different strengths and potential bottlenecks.

CPU Analysis

The Core i5-12600KF is built on the Alder Lake architecture using Intel’s 10 nm process node. It provides 10 cores and 16 threads, a hybrid configuration that balances performance and efficiency within a 125 W TDP. The base clock runs at 3.70 GHz, with a boost clock reaching 4.90 GHz, and the multiplier is unlocked, allowing for manual overclocking on compatible Intel Socket 1700 motherboards. The cache hierarchy is substantial, featuring 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache. This cache design supports the high-frequency cores in feeding data quickly, which is visible in the benchmark results.

The benchmark scores paint a picture of a CPU that is exceptionally strong in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The single-thread score in 3DMark is 1016, while Cinebench R23 single-core reaches 3302 and Geekbench single-core hits 2157. These numbers indicate excellent responsiveness for everyday tasks and gaming, where per-core performance often dictates frame rates. The scaling from 2 to 4 threads (1995 to 3806 in 3DMark) shows near-linear gains, demonstrating efficient core utilization. However, the gains taper off as thread counts increase; the 8-thread score is 6128, and max threads reach 7952, which is nearly identical to the 16-thread score of 7956. This suggests that while the CPU has 16 threads, the performance scaling beyond 8 threads is minimal in this synthetic test, possibly due to the hybrid core design where efficiency cores contribute less to peak throughput.

In multi-threaded applications, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23391 is a strong result, and the PassMark multithread score of 27575 confirms its capability. The PassMark integer math score of 87830 and floating-point math score of 67074 indicate robust compute performance for general processing tasks. For data compression, the score of 343231 is remarkably high, suggesting the CPU can handle archiving and file operations with ease. Data encryption at 18445 and extended instructions at 22003 also show strong performance in security-related and SIMD-heavy workloads. The CPU’s percentile rank of 79 places it above most processors, and it sits within 0.3% of rivals like the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D in average score, meaning it trades blows with older flagship parts. This is a CPU that excels in both single-threaded responsiveness and heavy multi-threaded tasks, making it a versatile choice for a desktop build.

Balance and Bottleneck

Analyzing the balance between the CPU and GPU requires looking at the benchmark percentiles and the FPS scaling across resolutions. The CPU sits at the 79th percentile, while the GPU is at the 61st percentile, indicating the CPU has more relative headroom compared to other components in the database. This disparity suggests that in many gaming scenarios, the GPU is more likely to be the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions where pixel throughput becomes the primary constraint. The measured FPS data supports this: at 1920x1080, the system averages 138.1 FPS across all games, but as resolution increases, the frame rates drop significantly, with the average at 3840x2160 falling to roughly half or less of the 1080p figures in most titles.

For example, in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the system hits 462.2 FPS at 1080p, but this drops to 318.6 at 1440p and 186.1 at 4K. The massive frame rates at 1080p are a clear sign that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data, but the GPU cannot maintain those rates at higher resolutions. Conversely, in a game like Cyberpunk 2077, the FPS at 1080p is 63, which is far below the CPU’s potential, indicating a GPU bottleneck even at the lowest resolution tested. This pattern shows that in esports and lighter titles, the CPU can push the GPU to its limits, but in graphically intensive AAA games, the RTX 3070’s raw throughput becomes the limiting factor.

The pair’s rank of 1423 out of 3732 pairs for average FPS suggests it is above average for combined performance. The deltaPct values for the GPU’s nearest rivals show it is within 1.5% of the NVIDIA Tesla K40c and about 1% ahead of the GTX 690, which are older or specialized cards, indicating the RTX 3070 is a solid mid-range performer. The CPU’s rivals, like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, are within 0.3% in average score, meaning the CPU is not a weak link in this pairing. The bottleneck analysis points to the GPU being the primary limiter at 1440p and 4K, while at 1080p, the CPU’s high single-thread performance ensures that most games will be GPU-bound unless the frame rates are extremely high, such as in CS:GO or Valorant.

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts of the Intel Core i5-12600KF?

A: The CPU has 10 cores and 16 threads, using a hybrid architecture on the Alder Lake platform.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D?

A: The 12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799, which is 0.3% lower than the Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s score of 27896. This makes them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 3070 has a 256-bit memory bus and GDDR6 memory, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the maximum FPS measured in Valorant at 1080p?

A: The system achieves 479.9 FPS in Valorant at 1920x1080 resolution on ultra settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to bottleneck in modern games?

A: Benchmark data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck in most games, especially at 1440p and 4K, as the CPU’s 79th percentile rank is higher than the GPU’s 61st percentile.

Q: What is the average FPS across all tested games?

A: The average FPS across all games in the database is 138.1 frames per second.

Q: Does the CPU support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus.

Gaming Performance

The measured FPS data, which is confirmed as real rather than estimated, shows a versatile gaming platform. At 1920x1080, the system excels in esports titles. Valorant leads with 479.9 FPS, followed by CS:GO at 462.2 FPS and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X at 251.2 FPS. These numbers indicate the CPU’s single-thread performance is more than sufficient for high-refresh-rate monitors, even at 240Hz or higher. In AAA games at 1080p, the results are still strong: Call of Duty: Warzone hits 154.2 FPS, Doom reaches 154.7 FPS, and Assetto Corsa achieves 122.1 FPS. Heavier titles like Cyberpunk 2077 drop to 63 FPS, and Red Dead Redemption 2 runs at 53.3 FPS, showing that ultra settings can strain the GPU even at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain playable for most games. Counter-Strike 2 runs at 141 FPS, Warzone at 136.4 FPS, and Rainbow Six Siege X at 162.5 FPS. The CPU continues to provide enough headroom, but the GPU’s workload increases. Cyberpunk 2077 drops to 47.6 FPS, and Red Dead Redemption 2 falls to 39.3 FPS, indicating that 1440p ultra settings will require some settings adjustments for smoother gameplay. At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Warzone still manages 116.6 FPS, but most games fall below 60 FPS. Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 30.3 FPS, Red Dead Redemption 2 at 27.3 FPS, and Ark: Survival Ascended at just 10 FPS. This resolution is only viable for less demanding titles or with reduced settings, as the 8 GB VRAM and GPU compute limits are exposed.

Who Should Build It

This desktop build targets gamers who prioritize high refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p. The data shows that the system can deliver over 200 FPS in competitive shooters like CS:GO and Valorant, making it ideal for esports enthusiasts. At 1440p, the frame rates in AAA games are still respectable, with many titles exceeding 60 FPS, so gamers with 144Hz monitors will find a good balance. Content creators who work with video editing or 3D rendering will benefit from the CPU’s strong multi-threaded scores, such as the Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 23391, which supports faster rendering times. Software developers compiling large codebases will appreciate the PassMark integer math score of 87830 and the 16 threads for parallel builds.

Students and small business users will find this system overkill for basic office work, but the PassMark multithread score of 27575 ensures smooth multitasking across many applications. The GPU’s compute performance, indicated by the Geekbench OpenCL score of 112821, can accelerate certain productivity tasks like video encoding or 3D modeling. However, the 8 GB VRAM may be a limitation for heavy 3D rendering or machine learning workloads that require larger memory buffers, so professional users in those fields should consider this a constraint. For general users who play a mix of titles and occasionally edit photos or videos, this build offers a strong performance ceiling without the need for frequent upgrades.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is built on the Ampere architecture using an 8 nm process from Samsung. The GA104 chip contains 17,400 million transistors on a 392 mm² die, with a transistor density of 44.4M per mm². The GPU has 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units. It includes 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores, which provide hardware acceleration for ray tracing and AI-based features like DLSS. The base clock is 1500 MHz, with a boost clock of 1725 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz, effectively 14 Gbps on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

The memory configuration includes 8 GB of GDDR6, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but can be a bottleneck at 4K in VRAM-heavy titles. The pixel rate is 165.6 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 317.4 GTexel/s, indicating strong fill-rate capabilities. The FP32 performance is 20.31 TFLOPS, with FP16 at the same 20.31 TFLOPS (1:1), which is notable for compute tasks. The TDP is 220 W, requiring a 550 W suggested PSU, and it uses a dual-slot cooler with a 1x 12-pin power connector. The GPU supports PCIe 4.0 x16 and offers display outputs of 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a.

In benchmark tests, the GPU scores 3162 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 22214 in PassMark G3D. The PassMark DirectX 11 score of 182 and DirectX 12 score of 85 show strong API utilization, while the compute score of 11195 indicates solid parallel processing power. The GPU’s percentile rank of 61 places it in the mid-range, and its average score of 17208 is within 1.5% of the NVIDIA Tesla K40c, an older compute card. This suggests the RTX 3070 is a competent performer for its class, but it is not a top-tier part. The 46 RT cores enable ray tracing, but the performance impact is visible in games like Cyberpunk 2077, where the FPS drops to 30.3 at 4K, suggesting that ray tracing at high resolutions will require DLSS to be usable.

Usage Scenarios

High-Refresh Gaming: This is the primary strength of the build. At 1080p, the system delivers over 200 FPS in Valorant (479.9) and CS:GO (462.2), making it perfect for competitive play on 240Hz or 360Hz monitors. At 1440p, the average FPS across titles like Warzone (136.4) and Rainbow Six Siege X (162.5) remains high, ensuring smooth gameplay on 144Hz displays.

Streaming: The CPU’s 16 threads and strong multi-core performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core of 23391) can handle game capture and encoding simultaneously without a significant impact on frame rates. The GPU’s tensor cores can also be used for NVENC, though the data does not specify encoding performance.

Video Editing: The PassMark multithread score of 27575 and the 20.31 TFLOPS FP32 performance of the GPU suggest capable performance for timeline editing and effects rendering. The CPU’s high single-thread score of 3302 in Cinebench R23 ensures responsive scrubbing and preview.

3D Rendering: The CPU’s 10 cores and 16 threads, combined with a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 9824, provide solid CPU-based rendering performance. The GPU’s compute score of 11195 in PassMark also supports GPU-accelerated renderers, though the 8 GB VRAM may limit scene complexity.

Software Development: The high integer math score (87830) and data compression score (343231) indicate fast compilation and archive operations. The 16 threads allow for parallel builds, and the single-thread performance ensures quick IDE responsiveness.

Student and Office Work: This build is overkill for basic tasks, but the PassMark single-thread score of 3925 ensures snappy application launches. The 20 MB L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 provide a responsive system for multitasking between documents, browsers, and spreadsheets.

Build Overview

This is a desktop build that pairs the Intel Core i5-12600KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. The CPU belongs to the Core 12th Gen series, released in late 2021, and is based on the Alder Lake architecture. The GPU is part of the GeForce 30-series, released in late 2020, and uses the Ampere architecture. The combined percentile rank of 70 puts this system above average compared to other CPU-GPU pairings in the database. The pair ranks 1423rd out of 3732 pairs for average FPS, with a measured average of 138.1 FPS across all games, placing it in the upper half of tested configurations.

The CPU’s 79th percentile rank is notably higher than the GPU’s 61st percentile, indicating that the processor is a stronger component relative to its peers. This creates a system where the GPU is the more likely upgrade target for future performance gains. The build class is desktop, confirming it is designed for stationary use with a dedicated power supply and cooling solution. The overall tier is solidly mid-range, with the CPU providing near-flagship performance in single-threaded tasks and the GPU offering competent 1080p and 1440p gaming, but both are outclassed by newer high-end parts.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU’s average benchmark score is 27799, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. This is a strong result, with the nearest rival being the Intel Core i9-10900K at 27872, a mere 0.3% difference. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D scores 27896, also a 0.3% delta, showing that the 12600KF is statistically tied with these older flagship parts. The GPU’s average score is 17208, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT at 17083, which is 0.7% slower, and the NVIDIA Tesla K40c at 17468, which is 1.5% faster.

The combined picture shows a CPU that is significantly above average and a GPU that is slightly above average. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23391 and single-core score of 3302 are indicative of a capable workstation processor, while the GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3162 and PassMark G3D score of 22214 show it can handle modern game engines. The pair’s average FPS of 138.1 across all games is a strong metric, but the variance is high, with esports titles exceeding 400 FPS and AAA games at 4K falling below 30 FPS. This benchmark data confirms that the system excels in CPU-bound scenarios and lighter games, while being limited by the GPU in heavy graphical workloads.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU is based on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel memory bus. This provides flexibility in motherboard and memory choices, though the platform is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The GPU uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which is fully compatible. The CPU’s TDP is 125 W, while the GPU’s TDP is 220 W, with a suggested PSU of 550 W. This suggests that the current power supply has headroom for minor upgrades, but a more powerful GPU would require a larger PSU.

The socket 1700 platform is a dead-end for CPU upgrades, as newer generations use different sockets. However, within the same generation, users could upgrade to a higher-tier Core i9 processor if the motherboard’s VRM and cooling can handle it. The memory support for DDR5 allows for future-proofing, but the CPU’s performance is already sufficient for most tasks. For the GPU, the 8 GB VRAM is the primary limitation, and an upgrade to a card with more memory would be the most impactful change. The PCIe 4.0 interface is not a bottleneck, so a next-generation GPU with the same interface would work without issues. The 550 W PSU is adequate for the current parts, but a higher-wattage unit would be necessary for a more power-hungry GPU. A sensible next upgrade would be a newer GPU with more VRAM and higher compute performance, as the CPU still has headroom to support it.