SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i7-12700 + NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

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

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
90%
VS
GPU
99%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i7-12700

32,942 Benchmark Score
Top 10% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

117,088 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
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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

The Intel Core i7-12700 and NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation form a desktop pairing that targets a specific niche: high-performance computing in a compact, power-efficient envelope. The CPU, a 12th Gen Alder Lake part, brings strong multi-threaded throughput with a 12-core, 20-thread configuration, while the GPU, a workstation-class Ada Lovelace card, delivers exceptional compute and rendering capabilities with a 95th percentile standing among all GPUs. The data shows a system that sits at the 89th combined percentile, indicating top-tier performance, but the architecture of its components reveals a fascinating interplay between CPU-driven tasks and GPU-accelerated workloads.

Balance and Bottleneck

The balance between the Core i7-12700 and the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is workload-dependent, with each component taking the lead in different scenarios. The CPU’s benchmark results show a clear scaling pattern: the 3dMark score climbs from 1,987 in the 2-thread test to 6,775 in the 8-thread test, and reaches 9,446 in the max-thread test. This indicates strong multi-threading efficiency, but the single-thread score of 1,012 and the 2-thread score of 1,987 reveal that lightly-threaded tasks do not fully utilize the processor’s potential. In gaming or general productivity, where single-core performance often dominates, the CPU’s 83rd percentile standing among all CPUs means it is capable but not the limiting factor in most cases.

The GPU, however, is a different beast. With an average benchmark score of 117,088 and a 95th percentile ranking, the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is positioned to handle the most demanding graphical and compute workloads. The data suggests that in GPU-bound scenarios—such as 3D rendering, video encoding, or high-resolution gaming—the RTX 4000 SFF will be the primary driver, with the CPU providing ample support. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,751 is robust, but it is not so far ahead of the GPU’s capabilities that it would create a bottleneck in GPU-intensive tasks. Instead, the bottleneck shifts to the GPU in rendering workloads, where its 19.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 280.0 GB/s memory bandwidth become the limiting factors.

In contrast, for CPU-bound tasks like software compilation or data compression, the CPU takes the lead. The PassMark data compression score of 375,950 and integer math score of 106,554 are strong indicators of processing power, and the GPU’s role diminishes. The data implies that this system is well-balanced for mixed workloads, but users pushing either extreme—maximum thread count or maximum GPU compute—will find one component waiting on the other. The FPS scaling, while not measured for this exact combination, is estimated to follow this pattern: CPU-bound at lower resolutions and GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the RTX 4000 SFF’s 95th percentile ensuring it handles the graphical load efficiently.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is a workstation-focused card built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It packs 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, with a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². The GPU features 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units, which translate to a pixel rate of 99.84 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 299.5 GTexel/s. These figures indicate a card capable of high-resolution rendering and texture-heavy workloads, though its 160-bit memory bus and 20 GB of GDDR6 memory deliver a bandwidth of 280.0 GB/s—a figure that is modest compared to some higher-end workstation cards but sufficient for the SFF form factor.

The memory configuration is notable: 20 GB of GDDR6 at 14 Gbps effective, with a base clock of 720 MHz and a boost clock of 1,560 MHz. The FP32 performance of 19.17 TFLOPS, with FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, suggests the card is optimized for compute tasks that benefit from parallel processing. The 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores are the key to its ray tracing and AI acceleration capabilities, making it suitable for tasks like real-time ray tracing in rendering software or AI inference in data science workflows. The Geekbench scores reinforce this: the OpenCL score of 124,812 and Vulkan score of 109,364 place it well above the 95th percentile of all GPUs, and the nearest rivals—such as the NVIDIA GB10 with a score of 117,393 and a deltaPct of -0.3%—show that the RTX 4000 SFF is competitive with, and in some cases slightly ahead of, other high-end workstation cards.

The card’s power efficiency is a key feature, with a TDP of only 70 W and a suggested PSU of 250 W. This is exceptionally low for the performance level, and the fact that it requires no power connectors and is a dual-slot design makes it ideal for small form factor builds. The 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support multi-monitor setups, and the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface ensures compatibility with modern motherboards. For rendering, the data implies that the RTX 4000 SFF will excel in GPU-accelerated tasks like ray tracing, where the 48 RT cores provide dedicated hardware acceleration, and in AI-driven workflows, where the 192 tensor cores accelerate deep learning models.

Usage Scenarios

For high-refresh gaming, the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation’s 95th percentile GPU standing and 19.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance suggest it can drive high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, though the lack of measured FPS data means these are estimates. The CPU’s single-thread score of 1,012 in 3dMark and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,894 indicate it will not hold back the GPU in most titles, though at lower resolutions, the CPU may become the limiting factor.

Streaming benefits from both components: the CPU’s 20 threads handle encoding workloads, with a PassMark multithread score of 30,273, while the GPU’s tensor cores can accelerate video encoding and AI-based enhancements. The combined 89th percentile suggests a system that can handle simultaneous gaming and streaming without significant performance degradation.

In video editing, the CPU’s multi-core performance—Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,751—accelerates timeline rendering and effects processing, while the GPU’s 20 GB VRAM and 280.0 GB/s bandwidth handle large video buffers and GPU-accelerated effects. The PassMark floating point math score of 81,191 further supports the CPU’s capability in this workload.

For 3D rendering, the GPU takes center stage. The RTX 4000 SFF’s 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores accelerate ray tracing and denoising, and its OpenCL score of 124,812 indicates strong compute performance. The CPU’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 10,639 provides solid support for scene preparation and physics simulation, but the rendering itself will be GPU-bound.

Software development relies on the CPU’s thread count and integer performance. The PassMark integer math score of 106,554 and data compression score of 375,950 suggest fast compilation times and efficient code processing. The 12 cores and 20 threads handle parallel builds effectively, though the lack of ECC memory support may be a consideration for mission-critical development environments.

Student and office work is well-served by this system, though it may be overkill. The CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking and the GPU’s 95th percentile ensure smooth multitasking and fast application launches, while the 65 W TDP of the CPU and 70 W TDP of the GPU keep power consumption low for a desktop system.

Who Should Build It

This build targets users who need workstation-class GPU performance in a compact desktop form factor. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is explicitly a workstation card, and its 20 GB VRAM and 280.0 GB/s bandwidth are suited for professionals in 3D rendering, video editing, and AI development. The 95th percentile GPU standing means it outperforms the vast majority of graphics cards, making it a choice for users who prioritize compute over raw gaming frame rates.

Content creators working with high-resolution video or complex 3D scenes will benefit from the GPU’s 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, which accelerate rendering and AI tasks. The CPU’s 12 cores and 20 threads provide adequate support for multitasking and background processes, though users with extremely heavy CPU workloads may find the i7-12700 a limiting factor compared to higher-core-count alternatives.

Developers and data scientists will appreciate the GPU’s FP16 performance at 19.17 TFLOPS, which is useful for machine learning inference, and the 192 tensor cores for model acceleration. The system’s 89th combined percentile places it in the top tier of desktop builds, making it suitable for small business workstations that require reliable, high-performance computing. Students in engineering or graphics design programs will find the system capable, though the workstation-class GPU may be more than needed for coursework. The lack of a measured FPS data means gamers should temper expectations for high-refresh gaming, but the GPU’s 95th percentile ranking suggests it will handle most titles at high settings.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i7-12700 is a 12th Gen Alder Lake processor, built on Intel’s 10 nm process node with a die size of 215 mm². It features 12 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that combines performance and efficiency cores to balance power and throughput. The base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz indicate a wide dynamic range, allowing the CPU to scale from low-power idle states to high-performance bursts. The 65 W TDP is notably low for a 12-core desktop processor, making it an efficient choice for compact builds.

The cache hierarchy is substantial: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is critical for multi-threaded workloads, as it reduces memory latency and improves data sharing between cores. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing flexibility for users choosing between older and newer memory standards. However, it does not support ECC memory, which may be a limitation for server-like workloads.

The benchmark results show a CPU that scales well with thread count. The 3dMark scores increase from 1,987 in the 2-thread test to 9,446 in the max-thread test, a 4.75x improvement, indicating efficient utilization of the 20 threads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,751 is strong for a 65 W part, and the single-core score of 1,894 is competitive. The PassMark data compression score of 375,950 and encryption score of 20,143 highlight the CPU’s capability in data-intensive tasks, while the extended instructions score of 24,184 suggests good SIMD performance for scientific computing. The CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking places it above most processors, and its nearest rivals—such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D with a deltaPct of -0.4%—show that it is closely matched with some of the best gaming CPUs, though the i7-12700’s strength lies in multi-threaded workloads rather than gaming-specific optimizations.

FAQ

Q: What is the combined performance percentile of this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The combined percentile is 89, placing it in the top tier of desktop builds.

Q: How does the CPU’s multi-threaded performance compare to its single-threaded performance?

A: The 3dMark max-thread score of 9,446 is 4.75 times higher than the 2-thread score of 1,987, while the single-thread score is 1,012, showing strong scaling across threads.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth and capacity?

A: The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has 20 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 160-bit bus width, delivering 280.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does this system support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-12700 does not support ECC memory, as indicated by the eccMemory field being false.

Q: What is the power consumption of the GPU and its recommended PSU?

A: The GPU has a TDP of 70 W, and the suggested PSU is 250 W, which is notably low for a workstation-class card.

Q: How does the GPU’s OpenCL score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Geekbench OpenCL score is 124,812, while the nearest rival, the NVIDIA GB10, scores 117,393, a deltaPct of -0.3%, indicating the RTX 4000 SFF is slightly ahead.

Q: What is the CPU’s boost clock and base clock?

A: The base clock is 2.10 GHz, and the boost clock is 4.90 GHz, providing a wide frequency range for performance scaling.

Benchmark Performance

The Intel Core i7-12700 achieves an average benchmark score of 32,942, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are closely matched: the Intel Core 5 213PTE scores 32,924 with a deltaPct of 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H scores 32,812 with a deltaPct of 0.4%. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D scores 33,079 with a deltaPct of -0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G scores 33,089 with a deltaPct of -0.4%. These small deltas indicate that the i7-12700 is in a highly competitive performance cluster, with differences under 0.5% from its nearest rivals.

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has an average benchmark score of 117,088, placing it in the 95th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals show a wider spread: the NVIDIA GB10 scores 117,393 with a deltaPct of -0.3%, the AMD Radeon PRO W7700 scores 118,976 with a deltaPct of -1.6%, the NVIDIA Tesla V100 SXM2 16 GB scores 114,395 with a deltaPct of 2.4%, and the NVIDIA RTX A5500 Mobile scores 113,944 with a deltaPct of 2.8%. This data shows that the RTX 4000 SFF is competitive with, and in some cases ahead of, other high-end workstation GPUs, though the Radeon PRO W7700 holds a slight edge in raw score.

The combined picture is one of a high-performance system. The CPU’s 83rd percentile and GPU’s 95th percentile combine to a system-level percentile of 89, indicating that the pairing is well-matched for demanding workloads. The CPU’s strong multi-threaded performance complements the GPU’s compute capabilities, and the data suggests that this system excels in GPU-accelerated tasks while maintaining solid CPU throughput.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i7-12700 uses the Intel Socket 1700, which supports a range of 12th and 13th Gen processors, though the fact pack only lists this specific CPU. The socket’s compatibility with DDR4 and DDR5 memory provides flexibility for upgrades, allowing users to choose between cost-effective DDR4 or higher-bandwidth DDR5. The CPU supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, ensuring compatibility with the latest graphics cards and NVMe SSDs, though the GPU itself uses PCIe 4.0 x16, which is backward compatible.

The GPU’s SFF design is a key consideration for upgrades. With a length of 168 mm and a dual-slot width, it fits in compact cases, but users upgrading to a larger GPU would need to consider case dimensions. The GPU’s TDP of 70 W and the system’s suggested PSU of 250 W leave significant headroom for additional components, though the lack of power connectors on the GPU means it draws power solely from the PCIe slot. The CPU’s 65 W TDP is also low, meaning a modest PSU can support the entire system.

A sensible next upgrade would be to increase memory to 32 GB or 64 GB, as the dual-channel configuration supports both DDR4 and DDR5. For storage, the PCIe Gen 5 support allows for high-speed NVMe drives, though the fact pack does not specify M.2 slot availability. The CPU’s socket has a limited upgrade path, as newer generations may use different sockets, but the current platform is sufficient for the GPU’s capabilities. The GPU’s successor is listed as Blackwell PRO W, suggesting that NVIDIA is iterating on the workstation lineup, but the RTX 4000 SFF remains a capable current option.

Build Overview

This build pairs the Intel Core i7-12700 with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation in a desktop form factor. The CPU is a 12th Gen Alder Lake processor with 12 cores and 20 threads, a 65 W TDP, and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The GPU is a workstation-class Ada Lovelace card with 20 GB of GDDR6 memory, 6,144 shading units, and a 70 W TDP, designed for compact systems. The combined percentile of 89 places this system in the top tier of desktop builds, indicating high overall performance.

The CPU’s 83rd percentile and GPU’s 95th percentile show a system where the GPU is the stronger component, but the CPU is no slouch. The pairing is suited for users who need GPU compute power in a small form factor, such as workstation users in rendering, AI, or video editing. The desktop class means it is not portable, but the SFF GPU allows for a compact footprint. The overall tier, based on the 89th combined percentile, is high-end, and the data shows that this system can handle the most demanding professional workloads without significant bottlenecks.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination, so all frame rate discussions are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU’s 95th percentile ranking and FP32 performance of 19.17 TFLOPS suggest strong gaming capability, but the workstation focus of the RTX 4000 SFF means drivers may be optimized for compute rather than game-specific optimizations. The CPU’s single-thread score of 1,012 in 3dMark and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,894 indicate it can support high frame rates, though at 1080p, the CPU may become a limiting factor in some titles.

At 1440p and 4K, the GPU is expected to be the primary driver, with the 20 GB VRAM and 280.0 GB/s bandwidth handling high-resolution textures. The 48 RT cores provide hardware ray tracing support, which should improve performance in ray-traced games compared to non-RT cards. However, the lack of measured data means these are estimates, and users should expect performance in line with other GPUs in the 95th percentile range. The GPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Radeon PRO W7700, scores slightly higher in average benchmarks, suggesting that gaming performance may be comparable, though driver optimizations could shift the balance. Overall, the system is expected to handle high-refresh gaming at 1440p and be capable at 4K, but the workstation GPU’s design priorities may result in different performance characteristics than a consumer gaming card.