SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900KS + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

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

Build Configuration

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PROCESSOR (CPU)

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GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

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86 Score

Top 14% Ranking

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%

GPU

79%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900KS

45,094 Benchmark Score

Top 7% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

2,893 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

# Balance and Bottleneck

This combination presents one of the most extreme mismatches in the database. The Intel Core i9-12900KS sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 languishes at the 18th percentile among all GPUs. The CPU is a top-tier enthusiast processor from 2022, while the GPU is a low-end entry-level card from 2024. In nearly every gaming scenario, the RTX 4010 will be the limiting factor, with the i9-12900KS waiting idle for frames the GPU cannot produce.

The data makes this bottleneck direction unambiguous. The CPU's 3DMark scores scale from 1121 in single-thread to 11897 in max-thread tests, showing massive headroom across all thread counts. The GPU, by contrast, produces a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2893, which places it within 1% of cards like the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB and Quadro P600. That score is the only benchmark data point for the GPU, and it indicates a card that is fundamentally limited in raw throughput.

For CPU-bound workloads—compilation, rendering, data compression, encryption—the i9-12900KS will run at full capacity while the GPU sits mostly idle. For GPU-bound workloads—gaming at high resolutions, 3D rendering with ray tracing, machine learning inference—the RTX 4010 will cap performance far below what the CPU can feed. The 16-core, 24-thread CPU with a 5.50 GHz boost clock is capable of sustaining frame rates well above what a 4 GB, 64-bit memory bus GPU can deliver.

The FPS scaling picture reinforces this. With no measured FPS rows for this exact combination, estimates must be drawn from the benchmark scores. The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 43698 and Geekbench multicore score of 18538 indicate it can handle any modern game's physics, AI, and simulation threads without breaking a sweat. The GPU's 2.706 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 96.00 GB/s memory bandwidth are the binding constraints. At 1080p, the GPU will be the bottleneck in most titles; at 1440p or 4K, the gap widens further as pixel throughput demands exceed what the GPU can provide.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 45094, placing it at the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the AMD EPYC 4344P scores 45122 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 44889 (0.5% behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 44573 (1.2% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 44466 (1.4% behind). This means the i9-12900KS is statistically tied with its closest competition, despite being a generation older than some of them. The 0.1% delta to the EPYC 4344P is within noise, making these effectively equivalent processors in average performance.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 2893, placing it at the 18th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are equally tight: the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB scores 2907 (0.5% ahead), the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF scores 2910 (0.6% ahead), the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB scores 2913 (0.7% ahead), and the Quadro P600 scores 2923 (1.0% ahead). The RTX 4010 is effectively indistinguishable from these cards in the Steel Nomad test, despite the RTX 4060 Ti models having 8-16 GB of VRAM versus the 4010's 4 GB. This suggests the benchmark workload is not VRAM-limited, but the real-world implications of 4 GB are significant.

The combined percentile for this build is 54, reflecting the massive gap between the two components. The i9-12900KS drags the combined score up, while the RTX 4010 pulls it down. This is not a balanced system by any metric. The CPU alone outperforms its nearest rival by 0.5% in the best case, while the GPU is 1.0% behind its nearest rival in the worst case. A user building this system gets a top-11% CPU paired with a bottom-18% GPU.

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900KS 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 features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support spans both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, with 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth and ECC support.

The benchmark scores tell a story of a processor that excels in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36859 and single-core score of 5203 show strong performance in rendering tasks. The Geekbench multicore score of 18538 and single-core score of 2408 reinforce this. The PassMark scores are particularly revealing: multithread score of 43698, integer math of 147575, floating-point math of 111429, and data compression of 563709. These numbers indicate a processor that can handle heavy computational workloads with ease.

The 3DMark thread scaling shows healthy progression: 1121 single-thread, 2212 at 2 threads, 4320 at 4 threads, 7872 at 8 threads, 10316 at 16 threads, and 11897 at max threads. This indicates good scaling up to 16 threads, with diminishing returns beyond that point. The architecture's hybrid design—combining performance and efficiency cores—is not explicitly detailed in the data, but the core and thread counts suggest a mix that handles both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads well.

The production status is Active, with a release date of April 2022 and a launch MSRP of $739. The part number is SRLDD, and it uses Intel Socket 1700. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback display output, though any discrete GPU would supersede it. The CPU supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, which is forward-looking for storage and GPU connectivity.

# Who Should Build It

This pairing is suitable for users who prioritize CPU performance and are willing to accept minimal GPU capability. The i9-12900KS's 89th percentile CPU ranking makes it an excellent choice for professionals who run CPU-intensive workloads: software developers compiling large codebases, researchers running simulations, or analysts processing large datasets. The PassMark data compression score of 563709 and encryption score of 31403 indicate strong performance in data-heavy tasks.

Content creators who work primarily in CPU-bound applications—audio production, code compilation, or batch file processing—would benefit from the 16 cores and 24 threads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36859 suggests strong rendering performance in CPU-based renderers. However, any GPU-accelerated rendering would be severely limited by the RTX 4010.

Students and small business workstations that need responsive general computing, office applications, and light productivity would find this system more than adequate on the CPU side, though the GPU is overkill for basic tasks and underpowered for graphics work. The 4 GB VRAM on the GPU is sufficient for desktop productivity but insufficient for modern games at high settings.

Gamers at 1080p with low graphical settings might find the RTX 4010 acceptable for esports titles, but the CPU's capabilities would be wasted. The 5.50 GHz boost clock and 1121 single-thread 3DMark score would drive high frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios, but the GPU's 2.706 TFLOPS would cap performance in GPU-bound scenarios. This is not a balanced gaming build; it is a CPU-first workstation with a token GPU.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The i9-12900KS can push high frame rates in CPU-bound games, but the RTX 4010's 2.706 TFLOPS and 96.00 GB/s bandwidth will limit GPU-bound titles to low or medium settings. The 18th percentile GPU ranking means expect frame rates well below what the CPU could support.

Streaming: The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads can handle software encoding without impacting game performance, as evidenced by the 36859 Cinebench R23 multicore score. However, the GPU's limited VRAM and bandwidth will constrain game quality while streaming.

Video editing: CPU-based editing and encoding will be fast, with the PassMark data compression score of 563709 indicating strong codec performance. GPU-accelerated effects and export will be slow due to the RTX 4010's low throughput.

3D rendering: CPU rendering in Cinebench-class workloads will excel, with the multicore score of 36859 placing it near the top of the database. GPU rendering with CUDA or RTX acceleration will be severely bottlenecked by the 6 RT cores and 2.706 TFLOPS.

Software development: Compilation and testing will be excellent. The PassMark integer math score of 147575 and multithread score of 43698 indicate strong parallel build performance. The 30 MB L3 cache helps with large codebases.

Student and office work: This system is vastly overprovisioned for word processing, spreadsheets, and web browsing. The CPU will idle at minimal usage, and the GPU is more than sufficient for 2D desktop acceleration. The 4 GB VRAM is ample for multiple 4K displays, though the 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support such configurations.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU-GPU combination. The FACT PACK contains no measuredFps rows, so all gaming performance figures are estimates derived from the benchmark scores. The GPU's single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2893, combined with its 18th percentile ranking, suggests performance comparable to entry-level cards from several generations ago.

At 1080p with ultra settings, expect low frame rates in modern AAA titles. The RTX 4010's 4 GB VRAM will be a hard limit for texture quality, and the 64-bit memory bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth will constrain data throughput. Esports titles like CS:GO or League of Legends might achieve playable frame rates at low settings, but the GPU's 2.706 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is a fraction of what modern mid-range cards offer.

At 1440p or 4K, the RTX 4010 is not viable for gaming. The pixel rate of 28.19 GPixel/s and texture rate of 42.29 GTexel/s are far too low for high-resolution rendering. The CPU would be idle, waiting for the GPU to complete each frame. This system is not recommended for gaming beyond 1080p low-to-medium settings in older or less demanding titles.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 is based on the GA107 chip, built on Samsung's 8 nm process with 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die. It features 768 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, 16 raster output units, 6 RT cores, and 24 tensor cores. The base clock is 1417 MHz with a boost clock of 1762 MHz. Memory consists of 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, yielding 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

The GPU's only benchmark score is 2893 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it at the 18th percentile. Its nearest rivals are all within 1%: the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB (2907), RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF (2910), RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB (2913), and Quadro P600 (2923). This clustering suggests the benchmark is not differentiating these cards significantly, despite the RTX 4060 Ti models having substantially more VRAM and higher specifications.

The RTX 4010 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. It has 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, a single-slot design, and no power connectors—drawing just 50 W TDP with a suggested PSU of 250 W. The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is sufficient for this card's bandwidth needs. The FP32 throughput of 2.706 TFLOPS and FP16 of 2.706 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio) indicate the card is not designed for compute-heavy workloads.

For rendering, the 6 RT cores provide ray tracing acceleration, but with only 2.706 TFLOPS of compute, ray-traced scenes will be slow. The 4 GB VRAM is a constraint for large textures or complex scenes. The tensor cores (24) enable DLSS, which could help gaming performance, but the base render performance is so low that DLSS upscaling from a low internal resolution may produce poor image quality.

# FAQ

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

A: The combined percentile is 54, reflecting the large gap between the CPU's 89th percentile and the GPU's 18th percentile.

Q: How does the i9-12900KS compare to its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4344P?

A: The i9-12900KS has an average benchmark score of 45094, which is 0.1% lower than the EPYC 4344P's 45122. This is a negligible difference, effectively a statistical tie.

Q: What is the RTX 4010's memory configuration?

A: The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 1500 MHz with 12 Gbps effective speed.

Q: Does the i9-12900KS support ECC memory?

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

Q: What is the TDP of each component?

A: The i9-12900KS has a TDP of 150 W, while the RTX 4010 has a TDP of 50 W. The suggested PSU for the GPU is 250 W, and the GPU requires no power connectors.

Q: Are there measured FPS data for this combination?

A: No, there are no measured FPS rows for this exact CPU-GPU combination. All gaming performance estimates are derived from benchmark scores.

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

A: The RTX 4010 is built on Samsung's 8 nm process with 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die. The transistor density is 43.5 million per mm².

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The platform is built around Intel Socket 1700, which supports the i9-12900KS with its 16 cores and 24 threads. The CPU supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, providing ample bandwidth for future storage and GPU upgrades. Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC support. The 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is respectable but not exceptional for modern standards.

The most sensible upgrade path is to replace the RTX 4010 with a higher-performing GPU. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking means it will not bottleneck any GPU currently on the market, and the PCIe Gen 5 support ensures compatibility with future graphics cards. The 250 W suggested PSU for the GPU provides headroom for a more powerful card, though the 50 W TDP of the current GPU means the system draws very little power overall.

The 4 GB VRAM on the RTX 4010 is the most limiting factor for gaming and rendering. A GPU with 8 GB or more VRAM would unlock higher texture quality and resolution. The CPU's 30 MB L3 cache and 5.50 GHz boost clock will continue to deliver strong performance in CPU-bound tasks after a GPU upgrade.

The motherboard platform supports DDR5 memory, which could be a future upgrade path from DDR4. The dual-channel configuration with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth is adequate, but DDR5 modules at higher speeds could improve memory-bound workloads. The PCIe Gen 5 lanes also support next-generation NVMe SSDs, which would reduce storage bottlenecks in data-heavy applications.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900KS + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

Power Build

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i9-12900KS

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010

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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