SYSTEM ANALYZER

Rate My PC: Intel Core i9-13950HX + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile

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

92 / 100
ULTIMATE READY

Apex Performer

Top 8% 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%
VS
GPU
90%
PROCESSOR

Intel Core i9-13950HX

44,342 Benchmark Score
Top 7% Market Ranking
View Full Specs →
GRAPHICS CARD

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile

18,159 Benchmark Score
Top 10% 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.

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

The Intel Core i9-13950HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile presents a distinctly asymmetric performance profile. The CPU sits at the 88th percentile among all processors, while the GPU lands at the 62nd percentile among all graphics cards. This 26-point gap defines the fundamental character of the build: the processor is a top-tier mobile part, whereas the graphics solution is a mid-range offering. The combined percentile of 75 reflects this compromise, placing the overall system comfortably in the upper-middle tier of laptop configurations.

Benchmark results illustrate the CPU's overwhelming multi-threaded dominance. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 28,681 points in multi-core and 2,096 in single-core, a ratio of roughly 13.7 to 1. The 3DMark thread scaling tells the same story: 1,102 for single-thread, 2,107 for two threads, 3,957 for four threads, 6,732 for eight threads, and 11,926 at maximum threads. The scaling from two to four threads is nearly perfect at 88% efficiency, and from four to eight threads it remains strong at 85%. This indicates that the 24-core, 32-thread Raptor Lake-HX design can feed its many cores effectively without significant contention.

However, the GPU becomes the limiting factor in graphics-bound workloads. The RTX 3060 Mobile's PassMark G3D score of 13,230 and its average benchmark score of 18,159 place it near the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18,189, a 0.2% difference) and the RTX 2060 SUPER (18,093, 0.4% ahead). In gaming scenarios, this means the CPU will frequently sit idle while the GPU works at full capacity. For a processor capable of 51,0258 in PassMark data compression and 147,091 in integer math, the graphics card's 10.94 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput will constrain frame rates in most modern titles.

The bottleneck shifts depending on workload type. In productivity tasks like data compression, encryption, and floating-point math, the CPU is the engine. PassMark results show 510,258 in data compression, 30,805 in data encryption, and 105,553 in floating-point math. These tasks will leverage the CPU's 24 cores and 36 MB of shared L3 cache effectively. Conversely, in gaming at higher resolutions, the GPU's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth become the constraint. The 192-bit memory bus and 68.40 GPixel/s pixel rate suggest that 1080p gaming will be GPU-limited in most titles, with the CPU rarely breaking a sweat.

For creative workloads like video editing or 3D rendering, the balance is more nuanced. The CPU's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 14,462 indicates strong rendering capability, while the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,821 shows moderate graphics compute. The RTX 3060 Mobile's 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores provide hardware acceleration for ray tracing and DLSS, but the 6 GB VRAM may limit scene complexity. The PassMark GPU compute score of 5,718 further suggests that compute-heavy tasks will see the GPU lag behind the CPU's capabilities.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Core i9-13950HX compare to its nearest rivals in overall CPU performance?

A: The i9-13950HX has an average benchmark score of 44,342. It sits 0.1% above the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44,309), 0.2% above the Intel Core i5-13600 (44,240), 0.3% below the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44,466), and 0.5% below the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (44,573). These are extremely tight margins, indicating the i9-13950HX is essentially performance-equivalent to these four processors.

Q: What is the GPU's performance tier relative to other graphics cards?

A: The RTX 3060 Mobile sits at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 18,159. It is 0.2% below the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18,189), 0.4% above the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER (18,093), 1.2% above the AMD Radeon RX 460 (18,373), and 1.2% above the Intel Arc A770M (18,383). This places it in the upper-mid range of graphics performance.

Q: Does the CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-13950HX supports ECC memory. It also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory types through a dual-channel memory bus. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides display output when the discrete GPU is not in use.

Q: What is the CPU's socket and platform compatibility?

A: The i9-13950HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket and is part of the Raptor Lake-HX architecture on a 10 nm process node. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This is a mobile platform, so the socket is soldered and not upgradeable in the traditional desktop sense.

Q: How does the CPU perform in single-threaded versus multi-threaded workloads?

A: The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score is 1,102, while its max-thread score is 11,926, a 10.8x increase. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 2,096 and multi-core is 28,681, a 13.7x increase. The PassMark single-thread score is 3,899 and multi-thread is 41,614, an 10.7x increase. This scaling indicates excellent multi-core utilization.

Q: What are the GPU's key specifications for modern gaming?

A: The RTX 3060 Mobile has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth. It features 3,840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, 48 ROPs, 30 RT cores, and 120 tensor cores. The boost clock is 1,425 MHz with a base clock of 900 MHz, and memory runs at 1,750 MHz (14 Gbps effective).

Q: Is there measured FPS data for this specific CPU-GPU combination?

A: No. The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS rows for the Intel Core i9-13950HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile. All frame rate discussions for this build are estimates derived from the benchmark scores and component characteristics.

# Usage Scenarios

High-refresh gaming: The RTX 3060 Mobile's 62nd percentile GPU ranking suggests it can handle 1080p gaming at high refresh rates in less demanding titles, but the 6 GB VRAM and 10.94 TFLOPS FP32 throughput will limit performance in newer AAA games. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking ensures it will not be the limiting factor. The GPU's 30 RT cores enable ray tracing, though at reduced frame rates. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,821 indicates moderate DX12 gaming performance, while PassMark DirectX 12 score of 58 is low.

Streaming: The CPU's strong multi-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core of 28,681) provides ample headroom for encoding while gaming. The PassMark data compression score of 510,258 and encryption score of 30,805 suggest fast handling of stream data. The GPU's NVENC capability, implied by the tensor cores and Ampere architecture, can offload encoding tasks. The 120 tensor cores also support DLSS, which can boost gaming frame rates while streaming.

Video editing: The CPU excels here with a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 14,462 and PassMark multithread score of 41,614. The 24 cores and 32 threads handle timeline rendering and export efficiently. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM may be limiting for complex effects or high-resolution timelines, but the 336.0 GB/s bandwidth helps move frame data. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,821 indicates moderate GPU acceleration for effects.

3D rendering: The CPU's 28,681 Cinebench R23 multi-core score is the star, providing competitive CPU-based rendering performance. The GPU's FP32 throughput of 10.94 TFLOPS supports GPU rendering, though the 6 GB VRAM limits scene size. The 30 RT cores accelerate ray-traced rendering in supported applications. PassMark floating-point math score of 105,553 and integer math of 147,091 indicate strong compute capabilities.

Software development: The CPU's PassMark data compression score of 510,258 and random string sorting of 57,274 suggest fast compilation and code processing. The 36 MB L3 cache helps with frequently accessed code segments. The 32 threads handle parallel build systems effectively. The GPU is largely irrelevant here, but the CPU's 88th percentile ranking means compilation times will be competitive with top-tier desktop processors.

Student and office work: This build is overkill for typical productivity tasks. The CPU's single-thread PassMark score of 3,899 and 3DMark single-thread of 1,102 handle office applications, web browsing, and document processing with ease. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 provides a fallback display solution. The 55 W TDP suggests reasonable power consumption for a high-performance mobile part, though battery life will depend on the laptop's overall design.

# Who Should Build It

This configuration targets users who need exceptional CPU compute in a laptop form factor but are willing to accept mid-range graphics performance. Gamers at 1080p resolution will find the RTX 3060 Mobile adequate for most titles, particularly when utilizing DLSS through the 120 tensor cores. The 62nd GPU percentile means users should not expect high-refresh 1440p gaming or maximum settings in demanding AAA releases.

Content creators working with CPU-intensive tasks are the primary beneficiaries. Video editors, 3D modelers, and software developers who rely on multi-threaded performance will see the CPU's 88th percentile ranking translate into shorter render times and faster compilation. The Cinebench R23 score of 28,681 puts this laptop CPU in desktop-class territory for multi-core work.

Students in engineering, data science, or computer science programs will appreciate the CPU's capabilities for simulation, data processing, and coding assignments. The PassMark integer math score of 147,091 and floating-point score of 105,553 handle numerical workloads efficiently. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for learning-level machine learning tasks.

Small business workstations that run virtualization, database management, or complex spreadsheets will benefit from the 32 threads and 36 MB L3 cache. The data compression score of 510,258 indicates fast database operations. The ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running workloads. However, the end-of-life production status of the GPU means replacement parts may be harder to source over time.

# Benchmark Performance

The CPU's average benchmark score is 44,342, placing it at the 88th percentile among all processors. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 with an average score of 44,309, a mere 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i5-13600 scores 44,240 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 44,466 (0.3% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 44,573 (0.5% ahead). These margins are within measurement noise, making the i9-13950HX functionally equivalent to these four alternatives.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 18,159, placing it at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18,189 (0.2% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER scores 18,093 (0.4% behind), the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18,373 (1.2% ahead), and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18,383 (1.2% ahead). The RTX 3060 Mobile sits in a tight cluster with these cards, none of which are modern high-end parts.

The combined percentile for this build is 75, indicating an upper-mid tier system. The CPU's strong individual performance is dragged down by the GPU's more modest showing. In 3DMark, the CPU scores 11,926 at max threads versus 1,102 single-thread, while the GPU scores 1,821 in Steel Nomad DX12. The PassMark suite shows the CPU at 41,614 multi-thread and 3,899 single-thread, with the GPU at 13,230 G3D and 5,718 compute. This data paints a picture of a system that excels at CPU-heavy tasks but is merely competent at graphics.

# GPU Analysis

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile is built on the Ampere architecture using the GA106 chip manufactured by Samsung on an 8 nm process. The die contains 12,000 million transistors across 276 mm², giving a transistor density of 43.5 million per square millimeter. This is a mature, end-of-life product released in early 2021, but it remains relevant for 1080p gaming.

Memory configuration includes 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, yielding 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory clock runs at 1,750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective data rate. The 6 GB capacity is adequate for current games at 1080p with medium-to-high settings, but may require texture quality reductions in VRAM-heavy titles. The 192-bit bus width is narrower than higher-tier cards, limiting bandwidth for large data transfers.

The GPU features 3,840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. Texture rate is 171.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate is 68.40 GPixel/s. Compute performance is 10.94 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 (1:1 ratio). The 30 RT cores provide dedicated ray tracing hardware, while 120 tensor cores support DLSS and AI-accelerated features. The base clock is 900 MHz with a boost of 1,425 MHz, which is modest but typical for mobile parts with an 80 W TDP.

Benchmark results place this GPU at the 62nd percentile. The PassMark G3D score of 13,230 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 79,483 indicate mid-range performance. The Vulkan score of 80,344 is slightly higher than OpenCL, suggesting good driver optimization for Vulkan titles. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,821 is moderate for modern DirectX 12 games. PassMark DirectX 11 score of 110 and DirectX 10 of 90 are low, but these are older API benchmarks. The GPU compute score of 5,718 suggests limited compute throughput for non-graphics workloads.

# CPU Analysis

The Intel Core i9-13950HX is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX variant. It uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket and is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 257 mm². The base clock is 2.20 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, and the multiplier is unlocked for overclocking where the laptop platform allows.

Cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 helps with multi-threaded workloads that share data. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus, with ECC memory support for reliability. It provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the CPU, enabling fast NVMe storage and GPU connectivity.

Benchmark scores demonstrate strong performance across the board. In Cinebench R15, the CPU scores 4,529 multi-core and 297 single-core. Cinebench R20 shows 14,462 multi-core and 2,041 single-core. Cinebench R23 achieves 28,681 multi-core and 2,096 single-core. PassMark results include 41,614 multi-thread, 3,899 single-thread, 147,091 integer math, 105,553 floating-point math, 510,258 data compression, 30,805 data encryption, and 57,274 random string sorting.

The 88th percentile ranking places this CPU among the top 12% of all processors. Its average benchmark score of 44,342 is within 0.5% of its four nearest rivals, making it competitive with the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, Intel Core i5-13600, Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, and AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D. The 3DMark scores show excellent thread scaling from 1,102 single-thread to 11,926 max-thread, representing a 10.8x improvement. This scaling indicates the 24 cores are well-utilized in multi-threaded workloads.

# Build Overview

This build pairs the Intel Core i9-13950HX, a 13th-generation Raptor Lake-HX mobile processor, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, an Ampere-architecture laptop GPU. The build class is laptop, meaning both components are designed for mobile platforms with soldered connections and integrated cooling solutions. The CPU was released in January 2023 with a launch MSRP of $590, while the GPU was released in January 2021.

The combined percentile is 75, placing this system in the upper-middle tier of all laptop configurations. The CPU's 88th percentile is significantly higher than the GPU's 62nd percentile, creating an imbalance that favors compute-heavy workloads over graphics-intensive tasks. This is a processor-first build where the GPU is adequate but not exceptional.

In terms of tier, this system sits above mainstream laptops with integrated graphics or entry-level discrete GPUs, but below high-end gaming laptops with RTX 4070 or better graphics. The 24-core CPU is a flagship mobile processor, while the RTX 3060 Mobile is a mid-range graphics solution. Users should expect desktop-class CPU performance with slightly above-average laptop gaming performance.

The production status shows the CPU as active, while the GPU is end-of-life. This means the CPU may still be available in new systems, but the GPU is being phased out in favor of newer generations. The overall system is best suited for productivity, development, and content creation rather than pure gaming performance.

# Upgrade Path and Platform

The Intel Core i9-13950HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, which is a soldered mobile platform. This means the CPU cannot be upgraded without replacing the entire motherboard, which is impractical in a laptop. The socket is specific to Raptor Lake-HX mobile processors, so no future generations will fit this platform. The PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 CPU lanes provides high-bandwidth connectivity for the GPU and NVMe storage.

Memory support includes DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus. This flexibility allows system builders to choose between more affordable DDR4 or faster DDR5 modules. The ECC memory support is unusual for a consumer mobile CPU and adds reliability for workstation use. The 36 MB L3 cache is shared across all cores, improving multi-threaded performance for cache-sensitive workloads.

The GPU connects via PCIe 4.0 x16, which is one generation behind the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 capability. This is not a bottleneck for the RTX 3060 Mobile, as the card's bandwidth requirements are well within PCIe 4.0 limits. The GPU has no power connectors, meaning it draws power entirely from the motherboard slot, consistent with its 80 W TDP. The CPU's TDP is 55 W, giving a combined thermal envelope of 135 W for the core components.

The laptop's power delivery and cooling system will determine actual performance, as both components can draw more power under load if thermal headroom allows. The lack of a suggested PSU figure is expected for a laptop, where the power adapter is proprietary. A sensible upgrade path would be to a newer generation laptop with a more balanced CPU-GPU pairing, such as a mid-range CPU with a high-end GPU, to avoid the bottleneck seen here.

# Gaming Performance

No measured FPS data exists for the Intel Core i9-13950HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile. The FACT PACK contains no measured FPS rows for this exact combination, so all frame rate figures presented here are estimates based on benchmark scores and component characteristics.

At 1080p resolution with ultra settings, the RTX 3060 Mobile's 62nd percentile ranking suggests playable frame rates in most titles, but not consistently high refresh rates. The GPU's 10.94 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 6 GB VRAM will handle esports titles like Counter-Strike or Valorant at well over 100 FPS, based on the PassMark G3D score of 13,230. More demanding AAA titles will likely see 50–70 FPS at ultra settings, with the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,821 indicating moderate modern API performance.

At 1440p, the GPU will struggle to maintain 60 FPS in demanding titles due to the 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 192-bit memory bus limits bandwidth for high-resolution textures. Users should expect to lower settings to high or medium for playable frame rates. The 30 RT cores enable ray tracing, but enabling RT features will significantly reduce frame rates, making DLSS through the 120 tensor cores essential for maintaining performance.

The CPU will not be a bottleneck in gaming scenarios. Even with a single-thread score of 1,102 in 3DMark and 2,096 in Cinebench R23, the i9-13950HX has more than enough processing power for game logic, physics, and AI. The 36 MB L3 cache helps with game asset streaming. For CPU-bound games at 1080p, the system may actually be GPU-limited, meaning the CPU sits idle while the GPU works at capacity. The PassMark single-thread score of 3,899 confirms strong per-core performance for gaming.