SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900HX + AMD Radeon 860M

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

92 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 8% 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
91%
VS
GPU
93%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900HX

35,003 Benchmark Score
Top 9% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

AMD Radeon 860M

26,401 Benchmark Score
Top 7% 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

# Intel Core i9-12900HX + AMD Radeon 860M: A High-Performance Laptop Hybrid

This pairing combines Intel's 16-core Alder Lake-HX flagship mobile processor with AMD's latest RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, creating a laptop-class system that sits at the 78th percentile overall. The CPU is the clear dominant component, placing in the 84th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU holds the 72nd percentile against all GPUs. This is a system where the processor provides workstation-class multi-threaded throughput, but the graphics solution, despite being an integrated part, delivers performance comparable to entry-level discrete GPUs. No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination in the data, so all frame-rate discussions are estimated from the benchmark scores rather than direct gameplay testing.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The platform foundation is Intel's Alder Lake-HX architecture on the Intel BGA 1964 socket, which is a mobile-specific design. This socket is not upgradeable in the traditional sense; the CPU is soldered to the motherboard, so users are locked into this processor for the lifespan of the laptop. The system supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel memory bus, and it supports ECC memory, which is notable for a mobile platform and suggests potential use in reliability-sensitive workstation tasks. Memory bandwidth is not specified in the data, but the dual-channel configuration with DDR5 support provides a modern foundation for the 16-core processor.

PCIe connectivity is robust with Gen 5 support and 20 lanes from the CPU itself, which is generous for a mobile platform. This allows for high-speed NVMe storage and potentially external GPU enclosures, though the integrated GPU uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The CPU's TDP is 55 watts, which is high for a mobile processor, indicating that the laptop chassis must have substantial cooling and power delivery to sustain performance. The suggested PSU is not listed, but the 55W CPU TDP combined with the 15W GPU TDP suggests a total system power draw that would require a capable power adapter, likely in the range of a typical high-performance laptop brick.

The upgrade path for this system is essentially external: users can upgrade storage via PCIe Gen 5 slots, increase memory capacity if the laptop supports it, or connect external displays and peripherals. The CPU's multiplier is unlocked, which is unusual for a mobile part and suggests potential for enthusiast tuning, though thermal and power limits in a laptop chassis will constrain practical overclocking. The integrated GPU has no upgrade path, making this a fixed-function pairing. A sensible next upgrade for users who outgrow this system would be a larger laptop with a discrete GPU, as the CPU performance is already near the top of the mobile stack.

Balance and Bottleneck

The performance data reveals a significant imbalance between CPU and GPU capabilities. The CPU's average benchmark score is 35003, placing it in the 84th percentile, while the GPU's average score is 26401, placing it in the 72nd percentile. This 32.6% gap between the component scores indicates that the CPU will frequently outpace the GPU in mixed workloads, creating a GPU-bound scenario in graphics-intensive tasks. For gaming, the 860M's performance relative to its rivals suggests it will be the limiting factor at higher resolutions and detail settings, while the CPU has headroom to spare.

In CPU-bound workloads like data compression, encryption, and multi-threaded rendering, the i9-12900HX will dominate, with a PassMark multithread score of 33158 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23150. The GPU, however, will become the bottleneck in any 3D rendering or gaming scenario, where its 3.072 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 512 shading units are modest compared to the CPU's massive compute capacity. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 8077 versus the GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 22759 illustrates this: the CPU's thread scaling is exceptional, but the GPU's raw compute is limited.

For content creation, the balance is workload-dependent. Video editing that relies on CPU encoding will see strong performance, but GPU-accelerated effects or rendering will be constrained by the 860M. The data shows the GPU is competitive with NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and RTX 5060 in average scores, with delta percentages of -0.1% and 0.3% respectively, indicating it is not a weak component, but it is not in the same class as the CPU. Users should expect GPU-bound performance in games and GPU-accelerated tasks, with the CPU rarely being the limiting factor.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900HX is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². It has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 55W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a hybrid architecture, though the data does not specify the P-core/E-core split, but the thread count of 24 from 16 cores indicates 8 performance cores with hyper-threading and 8 efficiency cores without.

Benchmark results show exceptional multi-threaded performance. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23150 is strong for a mobile processor, and the PassMark multithread score of 33158 confirms this. The 3DMark max threads score of 9067 versus the 16-thread score of 8077 shows good scaling beyond 16 threads, with a 12.3% improvement from the additional 8 threads. Single-thread performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1912.5 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3745. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1026 is lower relative to the multi-thread scores, but this is typical for a balanced mobile chip.

In real workloads, the PassMark data shows strong integer math at 113416 and floating-point math at 84410, indicating heavy compute capability. Data compression scores 400636, which is very high, and encryption scores 22932, showing strong security processing. The extended instructions score of 24315 suggests good SIMD performance for scientific and engineering applications. The CPU's nearest rivals in average score are the Intel Core i7-13800H at 34988 (0% delta), Intel Core 7 253PTE at 34962 (0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-14500HX at 35094 (-0.3% delta), and Intel Xeon 6349P at 34890 (0.3% delta). This places the i9-12900HX in a tight cluster with these processors, all within 0.3% of each other, meaning real-world differences will be minimal.

Who Should Build It

This system targets users who need exceptional CPU performance in a laptop form factor but can accept integrated graphics. The 84th percentile CPU ranking makes it ideal for software developers compiling large codebases, data scientists running complex simulations, and engineers using CPU-intensive CAD or analysis tools. The 16 cores and 24 threads handle parallel workloads efficiently, with the Cinebench R20 multicore score of 11764 indicating strong rendering performance for CPU-based 3D artists.

For gamers, this system is suitable for esports titles and older games at 1080p with medium to high settings, given the GPU's 72nd percentile ranking. The GPU's performance is comparable to the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, suggesting it can handle light gaming, but it will struggle with modern AAA titles at high settings. Students in STEM fields will benefit from the CPU power for computational assignments, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for research computing.

Small business workstations that run virtual machines, database servers, or heavy spreadsheet analysis will find the multi-threaded performance valuable. The PassMark multithread score of 33158 and data compression score of 400636 indicate strong server-like performance in a mobile package. However, the lack of a discrete GPU limits this system for creative professionals who rely on GPU-accelerated rendering in applications like Blender or After Effects, unless they use external GPU enclosures via the PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's benchmark suite shows a processor that excels in both single and multi-threaded tasks. In 3DMark tests, the 2-thread score is 1994, 4-thread is 3729, 8-thread is 6461, 16-thread is 8077, and max threads is 9067. This progression shows strong scaling from 2 to 8 threads, with diminishing returns beyond 16 threads. The single-thread score of 1026 is respectable but not class-leading, indicating that the boost clock of 5.00 GHz is effective but the architecture's single-thread efficiency is moderate.

Cinebench results reinforce the multi-threaded strength: R15 multicore is 3566, R20 multicore is 11764, and R23 multicore is 23150. The single-core scores are 278 for R15, 1660 for R20, and 1912.5 for R23, which are competitive with modern desktop processors. The PassMark suite shows a comprehensive picture: single-thread at 3745, multithread at 33158, physics at 2012, integer math at 113416, floating-point math at 84410, data compression at 400636, data encryption at 22932, extended instructions at 24315, find prime numbers at 132, and random string sorting at 43877.

The GPU benchmarks show a Geekbench OpenCL score of 22759 and a Vulkan score of 30043, with an average benchmark score of 26401. The GPU's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 at 26421 (-0.1% delta), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 at 26331 (0.3% delta), AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary at 26553 (-0.6% delta), and NVIDIA RTX A4000 at 26683 (-1.1% delta). The RTX A4000 is a workstation card, and the RX 5700 XT is a desktop GPU, so the 860M's proximity to these in synthetic tests is notable, though real-world gaming performance will differ due to driver and memory differences.

The combined picture is a system where the CPU provides top-tier mobile compute performance, while the GPU provides entry-level discrete graphics capability. The 78th combined percentile reflects a high-performing laptop, but the gap between CPU and GPU performance means users should prioritize CPU-bound tasks over GPU-intensive ones.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's core and thread configuration?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: How does the GPU compare to discrete options?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M has an average benchmark score of 26401, which is within 0.3% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and -0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, indicating it performs similarly to entry-level discrete GPUs.

Q: What memory types does this platform support?

A: The platform supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it supports ECC memory.

Q: Is this system suitable for gaming at high settings?

A: The GPU's 72nd percentile ranking suggests it can handle light gaming, but the data shows no measured FPS values, so high-refresh gaming at high settings is not recommended based on the GPU's compute performance of 3.072 TFLOPS.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance like?

A: The CPU scores 3745 in PassMark single-thread and 1912.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is competitive for a mobile processor and suitable for everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications.

Q: Does the CPU support overclocking?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked, but the 55W TDP and laptop form factor will limit practical overclocking due to thermal constraints.

Q: What is the GPU's architecture and process node?

A: The GPU uses RDNA 3.5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a boost clock of 3000 MHz and 512 shading units.

GPU Analysis

The AMD Radeon 860M is an integrated graphics processor based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on TSMC's 4 nm process. It has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation units, with 8 ray tracing cores. The base clock is 600 MHz with a boost clock of 3000 MHz, which is a significant boost ratio and indicates good power efficiency at the 15W TDP. The memory is system shared, with bandwidth described as system dependent, meaning performance will vary based on the laptop's memory configuration and speed.

The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it feature-complete for modern gaming APIs. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance at 3.072 TFLOPS and FP16 at the same rate (1:1 ratio), indicating no half-rate FP16 acceleration. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8, which is adequate for an integrated GPU but limits bandwidth compared to discrete x16 solutions.

In benchmark results, the Geekbench OpenCL score of 22759 and Vulkan score of 30043 show that the GPU performs better in Vulkan, which is common for AMD architectures. The average score of 26401 places it in the 72nd percentile, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, a discrete entry-level GPU, and the RTX 5060, a modern discrete option. The delta percentages are minimal, ranging from -1.1% to 0.3%, indicating that the 860M is very competitive with these discrete solutions in synthetic benchmarks.

For rendering, the 3.072 TFLOPS FP32 performance is sufficient for light 3D workloads and GPU-accelerated effects in video editing, but it will struggle with complex scenes or high-resolution rendering. The 8 ray tracing cores provide hardware RT support, but with only 3.072 TFLOPS of compute, ray-traced performance will be limited. The system-dependent memory bandwidth is a potential bottleneck, as the GPU must share system memory with the CPU, which can reduce performance in memory-intensive tasks.

Build Overview

This is a laptop-class system (buildClass: laptop) that combines Intel's high-end mobile CPU with AMD's integrated GPU. The Intel Core i9-12900HX is a 16-core processor with a 55W TDP, designed for performance laptops and mobile workstations. The AMD Radeon 860M is a 15W integrated GPU built on RDNA 3.5, designed to provide decent graphics performance without a discrete graphics card. The combined percentile is 78, indicating this is a high-performing laptop overall, but the CPU's 84th percentile versus the GPU's 72nd percentile shows an imbalance favoring CPU performance.

The system is positioned as a CPU-first machine, where the processor is the star and the GPU provides adequate but not exceptional graphics. The CPU's avg benchmark score of 35003 and the GPU's 26401 create a combined system that is well above average, but users should understand that the GPU is the limiting factor in graphics workloads. The 55W CPU TDP and 15W GPU TDP suggest a total system power draw that requires a substantial battery and cooling solution, typical of a desktop replacement laptop.

This pairing is best suited for users who need maximum CPU performance in a mobile form factor, such as software developers, data analysts, or engineers who occasionally game or do light creative work. It is not ideal for gamers who want high-refresh or high-detail gaming, as the GPU will be the bottleneck. The system's tier is high-end mobile, with the CPU providing workstation-class performance and the GPU providing entry-level discrete graphics capability.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The GPU's 72nd percentile and 3.072 TFLOPS FP32 performance suggest this system can handle esports titles at 1080p with high refresh rates, but modern AAA games will likely run at medium settings with frame rates below 60 FPS. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (3745 PassMark) will not be the limiting factor, but the GPU will struggle to maintain high frame rates in demanding titles.

Streaming: The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads provide ample headroom for streaming encoding while gaming, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23150. The GPU's lack of dedicated encoding hardware is not specified, but the CPU can handle x264 encoding at high quality while maintaining game performance, though the GPU's gaming limits will cap overall stream quality.

Video editing: The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 33158 and data compression score of 400636 indicate strong performance for video encoding and timeline processing. However, GPU-accelerated effects and rendering will be limited by the 860M's 3.072 TFLOPS, making this system better suited for CPU-based editing workflows in software like Premiere Pro with software encoding.

3D rendering: CPU-based rendering will be excellent, with Cinebench R23 multicore at 23150, but GPU-based renderers like Blender Cycles will be constrained by the 860M's compute performance. The 8 ray tracing cores provide some acceleration, but the overall GPU compute is limited, making this system better for CPU rendering engines.

Software development: The 16 cores and 24 threads are ideal for compiling large codebases, with the 3DMark max threads score of 9067 indicating strong parallel processing. The ECC memory support adds reliability for long compile sessions, and the single-thread performance of 3745 PassMark ensures responsive IDE and code analysis tools.

Student and office work: The system is overkill for typical student or office tasks, but the CPU's performance ensures no lag in demanding applications like virtual machines or large spreadsheets. The GPU is sufficient for presentations and light photo editing, and the integrated nature of the GPU means the system runs quieter and cooler than discrete GPU laptops for basic tasks.