Dave The Diver

# CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's benchmark results show a strong balance between single-thread and multi-thread performance: it scores 910 in 3dmark_single_thread, 1692 in 3dmark_2_threads, and 5890 in 3dmark_max_threads. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 2249 in single-core and 15935 in multi-core tests. This places the processor at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19850.

For Dave The Diver, an adventure game that emphasizes exploration and resource management rather than heavy simulation, the CPU's single-thread performance is the most relevant factor. The measured frame rates at 1080p Ultra reach 307 FPS average, which indicates that the processor is not a bottleneck even at high settings. The 3dmark_single_thread score of 910 suggests that the i5-12400 can handle the game's logic and physics calculations with substantial headroom. The multi-thread capabilities, while less critical for this title, still contribute to smooth background processing and scene loading. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700, has a nearly identical average score of 19831, representing a delta of just 0.1% — a statistical tie. The i5-12400 also edges out the Intel Core i5-11600K, which scores 19771, by 0.4%. These comparisons confirm that the i5-12400 delivers competitive performance in its class, though for this game the differences are negligible given the high frame rates already achieved.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data across three resolutions and four quality presets reveals that this combination — Intel Core i5-12400 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 — delivers exceptionally high performance at every setting. At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset yields an average of 154.6 FPS, which is already well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Dropping to High increases the average to 178.4 FPS, a 15.4% improvement, while Medium reaches 197.5 FPS, and Low tops out at 236.8 FPS. The data indicates that even at 4K Ultra, the experience is fluid, but for players prioritizing maximum frame rates, the Low preset provides a 53.2% uplift over Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the pattern continues with even higher numbers. Ultra averages 229.5 FPS, High reaches 265.4 FPS, Medium climbs to 296.7 FPS, and Low achieves 334 FPS. The gap between Ultra and Low is 45.5%, suggesting that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution. At 1920x1080, the results are near the upper limits of display refresh rates: Ultra averages 307 FPS, High hits 328.6 FPS, Medium reaches 342.8 FPS, and Low achieves 367.7 FPS. The relative differences shrink at 1080p, with only a 19.8% spread between Ultra and Low.

Given these measurements, the recommended preset depends on the display refresh rate. For 4K displays capped at 144 Hz, the High preset at 178.4 FPS offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, since the Ultra preset's 154.6 FPS still exceeds 144 Hz but with diminishing returns. For 1440p monitors with 240 Hz refresh rates, the Medium preset at 296.7 FPS is the optimal choice, as it provides a substantial visual upgrade over Low while maintaining frame rates above 240. At 1080p, the Ultra preset at 307 FPS is the clear winner, as it delivers maximum visual fidelity while still surpassing the refresh rates of most high-end monitors. The data shows that the Low preset is only necessary for players with extremely high refresh rate displays (360 Hz or above) at 1080p, where 367.7 FPS would be beneficial.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12400 perform in single-threaded tasks relevant to Dave The Diver?

A: The CPU scores 910 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2249 in Cinebench R23 single-core. These scores, combined with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, indicate strong per-core performance that supports the high frame rates measured in the game.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Ultra and Low settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 154.6 FPS, while the Low preset averages 236.8 FPS — a difference of 82.2 FPS, representing a 53.2% increase in performance when switching to Low.

Q: Can this combination maintain 60 FPS at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes, the measured 4K Ultra average of 154.6 FPS is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. Even the most demanding preset at the highest resolution provides substantial headroom.

Q: How does the i5-12400 compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, while the i7-9700 scores 19831, resulting in a delta of 0.1%. This places the two processors within a statistical tie for overall performance.

Q: What is the best preset for a 1440p 240 Hz monitor?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 averages 296.7 FPS, which exceeds 240 Hz. The High preset at 265.4 FPS also surpasses this threshold, but Medium offers a better balance if visual fidelity is less critical than frame rate stability.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate no significant bottleneck. At 1080p Ultra, the combination achieves 307 FPS, and the CPU's single-thread score of 910 suggests it can keep up with the GPU's output across all tested settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 41st out of 1626 tested combos in Dave The Diver. This places the system in the top 2.5% of all configurations tested for this game, a strong result given the CPU's mid-range positioning. The rank reflects the GPU's dominant role in this title, as the RTX 5090's massive compute resources drive the frame rates. The i5-12400, while not a top-tier processor, provides sufficient single-thread performance to avoid limiting the GPU.

The CPU's 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19850, suggests that it performs above the median but not at the extreme high end. However, in Dave The Diver, the game's relatively light CPU demands mean that the i5-12400's performance is more than adequate. The nearest rivals to the CPU — the Intel Core i7-9700 (delta 0.1%), Intel Core i7-8700 (delta -0.2%), AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (delta -0.4%), and Intel Core i5-11600K (delta 0.4%) — all fall within a narrow band of 0.8% total spread. This indicates that the i5-12400's performance class is tightly clustered, and any of these CPUs would likely produce similar results in this game.

Given the combo's rank of 41 out of 1626, the data shows that the RTX 5090 is the primary driver of this system's placement. The GPU's 94th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84306, confirms its elite status. The combination's position in the top 2.5% of tested combos underscores that the i5-12400 does not meaningfully detract from the overall experience, even at high resolutions and settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, using TSMC's 5 nm process with 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz with a boost clock of 2407 MHz, and memory clocked at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The card's compute capabilities are substantial: 21760 shading units, 680 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, yielding 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU scores 39650 in passmark_g3d and 14411 in 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12, placing it at the 94th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 84306.

In Dave The Diver, the RTX 5090's role is to render the game's 2D pixel-art style with high fidelity and exceptional frame rates. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is not challenged by this title, even at 4K Ultra where it averages 154.6 FPS. The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D (delta 0.1%), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile (delta 0.2%), AMD Radeon PRO W6600 (delta 1.3%), and NVIDIA CMP 40HX (delta -1.6%). The close deltas among these cards, particularly the 0.1% difference from the RTX 5090 D, indicate that the RTX 5090's performance is at the top of the GPU hierarchy.

The 32 GB VRAM capacity is far beyond what Dave The Diver requires, but it ensures that memory capacity is never a limiting factor at any resolution or setting. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures and effects without taxing the memory subsystem. The GPU's 94th percentile ranking confirms its position as a top-tier component, and the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (154.6 FPS) demonstrates that it can handle even the most demanding preset with room to spare. The combination of the RTX 5090's raw compute power and the game's moderate graphical demands results in frame rates that exceed the refresh rates of virtually all consumer displays.