Dave The Diver

# Dave The Diver — Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 delivers exceptional performance in Dave The Diver, with the data showing frame rates that will satisfy even the most demanding display setups. At 1080p High settings, this combo produces 316 FPS average, while at 4K Ultra it still maintains 141 FPS average, indicating a system that handles the game's adventure gameplay with substantial headroom across all tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution increases, but the frame rates remain remarkably high throughout. Starting at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 420 FPS average, which drops to 279 FPS at Ultra settings — a 33.6% reduction from Low to Ultra at the same resolution. This suggests the game is highly responsive to settings changes at 1080p, with the GPU having ample resources to spare.

Moving to 2560x1440, the scaling shows a predictable shift. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 316 at 1080p to 238 at 1440p — a 24.7% decrease. The Ultra preset at 1440p delivers 210 FPS, which is still far above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors. The Medium preset at 1440p shows 266 FPS average with a minimum of 227 FPS and maximum of 306 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing even during busy underwater sequences.

At 3840x2160, the performance scaling becomes more pronounced. The High preset delivers 159 FPS average, while Low settings reach 213 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K produces 141 FPS average. The gap between 1080p High (316 FPS) and 4K High (159 FPS) represents a 49.7% drop, which is substantial but expected given the four-fold increase in pixel count. Notably, the 4K Medium preset shows 179 FPS average with a minimum of 152 FPS and maximum of 205 FPS, demonstrating that even at 4K, the system maintains playable frame rates across all settings.

The data suggests that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the frame rates exceed 400 FPS on Low settings, which likely approaches the CPU's capability ceiling in this game. The Intel Core i7-12700KF, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, provides strong single-thread performance as indicated by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 1043 and cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 4071. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU becomes the primary constraint, as the RTX 5080's 56.28 TFLOPS FP32 compute is taxed by the higher pixel workload.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 ranks 188th out of 3710 tested combos in Dave The Diver, placing it in the top 5.1% of all configurations tested. This percentile ranking reflects the strength of both components working together in this specific game title.

The CPU component of this combo performs admirably in isolation. The i7-12700KF achieves an average benchmark score of 35365, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs tested. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, scores 35403 with a deltaPct of -0.1%, meaning the 12700KF is essentially tied with that chip. Similarly, the Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305 with a deltaPct of 0.2%, showing the 12700KF is virtually indistinguishable from these competitors in overall CPU performance. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428 with a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35287 with a 0.2% delta — all four rivals fall within a 0.4% band of the 12700KF's average score.

The GPU side shows similar competitiveness. The RTX 5080 achieves an average benchmark score of 56083, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs tested. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 8060S, scores 55757 with a deltaPct of 0.6%, meaning the RTX 5080 holds a slight edge. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698 with a 0.7% delta, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828 with a 2.3% delta. Only the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores higher at 57367, with a -2.2% delta indicating the RTX 5080 trails that part by 2.2%.

The combination's rank of 188 out of 3710 suggests that while both components are individually strong, there are 187 other combos that achieve better performance in Dave The Diver specifically. This is likely due to newer CPU options or more optimized pairings, but the 12700KF + RTX 5080 combination remains firmly in the upper echelon of tested configurations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the dominant performance driver in this combo, particularly at higher resolutions where its 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 960.0 GB/s bandwidth come into play. The GPU's 256-bit memory bus and 10752 shading units provide substantial compute throughput, evidenced by its 56.28 TFLOPS FP32 performance.

The memory configuration is particularly relevant for Dave The Diver's 4K performance. The 16 GB VRAM capacity ensures that texture-heavy underwater environments do not cause memory pressure, even at Ultra settings where the game's art style benefits from higher resolution assets. The GDDR7 memory operates at 1875 MHz with 30 Gbps effective speed, delivering the 960.0 GB/s bandwidth that keeps the 84 RT cores and 336 tensor cores fed with data.

Clock speeds play a role in the scaling behavior observed. The base clock of 2295 MHz and boost clock of 2617 MHz allow the GPU to maintain high utilization across all tested settings. The 4K performance drop from 213 FPS on Low to 141 FPS on Ultra — a 33.8% reduction — reflects the GPU's workload scaling with increased graphical fidelity. The RTX 5080's pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s provide the fill rates necessary to maintain these frame rates.

The GPU's benchmark results corroborate its gaming performance. The 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 8637 indicates strong DirectX 12 performance, while the geekbench_opencl score of 235901 and geekbench_vulkan score of 255450 show robust compute capabilities. The passmark_g3d score of 36565 places the GPU in the 87th percentile of all GPUs, and its passmark_gpu_compute score of 21789 reflects solid parallel processing performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Dave The Diver with this combo?

A: The data shows excellent performance at all resolutions. At 1440p High settings, the combo delivers 238 FPS average, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 4K High, it still achieves 159 FPS average, so players with 4K displays can enjoy smooth gameplay without compromising on quality.

Q: How does the RTX 5080 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5080's average benchmark score of 56083 slightly exceeds the AMD Radeon 8060S (55757, +0.6% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55698, +0.7% delta). It trails the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (57367) by 2.2%, but outperforms the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54828) by 2.3%.

Q: Will this combo bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 420 FPS average, which is extremely high. The CPU's single-thread performance (3dmark_single_thread score of 1043) and multi-thread capability (3dmark_max_threads score of 9983) suggest the i7-12700KF can keep up with the GPU's output at this resolution, though frame rates this high may exceed display refresh rates.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only Minimum FPS values provided are for the Medium preset across all three resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 301 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 227 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 152 FPS. These minimums indicate consistent frame delivery without significant stuttering.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-12700KF's average benchmark score of 35365 is nearly identical to its closest competitors. It is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-13700T (35403), 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13600T (35305), 0.2% behind the Intel Core 5 213PE (35428), and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12700K (35287).

Q: Does the game benefit more from GPU or CPU performance at 4K?

A: The data suggests the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at 4K. The frame rate difference between 4K Low (213 FPS) and 4K Ultra (141 FPS) is 33.8%, while the difference between 1080p Low (420 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (279 FPS) is also 33.6%. This similar scaling across resolutions indicates the GPU is the dominant factor in settings-based performance changes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF provides the processing foundation for this combo, with 12 cores and 20 threads running at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This Alder Lake architecture CPU, built on Intel's 10 nm process, delivers strong multi-threaded performance that supports the game's simulation and AI elements.

The CPU's benchmark results show balanced capabilities. The cinebench_r23_multicore score of 28838 highlights strong multi-threaded performance, while the single-core score of 4071 indicates excellent single-thread responsiveness. The geekbench_multicore score of 14367 and single-core score of 2255 reinforce this profile. The 3dmark results show scaling from 2065 in the 2-thread test to 9983 in the max-thread test, demonstrating effective use of additional cores as workloads increase.

In Dave The Diver, the CPU's role is most apparent at lower resolutions where frame rates are extremely high. At 1080p Low, the 420 FPS average suggests the game's logic and physics calculations are being processed quickly enough to feed the GPU's output. The CPU's 25 MB shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide fast access to game data, while the 80 KB per-core L1 cache handles immediate instruction needs.

The CPU's performance relative to its peers is remarkably tight. All four nearest rivals — the Intel Core i7-13700T, Intel Core i5-13600T, Intel Core 5 213PE, and Intel Core i7-12700K — score within 0.2% of the 12700KF's average. This indicates that the 12th Gen Core i7 remains competitive with newer and lower-power variants, making it a solid choice for this game combination.

The CPU's 125 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility make it a practical choice for builders, with the unlocked multiplier allowing for overclocking headroom if needed. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 9282 versus the max_threads score of 9983 shows that the CPU scales well up to 16 threads and continues to gain performance beyond that, which benefits games that utilize multiple threads for background tasks.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset delivers the best experience at each resolution. For players with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, the Ultra preset at 279 FPS average offers the full visual experience while still maintaining frame rates far above typical 144Hz displays. The Medium preset at 354 FPS provides additional headroom but sacrifices some visual fidelity for marginal practical benefit at this resolution.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 238 FPS average, which is ideal for 240Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 210 FPS remains excellent for 144Hz displays and provides the best visual quality. Players with 165Hz or 170Hz monitors can confidently select Ultra and still see frame rates above their display's refresh rate. The Medium preset at 266 FPS offers a middle ground for those who prioritize maximum smoothness over visual quality.

For 4K displays, the High preset at 159 FPS average is the recommended starting point, as it provides smooth gameplay on 144Hz displays while maintaining high visual quality. The Medium preset at 179 FPS with a minimum of 152 FPS offers additional headroom for VRR displays and is the best choice for maintaining consistent frame delivery. The Ultra preset at 141 FPS is viable for 120Hz displays, though the 12.7% drop from High to Ultra may not justify the visual gains for all players.

The data indicates that the Medium preset consistently provides the most balanced experience across all resolutions, with minimum FPS values of 301 at 1080p, 227 at 1440p, and 152 at 4K. These minimums are all comfortably above 144 FPS at 1080p and 1440p, and above 120 FPS at 4K, ensuring smooth gameplay even during intense underwater sequences with multiple characters and environmental effects on screen.

For players who prioritize maximum visual fidelity, the Ultra preset is the best choice at 1080p (279 FPS) and 1440p (210 FPS), where frame rates remain exceptionally high. At 4K, the High preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance, providing 159 FPS average with no recorded minimum below playable levels. The Low preset provides the highest frame rates at each resolution — 420 FPS at 1080p, 318 FPS at 1440p, and 213 FPS at 4K — but the visual compromises are significant for a game with Dave The Diver's art style.