Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver, an adventure title released in mid-2023, presents an interesting performance profile when paired with the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050. This combination sits at rank 1725 out of 2867 tested combos, placing it in the 60th percentile of all systems tested for this game. The data indicates a solid, above-median performer that should handle the game's demands without issue, though it is far from the top of the leaderboard. The benchmark results show a system that is well-balanced for this title, with the CPU's substantial core count complementing the GPU's modern architecture to deliver consistently high frame rates across various settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 achieves a combo rank of 1725 out of 2867 tested configurations in Dave The Diver. This places the system in the upper-middle tier of all tested hardware pairings, meaning it outperforms roughly 60% of the systems in the database for this specific game. The ranking suggests that while this is not an extreme high-end setup, it is more than capable of delivering a smooth experience in this particular adventure title.

The CPU itself is a strong contributor to this ranking. The Intel Core i7-14700F scores in the 91st percentile when compared to all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. Its nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmark charts include the Intel Xeon 6505P (scoring 53701, a delta of -0.2%), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (scoring 53469, a delta of 0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (scoring 53288, a delta of 0.6%). These extremely tight deltas, all within a single percentage point, indicate that the i7-14700F is performing at the very peak of its expected range for a processor of its class.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5050 holds a 66th percentile ranking among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rivals paint a picture of its standing: the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153 (delta of -0.6%), the AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237 (delta of -1%), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713 (delta of 1.6%). While the GPU is a solid performer, its percentile ranking is lower than the CPU's, suggesting that in this pairing, the graphics card is the more likely component to limit performance at higher resolutions and settings.

The rank of 1725 reflects the synergy of these two components. The data suggests that the 8 GB of VRAM and the Blackwell architecture of the RTX 5050 are sufficient for Dave The Diver's demands, but the system's overall position is determined by the GPU's mid-range standing. The benchmark results indicate that this is a configuration designed for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and very capable 1440p performance, rather than a 4K powerhouse.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a high-performing CPU relative to others?

A: Yes, the data places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. Its closest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, score 53288, which is a difference of only 0.6%, indicating it is at the top of its performance class.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its closest competitors?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035 and sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, scores 20713, which is 1.6% lower, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153, which is 0.6% higher. This shows the 5050 is competitively positioned in the mid-range segment.

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

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 116 FPS. At 1920x1080 with High settings, it reaches 154 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and performance, 1440p High is a strong choice, while 1080p offers higher frame rates for competitive play.

Q: How does the frame rate scale when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 154 FPS at 1920x1080 to 116 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 77 FPS at 3840x2160. This indicates a significant performance cost at 4K, where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rate across settings ranges from 68 FPS on Ultra to 104 FPS on Low. The relatively small difference between Low and Ultra settings (36 FPS) compared to the resolution scaling suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the CPU is powerful enough to feed the GPU.

Q: What are the key specifications of the CPU in this test?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It has 33 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, with a 65 W TDP.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Dave The Diver reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling across the three tested resolutions. At High settings, the system achieves an average of 154 FPS at 1920x1080, which drops to 116 FPS at 2560x1440, and further down to 77 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 25% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a 50% decrease from 1080p to 4K. These figures illustrate that the game becomes progressively more demanding as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. On Low settings, the average frame rates are 206 FPS at 1080p, 155 FPS at 1440p, and 104 FPS at 4K. Medium settings show 172 FPS, 129 FPS, and 87 FPS for the three resolutions, respectively. Ultra settings yield 136 FPS, 102 FPS, and 68 FPS. In every case, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant (around 25-30%), and the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced (around 33-35%).

This scaling pattern points to the GPU as the limiting component at higher resolutions. The RTX 5050, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth, is capable at 1080p and 1440p but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The CPU, which is a top-tier performer in its class, is unlikely to be the bottleneck even at 1080p with Low settings, where the system pushes 206 FPS. The data shows that the RTX 5050 is the primary constraint on performance as resolution increases, a typical characteristic for a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU.

The frame time data available for Medium settings further supports this analysis. At 3840x2160, the system reports a minimum FPS of 74 and a maximum of 100, with an average of 87. At 2560x1440, the range is 110 to 149 FPS (average 129), and at 1920x1080, it is 146 to 198 FPS (average 172). The wider spread between minimum and maximum FPS at lower resolutions suggests that the CPU is capable of delivering very high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering time at 4K constrains the overall performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings presets deliver playable frame rates, but the data suggests that High settings offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The system achieves 154 FPS on High, which is more than sufficient for a smooth experience, while Ultra settings only reduce the average to 136 FPS. The jump from Medium to High is only a 10% performance cost, making High the sweet spot for 1080p.

For 2560x1440, High settings remain the recommended choice. The average of 116 FPS is excellent for a 1440p experience, and the visual upgrade over Medium (129 FPS) is worth the 10% performance hit. Ultra settings at this resolution dip to 102 FPS, which is still playable, but the diminishing returns on visual quality may not justify the extra load. The data shows that 1440p High is the "best experience" tier for this system, offering high frame rates while taking advantage of the increased resolution.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The system can only achieve 77 FPS on High and 68 FPS on Ultra, which are on the edge of acceptable for a smooth experience. Low settings yield 104 FPS, but this comes with a significant visual downgrade. For 4K gaming, the data suggests that Medium settings (87 FPS) provide the best compromise between frame rate and image quality. The 74 FPS minimum recorded at 4K Medium indicates that the system can maintain a playable experience, but users prioritizing a locked 60 FPS or higher should consider dropping to Medium or High. The recommendation is to use High at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium at 4K, to ensure a consistently smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings average 206 FPS, Medium settings average 172 FPS (with a minimum of 146 and maximum of 198), High settings average 154 FPS, and Ultra settings average 136 FPS. This shows a clear linear progression, with each increase in settings tier costing roughly 15-20% performance.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low 155 FPS, Medium 129 FPS (min 110, max 149), High 116 FPS, and Ultra 102 FPS. The relative performance drop from 1080p is consistent across settings, with Low losing 25%, Medium losing 25%, High losing 25%, and Ultra losing 25%. This uniformity indicates that the GPU's workload scales predictably with resolution.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low 104 FPS, Medium 87 FPS (min 74, max 100), High 77 FPS, and Ultra 68 FPS. The performance drop from 1440p is more severe, with Low losing 33%, Medium losing 33%, High losing 34%, and Ultra losing 33%. This steeper decline at 4K reinforces the conclusion that the RTX 5050's memory bandwidth and compute capabilities are strained at this resolution.

The min/max FPS data for Medium settings provides insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p, the range is 146 to 198 FPS, a spread of 52 FPS. At 1440p, the range is 110 to 149 FPS, a spread of 39 FPS. At 4K, the range is 74 to 100 FPS, a spread of 26 FPS. The decreasing spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor, preventing the frame rate from spiking as high as the CPU would allow. Conversely, at 1080p, the large spread suggests that the CPU is capable of pushing very high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering time can cause occasional dips.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It operates at a base clock of 2.10 GHz and can boost up to 5.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor features 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, supporting DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. These specifications place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620.

In Dave The Diver, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and manage the game's simulation logic. The game's adventure genre typically involves physics, AI, and world state management, all of which benefit from a high core count. The i7-14700F's 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample headroom for these tasks, ensuring that the CPU does not become a bottleneck even at high frame rates. The benchmark data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 206 FPS, a frame rate that would strain most CPUs, but the i7-14700F handles it with ease.

The core clock speeds are also relevant. The 5.40 GHz boost clock ensures strong single-thread performance, which is critical for games that rely on a main game thread. Single-core benchmarks, such as Cinebench R23 single-core (score 4958) and Geekbench single-core (score 2429), indicate that the processor's per-core performance is excellent. This is reflected in the game's high average FPS at 1080p, where the CPU's single-thread capabilities are fully utilized.

The CPU's closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (0.6% slower), are comparable in overall performance. However, the i7-14700F's higher boost clock and core count give it an edge in multi-threaded workloads, which is evident in its performance in PassMark's multithread test (score 41317). In Dave The Diver, this translates to consistent frame delivery, as the CPU can quickly process game state changes and render commands. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this system; instead, the RTX 5050's GPU capabilities dictate the performance ceiling at higher resolutions.