SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12900KS + 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 i9-12900KS

45,094 Benchmark Score
Top 7% Market Ranking
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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
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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

# Intel Core i9-12900KS + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER: A Desktop Powerhouse with Curious Benchmark Contradictions

This pairing combines Intel's 12th-generation flagship processor, the Core i9-12900KS, with NVIDIA's latest GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER graphics card in a desktop configuration. The processor sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU's benchmark results place it at only the 18th percentile — a dramatic discrepancy that invites deeper investigation. The combined percentile for this build rests at 54, positioning it as a mid-to-upper-tier desktop system, but the individual component stories could not be more different. The CPU is a proven heavyweight with strong multi-threaded credentials, while the GPU's single benchmark score raises immediate questions about whether the data tells the complete story or if something unusual is occurring with the RTX 5070 SUPER's performance metrics.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The Intel Core i9-12900KS delivers exceptional single-thread performance with a Geekbench single-core score of 2408 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 1121, which are critical for high-refresh gaming. The CPU's 5.50 GHz boost clock and 16 cores ensure that even the most demanding game engines have ample processing headroom. However, the RTX 5070 SUPER's low GPU percentile (18th) suggests that at 1080p or 1440p with high refresh rates, the graphics card may struggle to keep pace with the CPU's capabilities, potentially limiting frame rates in GPU-bound scenarios.

Streaming: The combination of 16 cores and 24 threads provides substantial parallel processing capacity for encoding and streaming workloads. The PassMark multithread score of 43698 indicates strong multitasking ability, allowing simultaneous game rendering and video encoding without significant performance degradation. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache further supports smooth streaming performance by keeping frequently accessed data close to the cores.

Video editing: Content creators working with video editing software will benefit from the i9-12900KS's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36859, which demonstrates robust rendering capability for timeline previews and exports. The PassMark data compression score of 563709 and floating-point math score of 111429 indicate strong performance in codec processing and effect rendering. The GPU's 18 GB of GDDR7 memory offers substantial capacity for video buffers, though its benchmark score suggests caution for GPU-accelerated effects.

3D rendering: The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads deliver a Cinebench R20 multicore score of 15480, making it well-suited for CPU-based rendering tasks in applications like Blender or Cinema 4D. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 10316 reinforces this capability. For GPU-based rendering, the RTX 5070 SUPER's 6400 shading units and 200 tensor cores provide theoretical compute capacity, but the low benchmark percentile raises concerns about real-world ray tracing performance.

Software development: Developers will appreciate the CPU's balanced performance across single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The PassMark integer math score of 147575 indicates strong performance in compilation tasks, while the random string sorting score of 60539 suggests efficient handling of text processing and code analysis. The 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, while moderate by modern standards, supports rapid data access during build processes.

Student and office work: This system is dramatically overprovisioned for typical student or office tasks, with the CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4330 handling spreadsheet, word processing, and web browsing with ease. The 89th CPU percentile means this processor outperforms the vast majority of installed systems, making it an extreme choice for productivity workloads that rarely utilize more than a few cores.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score of 45094 places it at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, a strong position that reflects its hybrid architecture of performance and efficiency cores. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4344P with an average score of 45122 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-14600 at 44889 (0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D at 44573 (1.2% behind). This clustering shows that the i9-12900KS remains competitive with newer mid-range processors, though it no longer dominates as it did at launch.

The GPU's benchmark picture is starkly different. The RTX 5070 SUPER has only one recorded benchmark result — a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2690 — placing it at the 18th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro K1100M at 2664 (1% behind), the GeForce GT 1030 at 2662 (1.1% behind), and the Intel Arc Pro B50 at 2660 (1.1% behind). These comparisons are striking: the RTX 5070 SUPER's score sits just barely above that of the GT 1030, an entry-level card from previous generations. This data suggests either the benchmark methodology captured an anomalous result, or the GPU is severely underperforming relative to its specifications.

The combined percentile of 54 reflects the massive gap between CPU and GPU performance. The CPU is a top-tier performer, while the GPU's benchmark score would typically be associated with a low-end or entry-level graphics solution. This creates an unusually imbalanced system where the processor vastly outperforms the graphics component in standardized testing.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900KS is built on the Alder Lake architecture using Intel's 10 nm process node, featuring a die size of 215 mm². It contains 16 cores and 24 threads, combining performance cores with efficiency cores to balance power consumption and throughput. The base clock of 3.40 GHz can boost up to 5.50 GHz, making it one of the highest-clocked processors in the Core 12th Gen lineup. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory support is included, which is notable for workstation-oriented builds.

Cache architecture includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This substantial cache hierarchy helps maintain high performance in latency-sensitive workloads. The processor uses Intel Socket 1700 and provides PCIe Gen 5 connectivity with 16 CPU lanes, ensuring compatibility with modern high-bandwidth devices. Integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides basic display output capability, though discrete graphics are expected in this configuration. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing enthusiast overclocking, and the processor draws 150 W TDP. Launched on April 4, 2022, with a launch MSRP of $739, it remains in active production.

Benchmark results show strong scaling from 2 to 16 threads: the 3DMark 2-thread score of 2212 rises to 4320 at 4 threads, 7872 at 8 threads, and peaks at 11897 with max threads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36859 versus single-core of 5203 demonstrates excellent multi-threaded scaling of approximately 7x. Geekbench scores of 18538 (multi-core) and 2408 (single-core) reinforce this pattern. The PassMark suite shows particular strengths in integer math (147575) and floating-point math (111429), while the find prime numbers score of 158 is notably low, suggesting some workloads may not fully utilize the hybrid architecture efficiently.

FAQ

Q: How does the Core i9-12900KS compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU sits within 1.4% of its closest competitors. It trails the AMD EPYC 4344P by 0.1%, leads the Intel Core i5-14600 by 0.5%, and is ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D by 1.2% and the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H by 1.4%.

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark percentile and what does it mean?

A: The RTX 5070 SUPER is at the 18th percentile among all GPUs with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2690. This places it in the lower tier of graphics cards, with nearest rivals being the Quadro K1100M, GT 1030, and Arc Pro B50.

Q: What memory types does this CPU support?

A: The i9-12900KS supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is also supported for error-checking workloads.

Q: What is the CPU's launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP is $739. The processor has been in production since April 2022 and remains active.

Q: Does the CPU include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i9-12900KS includes UHD Graphics 770, which provides basic display output and can serve as a fallback if the discrete GPU is unavailable.

Q: What is the combined percentile of this build?

A: The combined percentile is 54, reflecting the significant performance gap between the high-performing CPU and the low-scoring GPU.

Q: Are there measured FPS results for this combination?

A: No, there are no measured FPS rows for this exact CPU+GPU combination. All frame rate discussions are estimated from benchmark scores.

Balance and Bottleneck

The data reveals a severe imbalance between the CPU and GPU components. The processor operates at the 89th percentile, while the graphics card sits at just the 18th percentile — a gap of 71 percentile points. This disparity strongly suggests that the GPU will be the primary bottleneck in most workloads, particularly gaming and GPU-accelerated tasks. The CPU's massive multi-threaded capabilities (Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36859) would far exceed what the GPU can feed in frame generation, meaning the RTX 5070 SUPER would limit overall system performance in graphics-intensive scenarios.

In CPU-bound workloads such as software compilation, data processing, or CPU-based rendering, the i9-12900KS would perform at its expected high level, with the GPU playing a minimal role. However, in gaming, the GPU's low benchmark score indicates that frame rates would be constrained by the graphics card's rendering capability rather than the CPU's processing power. The CPU's 3DMark max threads score of 11897 shows it can handle substantial parallel workloads, but this power goes underutilized if the GPU cannot deliver frames fast enough.

The 18 GB of VRAM on the RTX 5070 SUPER provides ample memory capacity, but the benchmark score suggests that raw compute throughput may be limited. This creates a situation where high-resolution textures could be stored locally, but rendering performance would still be constrained. For users seeking balanced performance, this pairing is heavily weighted toward CPU capabilities, and the GPU would need to be upgraded to achieve equilibrium.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this exact CPU and GPU combination. All frame rate expectations are estimates derived from the benchmark scores of each component. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (Geekbench single-core 2408, 3DMark single-thread 1121) suggests it can handle game logic, physics, and draw call processing efficiently. However, the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2690, which places it near the GT 1030 in performance, indicates that gaming frame rates would be severely limited by the graphics card.

At 1080p resolution, the CPU could potentially deliver high frame rates in less demanding titles, but the GPU would likely cap performance well below what the processor can support. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU would become even more of a limiting factor, as higher resolutions increase the rendering burden on the graphics card. The GPU's 18 GB of GDDR7 memory with 672.0 GB/s bandwidth provides substantial memory resources, but the low compute score suggests that actual frame generation would not leverage this capacity effectively.

For esports titles with light graphics requirements, the system might achieve playable frame rates due to the CPU's strength. However, for modern AAA games with demanding graphics, the GPU's performance would likely result in low-to-medium settings at best. The discrepancy between the GPU's specifications (6400 shading units, 50 RT cores, 200 tensor cores) and its benchmark score suggests either a driver issue, thermal throttling, or a possible anomaly in the test data.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process node, with a die size of 263 mm² and 31,100 million transistors. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2325 MHz with a boost clock of 2512 MHz, while memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The 18 GB of GDDR7 memory uses a 192-bit bus, delivering 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The card features 6400 shading units, 200 texture mapping units, and 80 render output units, along with 50 RT cores and 200 tensor cores for ray tracing and AI acceleration.

Compute capabilities include 32.15 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 32.15 TFLOPS of FP16 (1:1 ratio). The pixel rate is 201.0 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 502.4 GTexel/s. The card draws 275 W TDP and uses a single 16-pin power connector. It is a dual-slot design measuring 245 mm in length, 115 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. Display outputs include one HDMI 2.1b and three DisplayPort 2.1b connections. The bus interface is PCIe 5.0 x16, and API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The GPU's single benchmark score of 2690 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it at the 18th percentile, which is remarkably low given its modern architecture and specifications. The nearest rivals include the Quadro K1100M (2664, 1% behind), GT 1030 (2662, 1.1% behind), Arc Pro B50 (2660, 1.1% behind), and GT 440 (2645, 1.7% behind). These comparisons suggest the RTX 5070 SUPER underperforms dramatically in this specific test, potentially indicating a measurement issue or a fundamental problem with the card's real-world performance.

Build Overview

This is a desktop-class build combining Intel's Core i9-12900KS processor with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER graphics card. The CPU represents the top tier of Intel's 12th generation lineup, occupying the 89th percentile among all processors. The GPU, despite its modern Blackwell 2.0 architecture and substantial specifications, holds only the 18th percentile position based on its benchmark score. The combined percentile of 54 places this system in the middle of the performance distribution, though this figure is skewed by the extreme disparity between components.

The CPU is an established performer with proven multi-threaded capabilities, while the GPU's benchmark results are anomalously low for its class. This creates a system that excels in CPU-intensive tasks but would likely underperform in graphics-heavy applications based on the available data. The build class is desktop, indicating a stationary, full-power configuration suitable for a wide range of workloads, from productivity to content creation, though gaming performance would be questionable given the GPU's benchmark standing.

Who Should Build It

Users focused on CPU-intensive workloads would benefit most from this pairing. Software developers compiling large codebases would leverage the i9-12900KS's PassMark integer math score of 147575 and multithread score of 43698. Data analysts and researchers processing large datasets would appreciate the data compression score of 563709 and the extended instructions score of 35089. Video editors working primarily with CPU-based codecs would see strong performance from the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36859.

Content creators who rely on CPU rendering for 3D scenes would find the 16-core, 24-thread configuration well-suited to their needs. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 10316 and max threads score of 11897 indicate robust parallel processing capability. Students and office workers would find this system dramatically overprovisioned, but it would handle any academic or professional productivity software without difficulty. For gamers, however, this build is problematic — the GPU's benchmark performance suggests that gaming experiences would be severely limited, making this pairing ill-advised for gaming-centric users.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i9-12900KS uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 connectivity with 16 lanes, ensuring compatibility with the RTX 5070 SUPER's PCIe 5.0 x16 interface. The CPU's 150 W TDP and the GPU's 275 W TDP combine for a total power draw that requires a substantial power supply, though no specific PSU recommendation is provided in the data.

The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback display solution if the discrete GPU fails or is removed. The CPU's ECC memory support offers an upgrade path for workstation use cases requiring error correction. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking potential for users seeking additional performance. The most sensible upgrade path for this system would be to replace the GPU, as the data indicates the RTX 5070 SUPER is the limiting component. The CPU's 89th percentile standing means it has significant headroom for more powerful graphics cards without becoming a bottleneck itself.