SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER

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

86 / 100
HIGH-END

Power Build

Top 14% of systems. Excellent for 1440p Ultra or 4K High gaming.

1440p Ultra4K High

System Balance Analysis

CPU vs GPU performance ratio
Well Balanced
CPU
93%
VS
GPU
79%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900K

42,335 Benchmark Score
Top 7% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER

2,690 Benchmark Score
Top 21% 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

The Intel Core i9-12900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER represents a striking asymmetry in performance potential. The processor is a high-end 16-core desktop part that scores in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the graphics card, based on its single available benchmark, sits in the 18th percentile of all GPUs, a position comparable to entry-level discrete solutions. This pairing creates a system where the CPU vastly outperforms the GPU in raw compute capability, making the component selection heavily weighted toward processor-intensive tasks rather than gaming or graphics workloads. The following analysis draws exclusively from the provided benchmark data to detail the capabilities and limitations of this specific configuration.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900K is a 16-core, 24-thread desktop processor built on the Alder Lake architecture using Intel's 10 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The chip features a hybrid design with a cache hierarchy consisting of 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The CPU is unlocked for overclocking and integrates UHD Graphics 770.

Benchmark results show a processor with substantial multi-threaded capability. In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 26125 in multi-core and 2004.5 in single-core. The multi-core score is exceptionally high, indicating strong performance in heavily threaded workloads such as video rendering, 3D modeling, and software compilation. The single-core score of 2004.5 is also robust, ensuring responsive performance in everyday tasks and applications that rely on single-thread performance. The 3DMark thread scaling tests further illustrate this: the score rises from 1073 for single-thread to 2120 for 2 threads, 4145 for 4 threads, 7596 for 8 threads, 9912 for 16 threads, and peaks at 11620 for max threads. This scaling pattern shows efficient utilization of additional cores, with a significant jump from 8 to 16 threads, confirming the benefit of the full 16-core configuration.

PassMark results reinforce the CPU's strengths. The multithread score is 41213, while the single-thread score is 4136. Integer math scores 139090, and floating-point math scores 105471, indicating balanced arithmetic performance. Data compression scores 537341, and encryption scores 29579. The extended instructions score of 33682 suggests good capability with modern SIMD instruction sets. Relative to its nearest rivals, the i9-12900K is competitive: it trails the Intel Core i9-12950HX by a negligible 0.4%, leads the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 by 0.7%, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS by 0.9%, and the Intel Core i7-14700T by 1%. This places the chip in a tight performance cluster, where the differences are within a single percentage point.

For real workloads, these numbers translate to excellent performance in multi-threaded productivity. The 26125 Cinebench R23 multi-core score is a strong indicator for video editing timelines, 3D rendering scenes, and code compilation projects. The data compression and encryption scores suggest capability in archiving tasks and secure data handling. The 88th percentile standing versus all CPUs confirms that this processor is a top-tier part for compute-heavy applications, even if it is not the absolute best available.

Gaming Performance

The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS data for this CPU+GPU combination, so all frame rate estimates are qualitative projections based solely on the benchmark scores. The data shows the RTX 5070 SUPER has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2690, which is its only benchmark result. This score places the GPU in the 18th percentile of all GPUs, a low position that suggests limited 3D rendering capability.

Given the GPU's low percentile ranking, gaming performance expectations must be tempered. The processor's strong single-thread score of 2004.5 in Cinebench R23 is more than sufficient to feed most graphics cards, but the GPU is likely the limiting factor in any gaming scenario. At 1080p, the system might handle less demanding titles at moderate settings, but it would likely struggle with modern AAA games at high or ultra presets. At 1440p, the GPU's performance deficit becomes more pronounced, and at 4K, the system would likely be unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA Quadro K1100M, which it leads by 1%, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030, which it leads by 1.1%, the Intel Arc Pro B50, which it leads by 1.1%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 440, which it leads by 1.7%. These are all entry-level or older graphics solutions, confirming that the RTX 5070 SUPER, in this dataset, performs at a level consistent with basic display adapters rather than gaming-class hardware. Therefore, while the CPU is capable of high-refresh gaming, the GPU will bottleneck the system, and frame rates are expected to be low even at lower resolutions. The figures presented here are estimates, not measured results.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The platform is built around the Intel Socket 1700, which supports the Core 12th Gen series. The CPU supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility in memory choice, and provides 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, enabling high-bandwidth connectivity for modern storage and graphics cards. The CPU also includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, which provides a display output fallback if the discrete GPU is removed or fails.

The RTX 5070 SUPER uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, which is fully compatible with the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The GPU has a TDP of 275 W and requires a single 16-pin power connector. The system's PSU headroom must account for the CPU's 125 W TDP and the GPU's 275 W TDP, totaling 400 W for these two components alone, before considering other system parts. A sensible next upgrade for this platform would be a more powerful GPU, as the current one is the clear performance bottleneck. The CPU has significant headroom, as its 88th percentile ranking indicates it can support much faster graphics cards without becoming a limiting factor in most workloads. The motherboard socket and PCIe support are modern, so a GPU upgrade would be a straightforward swap.

Memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5 means users can choose based on platform cost and availability. ECC memory support is an unusual feature for a consumer desktop CPU, potentially appealing for workstation use where data integrity is critical. The unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking the CPU to extract additional performance, though the data does not specify overclocked results.

Who Should Build It

This configuration is best suited for users whose primary workload is CPU-bound rather than GPU-bound. The i9-12900K's 88th percentile CPU performance makes it a strong candidate for content creators who work with video editing, 3D rendering, and software development, where the 16 cores and 24 threads can be fully utilized. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26125 indicates the CPU can handle complex rendering tasks efficiently.

Software developers would benefit from the high multi-threaded performance for code compilation and testing. The PassMark data encryption score of 29579 and data compression score of 537341 suggest capability in tasks like database management and file archival. Students and small business workstations that run virtual machines or heavy data analysis tools would also find the CPU performance adequate.

For gamers, this build is not recommended. The GPU's 18th percentile standing is far too low for modern gaming. Even at 1080p, the system is likely to produce low frame rates in demanding titles. The target user is not a gamer at any resolution, but rather a professional or power user who needs CPU compute power and only requires basic graphics output. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 alone might suffice for office work, making the discrete GPU an additional but underutilized component.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 42335, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-12950HX, scores 42487, a difference of -0.4%, meaning the i9-12900K is effectively tied with that mobile part. It leads the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 by 0.7%, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS by 0.9%, and the Intel Core i7-14700T by 1%. These narrow margins indicate the i9-12900K is competitively positioned in its performance tier.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 2690, derived from its single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 18th percentile of all GPUs. It leads the NVIDIA Quadro K1100M by 1%, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 by 1.1%, the Intel Arc Pro B50 by 1.1%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 by 1.7%. This places the GPU in a performance class with very old or entry-level cards, far below what a modern gaming or high-performance computing workload would require.

The combined percentile for this build is 53. This middle-of-the-road combined figure hides the extreme disparity between the two components: a top-tier CPU paired with a bottom-tier GPU. The combined picture is one of imbalance, where the system's overall performance in mixed workloads is dragged down by the GPU, while its CPU-bound tasks remain excellent.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-12900K uses the Alder Lake architecture, with the Alder Lake-S codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process node.

Q: How much L3 cache does the CPU have?

A: The CPU has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER has 18 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score?

A: The GPU scores 2690 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which places it in the 18th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What memory types does the CPU support?

A: The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: What is the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The CPU scores 26125 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2004.5 in single-core.

Q: What is the combined percentile of this build?

A: The combined percentile for the Intel Core i9-12900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER is 53.

Balance and Bottleneck

The system is severely unbalanced, with the CPU being the dominant component and the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck for graphics-related workloads. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 18th percentile ranking creates a massive performance gap. In any workload that relies on the GPU, such as gaming or GPU-accelerated rendering, the system's performance will be capped by the RTX 5070 SUPER's low compute capability. The GPU's 3DMark score of 2690 is comparable to cards like the GT 1030, indicating it will limit frame rates and graphics settings severely.

Conversely, in CPU-bound workloads like video encoding, software compilation, and data processing, the i9-12900K will perform at a high level, with the GPU playing little to no role. The processor's 16 cores and 24 threads, evidenced by the 3DMark max thread score of 11620, will handle parallel tasks efficiently. The bottleneck is therefore workload-dependent: the GPU limits graphics and gaming, while the CPU provides ample headroom for compute tasks.

The FPS scaling evidence is absent from the data, but the percentile disparity is clear. A system with a CPU at the 88th percentile and a GPU at the 18th percentile will not deliver balanced performance. The GPU will always be the limiting factor in any 3D application, and upgrading the GPU would be the most impactful change to improve overall system balance. The CPU has sufficient headroom to support a much faster graphics card without becoming a bottleneck itself.

Build Overview

This is a desktop build pairing the Intel Core i9-12900K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER. The CPU is a flagship 12th Gen processor with a 125 W TDP, 16 cores, and 24 threads, while the GPU is a 275 W dual-slot card with 18 GB of GDDR7 memory. The overall tier of this build, based on the combined percentile of 53, is mid-range. However, this single figure obscures the fact that the CPU is top-tier (88th percentile) and the GPU is entry-level (18th percentile). The build class is desktop, and it represents a workstation-oriented configuration where CPU performance is prioritized over graphics capability. The data suggests this is not a gaming system but rather a compute-focused platform where the discrete GPU is a secondary consideration, possibly for basic display output or light acceleration.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: Not viable. The GPU's 18th percentile ranking and low 3DMark score of 2690 indicate it cannot produce the frame rates required for high-refresh monitors, even at lower resolutions. The CPU is capable, but the GPU bottleneck prevents any high-FPS gaming experience.

Streaming: The CPU's strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26125, can handle encoding workloads. However, the GPU's poor rendering performance means the visual quality of the game being streamed would be low, making this scenario impractical for gaming content.

Video editing: The CPU excels here. With a PassMark multithread score of 41213 and high data compression scores, timeline editing and export tasks will be fast. The GPU may accelerate effects, but its low performance means most work will fall on the CPU, which is well-suited for the task.

3D rendering: The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads, reflected in the 11620 max thread score, make it strong for CPU-based rendering engines. The GPU's low compute capability means GPU-accelerated rendering will be slow, but CPU rendering performance is excellent.

Software development: Compilation times will be short due to the CPU's high integer math score of 139090 and multi-core performance. The GPU is irrelevant for this workload, making this a solid choice for developers.

Student and office work: The CPU's single-thread score of 4136 in PassMark ensures responsive application performance. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 could handle basic display needs, and the discrete GPU adds little for typical office tasks. This build is overkill for such workloads but would not struggle with them.