SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12950HX + AMD Radeon 740M

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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90 Score

Top 10% Ranking

90 / 100

ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 10% 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

88%

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-12950HX

42,487 Benchmark Score

Top 7% Market Ranking

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GRAPHICS CARD

AMD Radeon 740M

12,870 Benchmark Score

Top 12% 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.

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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 i9-12950HX + AMD Radeon 740M: A High-Core-Count Laptop Pairing Held Back by Its Integrated GPU

This is a laptop-class build pairing Intel's 16-core Alder Lake-HX flagship processor with AMD's entry-level RDNA 3.0 integrated graphics. The CPU is the dominant component, sitting at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs, creating a significant performance imbalance. The combined build percentile lands at 71, reflecting a system that excels at processor-heavy workloads but delivers only mid-pack graphics performance. This analysis is based entirely on benchmark scores, as no measured frame-rate data exists for this specific CPU+GPU combination; all gaming frame rates discussed are estimates derived from component-level benchmark performance.

Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: This pairing is not suited for high-refresh gaming at demanding settings. The Radeon 740M's average benchmark score of 12,870 places it at the 53rd percentile, roughly equivalent to a Radeon RX 580 in raw compute but with far less memory bandwidth since it uses system shared memory. The integrated GPU's 2.867 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 8 ROPs will struggle to push high frame rates at 1080p in modern titles, making 144Hz displays largely wasted for gaming workloads.

Streaming: The CPU is more than capable of handling encoding and streaming workloads. With a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,263 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 31,673, the i9-12950HX provides ample headroom for software encoding while maintaining gameplay. However, the GPU's mid-pack performance means game capture at high quality settings will be limited, and the lack of dedicated tensor cores or advanced encoding hardware on the Radeon side shifts the encoding burden to the CPU, which handles it well.

Video editing: The 16-core, 24-thread CPU configuration with 30 MB of shared L3 cache delivers strong multi-threaded performance for rendering and export tasks. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 11,061 and R15 multi-core score of 3,107 indicate solid timeline scrubbing and preview performance. However, the GPU's 53rd percentile ranking means GPU-accelerated effects and color grading will be noticeably slower than what a discrete graphics card would provide, making this a CPU-first editing system.

3D rendering: The i9-12950HX is the star here, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,263 that places it within 1% of desktop-class i9-12900K parts. The Passmark integer math score of 109,586 and floating point math score of 80,402 support strong CPU-based rendering performance. The GPU, with only 256 shading units and 16 TMUs, will be a bottleneck for GPU-accelerated renderers like Blender Cycles or Octane, making this a system for CPU rendering workflows.

Software development: The CPU's 88th percentile ranking and strong single-thread score of 3,778 on Passmark single-thread tests (Cinebench R23 single-core: 1,885) ensure fast compilation times for single-threaded build steps, while the multi-thread score of 31,673 accelerates parallel builds. Data compression score of 367,930 and encryption score of 21,395 suggest solid performance for database workloads and secure development environments. The GPU is irrelevant for most development tasks, making this a strong developer laptop.

Student and office work: This is overkill for typical student workloads, with the CPU delivering far more multi-threaded performance than office applications require. The single-thread Cinebench R23 score of 1,885 ensures responsive everyday use, while the Passmark physics score of 2,084 and random string sorting score of 41,209 indicate snappy spreadsheet and database operations. The power draw of a 55W TDP processor in a laptop chassis means battery life will be limited, but raw performance is not a concern.

Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 42,487, placing it at the 88th percentile of all CPUs. This is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-12900K (average score 42,335, deltaPct 0.4%), the Core i9-12900KF (42,830, deltaPct -0.8%), and the Core i9-12900 (42,906, deltaPct -1%). It also edges out the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 (42,055, deltaPct 1%) by a single percentage point. The GPU's average benchmark score is 12,870, at the 53rd percentile, with nearest rivals including the AMD FirePro W5100 (12,847, deltaPct 0.2%), AMD Radeon Pro 455 (12,831, deltaPct 0.3%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12,830, deltaPct 0.3%), and AMD Radeon RX 580 (12,928, deltaPct -0.4%). The combined percentile of 71 reflects a system where the CPU's top-tier performance is dragged down by the GPU's mid-pack showing. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 10,172 and Vulkan score of 15,568 for the GPU indicate that compute workloads see modest performance, roughly 0.4% below an RX 580, which is a desktop-class GPU from several generations ago.

CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-12950HX is a 16-core, 24-thread mobile processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-HX variant. It uses Intel's 10nm process node with a die size of 215 mm², and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The base clock is 2.30 GHz with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and the CPU has a 55W TDP. It features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU is not multiplier unlocked, uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, and supports ECC memory. It integrates UHD Graphics 770, though the system under analysis uses the discrete AMD Radeon 740M instead. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,263 places it at the 88th percentile, with the single-core score of 1,885 indicating strong per-thread performance. Passmark multi-thread score of 31,673 and single-thread score of 3,778 reinforce the picture of a high-end mobile CPU that trades blows with desktop parts — it is within 1% of the i9-12900K in average benchmark score. The data compression score of 367,930 and encryption score of 21,395 suggest the CPU handles data-intensive workloads efficiently. Extended instructions score of 22,163 and prime number finding score of 135 indicate strong but not exceptional AVX-512-class performance. For real workloads, this means video encoding, 3D rendering, and code compilation will see desktop-class speed, while the 5.00 GHz boost clock ensures snappy single-threaded response in everyday applications.

Who Should Build It

This build targets users who need extreme CPU performance in a laptop form factor but have modest graphics requirements. Gamers playing at 1080p with low-to-medium settings in esports or older titles will find the Radeon 740M sufficient, though the GPU's 53rd percentile ranking means modern AAA games at high settings will be unplayable. Content creators doing CPU-based rendering, video encoding, or batch photo processing will benefit from the 88th percentile CPU performance. Software developers compiling large codebases, running virtual machines, or doing data science work will find the multi-thread performance useful, though the lack of a discrete GPU limits CUDA-accelerated machine learning workflows. Students in engineering or computer science programs who need a powerful processor for simulations or compilation but don't game will find this adequate. Small business workstations handling database operations, financial modeling, or server-like workloads will appreciate the ECC memory support and 16-core configuration. The launch MSRP of the CPU is $590, but the overall system cost is dominated by the processor, not the integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-12950HX faster than the i9-12900K?

A: No, but it's very close. The i9-12950HX has an average benchmark score of 42,487, which is 0.4% higher than the i9-12900K's 42,335. However, the i9-12900K is a desktop part with higher power limits, and the i9-12900KF (42,830) and i9-12900 (42,906) are 0.8% and 1% faster respectively.

Q: How does the Radeon 740M compare to a desktop Radeon RX 580?

A: The Radeon 740M has an average benchmark score of 12,870, which is 0.4% lower than the Radeon RX 580's score of 12,928. This puts them in the same performance class, though the 740M uses system shared memory while the RX 580 has dedicated VRAM.

Q: Does this build support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the Radeon 740M has 4 RT cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), so it can run ray-traced workloads. However, with only 2.867 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 8 ROPs, ray tracing performance will be very limited.

Q: What is the CPU's memory support?

A: The i9-12950HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. It also supports ECC memory, which is unusual for a mobile CPU.

Q: Is the CPU overclockable?

A: No, the multiplier is locked (multiplierUnlocked: false). The boost clock is fixed at 5.00 GHz.

Q: What is the process node for each component?

A: The CPU uses Intel's 10nm process node, while the GPU uses TSMC's 4nm process node.

Q: How does this build rank overall?

A: The combined percentile is 71, meaning it outperforms 71% of all builds in the database. The CPU is at the 88th percentile, while the GPU is at the 53rd percentile.

Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for this specific CPU+GPU combination, so all frame rate figures below are estimates derived from the benchmark scores of the components. The Radeon 740M's average benchmark score of 12,870 and its proximity to the Radeon RX 580 (within 0.4%) suggest that in lighter titles like esports games, the GPU could deliver playable frame rates at 1080p with low settings. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core: 1,885) will not bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios. However, the GPU's 8 ROPs and 256 shading units are extremely limited, and with system shared memory providing bandwidth that is "System Dependent," modern AAA titles at 1080p high settings will likely see frame rates in the 20-30 FPS range. At 720p with low settings, some older titles may reach 60 FPS. The Geekbench Vulkan score of 15,568 suggests the GPU handles API-level tasks reasonably well, but the FP32 throughput of 2.867 TFLOPS caps raw rendering performance. Users should expect this to be a 720p-to-1080p low-settings gaming solution, not a high-refresh or high-detail one.

GPU Analysis

The AMD Radeon 740M is an integrated GPU based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, using the Phoenix2 chip built on TSMC's 4nm process node. It contains 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, 8 ROPs, and 4 RT cores. The base clock is 800 MHz with a boost clock of 2800 MHz, producing a pixel rate of 22.40 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 44.80 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 2.867 TFLOPS, with FP16 also at 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio). Memory is system shared with no dedicated VRAM, and bandwidth is system dependent. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, and uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The transistor count is 20,900 million on a 137 mm² die. The GPU's Geekbench OpenCL score is 10,172 and Vulkan score is 15,568, giving an average benchmark score of 12,870 at the 53rd percentile. This places it within 0.3% of the AMD Radeon Pro 455 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, and 0.4% below the Radeon RX 580. For rendering workloads, the 4 RT cores enable ray tracing but with such limited compute throughput (2.867 TFLOPS), ray-traced scenes will render slowly. The 8 ROPs limit fill-rate-bound operations, and the 16 TMUs limit texture-heavy workloads. The GPU is best suited for basic display output, light 2D workloads, and very light gaming.

Build Overview

This build pairs the Intel Core i9-12950HX, a 16-core mobile processor from the Alder Lake-HX generation, with the AMD Radeon 740M, an integrated RDNA 3.0 GPU. It is classified as a laptop build. The CPU is the clear performance leader, sitting at the 88th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 42,487, while the GPU sits at the 53rd percentile with an average score of 12,870. The combined percentile of 71 indicates a system that is better than the majority of builds but falls short of high-end gaming laptops because of the weak integrated GPU. The CPU's performance is competitive with desktop i9-12900K-class parts, making this a workstation-class processor in a laptop. The GPU, however, is entry-level, roughly matching a Radeon RX 580 from previous generations. This is a CPU-centric build where the processor's capabilities are the primary selling point, and the GPU is a secondary consideration for basic graphics acceleration.

Balance and Bottleneck

The balance between CPU and GPU is heavily skewed toward the CPU. The i9-12950HX operates at the 88th percentile, while the Radeon 740M operates at the 53rd percentile, a 35-percentage-point gap. In CPU-bound workloads such as 3D rendering, video encoding, and code compilation, the system performs at a high level, with the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,263 delivering desktop-class throughput. The GPU will not bottleneck these workloads. Conversely, in GPU-bound workloads such as gaming at high settings, GPU-accelerated rendering, or machine learning inference, the GPU becomes a severe bottleneck. The 2.867 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 8 ROPs limit frame rates and render times, and the system-shared memory architecture means the CPU and GPU compete for the same memory bandwidth. In gaming, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (Passmark single-thread: 3,778) ensures it won't bottleneck the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU's mid-pack performance caps overall frame rates. In mixed workloads like streaming while gaming, the CPU can handle encoding without issue, but the GPU's rendering capability will limit game quality settings. The FPS scaling between the CPU and GPU is asymmetric: the CPU can drive high frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios, but the GPU cannot translate that into high FPS in GPU-bound scenarios. This is a system where the processor is the bottleneck in productivity tasks only if software is poorly multithreaded, and where the GPU is the bottleneck in nearly all graphics-intensive tasks.

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-12950HX + AMD Radeon 740M

Apex Performer

System Balance Analysis

Intel Core i9-12950HX

AMD Radeon 740M

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

Usage Scenarios

Benchmark Performance

CPU Analysis

Who Should Build It

FAQ

Gaming Performance

GPU Analysis

Build Overview

Balance and Bottleneck

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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