Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver, an adventure title released on 2023-06-27, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling due to its relatively modest graphical demands. The measured data for the combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 shows exceptional performance across all tested settings and resolutions, making it a top-tier option for this game. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is overkill for achieving maximum frame rates, yet the data reveals specific nuances about how the game scales with different graphical presets and resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy for the four tested presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. Across all resolutions, the performance delta between Low and Ultra is substantial, but the absolute frame rates remain so high that the choice of preset should be driven by visual quality preferences rather than a need for more performance. At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces 391 FPS, Medium 342 FPS, High 305 FPS, and Ultra 269 FPS. This represents a 31% reduction in frame rate from Low to Ultra, but the Ultra preset still delivers a very high 269 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the scaling pattern remains consistent: Low yields 307 FPS, Medium 257 FPS, High 230 FPS, and Ultra 203 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 34%, which is slightly more pronounced than at 1080p. At 3840x2160, the data shows Low at 206 FPS, Medium at 172 FPS, High at 154 FPS, and Ultra at 136 FPS. The performance penalty for Ultra over Low at 4K is 34%, again showing a consistent scaling behavior.

Given that even the most demanding preset at the highest resolution produces an average of 136 FPS, the data suggests that the Ultra preset is the recommended choice for the best experience. The frame rate remains far above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the visual improvements from higher settings are typically substantial in an adventure game with detailed environments. The Medium preset, which records a minimum FPS of 146 at 4K, also offers a safe margin for those who prioritize frame rate consistency, but the Ultra preset's 136 FPS average does not present any risk of dropping into problematic territory. The data shows no reason to compromise on visual fidelity; the hardware combination is powerful enough to run the game at its highest settings with excellent performance at any resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the primary driver of the frame rates observed in this test. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory over a 256-bit bus provides 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for a game like Dave The Diver. The GPU's 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, combined with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, deliver the raw compute power necessary for the high frame rates seen in the data. The GPU's average benchmark score of 54247 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209, a delta of just 0.1%. This indicates the RTX 4080 is performing at the very top of its class, effectively matching the newer SUPER variant.

The GPU's memory configuration is particularly relevant for higher resolutions. At 3840x2160, the frame rates remain high, with the Ultra preset achieving 136 FPS. This suggests that the 16 GB VRAM capacity is not a bottleneck, as the game's textures and assets at 4K are easily accommodated. The memory clock of 1400 MHz, translating to 22.4 Gbps effective, ensures that the GPU can feed its processing units without stalling. The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor when moving from 1080p to 4K, as the FPS drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count, but the absolute performance is so high that the game remains exceptionally playable at all times. The GPU's pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s are more than adequate for this title's visual complexity.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination at 2560x1440 with High settings is 230 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset at 4K compare to the Low preset at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 achieves an average of 136 FPS, while the Low preset at 1920x1080 achieves 391 FPS. This represents a 65% reduction in frame rate when moving from the most performance-friendly configuration to the most demanding one.

Q: Does the game ever drop below 100 FPS in any tested configuration?

A: No. The lowest average FPS recorded in the entire dataset is 136 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 146 FPS, observed at 3840x2160 with Medium settings.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Medium and High presets at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 342 FPS, while the High preset averages 305 FPS. This is a 10.8% reduction in performance when moving from Medium to High.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 significantly faster than its closest competitor in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The nearest rival for the RTX 4080 is the RTX 4080 SUPER, with an average benchmark score of 54209 compared to 54247. The delta is just 0.1%, indicating virtually identical synthetic performance.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 307 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 203 FPS. The Low preset is 51% faster than Ultra in this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination ranks 271st out of 3710 tested combos for Dave The Diver. This places it in the top 7.3% of all configurations tested for this game, a strong result that underscores the high performance of both components. While the rank is not the absolute top, the measured FPS data suggests that the combos ranked above it are likely utilizing even more powerful GPUs or CPUs, though the practical difference in frame rates would be negligible given the already extreme performance levels.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 83rd among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32279, places it in the upper echelon of processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (score 32233, delta 0.1%), Intel Core i9-11900 (score 32226, delta 0.2%), and AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (score 32354, delta -0.2%). These small deltas indicate that the i5-14400F is performing exactly in line with its expected bracket. Similarly, the GPU's 86th percentile ranking and its proximity to the RTX 4080 SUPER in synthetic tests confirm that this combo is leveraging top-tier hardware. The rank of 271 out of 3710 is therefore a reflection of the hardware's capability, and the actual in-game results are exceptional, with no configuration dipping below 136 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and predictable pattern of frame rate scaling as resolution increases. From 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS across all settings drops by approximately 24-25%. For example, High settings go from 305 FPS to 230 FPS, and Ultra goes from 269 FPS to 203 FPS. This is consistent with the 1.78x increase in pixel count between these resolutions.

Scaling from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 results in a more significant drop, around 33-34% for each setting. The High preset drops from 230 FPS to 154 FPS, and Ultra drops from 203 FPS to 136 FPS. The pixel count increases by 2.25x from 1440p to 4K, which explains the larger performance hit. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU must render more pixels.

The fact that the frame rates remain extremely high even at 4K, with the lowest average being 136 FPS, demonstrates that the RTX 4080 is not being stressed to its breaking point. The game's art style and graphical complexity are not as demanding as other AAA titles in the database, allowing this high-end GPU to easily maintain fluid performance. The scaling pattern suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution, as the FPS drops are proportional to the pixel count increase, which is a GPU-bound behavior.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4080 and i5-14400F deliver outstanding results. The Low preset averages 391 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 342 FPS, with a minimum of 290 FPS and a maximum of 393 FPS. High settings produce 305 FPS on average, and Ultra settings yield 269 FPS. The spread between the lowest and highest preset is 122 FPS, showing the impact of graphical fidelity on performance.

At 2560x1440, performance remains exceptionally high. The Low preset achieves 307 FPS, Medium 257 FPS (min 219, max 296), High 230 FPS, and Ultra 203 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 104 FPS. This resolution is often considered a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming, and the data shows that this combo can easily drive a 240Hz monitor even at Ultra settings.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are lower but still impressive. Low settings average 206 FPS, Medium 172 FPS (min 146, max 198), High 154 FPS, and Ultra 136 FPS. The spread here is 70 FPS. Even the most demanding configuration, Ultra at 4K, maintains an average of 136 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard. The minimum FPS recorded at 4K is 146 FPS on Medium settings, showing that the game runs consistently without major frame time spikes. The data across all resolutions confirms that this hardware combination provides a flawless experience in Dave The Diver, with no performance concerns at any setting.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F plays a supporting but critical role in these results. With 10 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, the CPU provides ample processing power for game logic and frame generation. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core help reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for maintaining consistent frame times. The CPU's Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process, and its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory give it flexibility, though the game's performance is not limited by memory bandwidth in these tests.

The CPU's synthetic benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055. Its Passmark multithread score of 25470 and single-thread score of 3701 further validate its capability. The CPU's average benchmark score of 32279 places it in the 83rd percentile, and its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and Intel Core i9-11900, with deltas of 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. This indicates the i5-14400F is a well-balanced processor.

In the context of Dave The Diver, the CPU is not the bottleneck. The evidence for this is the resolution scaling pattern; the FPS drops are directly proportional to the increase in pixel count, which is a characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios. If the CPU were a limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions or show a less pronounced drop at 4K. The fact that the 4K results are substantially lower than the 1080p results, while still being very high, confirms that the RTX 4080 is the component doing the heavy lifting at higher resolutions. The CPU's high boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures that it can keep up with the GPU's frame generation, providing a smooth and consistent experience across all tested settings.