SYSTEM ANALYZER

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

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

94 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 6% 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
91%
VS
GPU
97%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12900T

37,112 Benchmark Score
Top 9% 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

# Intel Core i9-12900T + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090: A High-Capacity Desktop Analysis

This pairing combines a 16-core, 24-thread Alder Lake processor with a 24 GB Ada Lovelace flagship GPU, creating a desktop configuration that ranks in the 87th combined percentile among all benchmarked systems. The CPU delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24,528 and a single-core score of 3,462, while the GPU posts a Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 255,416. The data indicates a system with exceptional multi-threaded throughput and top-tier graphics compute, though the 35 W TDP of the processor suggests a design focused on efficiency rather than sustained peak clocks. No measured FPS rows exist for this exact combination in the FACT PACK; all frame-rate discussions below are estimated from the benchmark scores and should be treated as projections, not empirical results.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The RTX 4090’s benchmark results point to extreme rasterization and ray-tracing capability. With a Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223, this GPU ranks in the 88th percentile among all GPUs. The CPU’s Geekbench single-core score of 2,259 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,462 provide the per-thread performance needed to feed the GPU at high frame rates. In CPU-bound scenarios at lower resolutions, the processor’s 4.90 GHz boost clock should keep up, though the 35 W TDP may limit sustained all-core boost behavior during long gaming sessions.

Streaming: Live encoding and simultaneous gameplay benefit from the CPU’s 16 cores and 24 threads. Passmark multi-thread score of 29,601 and data compression score of 345,021 indicate strong parallel processing for encoding video while gaming. The GPU’s 512 tensor cores and 128 RT cores provide additional hardware acceleration options for encoding and AI-enhanced streaming features. The combination of high single-core performance for game logic and multi-core muscle for encoding suggests a capable streaming rig, though the processor’s low TDP may require careful power management to maintain consistent performance.

Video editing: Timeline scrubbing and preview rendering rely on both CPU and GPU. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24,528 and Geekbench multi-core score of 11,615 show the CPU handling multi-track edits and export workloads efficiently. The GPU’s 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth provide ample capacity for 4K and 8K video layers, effects, and color grading. Passmark GPU compute score of 26,613 indicates strong acceleration for GPU-accelerated effects and renders. This system should handle professional video editing suites with ease, though the CPU’s 35 W TDP may throttle during extended export sessions.

3D rendering: The CPU’s 16 cores and 24 threads deliver a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 10,301 and a Passmark floating-point math score of 75,741, making it a solid choice for CPU-based rendering. The GPU’s 16,384 shading units and 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 performance provide massive parallel compute for GPU renderers. The 24 GB VRAM allows for large scenes and high-resolution textures without swapping. For production rendering workloads, this pairing offers both CPU and GPU paths, with the GPU likely dominating final-frame rendering time in most modern engines.

Software development: Compilation and code analysis benefit from multi-core processing. The Passmark integer math score of 108,211 and extended instructions score of 20,054 indicate strong performance for build tools and static analysis. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache helps with working sets of large codebases. Single-core performance, as shown by the Passmark single-thread score of 3,810, ensures responsive IDE interactions and fast incremental builds. The 24 threads handle parallel builds effectively, making this a productive development workstation.

Student and office work: For everyday productivity, this system is massively over-provisioned but still effective. The CPU’s single-core scores (Cinebench R15 single-core 348, Geekbench single-core 2,259) make short work of document processing, spreadsheets, and web browsing. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback display output, though the discrete GPU handles any graphics-accelerated tasks. The low 35 W CPU TDP contributes to a cooler and quieter office environment, while the GPU’s power draw may be excessive for basic tasks. Students and office workers would see no performance benefit over a more modest system, but the headroom is there for demanding side projects.

Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i9-12900T uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform, which supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus. This flexibility allows builders to choose between cost-effective DDR4 or higher-bandwidth DDR5, though the FACT PACK does not specify which memory type this configuration uses. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), enabling high-speed NVMe storage and the latest graphics cards. The GPU connects via PCIe 4.0 x16, which is fully compatible with the CPU’s PCIe 5.0 lanes, though it will operate at PCIe 4.0 speeds.

The processor’s 35 W TDP is remarkably low for a 16-core part, suggesting that the motherboard power delivery system sees minimal CPU load. The GPU, however, has a 450 W TDP and requires an 850 W suggested PSU. This means the power supply must be sized for the GPU, not the CPU. The system’s overall power headroom is dictated by the GPU’s demands, so upgrading the CPU to a higher-TDP 12th-generation part would likely not require a PSU change, as long as the 850 W unit has sufficient headroom.

A sensible next upgrade path depends on the workload. For gaming, the RTX 4090 is already near the top of the GPU hierarchy; upgrading the CPU to a higher-clocked 12th-generation K-series part (if supported by the motherboard) could improve frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. For content creation, adding more memory (up to the platform’s maximum, which is not specified) or faster NVMe storage would be more impactful. The platform’s PCIe 5.0 support means future storage and accelerator cards can be adopted without a motherboard change. The GPU’s end-of-life production status suggests that a future upgrade would target the next generation, but the current pairing should remain relevant for several years.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12900T 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 operates at a base clock of 1,400 MHz and boosts to 4,900 MHz, with a 35 W TDP that is exceptionally low for this core count. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics. It was released on 2022-01-03 with a launch MSRP of $489 and is multiplier-unlocked, allowing overclocking if the motherboard and cooling permit.

Benchmark results show a processor that performs well above its low TDP suggests. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24,528 places it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37,112. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 160 (average score 37,117, delta 0%), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (average score 37,093, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i7-13700 (average score 37,135, delta -0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H (average score 37,161, delta -0.1%). These deltas are all within 0.1%, meaning the i9-12900T is statistically tied with these competitors in overall benchmark averages, despite having a different core-and-clock configuration.

Single-core performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,462 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2,259. This is sufficient for responsive daily use and gaming. Multi-core performance is where the processor shines: Cinebench R20 multi-core 10,301, Geekbench multi-core 11,615, and Passmark multi-thread 29,601. The Passmark integer math score of 108,211 and floating-point math score of 75,741 indicate robust compute for both integer-heavy and floating-point-heavy workloads. The data compression score of 345,021 and encryption score of 20,750 show strong performance for archival and security tasks. The extended instructions score of 20,054 suggests good AVX/AVX2 performance, which benefits scientific and engineering applications.

The 35 W TDP is the defining characteristic of this CPU. It allows for compact cooling solutions and low power bills, but it also means the processor will likely hit power limits before thermal limits under sustained all-core loads. The boost clock of 4.90 GHz is high for single-core workloads, but the base clock of 1,400 MHz indicates that sustained multi-core performance will be lower than higher-TDP 12th-generation parts. For users who prioritize efficiency over absolute throughput, this is an excellent choice; for those who need maximum sustained multi-core performance, a higher-TDP variant would be more appropriate.

Who Should Build It

This configuration targets users who need extreme graphics performance without a power-hungry CPU. Gamers at 1440p or 4K resolution will find the RTX 4090’s 24 GB VRAM and 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 performance capable of driving the most demanding titles at high refresh rates, with the CPU’s single-core scores (Cinebench R23 single-core 3,462, Passmark single-thread 3,810) providing adequate frame pacing. The 88th GPU percentile means this is near the top of the GPU performance hierarchy, suitable for enthusiasts who want maximum graphical fidelity.

Content creators working with video, 3D, or large datasets will benefit from the CPU’s 16 cores and 24 threads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24,528 and Passmark multi-thread score of 29,601 handle rendering and encoding tasks, while the GPU’s 24 GB VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth support large textures and high-resolution frames. The GPU’s 512 tensor cores and 128 RT cores accelerate AI-based tools and ray-traced rendering, making this a versatile workstation for modern creative pipelines.

Software developers compiling large codebases will appreciate the CPU’s integer math score of 108,211 and extended instructions score of 20,054. The 30 MB L3 cache helps with working sets, and the 24 threads parallelize builds effectively. Students and small business workstations are over-served by this hardware, but the low 35 W CPU TDP means the system can run quietly and efficiently for office tasks, with the GPU available for occasional compute-heavy jobs. The CPU’s production status is listed as active, while the GPU is end-of-life, so builders should consider future upgrade paths when investing in this pairing.

Balance and Bottleneck

The most striking imbalance in this configuration is the CPU’s 35 W TDP versus the GPU’s 450 W TDP. The data shows a processor that is statistically tied with rivals such as the AMD Ryzen 7 160 and Intel Core i7-13700 in average benchmark score (37,112 vs. 37,117 and 37,135, respectively), while the GPU sits at the 88th percentile among all GPUs. In gaming workloads, the GPU is likely the primary performance driver, with the CPU providing sufficient single-core throughput (Cinebench R23 single-core 3,462) to avoid becoming a bottleneck at higher resolutions. However, at lower resolutions or with less demanding graphics settings, the CPU’s power-limited boost behavior could constrain frame rates.

In multi-threaded workloads like 3D rendering or video encoding, the CPU’s 16 cores and 24 threads are fully utilized, but the low TDP may cause the processor to throttle below its theoretical maximum. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24,528 is strong, but a higher-TDP CPU with similar architecture would likely score higher. The GPU’s compute capabilities (Passmark GPU compute 26,613, Geekbench OpenCL 255,416) can offload some workloads from the CPU, but not all applications are GPU-accelerated.

The system’s combined percentile of 87 indicates that, on average, this pairing outperforms 87% of all tested configurations. The GPU’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60,326, delta 0%) and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60,140, delta 0.3%), showing that the RTX 4090’s average score of 60,347 is just slightly above these professional GPUs. The CPU’s nearest rivals are all within 0.1% deltas, meaning the processor is not a differentiator in this pairing. The bottleneck analysis suggests that, for gaming, the GPU is the star, while for productivity, the CPU’s power limit is the limiting factor.

GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is based on the AD102 chip using the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on TSMC’s 5 nm process with 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die. It features 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, along with 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2,235 MHz and a boost clock of 2,520 MHz, with memory running at 1,313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The memory subsystem consists of 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a TDP of 450 W, requires an 850 W suggested PSU, and connects via PCIe 4.0 x16. It was released on 2022-09-19 with a launch MSRP of 1,599 USD and is now end-of-life.

Benchmark results confirm the RTX 4090’s position as a top-tier graphics card. The Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223 place it in the 88th percentile among all GPUs. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 255,416 and Vulkan score of 271,631 show strong compute performance across APIs. Passmark DirectX scores are mixed: DirectX 9 at 397, DirectX 10 at 224, DirectX 11 at 326, and DirectX 12 at 150, which may reflect driver overhead or benchmark methodology rather than raw capability. The Passmark GPU compute score of 26,613 and G2D score of 1,299 round out the compute picture.

The 24 GB of VRAM is a defining feature, providing capacity for 4K textures, large 3D scenes, and AI model training. The 1.01 TB/s bandwidth ensures that this memory is fed quickly, which is critical for high-resolution rendering and data-intensive compute. The 512 tensor cores accelerate DLSS and AI workloads, while the 128 RT cores handle ray-traced effects. The pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s indicate that the GPU can fill and texture frames at extremely high rates. The FP32 throughput of 82.58 TFLOPS (with FP16 at 1:1) makes this a formidable compute card for scientific and engineering applications.

The nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60,326, delta 0%), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60,140, delta 0.3%), AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896, delta -2.5%), and AMD Radeon PRO V710 (58,657, delta 2.9%). The RTX 4090’s average score of 60,347 is notably higher than most of these, though the W6600M is 2.5% ahead. This suggests that the RTX 4090, while powerful, is not the absolute leader in every benchmark category, likely due to driver optimizations or specific workload characteristics.

Gaming Performance

There are no measured FPS rows in the FACT PACK for this specific CPU-GPU combination. All frame-rate figures discussed here are estimates derived from the benchmark scores and should be considered projections, not empirical results. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223 indicate that it is capable of very high frame rates in most modern titles at 1440p and 4K resolutions, assuming the CPU can keep up.

At 4K resolution, the GPU is likely the primary bottleneck, and the RTX 4090’s 24 GB VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth should handle ultra-quality textures without issue. The 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 performance suggests that even the most demanding games with ray tracing enabled should run at playable frame rates. At 1440p, the CPU’s single-core performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 3,462, Geekbench single-core 2,259) becomes more relevant, and the 4.90 GHz boost clock should provide adequate frame pacing, though the 35 W TDP may cause some variability in sustained workloads.

For esports titles at 1080p, the CPU will likely become the limiting factor, as these games are often CPU-bound. The processor’s Passmark single-thread score of 3,810 is respectable but not class-leading, and the low TDP may prevent the CPU from maintaining peak boost clocks during long gaming sessions. Frame rates in such titles could be lower than what the GPU alone would permit. Overall, the estimated gaming performance is excellent for high-resolution, graphically demanding titles, with the caveat that power-limited CPU behavior may reduce performance in CPU-bound scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Does this configuration support DDR4 or DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, according to the FACT PACK. The specific memory type used in a build is not specified.

Q: What is the TDP of the CPU and GPU, and what power supply is recommended?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 35 W, while the GPU has a TDP of 450 W. The suggested PSU for this system is 850 W.

Q: Is the CPU overclockable?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-12900T has an unlocked multiplier, indicating that it supports overclocking if the motherboard and cooling solution permit.

Q: What is the PCIe version and lane count for the CPU?

A: The CPU supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The GPU uses PCIe 4.0 x16.

Q: When were the CPU and GPU released, and what are their production statuses?

A: The CPU was released on 2022-01-03 and has an active production status. The GPU was released on 2022-09-19 and is end-of-life.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory size and bandwidth?

A: The GPU has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-12900T includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, which can serve as a fallback display output.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU’s benchmark performance is anchored by its Cinebench R23 scores: 24,528 multi-core and 3,462 single-core. The Geekbench scores are 11,615 multi-core and 2,259 single-core, while the Passmark suite shows a multi-thread score of 29,601 and a single-thread score of 3,810. The average benchmark score for the CPU is 37,112, placing it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals—AMD Ryzen 7 160 (37,117, 0%), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37,093, 0.1%), Intel Core i7-13700 (37,135, -0.1%), and AMD Ryzen 7 7735H (37,161, -0.1%)—are all within a 0.1% delta, indicating that the i9-12900T is essentially tied with these processors in overall performance.

The GPU’s benchmark results are led by a Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 255,416 and Vulkan score of 271,631 further demonstrate compute capability. The Passmark GPU compute score is 26,613. The average benchmark score for the GPU is 60,347, placing it in the 88th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60,326, 0%), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60,140, 0.3%), AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896, -2.5%), and AMD Radeon PRO V710 (58,657, 2.9%). The RTX 4090 is 2.5% behind the W6600M but ahead of the other listed rivals.

The combined percentile for this CPU-GPU pairing is 87, meaning it outperforms 87% of all tested desktop configurations. The CPU’s average score of 37,112 is statistically indistinguishable from its closest rivals, while the GPU’s average score of 60,347 is competitive but not dominant within its immediate peer group. The overall picture is one of a balanced high-end system where the GPU carries the graphics load and the CPU provides solid multi-threaded throughput, with the caveat that the CPU’s 35 W TDP may limit sustained performance in power-sensitive scenarios. The data shows a configuration that is excellent for 4K gaming and GPU-accelerated compute, with sufficient CPU power for most productivity tasks, though users seeking maximum multi-core throughput should consider higher-TDP processors.