Minimum

FAQ

Q: What is the comboRankInGame for the Intel Core i3-12100F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 in Minimum?

A: This combo ranks 993rd out of 1,733 tested combinations, placing it just above the median of the database.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13,516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13,534) and 0.6% higher than the Intel Core i3-10105 (13,430).

Q: What GPU benchmark score does the RTX 4060 achieve, and how does it compare to the Intel Arc B580?

A: The RTX 4060 has a Passmark G3D score of 19,545. It is 0.7% higher than the Intel Arc B580 (23,021 average score, deltaPct of 0.7), meaning the 4060 edges out the B580 in average benchmark performance.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average FPS is 201.6, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average FPS is 33.9, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the CPU and GPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has a launch MSRP of $97, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has a launch MSRP of 299 USD.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process node from TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with memory running at 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective). These specifications place the GPU at the 66th percentile versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23,181.

In the context of Minimum, the GPU's role shifts depending on the resolution and settings. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches 201.6 FPS, which suggests the GPU is capable of high frame rates when the load is light. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the frame rate drops to 33.9 FPS, indicating that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and bandwidth are stressed at higher resolutions. The 272.0 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor at 4K, where the demand for memory throughput increases significantly.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (average score 23,321, deltaPct -0.6) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (average score 23,338, deltaPct -0.7). The RTX 4060 trails these by less than 1% in average benchmark score, but its modern architecture and features like DirectX 12 Ultimate support may provide advantages in specific workloads. In Minimum, the data shows the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher settings, as the CPU's four cores are sufficient to keep up.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 133.2 at 1080p to 86.9 at 1440p, then to 45.8 at 4K. This represents a 65.7% reduction from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the drop is from 201.6 at 1080p to 129.5 at 1440p, and finally to 69.3 at 4K, a 65.6% reduction. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings suggests the scaling is primarily resolution-driven rather than settings-driven.

The data indicates that the limiting component changes with resolution. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high enough (98.4 FPS at Ultra, 133.2 FPS at High) that the CPU's single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread score of 893) may be a factor, but the 4-core, 8-thread configuration handles it adequately. At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop to 33.9-69.3 FPS, which is more consistent with GPU-bound performance. The RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely the bottlenecks, as the 128-bit bus limits memory throughput at high resolutions.

The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 19,545 is respectable, but the 4K Ultra result of 33.9 FPS shows that this combo is not ideal for maximum settings at 4K. The data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this pairing, where High settings deliver 86.9 FPS and Ultra delivers 66.9 FPS, both playable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 993 out of 1,733 places this configuration in the middle of the database. The 72nd percentile for the CPU (versus all CPUs) and 66th percentile for the GPU (versus all GPUs) indicate a balanced pairing, with neither component being a severe bottleneck. However, the rank is lower than what the individual percentiles might suggest, meaning other combinations in the database achieve better performance in Minimum.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (deltaPct -0.1) and Intel Core i7-1250U (deltaPct 0.4) are within 0.5% of the i3-12100F's average score. This suggests that the CPU's 4-core, 8-thread design with a 4.30 GHz boost clock is competitive with much more expensive processors in synthetic benchmarks. The GPU's nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (deltaPct -0.6) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (deltaPct -0.7), are similarly close.

In Minimum specifically, the combo rank of 993 out of 1,733 means there are 992 combinations that perform better and 740 that perform worse. This is a middle-of-the-pack result, consistent with the individual component rankings. The data shows that this combo is not a top-tier performer, but it is also not a low-end configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured FPS values are: Low 201.6, Medium 153.2, High 133.2, and Ultra 98.4. The gap between Low and Medium is 48.4 FPS (31.6% reduction), while the gap between High and Ultra is 34.8 FPS (26.1% reduction). The diminishing returns from Low to Ultra suggest that the GPU is the scaling factor, with the CPU able to maintain high frame rates at lower settings.

At 2560x1440, the values are: Low 129.5, Medium 97.4, High 86.9, and Ultra 66.9. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is 72.1 FPS (35.8% reduction), while at Ultra the drop is 31.5 FPS (32.0% reduction). The percentage drops are similar across settings, indicating that the resolution increase is the dominant factor.

At 3840x2160, the values are: Low 69.3, Medium 52.0, High 45.8, and Ultra 33.9. The drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings is 60.2 FPS (46.5% reduction), and at Ultra the drop is 33.0 FPS (49.3% reduction). The larger percentage drops at 4K compared to 1440p suggest that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck, as the memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity are insufficient to maintain performance.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution increase roughly halves the frame rate at equivalent settings, with 4K being the most demanding. The Ultra setting at 4K (33.9 FPS) is the only result below 40 FPS, which is generally considered the minimum for smooth gameplay. The Low setting at 4K (69.3 FPS) is playable, but the quality trade-off is significant.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and acceptable frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with even Ultra delivering 98.4 FPS. For a 60 Hz display, High settings (133.2 FPS) provide a comfortable margin, while Medium (153.2 FPS) is suitable for 144 Hz displays. Low settings (201.6 FPS) are beneficial for competitive play where maximum frame rates are prioritized.

At 2560x1440, the choice is more nuanced. High settings (86.9 FPS) are suitable for 60 Hz displays, while Medium (97.4 FPS) is adequate for 75 Hz displays. Ultra (66.9 FPS) is playable but may not be optimal for fast-paced action. Low settings (129.5 FPS) are the best option for 120 Hz displays, providing a substantial frame rate advantage.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that Ultra settings (33.9 FPS) are not recommended for smooth gameplay, as the frame rate falls below 40 FPS. High settings (45.8 FPS) are borderline playable, but Medium (52.0 FPS) provides a better balance. Low settings (69.3 FPS) are the only option that delivers a frame rate comfortably above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K gaming with this combo.

The best experience per the measured rows is a trade-off between visual quality and frame rate. For most users, 1440p High (86.9 FPS) offers the best combination of image quality and smoothness. At 4K, Low settings (69.3 FPS) are necessary to maintain playable frame rates, while at 1080p, Ultra (98.4 FPS) is the most visually demanding option that still delivers high frame rates. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring significant settings reductions.