Allods Online

Allods Online, a 2010 MMORPG, is not the typical stress test for a modern flagship GPU. Yet the measured data for the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combo reveals a fascinating bottleneck dynamic. The 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake processor is paired with the 24 GB Ada Lovelace behemoth, and the results are dictated by how this CPU's single-thread strength interacts with the game's engine limits. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) to show exactly where each component shines and where the pairing becomes lopsided.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz are key to its performance. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 893 in the 3dmark_single_thread test and 1681 in cinebench_r23_singlecore, indicating robust per-core capability. This is crucial for Allods Online, an older MMORPG that often relies heavily on one or two primary threads for game logic and rendering calls.

The data suggests this single-thread performance is the primary driver of the FPS ceiling. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo hits 235.6 FPS, but this is the highest average recorded across all configurations. The CPU's 3dmark_4_threads score of 2859 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 4023 show that while it has some multi-threading headroom, the performance scaling is not linear. The 3dmark_8_threads score of 4026 is nearly identical to the max threads score, implying that the processor's 8 threads are fully utilized but additional workload doesn't yield significant gains.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i3-12100F holds its ground. It is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX in average benchmark score, and 1.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K. This suggests that for this game's CPU-bound scenarios, the i3-12100F's fast cores are more relevant than the Threadripper's massive core count, which would likely sit idle. The CPU's percentile rank of 72 against all CPUs places it well above the median, but it is the nature of the workload that matters more than the raw average. In a game like Allods Online, the boost clock of 4.30 GHz is likely the most critical factor, as it allows the primary game thread to execute quickly, preventing the GPU from idling in lower-resolution, higher-FPS scenarios.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a monster of a graphics card, built on the 5 nm Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD102 chip. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a massive 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock is 2520 MHz, and it contains 16384 shading units. The passmark_g3d score of 38194 and a percentile rank of 91 against all GPUs confirm its top-tier status. In this pairing, the GPU is clearly the more powerful component on paper.

However, the measured FPS reveals that the RTX 4090 is often not the limiting factor. At 1080p Ultra, the combo produces 153.3 FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 53.9 FPS. The GPU's memory bandwidth becomes increasingly important as resolution scales, but the sheer pixel throughput required at 4K is where the GPU's workload truly begins to show. The 24 GB VRAM is never a concern in this test, as Allods Online is not a VRAM-heavy title. The GPU's passmark_directx_11 score of 326 and directx_12 score of 150 are low compared to its g3d score, indicating that the GPU is vastly overqualified for the DirectX 11 workload this game likely uses. The data implies that the RTX 4090 is being held back by the CPU in most scenarios, and it only starts to stretch its legs at 4K resolution where the pixel count becomes the dominant challenge.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is the clearest indicator of the system's bottleneck. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 235.6 at 1080p to 204.7 at 1440p (a 13.1% drop) and then to 166.8 at 4K (an 18.5% drop from 1440p). This is a relatively mild decline, suggesting that the CPU is the primary constraint. The engine cannot push more frames even when the GPU has plenty of headroom.

At High settings, the drop is more pronounced: 181.5 FPS at 1080p falls to 154.6 at 1440p (a 14.8% drop) and then to 80.5 at 4K (a 47.9% drop from 1440p). This dramatic fall at 4K indicates that the GPU is finally becoming the limiting factor as the resolution increases. The gap between Low and High settings at 4K is 86.3 FPS, which is much larger than the 54.1 FPS gap at 1080p. This confirms that at 4K, the RTX 4090's rendering capabilities are being taxed, while at 1080p, the CPU's single-thread speed is the wall. The scaling pattern suggests a classic two-tier bottleneck: CPU-bound at 1080p and 1440p, transitioning to GPU-bound at 4K, especially with higher visual fidelity settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo ranks 156th out of 1715 tested combinations in Allods Online. This is a strong result, placing it in the top 9.1% of all systems tested. However, this rank is lower than one might expect for an RTX 4090, which is the fastest consumer GPU available. The rank reflects the CPU's limitations in this specific title.

If the RTX 4090 were paired with a more powerful CPU, the rank would likely be higher. The data shows that the i3-12100F is the bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p, preventing the GPU from reaching its maximum potential. The 156th rank reflects the CPU's single-thread strength, but it also highlights the mismatch. A system with a weaker GPU but a stronger CPU could potentially achieve a higher rank in this game, as the CPU is the limiting factor in the most common resolutions. The rank of 156 in a pool of 1715 indicates that this is a high-performance setup, but not the absolute top tier for this specific MMORPG.

FAQ

Q: Is the RTX 4090 being bottlenecked by the i3-12100F in Allods Online?

A: Yes, primarily at 1080p and 1440p. The FPS at 1080p High is 181.5, which is only 17.4% higher than 1440p High (154.6). This small difference indicates the CPU is limiting the frame rate, as the GPU has significant headroom at these resolutions.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for this combo?

A: The data shows the most balanced performance at 2560x1440. At High settings, it delivers 154.6 FPS, which is a substantial drop from 1080p's 181.5 but not as severe as the 80.5 FPS seen at 4K. This resolution provides a good balance between visual clarity and high refresh rate.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance affect the game?

A: The 3dmark_single_thread score of 893 is crucial. In an older MMORPG like Allods Online, the main game logic often runs on a single thread. A high single-thread score allows the CPU to process game state and issue draw calls faster, which is why the FPS is high at lower resolutions where the GPU isn't stressed.

Q: Is there a significant FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but it varies by resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (235.6 FPS) and Ultra (153.3 FPS) is 82.3 FPS. At 4K, the difference is even larger, with Low at 166.8 FPS and Ultra at 53.9 FPS, a 112.9 FPS gap. This shows that at 4K, the GPU is heavily impacted by the increased graphical load.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rival in terms of average score?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534). It is 0.6% higher than the Intel Core i3-10105 (13430) and 1.8% higher than the Intel Core i7-7700K (13280).

Q: Why is the FPS at 4K Ultra so much lower than at 4K Low?

A: At 4K Ultra, the GPU is the bottleneck. The RTX 4090's 24 GB of VRAM and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are sufficient, but the sheer pixel fill rate and shading complexity of Ultra settings cause the FPS to drop to 53.9. This is a 68.1% decrease from the 4K Low score of 166.8 FPS, indicating the GPU is working at its limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 153.3 at Ultra to 235.6 at Low. The Medium setting yields 216.5 FPS, and High yields 181.5 FPS. At 2560x1440, the scores are 98.9 (Ultra), 154.6 (High), 187.2 (Medium), and 204.7 (Low). At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops significantly: 53.9 (Ultra), 80.5 (High), 127.5 (Medium), and 166.8 (Low).

The pattern is clear: at 1080p, all settings are above 150 FPS, with Low and Medium exceeding 200 FPS. At 1440p, the Ultra setting falls below 100 FPS, while Low and Medium remain above 180 FPS. At 4K, only the Low setting manages to stay above 160 FPS, while Ultra is below 60 FPS. This data indicates that the CPU's limit is around 235 FPS, as even at 1080p Low, the frame rate does not exceed this figure. The GPU's limit is more fluid, but it clearly struggles with the Ultra preset at high resolutions.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For the best experience, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. It delivers 187.2 FPS, which is a 33.3% improvement over High (154.6 FPS) and a 89.2% improvement over Ultra (98.9 FPS). This setting provides a high refresh rate experience while maintaining decent visual quality. At 1080p, Medium at 216.5 FPS is excellent for competitive play, but the visual difference from High is minimal.

If a player prefers maximum visual fidelity, High at 2560x1440 (154.6 FPS) is recommended over Ultra, as the jump to Ultra costs 55.7 FPS (a 36% decrease) for what is likely a marginal visual gain in an older game. At 4K, only the Low preset (166.8 FPS) provides a playable, high-refresh-rate experience; Ultra at 53.9 FPS is not suitable for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that Medium is the most balanced preset, offering a significant FPS advantage over High and Ultra while still providing a better visual experience than Low. For this combo, targeting 1440p Medium or High is the optimal way to leverage the CPU's strength while giving the GPU enough work to avoid severe frame drops.