SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900HX + NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile

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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83 Score

Top 17% Ranking

83 / 100

HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 17% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio

Well Balanced

CPU

91%

GPU

76%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900HX

35,003 Benchmark Score

Top 9% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile

1,285 Benchmark Score

Top 24% 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

# FAQ

Q: What is the Intel Core i9-12900HX and how does it compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HX is a 16-core, 24-thread mobile processor from the Core 12th Gen series, based on the Alder Lake-HX architecture. Its average benchmark score of 35,003 places it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, essentially matching the Intel Core i7-13800H (34,988, 0% delta) and the Intel Core 7 253PTE (34,962, 0.1% delta), while slightly trailing the Intel Core i5-14500HX (35,094, -0.3% delta).

Q: What kind of GPU is the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile?

A: It is a Turing-architecture mobile workstation GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It features 1,920 shading units, 30 RT cores, and 240 tensor cores, with a boost clock of 1380 MHz. Its only recorded benchmark score is 1,285 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 7th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile's score of 1,285 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 (1,281, 0.3% delta) and the AMD Radeon R9 380 (1,293, -0.6% delta). It is slightly ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 (1,267, 1.4% delta) and the NVIDIA NVS 4200M (1,267, 1.4% delta).

Q: What memory and expansion capabilities does the CPU support?

A: The Core i9-12900HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC memory support. It provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, and includes integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the CPU?

A: The launch MSRP of the Intel Core i9-12900HX is $606.

Q: Is there any measured FPS data for this CPU+GPU combination?

A: No, there is no measured FPS data for this exact combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps rows, so all FPS discussion must be framed as estimated from the individual benchmark scores of the CPU and GPU.

Q: What is the production status of each component?

A: The CPU is listed as "Active" in production, with a release date of 2022-05-09, while the GPU is marked as "End-of-life" with a release date of 2019-05-26.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The data paints a stark picture of imbalance between these two components. The CPU sits in the 84th percentile of all processors, delivering strong multithreaded performance with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,150 and a Passmark multithread score of 33,158. The GPU, however, languishes in the 7th percentile, with its single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,285 placing it near the bottom of the GPU hierarchy. This is a fundamental mismatch: the CPU is capable of feeding a far more powerful GPU than the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile can handle.

In gaming workloads, the GPU will almost certainly be the limiting factor at any resolution above minimal settings. The CPU's 3DMark 16-thread score of 8,077 and single-thread score of 1,026 indicate it can process game logic, physics, and draw calls with ease. The GPU, with a score that puts it in company with the GeForce GT 610 and GT 520, will bottleneck frame generation long before the CPU breaks a sweat. Even at 720p or 1080p with low settings, the GPU's 5.299 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 88.32 GPixel/s pixel rate will cap output well below what the CPU could theoretically support.

For compute-oriented workloads, the balance shifts somewhat. The CPU's Passmark data compression score of 400,636 and integer math score of 113,416 show it excels at general-purpose tasks. The GPU's 240 tensor cores and 30 RT cores provide specialized acceleration for AI inference and ray tracing, but the overall FP32 throughput of 5.299 TFLOPS is modest. In content creation, the CPU will carry most of the load for encoding, compilation, and physics simulation, while the GPU accelerates specific tasks like rendering previews or applying certain effects. The bottleneck analysis depends heavily on the workload: the CPU dominates in parallel integer tasks, while the GPU's limited bandwidth (336.0 GB/s) and memory size (6 GB) will constrain large data sets.

The combined percentile of 46 for this pairing confirms the overall system sits near the middle of the pack, dragged down by the GPU's low standing. The 3DMark multithread scores show strong scaling from 2 threads (1,994) to max threads (9,067), indicating the CPU can effectively utilize its 16 cores, but no amount of CPU headroom can compensate for a GPU that scores in the single-digit percentile.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i9-12900HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform, meaning the CPU itself is not user-upgradeable. The platform supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, with ECC memory as an option for error-sensitive workloads. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes from the CPU provides ample bandwidth for modern storage and expansion, though the GPU in this build uses PCIe 3.0 x16, which is a generation behind the CPU's capability.

The GPU is an MXM module, which is a standardized mobile graphics form factor that allows for replacement in some laptops. However, the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile is end-of-life, and its successor is listed as Ampere-MW, so a sensible upgrade would target a newer GPU in the same MXM form factor, provided the laptop's thermal and power delivery systems can support it. The GPU has a TDP of 80 W, and the CPU has a TDP of 55 W, so the total power draw is modest, but no suggested PSU is listed for this mobile configuration, meaning power delivery is handled by the laptop's internal power supply.

Memory support is dual-channel, which is standard for mobile platforms, but the lack of a listed memory bandwidth figure means users should check the motherboard's specifications for maximum supported speeds. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 per core provide ample caching for high-frequency data access, and the integrated UHD Graphics 770 offers a fallback display output if the discrete GPU is not in use.

For storage, the PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU allow for the fastest NVMe SSDs, though the GPU's older PCIe 3.0 interface does not bottleneck the CPU's expansion capabilities. A sensible next upgrade path would be to replace the MXM GPU with a newer Turing or Ampere-based module, keeping the CPU in place, as the CPU's 84th percentile performance is still competitive with newer mobile processors like the Core i7-13800H and Core 7 253PTE.

# Who Should Build It

This pairing is aimed at professionals who need strong CPU compute power but have modest GPU requirements. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,150 and Passmark multithread score of 33,158 make it well-suited for software developers compiling large codebases, engineers running simulation tools, and data analysts processing large datasets. The GPU's 6 GB of VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for CAD work, 3D modeling, and light rendering, but not for heavy GPU-accelerated workloads.

Gamers at 1080p with low-to-medium settings could use this system for esports titles, but the GPU's 7th percentile standing means modern AAA games at high settings will struggle. Content creators who work primarily with CPU-bound tasks like video encoding, batch photo processing, or audio production will find the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads beneficial, while the GPU handles preview rendering and effects. Students in engineering or computer science programs will appreciate the CPU's performance for compilation and simulation, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running computations.

Small business workstations that run virtual machines, database servers, or financial modeling software will benefit from the CPU's multithreaded prowess, and the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile's professional-grade drivers (with DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support) ensure compatibility with certified applications. The system is less suitable for 3D artists using GPU renderers, AI researchers training large models, or gamers seeking high-refresh experiences, as the GPU's limited FP32 throughput and VRAM capacity will bottleneck those workloads.

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900HX is a 16-core, 24-thread processor built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². It uses the Alder Lake-HX architecture, which is the high-performance mobile variant of Alder Lake, and it is unlocked, allowing for overclocking in supported laptops. The base clock is 2.30 GHz with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and the TDP is 55 W, which is modest for a 16-core part, indicating efficient power management.

The benchmark scores show a processor that scales well across thread counts. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1,026 and 2-thread score of 1,994 indicate strong per-core performance, likely due to the high boost clock and efficient architecture. The 4-thread score of 3,729 and 8-thread score of 6,461 show continued scaling, while the 16-thread score of 8,077 and max-thread score of 9,067 demonstrate that the CPU can effectively utilize its full complement of cores, though the scaling is not perfectly linear due to thermal and power constraints.

In Cinebench, the R23 multicore score of 23,150 is a strong result for a mobile chip, putting it in contention with desktop processors from a few generations ago. The single-core R23 score of 1,912.5 is respectable, and the R20 multicore score of 11,764 and R15 multicore score of 3,566 confirm consistent performance across versions. Passmark scores further illustrate the CPU's strengths: integer math at 113,416, floating point math at 84,410, and extended instructions at 24,315 show robust compute capabilities. The data compression score of 400,636 is particularly high, indicating excellent throughput for compression and decompression tasks.

The cache hierarchy — 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3 — is generous and helps feed the cores with data. The CPU's average benchmark score of 35,003 places it in the 84th percentile, with nearest rivals like the Core i7-13800H (34,988) and Core 7 253PTE (34,962) being essentially identical in performance. This means the i9-12900HX is not a class leader but is firmly in the upper tier of mobile processors.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The GPU's 7th percentile score of 1,285 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 indicates that high-refresh gaming is not viable for demanding titles. The CPU's strong single-thread score of 1,026 in 3DMark would support high frame rates in CPU-bound games, but the GPU will cap FPS well below 144 Hz in most modern games. Esports titles at low settings might reach playable frame rates, but this is not a gaming-first system.

Streaming: The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads, combined with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,150, can handle x264 encoding at high quality while gaming, but the GPU's weak performance means the game itself will suffer. The UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU could offload some encoding tasks, but the discrete GPU's low standing limits overall streaming quality.

Video editing: The Passmark multithread score of 33,158 and floating point math score of 84,410 support fast timeline scrubbing, effects processing, and export encoding in CPU-based editors. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth can accelerate certain effects and previews, but large 4K projects may exceed its memory capacity.

3D rendering: CPU rendering in software like Blender's Cycles will benefit from the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,150, which is strong for a mobile chip. GPU rendering using the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile's 30 RT cores and 5.299 TFLOPS will be slower than dedicated desktop GPUs, and the 6 GB VRAM limits scene complexity.

Software development: The Passmark integer math score of 113,416 and data compression score of 400,636 indicate rapid compilation, code analysis, and version control operations. The 16 cores will handle parallel builds efficiently, and the ECC memory support adds stability for long-running test suites.

Student and office work: The CPU's single-thread score of 3,745 in Passmark ensures snappy responsiveness in office applications, web browsing, and productivity suites. The GPU is overkill for these tasks, but its professional drivers ensure compatibility with specialized academic software.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile is a Turing-architecture GPU built on TSMC's 12 nm process, with a die size of 445 mm² and 10,800 million transistors. It features 1,920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with 30 RT cores for ray tracing and 240 tensor cores for AI acceleration. The base clock is 945 MHz with a boost clock of 1380 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth across a 192-bit bus.

The 6 GB of GDDR6 memory is a limitation for modern workloads, as many GPU-accelerated applications now require 8 GB or more. The pixel rate of 88.32 GPixel/s and texture rate of 165.6 GTexel/s are modest figures, and the FP32 performance of 5.299 TFLOPS places this GPU in the entry-level segment. The FP16 performance of 10.60 TFLOPS (2:1) offers some acceleration for AI inference, and the 240 tensor cores can be leveraged for machine learning tasks, but the overall compute throughput is constrained.

The only benchmark score available is 1,285 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which places the GPU in the 7th percentile of all GPUs. This is a striking result, as it puts the Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile in the same performance class as the GeForce GT 610 (1,281) and AMD Radeon R9 380 (1,293). The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring modern API compatibility, but its raw performance is severely limited. The GPU has a TDP of 80 W and uses an MXM module form factor, with no power connectors required, and its display outputs are portable device dependent.

The GPU's production status is end-of-life, with a release date of 2019-05-26, and its predecessor is Quadro Pascal-M while its successor is Ampere-MW. This is an aging part that was designed for professional workloads, but its performance has been overtaken by even entry-level consumer GPUs. For rendering tasks, the 30 RT cores provide ray tracing acceleration, but the low pixel rate and memory bandwidth will bottleneck complex scenes.

# Build Overview

This is a laptop-class build, as indicated by the buildClass field, pairing the Intel Core i9-12900HX CPU with the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile GPU. The CPU is a high-performance mobile processor from 2022, while the GPU is a 2019-era professional workstation part. The combined percentile of 46 places this system in the middle of the performance spectrum, reflecting the stark contrast between the CPU's 84th percentile ranking and the GPU's 7th percentile ranking.

The CPU is a flagship Alder Lake-HX part, with 16 cores, 24 threads, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, making it a top-tier mobile processor. The GPU, however, is an entry-level professional part with 6 GB of VRAM and modest compute throughput. This pairing results in a system that is CPU-bound in most workloads, with the GPU acting as a secondary accelerator for specific tasks. The overall tier is mid-range, driven by the CPU's strength and the GPU's weakness.

For users who need a powerful CPU for compute-intensive tasks and only require basic GPU acceleration for professional applications, this build is balanced. For gamers or GPU-accelerated compute users, the GPU is a significant bottleneck. The system's class is laptop, so portability and power efficiency are inherent, but the CPU's 55 W TDP and GPU's 80 W TDP mean thermal management will be important.

# Benchmark Performance

The Intel Core i9-12900HX achieves an average benchmark score of 35,003, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13800H (34,988, 0% delta), Intel Core 7 253PTE (34,962, 0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-14500HX (35,094, -0.3% delta), and Intel Xeon 6349P (34,890, 0.3% delta). These results show that the CPU is competitive with the latest mobile processors, sitting within 0.3% of its closest competitors.

The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile scores 1,285 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 7th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 (1,281, 0.3% delta), AMD Radeon R9 380 (1,293, -0.6% delta), NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 (1,267, 1.4% delta), and NVIDIA NVS 4200M (1,267, 1.4% delta). This score is remarkably low, indicating the GPU is roughly equivalent to decade-old entry-level parts.

The combined picture is one of extreme imbalance. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,150 and Passmark multithread score of 33,158 demonstrate desktop-class performance, while the GPU's score of 1,285 is comparable to integrated graphics from several generations ago. The combined percentile of 46 reflects this split, with the CPU pulling the system up and the GPU dragging it down. No measured FPS data exists for this combination, but based on the benchmark scores, gaming performance will be limited by the GPU in all but the most CPU-bound scenarios, while productivity workloads will benefit from the CPU's strong multithreaded performance.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900HX + NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile

Power Build

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i9-12900HX

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile

Market Position

Game Performance Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dead Redemption 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Control

Call of Duty: Warzone

Fortnite

Performance Insights

Strong Performance

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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