SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900HX + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile

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Build Configuration

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PROCESSOR (CPU)

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GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

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91 Score

Top 9% Ranking

91 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 9% 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%

GPU

92%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900HX

35,003 Benchmark Score

Top 9% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile

23,628 Benchmark Score

Top 8% 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

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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.

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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 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile: A High-End Laptop Combination

The pairing of the Intel Core i9-12900HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile represents a flagship-class laptop configuration from the 2021-2022 era. The CPU is a 16-core, 24-thread Alder Lake-HX processor with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the GPU is an Ampere-based mobile part with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The combined percentile of this build is 77, indicating it sits above the majority of all tracked CPU-GPU pairings in the benchmark database. No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination in the FACT PACK; all gaming performance figures discussed in this analysis are estimates derived from the individual component benchmark scores and should be treated as such.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900HX is a hybrid architecture processor built on Intel's Alder Lake-HX design, manufactured on a 10 nm process node. It features 16 physical cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a maximum boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The chip carries a 30 MB shared L3 cache, along with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, and provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. It is socketed in Intel BGA 1964, has a TDP of 55 W, supports ECC memory, and features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking on supported platforms. The launch MSRP for this processor is $606.

Benchmark data reveals a strong multi-threaded performer. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 23150 in multi-core and 1912.5 in single-core. The single-core score of 1912.5 indicates that the high 5.00 GHz boost clock translates well to lightly-threaded tasks, placing it within striking distance of many desktop-class parts. The multi-core score of 23150 reflects the combined throughput of the 16 cores and 24 threads, making it well-suited for heavily parallel workloads such as video encoding and 3D rendering. In Cinebench R20, the scores are 11764 multi-core and 1660 single-core, while R15 shows 3566 multi-core and 278 single-core. The scaling from 8 threads to max threads in 3DMark is notable: the 3dmark_8_threads score is 6461, while the max_threads score reaches 9067, demonstrating that the core count and thread count provide meaningful gains beyond eight threads.

PassMark results further substantiate the CPU's capabilities. The multithread score is 33158, with integer math at 113416 and floating point math at 84410. Data compression scores 400636, while data encryption hits 22932. Extended instructions reach 24315, and random string sorting scores 43877. The single-thread PassMark score is 3745, which is competitive for a mobile processor. The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs is 84, meaning it outperforms 84% of all processors tracked in the database. Its average benchmark score is 35003, which places it essentially level with the Intel Core i7-13800H (deltaPct 0%), the Intel Core 7 253PTE (deltaPct 0.1%), and the Intel Xeon 6349P (deltaPct 0.3%). It slightly trails the Intel Core i5-14500HX, which shows a deltaPct of -0.3%, meaning the i9-12900HX is marginally ahead. For real workloads, this means the CPU handles everything from office productivity to multi-threaded content creation without being the limiting factor in most scenarios.

Balance and Bottleneck

The balance between the Core i9-12900HX and the RTX 3080 Mobile is well-matched for a laptop of this class. The CPU's 84th percentile rank and the GPU's 69th percentile rank suggest that the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card when compared to their respective pools of all parts. This implies that in CPU-bound scenarios—such as physics calculations, data compression, or heavily threaded productivity tasks—the processor will not be the constraining factor. The PassMark physics score of 2012 and the 3dmark_16_threads score of 8077 indicate that the CPU can feed the GPU sufficient data in most gaming scenarios, though at lower resolutions, the GPU may still be the primary limiter.

The GPU's percentile vs all GPUs is 69, and its average benchmark score is 23628. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the GPU scores 2644, which is a modern DirectX 12 ray-tracing benchmark; this score, combined with the CPU's 3dmark_max_threads score of 9067, suggests that the pairing can handle demanding titles, but the GPU will likely be the first component to saturate at higher graphical settings. The CPU's single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 3dmark_single_thread score of 1026 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1912.5, ensures that frame pacing in CPU-light scenes is smooth. In GPU-bound scenarios, such as 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing, the RTX 3080 Mobile's 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 18.98 TFLOPS FP32 throughput will be the bottleneck, which is the expected behavior for a laptop gaming system. The data indicates that the CPU is capable of supporting the GPU across most workloads, with the GPU being the limiting factor in graphically intensive tasks.

Benchmark Performance

Looking at the CPU scores, the Core i9-12900HX achieves an average benchmark score of 35003, which places it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13800H, scores 34988, a deltaPct of 0%, meaning the two are statistically identical. The Intel Core 7 253PTE is also effectively tied at 34962 (deltaPct 0.1%), while the Intel Xeon 6349P trails slightly at 34890 (deltaPct 0.3%). The Intel Core i5-14500HX is the only rival ahead, with a score of 35094 (deltaPct -0.3%, meaning the i9-12900HX is 0.3% faster). This clustering shows that the i9-12900HX sits at a performance plateau shared by several modern mobile processors, and its advantage lies in its high core count and boost clock rather than a dramatic lead over its immediate competitors.

For the GPU, the RTX 3080 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 23628 and sits at the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, which scores 23736 (deltaPct -0.5%, meaning the RTX 3080 Mobile is 0.5% slower). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile trails at 23518 (deltaPct 0.5%, meaning the RTX 3080 Mobile is 0.5% faster), while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 leads at 23877 (deltaPct -1%) and the AMD Radeon AI PRO R9700 trails at 23315 (deltaPct 1.3%). The GPU's Geekbench scores are 104831 for OpenCL and 104066 for Vulkan, indicating strong compute performance. In PassMark, the G3D score is 16321, with G2D at 637, and compute at 7276. The combined picture is that of a well-above-average laptop CPU-GPU pairing, with the CPU punching slightly above its weight class relative to the GPU. The combined percentile of 77 reflects that this is a high-tier system, though not the absolute top-of-the-line.

Who Should Build It

Based on the benchmark data, this pairing is suited for users who need high multi-threaded CPU performance alongside solid GPU capability in a laptop form factor. Gamers targeting high refresh rates at 1080p or 1440p will benefit from the CPU's strong single-thread scores (1912.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core) and the GPU's ability to handle demanding titles, though the lack of measured FPS data means expectations should be based on the GPU's percentile rank and benchmark scores. Content creators working with video editing or 3D rendering will find the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads advantageous, as evidenced by the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23150 and the PassMark multithread score of 33158. Software developers compiling large codebases will appreciate the high integer math score of 113416 and the data compression score of 400636, which speed up build times and data processing. Students and small business workstations that run productivity suites will find the CPU's single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread 3745) more than adequate, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for data-sensitive workloads.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile is an Ampere-architecture GPU built on an 8 nm Samsung process, featuring the GA104 chip with 17,400 million transistors on a 392 mm² die. It has 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units. The memory subsystem consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The base clock is 1110 MHz with a boost clock of 1545 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The GPU includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS. The pixel rate is 148.3 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 296.6 GTexel/s. The FP32 throughput is 18.98 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 18.98 TFLOPS (1:1). The GPU has a TDP of 115 W and connects via PCIe 4.0 x16. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In terms of benchmark performance, the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2644 reflects its ability to handle modern ray-traced workloads. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 104831 and Vulkan score of 104066 show strong compute capabilities, which are relevant for rendering and machine learning tasks. The PassMark G3D score of 16321 places it at the 69th percentile of all GPUs, and the G2D score of 637 is typical for a mobile part. The PassMark GPU compute score of 7276 indicates solid non-graphics compute performance. For rendering, the 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming with high textures, though 4K texture-heavy workloads may approach the VRAM limit. The RT cores and tensor cores provide dedicated hardware for ray tracing and DLSS, which can improve frame rates in supported titles.

Gaming Performance

As noted in the introduction, the FACT PACK contains no measured FPS data for this CPU-GPU combination. All gaming performance figures discussed here are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU's 69th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 23628 suggest it will deliver strong 1080p and 1440p gaming performance in most titles. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2644 indicates that the GPU can handle DirectX 12 games with ray tracing enabled, though at reduced settings or lower resolutions. Based on the PassMark G3D score of 16321, which is a composite of multiple DirectX tests (DirectX 9 at 170, DirectX 10 at 120, DirectX 11 at 146, DirectX 12 at 72), the GPU's performance is strongest in legacy DirectX 9 titles and progressively weaker in newer APIs, though the 3DMark Steel Nomad score suggests modern games will still run well. For esports titles like CS:GO or Valorant, the CPU's high single-thread score (1026 in 3dmark_single_thread) will help push high frame rates, while for AAA games, the GPU will be the primary driver. At 4K, the 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth may be a limiting factor in the most demanding titles, and users should expect to adjust settings accordingly. These figures are estimates, not measured results.

FAQ

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

A: The combined percentile is 77, meaning it outperforms 77% of all tracked CPU-GPU combinations in the database.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13800H?

A: The Core i9-12900HX has an average benchmark score of 35003, while the Core i7-13800H scores 34988, a deltaPct of 0%, indicating they are statistically equal in performance.

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

A: The RTX 3080 Mobile has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-12900HX supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the GPU's FP32 performance?

A: The GPU achieves 18.98 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

Q: What is the CPU's boost clock speed?

A: The CPU has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the RTX 3070 Ti Mobile?

A: The RTX 3080 Mobile scores 23628 on average, while the RTX 3070 Ti Mobile scores 23518, a deltaPct of 0.5%, meaning the RTX 3080 Mobile is 0.5% faster.

Build Overview

This is a laptop-class build (buildClass: "laptop") that pairs the Intel Core i9-12900HX with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile. The CPU is a 16-core, 24-thread Alder Lake-HX processor with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, while the GPU is an Ampere-based mobile part with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The combined percentile of 77 places this system in the upper tier of all tracked builds, though it is not at the very top. The CPU's 84th percentile rank is notably higher than the GPU's 69th percentile rank, indicating that the processor is the stronger component relative to its peers. This is a high-end desktop-replacement laptop configuration, suitable for demanding workloads, but users should be aware that the GPU is a generation old and newer mobile GPUs may offer better performance per watt.

Usage Scenarios

For high-refresh gaming at 1080p or 1440p, this pairing is well-suited. The CPU's single-thread performance (1912.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core) ensures high frame rates in CPU-bound games, while the GPU's 69th percentile ranking and 18.98 TFLOPS FP32 throughput provide adequate graphics horsepower. Streaming while gaming is also feasible, as the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads can handle encoding (PassMark data encryption score of 22932) without significantly impacting game performance. Video editing workflows benefit from the CPU's multi-core might (Cinebench R23 multi-core 23150) and the GPU's compute capabilities (Geekbench OpenCL 104831), which accelerate effects and rendering. For 3D rendering, the CPU's 16 cores will handle CPU-based renderers well, while the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth support GPU-accelerated rendering in applications like Blender or Octane, though the 8 GB capacity may limit the size of scenes. Software development is a strong suit, given the high integer math score (113416) and data compression score (400636), which speed up compilation and data processing tasks. For students and office work, the CPU's single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread 3745) and the integrated UHD Graphics 770 provide a responsive experience for productivity suites, though the discrete GPU will also handle any light graphics tasks.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The CPU uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform, meaning the processor is not upgradeable in place. The platform supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and the CPU provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The GPU connects via PCIe 4.0 x16, which is fully compatible with the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 lanes, though the GPU is limited to Gen 4 speeds. The CPU has a TDP of 55 W, while the GPU has a TDP of 115 W, and the suggested PSU is not listed; however, laptop power delivery is typically handled by the system's power brick, so users should ensure they have an adequate adapter for the combined load. The GPU is listed as end-of-life, so upgrades would involve replacing the entire laptop or waiting for a newer mobile GPU platform. A sensible next upgrade would be to a newer generation mobile GPU, such as an RTX 40-series, which would offer better performance per watt, but this would require a new laptop since the GPU is not field-replaceable. The CPU's production status is active, indicating it is still available, but its Alder Lake architecture is a previous generation, so future upgrades would involve a complete platform change to a newer Intel or AMD mobile processor.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900HX + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i9-12900HX

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile

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

CPU Analysis

Balance and Bottleneck

Benchmark Performance

Who Should Build It

GPU Analysis

Gaming Performance

FAQ

Build Overview

Usage Scenarios

Upgrade Path and Platform

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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