SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-14600 + 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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95 Score

Top 5% Ranking

95 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 5% 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

93%

GPU

97%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-14600

44,889 Benchmark Score

Top 7% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

60,347 Benchmark Score

Top 3% Market Ranking

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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

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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 i5-14600 sits in the 14th generation of Intel's Core lineup, built on the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R refresh codename. This is a desktop-class processor manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node, with a die size of 257 mm². The chip features 14 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that blends performance and efficiency cores to handle both lightly-threaded and heavily-parallel workloads. The base clock runs at 2.70 GHz, while the boost clock reaches 5.20 GHz, providing a substantial frequency headroom for single-threaded tasks. The processor carries a 65 W TDP, which is notably conservative given the core count and boost capabilities.

The cache hierarchy is generous: each core gets 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, while a 24 MB shared L3 cache pools resources across the chip. This cache layout is critical for workloads that repeatedly access the same data, as the larger L3 reduces memory latency and improves throughput in games and productivity applications. The memory controller supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, and the processor includes ECC memory support, a feature that appeals to workstation users who require data integrity. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback display output, though the pairing with a discrete GPU makes it largely irrelevant in this build. The CPU connects to the rest of the system via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, enabling high-bandwidth communication with the GPU and NVMe storage.

Benchmark results paint a clear picture of the i5-14600's capabilities. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 30464 in multi-core and 4300 in single-core tests. The multi-core figure is particularly telling: it positions the chip within striking distance of much more expensive processors, as the nearest rivals list shows a delta of only -0.5% against the Intel Core i9-12900KS, which has an average score of 45094 versus the i5's 44889. This means the i5-14600 is essentially trading blows with a previous-generation flagship. In Geekbench, the multi-core score of 14680 and single-core score of 2424 confirm a balanced profile—strong in both parallel and sequential execution. The PassMark suite reinforces this: multithread score of 35848, single-thread score of 4167, and a physics score of 2330. The integer math score of 117078 and floating-point math score of 85759 indicate robust general-purpose computation, while the extended instructions score of 25674 shows solid SIMD performance for workloads that leverage AVX and similar instruction sets.

The percentile ranking of 89 against all CPUs places the i5-14600 in the upper echelon of available processors. Its average benchmark score of 44889, with an average benchmark score of 44889, places it in a tight cluster with the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (44573, +0.7% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44466, +1% delta). This suggests that the i5-14600 is not just a mid-range chip punching above its weight; it is a legitimate high-performance processor that can handle demanding workloads without breaking a sweat. The data implies that for real-world applications like video encoding, 3D rendering, and software compilation, the i5-14600 delivers performance that was once the domain of top-tier HEDT platforms.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 raises an immediate question: which component is the limiting factor? The CPU's 65 W TDP and 14-core configuration are substantial, but the RTX 4090 is a behemoth with a 450 W TDP and 16384 shading units. The benchmark data shows the CPU holds its own in multi-threaded tasks, but the GPU's compute capabilities dwarf the CPU in certain workloads. The RTX 4090's FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS is a figure that the CPU cannot approach, meaning that any workload that is purely GPU-compute bound will see no bottleneck from the processor.

However, in gaming scenarios, the balance is more nuanced. The CPU's single-thread score of 4300 in Cinebench R23 and 2424 in Geekbench indicates strong per-core performance, which is critical for frame pacing and maintaining high average FPS. The PassMark single-thread score of 4167 reinforces this. The RTX 4090's percentile ranking of 88 against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347, shows that it is a top-tier graphics card, but the CPU's percentile of 89 is slightly higher. This suggests that in most workloads, the CPU is not the bottleneck—it has enough headroom to feed the GPU adequately. The delta between the CPU's nearest rivals is minimal (within 1%), and the GPU's nearest rivals show deltas of 0% to 2.9%, indicating that both components are operating near the top of their respective classes.

The lack of measured FPS data for this exact combination means bottleneck analysis must be inferred from the component-level scores. The CPU's multi-core performance (30464 in Cinebench R23) is high enough to handle game logic, physics, and AI calculations, while the GPU's raw rasterization and compute power (38194 in PassMark G3D) can push high resolutions and detail settings. The data suggests that at lower resolutions (1080p), the CPU might become the limiting factor in some titles due to its 14-core configuration, which, while powerful, does not match the top-end i9 or Ryzen 9 parts in single-threaded workloads. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K), the GPU takes over as the primary bottleneck, which is the ideal scenario for this pairing. The CPU's 65 W TDP also means it produces less heat, allowing the system to maintain boost clocks longer without thermal throttling, which helps sustain FPS in extended gaming sessions.

# Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for this build is split between CPU and GPU scores, each telling a distinct story. The CPU's Cinebench R15 scores are 3070 for multi-core and 433 for single-core, while R20 yields 12794 and 1806 respectively. The R23 scores of 30464 and 4300 are the most representative of modern workloads, and they place the i5-14600 at the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The Geekbench scores of 14680 (multi) and 2424 (single) corroborate this, showing a well-rounded processor that excels in both parallel and sequential tasks. The PassMark suite provides additional granularity: data compression at 434620, data encryption at 25082, extended instructions at 25674, prime number finding at 155, floating-point math at 85759, integer math at 117078, multithread at 35848, physics at 2330, random string sorting at 48043, and single-thread at 4167. The average benchmark score of 44889 positions the chip within 0.5% of the Intel Core i9-12900KS and AMD EPYC 4344P, both of which are formidable processors in their own right.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4090 delivers scores that are equally impressive. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 is a strong indicator of modern DirectX 12 gaming performance. Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores of 255416 and 271631 respectively highlight the GPU's compute capabilities, which are essential for rendering, machine learning inference, and other GPGPU workloads. The PassMark suite shows a G3D score of 38194, a GPU compute score of 26613, and DirectX 11 and 12 scores of 326 and 150 respectively. The G2D score of 1299 is less relevant for gaming but matters for desktop compositing. The GPU's average benchmark score of 60347 places it at the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60326, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61896, -2.5% delta). These deltas suggest that the RTX 4090 is at the very top of the GPU hierarchy, with only a handful of professional-grade parts matching it.

The combined percentile for this build is 89, which reflects the overall tier of the system. This is a high-end desktop configuration where both the CPU and GPU are operating in the top 12% of their respective categories. The combined picture is one of exceptional performance: the CPU provides the computational foundation for any task, while the GPU accelerates graphics and parallel compute workloads to a degree that is unmatched by most systems. The data shows that this pairing is not just about gaming—it is a workstation-class setup that can handle 3D rendering, video editing, scientific simulation, and AI development with equal aplomb.

# Who Should Build It

This configuration targets users who demand the absolute best performance across a wide range of tasks. Gamers playing at 1440p or 4K resolutions will benefit most, as the RTX 4090's raw power is best utilized at higher resolutions where the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (4300 in Cinebench R23) ensures that even at lower resolutions, frame rates remain high, though the data suggests that at 1080p the CPU may occasionally limit the GPU in CPU-bound titles. For content creators, the combination of the CPU's 14 cores and the GPU's 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores makes this an ideal system for video editing (specifically in software that leverages CUDA acceleration), 3D rendering in Blender or Maya, and color grading with real-time previews. The GPU's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth is particularly useful for large texture sets and high-resolution video timelines.

Software developers will find the i5-14600's multi-core performance (30464 in Cinebench R23) valuable for compiling large codebases, while the GPU's compute capabilities can accelerate machine learning training and inference tasks. The CPU's ECC memory support is a bonus for developers who run long-running simulations or database workloads where data integrity is paramount. Students and small business workstations also stand to benefit, though the cost of this build is clearly aimed at professionals or enthusiasts. The CPU's 65 W TDP means it can be cooled with a capable air cooler, reducing system noise and complexity, which is an advantage in shared workspaces. For small business owners running accounting software, data analysis tools, or CAD applications, this system provides headroom for years of future software demands without the need for an upgrade.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i5-14600 uses the Intel Socket 1700, which is the platform for both 12th and 13th generation processors as well. This means that users have a clear upgrade path within the same socket: they can move to a higher-bin 14th generation processor, though the data shows that the i5-14600 is already within 0.5% of the Intel Core i9-12900KS in average benchmark score, so the gains from a CPU upgrade would be marginal. The motherboard supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving users the flexibility to choose between cost-effective DDR4 or higher-bandwidth DDR5. The PCIe Gen 5 support with 16 lanes from the CPU ensures that the RTX 4090, which uses PCIe 4.0 x16, will not be bandwidth-constrained, and there is headroom for future GPUs that may leverage PCIe 5.0. The GPU's suggested PSU is 850 W, which is a significant requirement, but the CPU's 65 W TDP means that the total system power draw is manageable with a quality power supply. A sensible next upgrade would be to add more storage via PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drives, which can take advantage of the CPU's PCIe lanes, or to increase memory capacity if the user is running memory-intensive workloads. The platform's longevity is a point in its favor, as the socket and memory support are mature and well-supported by motherboard manufacturers.

# FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's multi-core performance compared to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has an average benchmark score of 44889, which is 0.5% lower than the Intel Core i9-12900KS (45094) and 0.5% lower than the AMD EPYC 4344P (45122). It is 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (44573) and 1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44466).

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and size?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14600 supports ECC memory, which is beneficial for workstation and server applications that require error correction.

Q: What is the combined percentile of this build?

A: The combined percentile of the Intel Core i5-14600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is 89, placing it in the top 11% of all desktop configurations.

Q: What is the GPU's launch MSRP?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has a launch MSRP of 1,599 USD.

Q: What is the CPU's boost clock and TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz and a TDP of 65 W.

Q: What is the GPU's FP32 performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for the Intel Core i5-14600 combined with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps rows for this exact pairing, so all frame rate figures discussed here are estimates based on the individual benchmark scores of the CPU and GPU. The CPU's single-thread performance (4300 in Cinebench R23, 4167 in PassMark single-thread) suggests strong frame pacing in games that rely heavily on single-core performance, such as esports titles. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 and PassMark G3D score of 38194 indicate that the RTX 4090 can handle the most demanding modern games at maximum settings. At 1080p, the CPU's 14-core configuration should provide enough headroom to keep frame rates high, though the GPU's power may be underutilized in less demanding titles. At 1440p, the balance shifts toward the GPU, and at 4K the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, which is the optimal scenario for this pairing. The GPU's 24 GB of VRAM ensures that even the most texture-heavy games will not run out of memory, and the 1.01 TB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures and ray tracing workloads. Users should expect high frame rates at 1440p and 4K, with 4K being the sweet spot for this GPU, while 1080p will be limited by the CPU in some scenarios. These are estimates, and actual performance will vary by game and driver optimization.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop-class build that pairs the Intel Core i5-14600 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The CPU is an active production part from the Core 14th Gen series, while the GPU is end-of-life, having been succeeded by the GeForce 50 series. The combined percentile of 89 places this system in the top tier of desktop configurations, with both components performing in the upper 12% of their respective categories. The CPU's average benchmark score of 44889 and the GPU's average benchmark score of 60347 combine to create a system that excels in any task that can be parallelized or GPU-accelerated. The CPU's 65 W TDP and the GPU's 450 W TDP mean that the system requires a robust power supply (suggested 850 W), but the overall power efficiency is reasonable given the performance on offer. This is a high-end build that prioritizes raw performance over cost, and it is suitable for users who need the best possible experience in gaming, content creation, and compute-heavy workloads.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process node. The chip, codenamed AD102, contains 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 125.3 million per mm². The GPU has 16384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units, along with 128 ray tracing cores and 512 tensor cores. The base clock is 2235 MHz, with a boost clock of 2520 MHz, and the memory runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory is connected via a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is crucial for high-resolution textures, large 3D scenes, and AI model training, where the GPU can store entire datasets in VRAM without spilling to system memory.

The GPU's pixel rate is 443.5 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 1,290.2 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS is a single-precision figure that indicates the GPU's raw compute throughput for gaming and general-purpose compute. The FP16 performance is also 82.58 TFLOPS (1:1), which is notable because it means the GPU does not halve its throughput for half-precision math, a feature that benefits machine learning inference and certain rendering techniques. The RT cores and tensor cores are dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI-based features like DLSS, which can significantly boost frame rates in supported games. The GPU's API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with the latest graphics technologies.

Benchmark results show the RTX 4090 at the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 indicates strong performance in next-generation DirectX 12 titles, while the Geekbench OpenCL score of 255416 and Vulkan score of 271631 demonstrate excellent compute capabilities for both gaming and professional workloads. The PassMark G3D score of 38194 is the highest in the suite, reflecting the GPU's dominance in rasterization. The GPU compute score of 26613 is also strong, though it is lower than the G3D score, which is typical for gaming-focused GPUs. The nearest rivals show deltas of 0% to 2.9%, meaning the RTX 4090 is essentially tied with professional-grade GPUs like the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M and slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon PRO V710. This data confirms that the RTX 4090 is not just a gaming GPU; it is a compute powerhouse that can handle rendering, simulation, and AI workloads with authority.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The RTX 4090's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 9223 and the CPU's single-thread score of 4167 in PassMark indicate that this system can drive high refresh rate monitors at 1440p and 4K. The GPU's 24 GB VRAM ensures that even at 4K with ultra textures, frame rates remain high. The CPU's 14 cores provide enough headroom to avoid bottlenecks in most titles, though at 1080p the CPU may limit FPS in esports games.

Streaming: The GPU's 512 tensor cores and NVENC (not listed, but implied by the architecture) enable hardware-accelerated encoding, allowing the system to stream gameplay at high bitrates without impacting FPS. The CPU's multi-core score of 30464 in Cinebench R23 provides additional headroom for encoding software if the user prefers software encoding. The combination of CPU and GPU power means streaming at 1080p or 1440p with a high bitrate is feasible without dedicated hardware.

Video editing: The GPU's FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS and the CPU's multi-core score of 35848 in PassMark multithread make this system ideal for video editing in software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. The 24 GB VRAM allows for smooth playback of high-resolution timelines, and the GPU's compute capabilities accelerate effects, color grading, and rendering. The CPU's 20 threads handle timeline scrubbing and export tasks efficiently.

3D rendering: The RTX 4090's 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores accelerate ray-traced rendering in applications like Blender, Maya, and Octane. The GPU's 1.01 TB/s bandwidth and 24 GB memory allow for large scenes to be rendered in real-time. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30464 ensures that CPU-based rendering tasks are also fast, though GPU rendering will be the primary workflow.

Software development: The CPU's integer math score of 117078 in PassMark and multi-core score of 14680 in Geekbench indicate strong compilation performance. The GPU's compute capabilities can be leveraged for machine learning model training and inference, with the 24 GB VRAM allowing for larger batch sizes. The ECC memory support on the CPU is a bonus for long-running builds or simulations.

Student and office work: While this system is overkill for most student and office tasks, the CPU's single-thread performance of 2424 in Geekbench ensures snappy responsiveness in office applications. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback if the GPU is disabled, and the 65 W TDP means the system is relatively energy-efficient for a high-performance desktop. For students in engineering or computer science, the system can handle CAD, data analysis, and coding without issue.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i5-14600 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i5-14600

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

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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