Minimum

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 presents a stark contrast in component tiers, yet the benchmark data for Minimum shows the combination is highly effective. The measured FPS across all resolutions and settings indicates that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting, though the CPU’s 4-core/8-thread configuration is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at the tested settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and comparative standing of this specific combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the best playable setting at 4K (3840x2160) for this combo?

A: The verdict data lists High as the best playable setting, achieving an average of 60.7 FPS. Low and Medium settings also clear the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 96.9 and 74.5 FPS respectively, while Ultra falls below at 44.8 FPS.

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 1440p with maximum settings?*

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is marked as playable, with an average FPS of 91. This is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, making it the best setting for that resolution.

Q: How does the CPU’s multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i3-12100F’s average benchmark score is 13494, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492, 0% delta). It is also only 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452) and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U (13351).

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile relative to all other GPUs?

A: The RTX 4070 sits in the 81st percentile among all GPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 37648. This places it firmly in the upper tier of graphics hardware.

Q: Is there a significant performance gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: Yes, the gap is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 276.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 133.7 FPS. This represents a drop of over half the frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest settings.

Q: Does the RTX 4070 have a direct competitor with nearly identical benchmark scores?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA Tesla P4 has an average score of 37628, which is only 0.1% different from the RTX 4070’s 37648. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is also close, with a score of 37507 and a 0.4% delta.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i3-12100F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in Minimum. The GPU is overwhelmingly the dominant factor in determining frame rates, as evidenced by the dramatic scaling between presets at any given resolution. For instance, at 4K, moving from Low to Ultra settings drops the average FPS from 96.9 to 44.8, a change of 52.1 FPS. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where pixel throughput and shading complexity are the primary bottlenecks.

The CPU’s role appears more supportive, as the 4-core/8-thread Alder Lake chip provides enough processing power to feed the GPU at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the RTX 4070 is able to push frame rates to extremely high levels, such as 276.5 FPS on Low settings, which suggests the CPU is not limiting the graphics card at these lower loads. However, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows a predictable reduction in FPS for each preset, which is typical of a system where the GPU becomes progressively more strained as resolution increases.

The data indicates that the RTX 4070’s performance headroom is vast, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. The CPU, while not the star of the show, is demonstrably adequate for maintaining high frame rates without introducing a noticeable bottleneck at the tested settings. The fact that the i3-12100F scores in the 68th percentile for all CPUs reinforces that it is a capable mid-range processor, but the RTX 4070’s 81st percentile ranking highlights that the GPU is the higher-performing component in this pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the RTX 4070 delivers a playable experience on most presets. The Low preset produces an average of 96.9 FPS, which provides a very smooth experience. Medium settings see a drop to 74.5 FPS, still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 60.7 FPS, which is right at the playable line and is designated as the best playable setting. The Ultra preset is the only one that falls below the threshold, averaging 44.8 FPS, which would result in noticeable stutter and a less fluid experience.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance is excellent across the board. The Low preset hits an average of 181.2 FPS, while Medium averages 135 FPS. High settings produce 114.8 FPS, and even the demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 91 FPS. All four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, making 1440p a resolution where users can freely select any quality level without worrying about playability. The Ultra preset is listed as the best setting, offering a high-fidelity experience at a frame rate that is more than adequate for a third-person shooter.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo delivers exceptional performance, with all presets exceeding 130 FPS. The Low preset produces the highest average at 276.5 FPS, which is an extremely high refresh rate that would benefit a high-Hz monitor. Medium settings average 212.8 FPS, and High settings average 178 FPS. The Ultra preset still manages a very strong 133.7 FPS, which is more than double the playable threshold. This resolution is clearly where the RTX 4070 is least challenged, allowing the GPU to operate at its maximum potential.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Minimum exceptionally well. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, the High, Medium, and Low presets all clear the 60 FPS playable threshold, with High being the recommended best setting at 60.7 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at 4K due to its 44.8 FPS average.

At 2560x1440, the system is fully capable of running the game at any setting, including Ultra, which averages 91 FPS. This makes 1440p the sweet spot for this combo, as users can enjoy maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. At 1920x1080, the system is equally capable, with the Ultra preset averaging 133.7 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience even on high-refresh-rate displays.

In summary, this configuration is more than sufficient to play Minimum at high frame rates. The only scenario where it fails to hit the 60 FPS target is at 4K with the Ultra preset, which is an expected outcome for even high-end hardware. For all other combinations of resolution and settings, the system delivers a playable and often exceptional performance level.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the benchmark data shows that the Intel Core 3 N355 (avg score 13492) behaves almost identically to the i3-12100F, with a 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 (avg score 13452) is also a very close match, being just 0.3% slower. The Intel Core 5 120UL (avg score 13594) is the fastest of the listed rivals, being 0.7% quicker, while the Intel Core i7-1250U (avg score 13351) is 1.1% slower. These CPUs would provide a similar level of processing performance in Minimum, meaning the GPU would likely still be the limiting factor in most scenarios.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (avg score 37628) is the closest match, with a delta of 0.1% from the RTX 4070. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (avg score 37507) is also nearly identical, at 0.4% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (avg score 38135) is 1.3% faster, while the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (avg score 37157) is 1.3% slower. Users with any of these GPUs could expect frame rates in Minimum that are very similar to those measured for the RTX 4070, assuming the CPU is not a bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination is ranked 987th out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the top 26.6% of all tested hardware pairings. Given that the RTX 4070 is a high-end GPU and the i3-12100F is a budget-oriented CPU, this rank reflects the fact that the GPU’s raw power is the primary driver of performance in this game.

The rank suggests that while this is not a top-tier configuration, it significantly outperforms the majority of systems in the database. The data indicates that the pairing is well-balanced for Minimum, as the CPU is sufficiently strong to allow the GPU to operate at high utilization. The 987th rank is a strong result, confirming that this combo delivers a high level of performance that is suitable for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate gaming in this title.