Dave The Diver

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 pairing in Dave The Diver presents a study in how a modestly positioned CPU and an older-generation GPU interact within a 2D adventure title. The measured frame rates are consistently high, yet the scaling patterns between resolutions and settings reveal distinct bottlenecks that shift depending on the workload. This analysis breaks down the measured data to understand where the performance ceiling lies and what the numbers imply about each component's contribution.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 shows a clear, expected decline, but the magnitude of that drop tells the real story. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 196 FPS at 1080p to 147 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 99 FPS at 4K. That represents a 25% reduction when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 33% reduction when stepping up to 4K. The total loss from 1080p to 4K is roughly half the original frame rate, which strongly suggests the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The Low settings data reinforces this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the system produces 262 FPS, which drops to 197 FPS at 1440p and 132 FPS at 4K. The absolute numbers are higher, but the percentage drops are similar: about 25% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 33% to 4K. This consistent pattern across different settings indicates that resolution scaling is governed by the same component, almost certainly the GPU's rendering throughput rather than any CPU-side constraint.

When examining the Medium settings, which include min and max FPS data, the frame pacing at 4K shows a spread from 94 FPS to 127 FPS, with an average of 111 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 140 to 190 FPS, averaging 165 FPS. The relative consistency of these ranges—roughly a 30% variance between min and max—suggests that the frame time spikes are not severe, even at 4K. This points to a stable experience where the GPU is working hard but not overwhelmed, as there are no catastrophic dips that would indicate a memory or bandwidth crisis.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU may start to play a more significant role, given that frame rates exceed 250 FPS in Low settings. At such high frame rates, the CPU's ability to feed draw calls becomes relevant, but the fact that the 7400F still manages 262 FPS average suggests it is not a hard bottleneck here. The resolution scaling curve is smooth and predictable, which is typical for a game where the graphical load scales linearly with pixel count, and the limiting component shifts decisively toward the RTX 3070 as resolution increases.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Zen 4 Raphael family, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. In Dave The Diver, a game that is not typically CPU-intensive due to its 2D nature, the CPU's role is to maintain high frame rates without becoming a limiting factor, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom.

The benchmark data for the 7400F shows strong multi-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21765 and a single-core score of 3072. These numbers place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a capable performer. However, its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the Intel Core i5-14600T and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, with delta percentages of 0.1% and -0.2% respectively. This means the 7400F is essentially performance-equivalent to those chips in synthetic tests, but those scores do not directly translate to gaming performance in a title like Dave The Diver.

Given the measured FPS, the CPU appears to have ample headroom. At 1080p Low, the system hits 262 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate that the CPU must be processing game logic and draw calls quickly. The fact that the frame rate increases from 196 FPS at 1080p High to 262 FPS at 1080p Low indicates that the CPU is not the sole bottleneck; otherwise, lowering settings would not yield such a significant gain. The CPU is likely contributing to the overall performance but is not the limiting factor at any resolution, as evidenced by the smooth scaling pattern.

The 7400F's 12 threads and 32 MB of L3 cache are sufficient for this game's demands. The data suggests that the CPU's role is to provide a stable foundation, allowing the GPU to be the primary driver of frame rate changes across settings and resolutions. The processor's percentile ranking and benchmark scores confirm it is a mid-to-high-tier chip, but in Dave The Diver, its performance is more than adequate, and the bottleneck clearly resides elsewhere.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is an Ampere-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1725 MHz, and it features 5888 shading units, 184 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. In Dave The Diver, the GPU's role is to handle the rendering load, and the resolution scaling data clearly shows that it is the dominant factor in determining frame rates at higher settings.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (0.7% faster) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (1% faster). This indicates that the RTX 3070 is a solid mid-range performer, but it is not a top-tier card. In Dave The Diver, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is likely sufficient for the game's textures and effects, even at 4K, as the measured FPS does not show signs of VRAM-related stuttering or severe frame drops.

The GPU's performance scaling is evident in the settings comparison. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 132 at Low to 87 at Ultra, a 34% difference. At 1440p, the range is 197 at Low to 130 at Ultra, a similar 34% drop. At 1080p, the range is 262 at Low to 173 at Ultra, a 34% reduction as well. This consistent percentage drop across resolutions indicates that the GPU is the primary scaling factor when adjusting settings, which is expected for a graphics-bound workload.

The RTX 3070's 448 GB/s memory bandwidth appears to be adequate for this game, as the frame times at 4K Medium (94-127 FPS) are stable without major dips. The GPU's 20.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance provides enough compute power for the game's shaders and effects. The data implies that the RTX 3070 is well-suited for Dave The Diver at high refresh rates, but at 4K Ultra, it begins to show its limits, dropping below 90 FPS. The GPU is clearly the component that determines the performance ceiling at higher resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 5 7400F and RTX 3070 ranks 1184 out of 2867 tested combos in Dave The Diver. This places it in the 41st percentile of all combinations, which is a relatively mid-pack position. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the high absolute frame rates measured, but it likely reflects the fact that many other combos with more powerful GPUs or CPUs achieve even higher frame rates in this less demanding title.

The ranking indicates that while this combo performs well in absolute terms, it is not near the top of the leaderboard. The data shows that the combo is capable of 4K High at 99 FPS, which is excellent for most users, but the ranking suggests that there are many other configurations that can push frame rates higher, particularly at 1080p where the CPU might be a more significant factor. The combo's position in the middle of the pack is consistent with the RTX 3070's 61st percentile GPU ranking and the 7400F's 83rd percentile CPU ranking, meaning the GPU is the more limiting component.

The ranking also implies that the combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it achieves 147 FPS at High settings. This is a strong result, but the ranking shows that other combos with newer GPUs or higher-end CPUs can achieve better performance. The data suggests that this combo is a capable 1080p and 1440p performer, but at 4K, it falls into the mid-range category, which is reflected in its rank. The 1184th position out of 2867 combos means it is roughly in the top 41% of all tested configurations, which is a respectable but not outstanding result.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 147 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data shows a significant FPS drop from 1440p to 4K across all settings, indicating the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K. For example, at High settings, FPS drops from 147 at 1440p to 99 at 4K.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, while its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, has a score of 17083, making the RTX 3070 0.7% faster.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 262 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Does the combo maintain stable frame times at 4K Medium?

A: At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 111, with a minimum of 94 and a maximum of 127, indicating a stable frame pacing with a 30% variance.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 1184th out of 2867 tested combinations, placing it in the 41st percentile of all combos.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K gaming, High settings at 99 FPS provides a smooth experience, while Medium at 111 FPS offers a slight boost in frame rate with only a minor visual trade-off. Ultra at 87 FPS is playable but begins to push the lower limit for high-refresh-rate displays, so High or Medium is recommended for 4K.

At 1440p, High settings at 147 FPS is ideal for 144Hz monitors, delivering a fluid experience. Medium settings at 165 FPS is also excellent and offers a higher frame rate with minimal visual difference. Low settings at 197 FPS is unnecessary for most users, as the visual quality reduction is not worth the extra frames. Ultra at 130 FPS is playable but offers no significant advantage over High.

For 1080p, the combo is more than capable of handling any setting. High at 196 FPS provides excellent visual quality and high frame rates, while Medium at 220 FPS is a great choice for competitive play. Low at 262 FPS is overkill for most displays, and Ultra at 173 FPS is still smooth but does not provide a meaningful visual improvement over High. For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, High settings at 1080p or 1440p is recommended, as it provides a consistently high frame rate without sacrificing image quality.

The data shows that the difference between High and Ultra is relatively small in terms of FPS impact, but the visual gains are likely minimal in a 2D game. Medium settings offer a good middle ground, especially at 4K, where the frame rate boost from 99 to 111 FPS is noticeable. The recommendation is to prioritize High settings for the best overall experience, with Medium as a viable alternative for higher frame rates at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 in Dave The Diver is as follows:

At 1920x1080:

• Low: Average 262 FPS
• Medium: Average 220 FPS, minimum 187 FPS, maximum 252 FPS
• High: Average 196 FPS
• Ultra: Average 173 FPS

At 2560x1440:

• Low: Average 197 FPS
• Medium: Average 165 FPS, minimum 140 FPS, maximum 190 FPS
• High: Average 147 FPS
• Ultra: Average 130 FPS

At 3840x2160:

• Low: Average 132 FPS
• Medium: Average 111 FPS, minimum 94 FPS, maximum 127 FPS
• High: Average 99 FPS
• Ultra: Average 87 FPS

These numbers show a clear hierarchy: higher resolutions and settings consistently reduce average FPS. The Medium settings rows provide the only min/max data, revealing that the frame rate variance is roughly 30% across all resolutions, indicating stable performance. The data confirms that this combo can handle 4K at playable frame rates, but it excels at 1440p and 1080p, where it easily surpasses 100 FPS on High settings. The scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent 34% performance drop, highlighting the GPU's dominance in determining frame rates.