Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop processor built on Intel’s Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process. It runs at a 3.30 GHz base clock and boosts up to 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In this game’s CPU-bound scenarios, the processor’s 8 threads are the defining characteristic. Benchmark data for this chip shows a 3dmark_8_threads score of 4026, which is nearly identical to its 3dmark_max_threads score of 4023, indicating that the chip’s performance scales almost perfectly up to its thread count but does not benefit from additional virtual threads beyond that. This is typical for a quad-core part: it has enough parallelism for modern FPS titles. The single-thread performance is strong, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 893, and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681 confirms that per-core speed is a highlight. In Lockdown Protocol, this means the CPU can handle the game’s primary game logic and physics threads without bottlenecking the GPU at lower resolutions. However, the processor’s overall percentile ranking of 72 versus all CPUs suggests it sits in the upper-midrange, meaning it is competent but not a top-tier part for extreme multi-tasking. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scores 13534 in average benchmark score, which is essentially identical to the i3-12100F’s 13516 (a deltaPct of -0.1), showing that raw average scores do not always reflect core count advantages. For this game, the i3’s 4.30 GHz boost clock is likely the more relevant factor than its core count, as it provides the responsive single-threaded performance that FPS titles often require. The lack of an integrated GPU means all display output must come from the discrete card, but that is expected in this configuration.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1980 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, and its memory runs at an effective speed of 21 Gbps. With 7168 shading units and 56 RT cores, the card is well-equipped for high-fidelity rendering. In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role is evident from the measured FPS data. At 1080p High settings, the combo produces 181.1 FPS, but when the resolution scales to 4K High, it drops to 86 FPS. This scaling behavior shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 84 versus all GPUs places it firmly in the high-end segment, and its average benchmark score of 42576 is statistically tied with the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (42653, deltaPct -0.2) and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (42723, deltaPct -0.3). The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game’s texture and geometry demands at 4K Ultra, where the combo still manages 66.4 FPS. The card’s 220 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a power-hungry but manageable component. The FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS suggests the card can handle compute-heavy effects like ray tracing or advanced post-processing without significant frame rate penalties, though the data shows a clear trade-off between settings and FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. Starting at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 267.7 FPS, which drops to 211.2 FPS at 1440p Low, and further to 138.5 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 48.3% FPS reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. The scaling is more dramatic at Ultra settings: 132.4 FPS at 1080p, 101.1 FPS at 1440p, and 66.4 FPS at 4K, a 49.8% reduction. The consistency of this ~50% drop across settings suggests that the GPU’s pixel throughput is the limiting factor. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU, as evidenced by the 267.7 FPS Low result, which is nearly 200 FPS higher than the 4K Ultra result. However, the gap between 1080p and 1440p at High settings is 49.6 FPS (from 181.1 to 131.5), indicating that even at 1440p, the GPU is still the bottleneck. The data shows that the i3-12100F does not constrain performance until framerates exceed roughly 260 FPS, which is only reached at 1080p Low. For most players using High settings, the RTX 4070 SUPER is the component that determines final framerates. At 4K Medium, the combo delivers 97.3 FPS, which is still playable, but the step from Medium to High at 4K costs 11.3 FPS (from 97.3 to 86), showing diminishing returns at higher settings. The 4K Ultra result of 66.4 FPS is the most demanding scenario tested, and it represents a 75.2% drop from the 1080p Low result, confirming that this game’s scaling is heavily pixel-bound.

How This Combo Ranks

Among the 1637 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER holds the rank of 277. This places it in the top 17% of all configurations tested, which is a strong showing given the relatively modest CPU. The rank is likely driven by the GPU’s high percentile score (84) and the CPU’s adequate single-thread performance. The combo outperforms many pairings that feature higher-core-count CPUs but weaker GPUs, confirming that in this FPS title, the graphics card matters more. The data shows that the CPU’s average benchmark score of 13516 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534, deltaPct -0.1), yet the Threadripper has vastly more cores. This suggests that for Lockdown Protocol, the i3-12100F’s 4 cores are not a significant disadvantage. The rank of 277 seems appropriate: it is not a top-tier ranking because the CPU can limit performance at very high framerates, but it is far from the bottom. The combo’s 1080p High result of 181.1 FPS is above the 144Hz refresh rate that many gamers target, and even at 1440p High, the 131.5 FPS result is close to that threshold. The data indicates that this is a balanced pairing for 1440p gaming, where the GPU’s strengths are fully utilized without the CPU becoming a bottleneck. The nearest CPU rival, the Intel Core i7-7700K, has an average score of 13280, which is 1.8% lower, meaning the i3-12100F is actually a slightly stronger performer on average, despite being a newer and cheaper part. This rank of 277 suggests that users can expect excellent 1080p performance and good 1440p performance in this game, with 4K being playable at reduced settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the expected average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 181.1 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves 66.4 FPS. Given that the GPU’s percentile rank is 84 and the CPU’s is 72, and that the FPS drops by 75.2% from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra, the data indicates the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution.

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

A: The combo ranks 277 out of 1637 total tested combos, placing it in the top 17% of all configurations.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between 1440p High and 4K High?

A: At 2560x1440 High, the average FPS is 131.5, while at 3840x2160 High, it is 86. This represents a 45.5 FPS drop.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-12100F’s performance match any higher-core CPUs?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX’s score of 13534. Its score is also 0.6% higher than the Intel Core i3-10105 and 1.8% higher than the Intel Core i7-7700K.

Q: What is the best resolution to use for maximum FPS without sacrificing too much quality?

A: The data shows that at 1440p Medium, the combo achieves 154 FPS, which is a good balance of high frame rate and resolution. For higher quality, 1440p High delivers 131.5 FPS, which is still above the 120 FPS threshold.