SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900KS + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

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

Build Configuration

Select your components

PROCESSOR (CPU)

▼

GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

▼

95 Score

Top 5% Ranking

95 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 5% 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%

GPU

97%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900KS

45,094 Benchmark Score

Top 7% Market Ranking

View Full Specs →

GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

60,347 Benchmark Score

Top 3% 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

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

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900KS is a 16-core, 24-thread desktop processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture and manufactured on a 10 nm process. The chip combines eight performance cores with eight efficiency cores, a hybrid design that allows it to reach a 5.50 GHz boost clock while maintaining a 3.40 GHz base clock. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache, paired with 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 80 KB of L1 cache per core, provides ample headroom for latency-sensitive workloads.

Benchmark results place this CPU in the 89th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 45,094. The nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4344P, scores 45,122 — a mere 0.1% difference, indicating that the 12900KS trades blows with server-class silicon in aggregate throughput. The Intel Core i5-14600 trails by 0.5%, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D by 1.2%, and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H by 1.4%. These tight margins reveal that the 12900KS, despite being a flagship from the 12th Gen lineup, now competes with newer mainstream parts rather than dominating them.

Single-thread performance is exceptional. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5,203 and Geekbench single-core score of 2,408 demonstrate strong per-thread execution, which translates directly to snappy application responsiveness and solid performance in lightly threaded tasks. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1,121 reinforces this picture. Multi-threaded results are equally compelling: Cinebench R23 multicore hits 36,859, while Cinebench R20 multicore reaches 15,480 and R15 multicore lands at 3,715. The 3DMark scaling from 2 threads (2,212) to 4 threads (4,320) to 8 threads (7,872) to 16 threads (10,316) and finally max threads (11,897) shows near-linear gains, confirming that the hybrid core arrangement scales effectively across thread counts.

The PassMark suite provides further granularity. Integer math scores 147,575, floating-point math scores 111,429, and extended instructions reach 35,089, indicating strong number-crunching ability across different data types. Data compression scores 563,709, data encryption hits 31,403, and random string sorting manages 60,539. Physics computation scores 2,437, and prime number finding scores 158. The multithread score of 43,698 and single-thread score of 4,330 round out a profile that excels at both parallel throughput and sequential responsiveness.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The 12900KS delivers the single-thread muscle needed for high-FPS competitive gaming. With a 3DMark single-thread score of 1,121 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4,330, the CPU can feed frames quickly to a GPU. Combined with the RTX 4090, this pairing is exceptionally strong for 1080p and 1440p high-refresh setups where CPU overhead often dictates peak frame rates.

Streaming: The 16-core, 24-thread configuration provides enough parallel resources to handle game encoding while maintaining playable frame rates. The 3DMark max-thread score of 11,897 and Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36,859 suggest that simultaneous gaming and encoding workloads will not starve the CPU of compute capacity.

Video editing: Timeline scrubbing, effect rendering, and export tasks benefit from high multi-threaded throughput. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36,859 and PassMark multithread score of 43,698 place this CPU well above average for video workloads. Data compression performance of 563,709 also accelerates archival and intermediate codec operations.

3D rendering: Rendering engines scale with core counts, and the 12900KS offers 24 threads for CPU-based rendering. The Cinebench R20 multicore score of 15,480 and R15 multicore score of 3,715 confirm strong performance in render benchmarks. GPU-accelerated rendering via the RTX 4090 will dominate, but CPU fallback rendering remains viable.

Software development: Compilation tasks benefit from both high single-thread performance for build orchestration and multi-threaded performance for parallel compilation. The Geekbench multicore score of 18,538 and single-core score of 2,408 indicate balanced performance that handles large codebases efficiently. ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running build processes.

Student and office work: This CPU is overkill for office productivity, but the performance headroom ensures no slowdowns in spreadsheet, document, and web workloads. The high single-thread score of 4,330 in PassMark means application launches and UI interactions feel instantaneous. Students running virtual machines or compiling code will appreciate the thread count.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a 5 nm Ada Lovelace architecture GPU built on the AD102 chip, containing 76,300 million transistors across a 609 mm² die. The GPU features 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster operation pipelines. Ray tracing is handled by 128 dedicated RT cores, while 512 tensor cores accelerate AI and deep learning tasks. The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory operates on a 384-bit bus with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth, delivering massive memory throughput for high-resolution textures and large datasets.

Clock speeds are substantial: a 2,235 MHz base clock boosts to 2,520 MHz, with memory running at 1,313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). Pixel rate reaches 443.5 GPixel/s, texture rate hits 1,290.2 GTexel/s, and FP32 compute measures 82.58 TFLOPS, with FP16 matching at 82.58 TFLOPS (1:1). These figures place the RTX 4090 in the 88th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347.

The nearest rivals show an unusual competitive landscape. The Intel Arc Pro A60 matches the 4090's average score of 60,347 (0% delta), while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 trails by 0.3%. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M leads by 2.5%, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 trails by 2.9%. These prosumer and workstation cards score similarly in aggregate benchmarks, though the RTX 4090's raw specifications dwarf them — the similarity in average scores reflects the benchmark mix weighting across different workload types.

DirectX 12 performance is represented by a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223. PassMark results show DirectX 11 scoring 326, DirectX 12 scoring 150, DirectX 10 scoring 224, and DirectX 9 scoring 397. The G2D score of 1,299 covers 2D graphics, while the G3D score of 38,194 measures 3D rendering capability. GPU compute scores 26,613 in PassMark, and Geekbench OpenCL scores 255,416 with Vulkan scoring 271,631. The faster Vulkan score suggests strong low-level API performance, which bodes well for modern game engines.

# Balance and Bottleneck

The combination of a 150 W TDP CPU and a 450 W TDP GPU creates a system where the GPU is the dominant performance component in graphics-bound scenarios. The RTX 4090's 88th percentile standing among GPUs, combined with the 12900KS's 89th percentile among CPUs, means both components rank similarly within their respective categories. The combined percentile is 89, indicating a well-matched pairing where neither component dramatically outstrips the other.

In CPU-bound workloads such as physics simulation, data encryption (31,403 in PassMark), and integer math (147,575), the 12900KS will be the limiting factor. The GPU cannot accelerate these operations, so the CPU's 89th percentile position defines the ceiling. Conversely, in GPU-bound workloads such as 3D rendering, pixel pushing, and texture processing, the RTX 4090's massive compute resources (82.58 TFLOPS FP32) and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth will be the constraint, especially at higher resolutions.

The CPU's 3DMark scaling from 2 to 16 threads shows diminishing returns beyond 8 threads (7,872 to 10,316 for 16 threads), suggesting that the efficiency cores contribute meaningfully but the performance cores carry most of the load. This creates a scenario where games that rely on fewer than 8 threads will be CPU-limited by single-thread performance, while multi-threaded workloads will scale well across all 24 threads. No measured FPS data exists for this exact combination, so all FPS discussions are estimated from benchmark scores.

# FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's socket and does it support overclocking?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS uses the Intel Socket 1700 and has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking for users with compatible motherboards.

Q: What memory types does this platform support?

A: The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with memory bandwidth rated at 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is also supported.

Q: How does the RTX 4090's memory bandwidth compare to its compute performance?

A: The GPU has 1.01 TB/s of memory bandwidth through its 384-bit bus and 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, paired with 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 128 RT cores for ray tracing.

Q: What is the significance of the 89th combined percentile?

A: The combined percentile of 89 places this CPU+GPU pairing in the top tier of desktop systems, with the CPU at the 89th percentile and GPU at the 88th percentile among their respective categories.

Q: Does the CPU include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i9-12900KS includes UHD Graphics 770, which can serve as a fallback display output or for quick sync video encoding when the discrete GPU is not needed.

Q: What PCIe generation does the CPU support?

A: The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the GPU uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface.

Q: How does the CPU perform in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5,203 and Geekbench single-core score of 2,408 place it among the top performers for single-threaded workloads, which is reflected in its PassMark single-thread score of 4,330.

# Who Should Build It

This build targets enthusiasts and professionals who demand maximum performance in both CPU and GPU workloads. Gamers at 1440p and 4K resolutions will benefit from the RTX 4090's 24 GB of VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth, which handle high-resolution textures and ray tracing without memory constraints. The CPU's high single-thread score ensures that even at lower resolutions, frame rates remain CPU-bound rather than bottlenecked.

Content creators working in video editing will find the 16-core, 24-thread CPU with 36,859 Cinebench R23 multicore score accelerates export and rendering tasks, while the GPU's 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 compute accelerates effects and GPU-accelerated encoding. 3D rendering artists can leverage both the CPU's multi-threaded performance for CPU-based renderers and the GPU's 128 RT cores for real-time ray tracing and GPU rendering.

Software developers compiling large codebases will appreciate the 24 threads and high single-thread performance, while the ECC memory support adds stability for long-running builds. The PassMark data encryption score of 31,403 and extended instructions score of 35,089 indicate strong performance for cryptographic and SIMD-heavy workloads. Students and small business workstations will find this system overwhelmingly capable, though the performance headroom ensures future-proofing for years of demanding applications.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score of 45,094 places it in the 89th percentile, with the nearest rival AMD EPYC 4344P at 45,122 (-0.1% delta). The Intel Core i5-14600 scores 44,889 (0.5% behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 44,573 (1.2% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 44,466 (1.4% behind). These margins are minimal, indicating that the 12900KS remains competitive with newer processors despite being an older architecture.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 60,347 places it in the 88th percentile. The Intel Arc Pro A60 matches at 60,347 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140 (0.3% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896 (2.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58,657 (2.9% behind). The combined percentile of 89 reflects a pairing where both components perform near the top of their respective categories.

In specific benchmarks, the CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36,859 and single-core score of 5,203 demonstrate strong performance in rendering workloads. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 10,316 and max-thread score of 11,897 show robust scaling across thread counts. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 271,631 indicate solid DirectX 12 and Vulkan performance. No measured FPS data exists for this exact combination, so all FPS discussion is estimated from these benchmark scores.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Socket 1700 platform supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing flexibility in memory selection. With a dual-channel memory bus and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, the platform is well-suited for both gaming and productivity workloads. The CPU's 150 W TDP and the GPU's 450 W TDP require substantial power delivery, with the suggested PSU rated at 850 W. The GPU uses a single 16-pin power connector and occupies a triple-slot width, so case compatibility and PSU headroom are critical considerations.

The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, offering future-proofing for next-generation storage and expansion cards. The GPU uses PCIe 4.0 x16, which remains fully compatible with the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 lanes. A sensible next upgrade would be a newer-generation CPU on a compatible motherboard, though the 12900KS's 89th percentile performance means it still competes with current mid-range processors. The GPU's end-of-life production status, with the GeForce 50 series as its successor, suggests that GPU upgrades will be the more impactful path forward.

The platform's ECC memory support adds reliability for workstation use cases, while the unlocked multiplier enables overclocking to extract additional performance. The 1.01 TB/s GPU memory bandwidth and 24 GB VRAM provide headroom for future games and applications. The CPU's 30 MB L3 cache and 5.50 GHz boost clock remain competitive, though users seeking maximum multi-threaded performance may consider newer platforms with higher core counts.

# Build Overview

This is a desktop build pairing the Intel Core i9-12900KS with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, representing a flagship-tier configuration from the 12th Gen Intel and GeForce 40-series product lines. The CPU, released in April 2022 with a launch MSRP of $739, remains in active production, while the GPU, released in September 2022 with a launch MSRP of 1,599 USD, is now end-of-life with the GeForce 50 series as its successor.

The combined percentile of 89 places this system in the top tier of desktop configurations. The CPU's 89th percentile and GPU's 88th percentile are remarkably close, indicating a balanced pairing where neither component consistently bottlenecks the other. The 16-core, 24-thread CPU provides ample processing power, while the 24 GB GPU with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth delivers exceptional graphics performance. This build is suited for high-refresh gaming, content creation, 3D rendering, and software development, with the performance headroom to handle future workloads. The system's class is desktop, and its overall tier from the percentiles is near-flagship, with only a handful of components ranking higher in either category.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900KS + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i9-12900KS

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

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

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

Related Processors

Related Graphics Cards

Compare Your CPU

Compare Your GPU

Related PC Builds

Same CPU with Different GPUs

Same GPU with Different CPUs

Other Popular Builds