Overpower

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is an unusual combination in Overpower, pitting a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake processor with a 3.30 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clock against one of the most powerful consumer GPUs available. The benchmark data reveals a system that is almost entirely GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s limitations become increasingly apparent as resolution drops. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across three resolutions and four settings presets to determine where this pairing excels and where it leaves performance on the table.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Overpower shows a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution scales downward, which is typical for a system with a massive GPU like the RTX 4080 SUPER. At 4K (3840x2160), the system delivers 118 FPS on High settings, 127 FPS on Medium, and 98 FPS on Ultra. Dropping to Low settings at 4K yields 204 FPS, which is a massive jump of 86 FPS over the High preset. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is the dominant bottleneck, and reducing graphical load directly translates into higher frame rates.

Moving to 1440p (2560x1440), the frame rates increase across the board, but the gains are less dramatic than the 4K-to-1440p step might suggest. High settings produce 139 FPS, Medium hits 150 FPS, and Low reaches 219 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p delivers 115 FPS. Compared to 4K, the High preset improves by 21 FPS, while Low improves by 15 FPS. This smaller delta between resolutions suggests that the CPU is starting to exert some influence, though the GPU still holds the primary role.

At 1080p (1920x1080), the performance ceiling becomes evident. High settings yield 156 FPS, Medium 168 FPS, and Low 228 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers 130 FPS. The jump from 1440p to 1080p is relatively modest: High improves by 17 FPS, Medium by 18 FPS, and Low by only 9 FPS. The fact that Low settings at 1080p (228 FPS) is only 9 FPS faster than Low at 1440p (219 FPS) strongly suggests that the Core i3-12100F is nearing its maximum output capability in this title. The GPU is fully capable of rendering more frames, but the 4-core CPU cannot feed it fast enough.

The data indicates that this system is GPU-limited at 4K, with the RTX 4080 SUPER delivering playable frame rates even on Ultra (98 FPS). At 1440p, the balance shifts slightly toward a more even CPU/GPU split, but the GPU remains the primary constraint. At 1080p, the CPU becomes the limiting factor, particularly on Low settings where the frame rate stagnates relative to the resolution drop. For players targeting high refresh rate 1080p monitors, this pairing will not fully utilize the GPU’s potential, as the CPU cap appears to be around 228 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a formidable piece of hardware, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2295 MHz with a boost clock of 2550 MHz, and it houses 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. The memory runs at an effective 23 Gbps, which is crucial for high-resolution texture streaming in a game like Overpower.

In the benchmark results, the RTX 4080 SUPER scores an average of 54209, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the standard RTX 4080, which scores 54247, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the SUPER version is essentially on par with its non-SUPER counterpart in this dataset. This close margin suggests that the architectural advantages of the 4080 SUPER are minimal in synthetic benchmarks, but the 16 GB VRAM capacity is a significant asset for 4K gaming.

The VRAM capacity is the standout feature for Overpower. With 16 GB of GDDR6X, the GPU can handle Ultra settings at 4K without worrying about memory overflow, as evidenced by the 98 FPS result on Ultra at 3840x2160. The 736.3 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are delivered to the rendering pipeline without stutter, which is reflected in the min FPS numbers. At 4K Medium, the minimum FPS is 108, and at 1440p Medium it is 127, indicating consistent frame delivery even under load.

The GPU’s performance in Overpower is also tied to its raw compute power. The FP32 throughput of 52.22 TFLOPS is substantial, and the 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores provide headroom for any ray tracing or DLSS features the game might support. However, the measured FPS data only covers traditional rasterization, and the scores suggest that the GPU is rarely the limiting factor outside of 4K Ultra. The PassMark G3D score of 34245 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6600 reinforce the GPU’s position as a top-tier part, but the CPU pairing holds it back in lower resolution scenarios.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Overpower?*

A: The data shows that 1440p provides a strong balance. At High settings, the system delivers 139 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard, while 4K High offers 118 FPS. For maximum frame rates, 1080p Low hits 228 FPS, but the CPU becomes a bottleneck at this point, limiting further gains.

*Q: Does the RTX 4080 SUPER’s 16 GB VRAM matter for Overpower?*

A: Yes. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory with 736.3 GB/s bandwidth allows the GPU to handle Ultra settings at 4K, delivering 98 FPS. The high bandwidth ensures smooth texture streaming, as seen in the min FPS of 108 at 4K Medium.

Q: How does the Core i3-12100F perform relative to its rivals?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, which places it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, scores 13492, a delta of 0%. The i5-9500 is only 0.3% behind, indicating the i3-12100F is competitive with older quad-core parts.

Q: Is the system CPU-limited at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data indicates this. At 1080p, Low settings produce 228 FPS, while at 1440p Low the system hits 219 FPS. The small 9 FPS difference suggests the CPU is nearing its maximum output, preventing the GPU from fully stretching its legs.

Q: What is the minimum FPS on Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS on Medium settings is 108 at 4K, 127 at 1440p, and 143 at 1080p. These values show consistent frame delivery, with the higher minimums at lower resolutions indicating less GPU strain.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest competitor?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209 in the average benchmark, which is 0.1% lower than the standard RTX 4080 (54247). The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% ahead, and the RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 2.7% ahead, showing the 4080 SUPER is slightly behind in raw synthetic scores.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Overpower covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a comprehensive view of the system’s capabilities. At 4K (3840x2160), the Ultra preset delivers an average of 98 FPS, which is surprisingly playable for a demanding game. High settings increase this to 118 FPS, and Medium further improves it to 127 FPS with a minimum of 108 and maximum of 147. Low settings at 4K leap to 204 FPS, showing the GPU’s raw power when graphical load is reduced.

At 1440p (2560x1440), the frame rates scale up. Ultra averages 115 FPS, High 139 FPS, and Medium 150 FPS with a minimum of 127 and maximum of 172. Low settings reach 219 FPS. The progression from Ultra to Low at 1440p is linear, with each preset dropping roughly 30-35 FPS as settings increase. This consistency indicates the GPU handles the resolution well across all presets.

At 1080p (1920x1080), the numbers continue to rise but with diminishing returns. Ultra averages 130 FPS, High 156 FPS, and Medium 168 FPS with a minimum of 143 and maximum of 193. Low settings hit 228 FPS, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. The gap between Medium and Low is 60 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 26 FPS. The maximum FPS of 193 on Medium at 1080p is notable, but the Low preset’s 228 FPS average suggests the CPU is the limiting factor, as the GPU should theoretically be able to push higher.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario at 98 FPS, while 1080p Low is the least demanding at 228 FPS. The min FPS values, only available for Medium settings, are 108 at 4K, 127 at 1440p, and 143 at 1080p. These numbers indicate that even in the most demanding preset measured, the system maintains a playable frame rate without significant drops.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K gaming, the High preset at 118 FPS offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. Ultra at 98 FPS is certainly playable, but the 20 FPS drop from High is significant. Medium at 127 FPS provides a smoother experience, but the visual downgrade from High may not be worth the extra 9 FPS. Low at 204 FPS is overkill for most displays and sacrifices too much visual quality.

At 1440p, the High preset at 139 FPS is the recommended choice. It provides a 24 FPS improvement over Ultra (115 FPS) while maintaining high visual quality. Medium at 150 FPS is also excellent if the player prefers maximum frame rates, but the 11 FPS gain over High is marginal. Low at 219 FPS is only useful for competitive play on high refresh rate monitors, but the graphical sacrifice is steep.

For 1080p, the Medium preset at 168 FPS is the sweet spot. It offers a 12 FPS improvement over High (156 FPS) and a 38 FPS improvement over Ultra (130 FPS). The Low preset at 228 FPS is the highest measured, but it is likely CPU-bound, meaning the GPU is not fully utilized. Players with 144Hz monitors will find High (156 FPS) or Medium (168 FPS) to be more than sufficient, while those with 240Hz displays may want to consider Low to push past the 200 FPS mark.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for 4K where the 98 FPS is acceptable, or for players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate. At 1440p, Ultra’s 115 FPS is still above 60, but High offers a better experience. At 1080p, Ultra’s 130 FPS is the worst value, as the CPU bottleneck means the GPU is not the limiting factor.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and its TDP is rated at 58W. These specifications position it as a budget-oriented part, and its benchmark scores reflect that positioning.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i3-12100F scores 11860 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1674 in single-core. The PassMark multithread score is 14015, while the single-thread score is 3444. The 3DMark 16-thread score is 4051, and the 4-thread score is 2859. These numbers place the CPU at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13494. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, scores 13492, a delta of 0%, meaning they are statistically identical in performance.

In Overpower, the CPU’s role becomes apparent at lower resolutions. At 4K, the GPU is the bottleneck, so the CPU’s limitations are masked. However, at 1080p, the frame rate ceiling is evident. The Low preset at 1080p delivers 228 FPS, which is only 9 FPS faster than the 219 FPS at 1440p Low. This suggests the CPU cannot process frames faster than roughly 228 FPS, regardless of the GPU’s capability.

The 4-core, 8-thread configuration is the key constraint. The 3Dmark max threads score of 4023 is nearly identical to the 16-thread score of 4051, indicating the CPU has a hard ceiling on multi-threaded performance. In a game like Overpower, which likely relies on a few primary threads, the i3-12100F’s single-thread performance (893 in 3DMark single-thread) is adequate but not exceptional. The 3.30 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock provide decent responsiveness, but the lack of additional cores limits the ability to handle background tasks or heavily threaded game logic.

The CPU’s benchmark scores show it is competitive with older quad-core parts. The i5-9500 is only 0.3% behind the i3-12100F in average score, and the Core 7 1250U is 1.1% ahead. This means the i3-12100F is a solid performer for its class, but it is simply outmatched by the RTX 4080 SUPER in this pairing. The data clearly shows that the CPU is the limiting component at 1080p, preventing the system from achieving higher frame rates. For players who prioritize high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, this combination will deliver excellent performance, but the CPU will leave some performance on the table.