SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900K + NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

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

96 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 4% 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
93%
VS
GPU
99%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900K

42,335 Benchmark Score
Top 7% 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

Intel Core i9-12900K pairs with the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation to create a desktop configuration that targets high-performance workstation tasks and serious multitasking. The CPU, a 16-core Alder Lake-S part, delivers strong multi-threaded throughput, while the GPU, a 70-watt workstation card with 20 GB of VRAM, offers professional-grade rendering capabilities in a compact form factor. This combination sits in the 92nd percentile among all desktop pairings, driven by a GPU that outperforms 95% of all GPUs and a CPU that ranks above 88% of all CPUs.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture and a 10 nm process. Its hybrid design combines performance and efficiency cores, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. This clock headroom, paired with a 125 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier, makes it a flexible choice for users who want to push performance. The chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus, with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. It also includes Intel UHD Graphics 770 as a fallback, though the dedicated RTX 4000 SFF handles all visual workloads here.

Benchmark data shows a processor that scales well from light to heavy tasks. In 3DMark tests, the chip scores 1073 in single-thread, 2120 in 2-thread, 4145 in 4-thread, 7596 in 8-thread, and 11620 in max-thread tests. The jump from 8-thread to max-thread is substantial, indicating that the 24 threads are effectively utilized when the workload demands it. Cinebench results reinforce this: the R23 multi-core score is 26125, while the single-core score is 2004.5. The multi-core figure is about 13 times the single-core score, which suggests that rendering tasks that can use many cores will see near-linear scaling benefits.

Geekbench results show a multi-core score of 16378 and a single-core score of 2193. The multi-core result is roughly 7.5 times the single-core result, which reflects the benefit of having 16 physical cores and 24 threads. PassMark tests add depth: data compression scores 537341, data encryption scores 29579, and floating-point math scores 105471. The integer math score of 139090 and the extended instructions score of 33682 show strong general-purpose compute ability. The multithread score of 41213 and single-thread score of 4136 indicate balanced performance across both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded applications.

The average benchmark score for this CPU is 42335, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core i9-12900K is 0.4% behind the Intel Core i9-12950HX (average score 42487), 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 (average score 42055), 0.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS (average score 41963), and 1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700T (average score 41914). These deltas are small, meaning the 12900K is effectively in the same performance tier as these chips. The practical takeaway is that the 12900K provides top-tier multi-core performance that will excel in video encoding, 3D rendering, and code compilation, while its strong single-thread scores keep it responsive in everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is a workstation GPU built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features the AD104 chip with 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The card has 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. It also packs 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, making it well-suited for ray-traced workloads and AI-accelerated tasks. The base clock is 720 MHz, with a boost clock of 1560 MHz, and the memory clock runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective).

Memory configuration is a key strength: 20 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 160-bit bus, delivering 280.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This amount of VRAM is critical for large 3D scenes, high-resolution textures, and machine learning models that exceed the memory capacity of consumer cards. The GPU's pixel rate is 99.84 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 299.5 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance is rated at 19.17 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 (1:1), which means it can handle general compute and half-precision workloads at the same speed.

The RTX 4000 SFF is a low-power card with a 70 W TDP, requiring no external power connectors and fitting in a dual-slot 168 mm length. It uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface and outputs to four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a connections. The suggested PSU is 250 W, which is modest. Benchmark scores show a Geekbench OpenCL result of 124812 and a Geekbench Vulkan result of 109364. The OpenCL score being higher than Vulkan suggests strong compute performance for professional applications that rely on OpenCL, while the Vulkan score still indicates solid real-time rendering capability.

The average benchmark score for this GPU is 117088, placing it in the 95th percentile of all GPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, it is 0.3% behind the NVIDIA GB10 (average score 117393), 1.6% behind the AMD Radeon PRO W7700 (average score 118976), 2.4% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla V100 SXM2 16 GB (average score 114395), and 2.8% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A5500 Mobile (average score 113944). These deltas show that the RTX 4000 SFF is competitive with much larger and more power-hungry cards, making it a strong choice for compact workstations where space and power are limited.

Benchmark Performance

The combined benchmark picture for this CPU-GPU pair is strong. The CPU's average benchmark score is 42335, and the GPU's average benchmark score is 117088. Together, they place the pair in the 92nd percentile of all desktop combinations. The CPU is in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 95th percentile of all GPUs. This means the GPU is the more exceptional component relative to its peers, while the CPU is still very capable but slightly less dominant.

In 3DMark tests, the CPU scores 9912 for 16 threads and 11620 for max threads. The latter is the highest multi-threaded score, showing that the CPU uses its full thread count effectively. The single-thread score of 1073 is competitive for everyday responsiveness. Cinebench R23 results show a multi-core score of 26125 and a single-core score of 2004.5, which are strong numbers for a desktop processor. The Geekbench multi-core score of 16378 and single-core score of 2193 align with these findings.

The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score of 124812 is higher than its Vulkan score of 109364. This difference matters: OpenCL-heavy applications like rendering engines and scientific computing will see better performance than Vulkan-based games, but both scores are well above average. The GPU's average score of 117088 is roughly 2.8 times the CPU's average score, indicating that the GPU is the dominant compute resource in this pair. For workloads that are GPU-bound, such as 3D rendering or AI inference, the RTX 4000 SFF will be the primary driver of performance.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The CPU's single-thread score of 4136 in PassMark and its 3DMark single-thread score of 1073 suggest it can keep up with modern game engines. The GPU's Vulkan score of 109364 indicates strong draw-call handling. However, the RTX 4000 SFF is a workstation card, not a gaming card, so expect good but not elite frame rates at high refresh rates. The 20 GB VRAM is more than enough for any game at any resolution.

Streaming: The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads are well-suited for encoding video while gaming. The PassMark multithread score of 41213 ensures that simultaneous game and stream encoding tasks will not bottleneck the system. The GPU's tensor cores can also assist with AI-based encoding features, though the specific software support is not detailed in the data.

Video editing: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26125 and the GPU's OpenCL score of 124812 combine for fast timeline scrubbing, preview rendering, and export times. The 20 GB VRAM allows for large 4K or 8K project files to reside in GPU memory, reducing the need to shuffle data to system RAM.

3D rendering: The GPU's 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores are designed for ray-traced rendering and AI denoising. The FP32 performance of 19.17 TFLOPS means viewport navigation and final frame renders will be quick. The CPU's multi-core score of 11620 in 3DMark max-thread tests ensures that CPU-based physics simulations or geometry processing will not lag behind.

Software development: The CPU's strong multi-threaded scores, such as the PassMark integer math score of 139090, accelerate code compilation. The 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth helps with large codebases that need to be loaded into RAM. The GPU is less relevant here unless the development involves GPU compute or machine learning, where the 20 GB VRAM becomes an asset.

Student and office work: The CPU's single-thread performance, evidenced by the Geekbench single-core score of 2193, handles spreadsheet, document, and web browsing tasks with ease. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback if the dedicated GPU encounters issues, though the RTX 4000 SFF will handle all displays. The 70 W GPU TDP means the system runs cool and quiet, suitable for a desk environment.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS rows exist for this exact CPU-GPU combination in the FACT PACK. The data contains no measuredFps data, so all FPS figures below are estimates based on the benchmark scores. The GPU's Vulkan score of 109364 and OpenCL score of 124812 suggest it can run games at high settings, but the RTX 4000 SFF is a workstation card optimized for compute, not gaming rasterization.

For 1080p gaming, the CPU's single-thread performance and the GPU's 19.17 TFLOPS should deliver high frame rates in most titles, though not at the level of a dedicated gaming GPU like an RTX 4080. At 1440p, the 280.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 20 GB VRAM will allow high textures without stuttering, but frame rates will likely be lower than a gaming-focused card. At 4K, the GPU's 64 ROPs and 99.84 GPixel/s pixel rate may become a bottleneck, with frame rates dropping to playable but not high-refresh levels.

Estimated frame rates in esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant could exceed 144 FPS at 1080p, given the CPU's strong single-thread score of 4136 and the GPU's 6144 shading units. In AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2, expect 60-80 FPS at 1080p ultra, 40-60 FPS at 1440p high, and 30-40 FPS at 4K medium. These are estimates, not measurements, and actual performance will vary by game and driver optimization.

Who Should Build It

This build targets professionals and prosumers who need a compact workstation with serious compute power. The primary audience is 3D artists and animators who work with large scenes that exceed consumer VRAM limits; the 20 GB VRAM and 280.0 GB/s bandwidth are decisive here. Video editors working with 4K and 8K timelines will benefit from the GPU's OpenCL compute and the CPU's multi-core rendering speed.

Software developers who compile large codebases or run virtual machines will appreciate the 16 cores and 24 threads. The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 41213 and data compression score of 537341 indicate fast build times and quick archive operations. Data scientists and researchers running machine learning models will use the 192 tensor cores and 20 GB VRAM for training and inference.

The 70 W GPU TDP and dual-slot 168 mm length make this build suitable for small form factor cases or rack-mounted workstations where space and power are constrained. The suggested 250 W PSU means a modest power supply is sufficient, keeping the system quiet and efficient. This is not a gaming-first build, but it can handle gaming as a secondary use case, making it a versatile choice for a single machine that must do both work and play.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i9-12900K uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. This socket supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, so builders can choose between cheaper DDR4 or faster DDR5, but the dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth is the same for both. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, which is forward-looking for next-generation storage and GPUs, though the RTX 4000 SFF uses PCIe 4.0 x16.

The CPU has a 125 W TDP, and the GPU has a 70 W TDP, with a suggested PSU of 250 W. This leaves significant headroom for upgrades. A user could later install a more powerful GPU, such as a full-size RTX 4000-series card, without needing to replace the power supply, provided the new card's power draw is accounted for. The CPU's unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, and the 30 MB shared L3 cache helps with gaming and memory-sensitive workloads.

A sensible next upgrade would be to add more system RAM if the current build has 16 GB or less, since the CPU supports dual-channel memory and the 76.8 GB/s bandwidth benefits from populated slots. Alternatively, a PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD would take advantage of the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 lanes for faster load times and file transfers. The platform is mature, so BIOS updates should be stable, and the production status is Active, meaning the CPU is still in supply.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-12900K has 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have and what is its bandwidth?

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

Q: What is the combined percentile ranking for this CPU-GPU pair?

A: The pair ranks in the 92nd percentile among all desktop combinations, with the CPU in the 88th percentile and the GPU in the 95th percentile.

Q: Does this configuration support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the GPU has 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, which are designed for ray-traced rendering and AI-accelerated workloads.

Q: What is the TDP of each component?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 125 W, and the GPU has a TDP of 70 W. The suggested PSU for the system is 250 W.

Q: What memory types does the CPU support?

A: The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Is there a measured FPS data for gaming?

A: No, the FACT PACK contains no measuredFps data for this exact combination, so all gaming FPS figures are estimates based on benchmark scores.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data shows a system where the GPU is the standout component relative to its peers, while the CPU is solid but less exceptional. The GPU's 95th percentile ranking versus the CPU's 88th percentile means the GPU is closer to the top of its class. In GPU-bound workloads like 3D rendering or machine learning, the RTX 4000 SFF will be the limiting factor only in the sense that it is the primary compute engine; the CPU will keep up without causing a bottleneck.

In CPU-bound workloads like code compilation or physics simulation, the CPU's 16 cores will be the main driver, and the GPU will be underutilized. The 3DMark max-thread score of 11620 for the CPU indicates strong scaling to 24 threads, so multi-threaded CPU tasks will see good performance. However, the GPU's OpenCL score of 124812 is over 10 times the CPU's max-thread 3DMark score, suggesting that compute tasks on the GPU will far outpace CPU-only compute.

For gaming, the CPU's single-thread performance is adequate, and the GPU's Vulkan score of 109364 is strong, but the GPU's workstation design means it may not hit the same frame rates as a gaming card with similar compute power. The FPS scaling from the estimated figures suggests that at 1080p, the GPU is the bottleneck in high-refresh scenarios, while at 4K, the 64 ROPs and 99.84 GPixel/s pixel rate will limit performance more than the CPU. Overall, this is a balanced pair for workstation use, with the GPU leading in compute-heavy tasks and the CPU handling system-level multitasking and single-threaded responsiveness.