Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver, an adventure title released in 2023, presents an interesting case study in system scaling when paired with an Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. The measured data shows a combination that is exceptionally fast, ranking 116th out of 1626 tested combos, placing it in the top 7.1% of all configurations. The analysis reveals a system where the GPU is the dominant performance driver, yet the CPU’s capabilities create a ceiling that becomes apparent at lower resolutions and higher frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 4K down to 1080p clearly illustrates the relationship between the CPU and GPU in this configuration. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo delivers 138.1 FPS. Dropping to 2560x1440 Ultra increases performance to 202.7 FPS, a substantial 46.8% uplift. Moving further down to 1920x1080 Ultra yields 270.3 FPS, which is another 33.3% improvement over the 1440p result. This scaling pattern indicates that at 4K, the GPU is heavily utilized, and reducing the resolution provides immediate headroom for the graphics card to push more frames.

However, the scaling is not linear, and the data suggests a CPU bottleneck emerging at the lowest resolution. When comparing Low settings across resolutions, the jump from 1440p (302.7 FPS) to 1080p (364.8 FPS) is a 20.5% gain, which is still significant but less pronounced than the Ultra settings scaling. The 1080p Low result of 364.8 FPS represents the absolute peak observed in the dataset. This suggests that while the RTX 4080 SUPER is capable of rendering the scene at extremely high speeds, the Intel Core i5-12400’s six cores and twelve threads begin to limit the frame rate as the GPU workload lightens. The gap between 1080p Medium (339.7 FPS) and 1080p High (300.4 FPS) is also notable, showing that even modest settings changes at this resolution have a large impact, a sign that the system is operating near its CPU-imposed limits.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s overall rank of 116 out of 1626 tested configurations places it in the 92.9th percentile, an exceptional standing that reflects the raw power of the RTX 4080 SUPER. This ranking is logical given the GPU’s performance profile. The RTX 4080 SUPER holds an 88th percentile rank among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53610. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT at 53489 (deltaPct 0.2) and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M at 53414 (deltaPct 0.4), are separated by margins of less than half a percent, indicating a tight cluster of high-end graphics hardware.

The CPU’s contribution to this rank is more nuanced. The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700 (19831, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core i5-11600K (19771, deltaPct 0.4), showing that it sits in a competitive mid-range tier. While the CPU is not a top-tier performer, the data shows it is sufficient to feed the powerful GPU in most scenarios, allowing the combo to achieve a high overall ranking. The performance gap between this combo and the very top of the rankings is likely attributable to CPUs with higher single-thread performance, which would be more effective at avoiding the bottleneck observed at 1080p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the undisputed performance leader in this pairing. Its specifications are formidable: 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz. These specifications are directly reflected in the benchmark results, with the GPU achieving a Passmark G3D score of 34245 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6600.

The GPU’s role in this game is to provide the massive frame rates observed. At 4K Ultra, the 138.1 FPS result reflects its raw compute power, which comes from 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores. The 16 GB VRAM is more than ample for Dave The Diver’s art style, even at 4K, ensuring that texture streaming and memory bandwidth are not limiting factors. The data suggests that the GPU is the primary scaling component; as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, while at 1080p, its immense speed pushes the workload back onto the CPU. The GPU’s 88th percentile rank among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53610, reinforces its position as a top-tier component that can handle any modern title with ease.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers a range from 270.3 FPS (Ultra) to 364.8 FPS (Low). The High setting produces 300.4 FPS, while Medium yields 339.7 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 94.5 FPS, a 35% performance penalty for maximum visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the results scale down predictably. The Ultra setting averages 202.7 FPS, High averages 227 FPS, Medium averages 253.9 FPS, and Low averages 302.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra here is exactly 100 FPS, showing a consistent performance tier structure. The 1440p results are particularly impressive, as even the most demanding preset exceeds 200 FPS, making this resolution the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the system still delivers excellent performance. The Ultra preset averages 138.1 FPS, which is above the 120 FPS threshold for smooth high-refresh gaming. High settings improve this to 152 FPS, Medium to 170.8 FPS, and Low reaches 207.1 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K represents a 50% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the GPU is under significant load. Across all resolutions, the data shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 4080 SUPER provides a substantial performance buffer, ensuring that the game remains highly playable even at maximum settings and 4K resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high refresh rate?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the combo averages 202.7 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz or even 165Hz monitors. At 1920x1080 Ultra, it reaches 270.3 FPS, making it suitable for 240Hz displays, though the CPU begins to limit performance at this level.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at high frame rates?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400, with its 77th percentile ranking and average score of 19850, creates a bottleneck at 1920x1080. Evidence shows that the gap between 1080p Low (364.8 FPS) and 1440p Low (302.7 FPS) is a 20.5% gain, which is smaller than the scaling seen at higher resolutions, indicating the CPU limits the maximum achievable frame rate.

Q: Is the 16 GB VRAM on the RTX 4080 SUPER sufficient for this game?

A: Yes. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory, with a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s, is more than adequate for Dave The Diver, even at 4K Ultra settings. The lowest 4K result (138.1 FPS) shows no signs of memory-related performance degradation.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4080 SUPER and its closest rival?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 53610, while its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, scores 53489. This represents a deltaPct of 0.2, meaning the RTX 4080 SUPER is only 0.2% faster on average, a negligible difference in real-world gaming.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested configurations?

A: This specific combo ranks 116th out of 1626 tested combinations, placing it in the top 7.1% of all systems. This high ranking is primarily driven by the GPU’s 88th percentile performance, while the CPU’s 77th percentile ranking is a secondary factor.

Q: At what settings is the difference between 1440p and 4K most pronounced?

A: The most significant difference is at Ultra settings, where the 2560x1440 result (202.7 FPS) is 46.8% faster than the 3840x2160 result (138.1 FPS). This large delta indicates that the GPU is the main scaling factor at these higher resolutions.