Overpower

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB lands at rank 1599 out of 1744 tested combos in Overpower. That places this configuration in the bottom 9% of all tested systems, a decisive indicator that this combo is not built for high-end performance in this title. The ranking reflects a fundamental imbalance: the CPU is a competent mid-range part, but the GPU’s limited 4 GB frame buffer and modest compute capacity hold the entire system back, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1599 out of 1744 is a poor showing, placing it well below the median tested configuration. This is not a system that will deliver a consistently smooth experience at demanding settings. The data shows that the pairing is heavily GPU-limited in most scenarios, meaning the RTX 3050 4 GB is the primary bottleneck. The CPU, while not top-tier, is far more capable than the GPU allows it to be. This rank suggests that users should target 1080p with medium or low settings for a playable experience, as higher resolutions and presets will push frame rates into unplayable territory.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It has an 18 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 15,935 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,249 in single-core, placing it at the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700 (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i7-8700 (0.2% slower), showing it is competitive with older i7 parts. In Overpower, this CPU has ample headroom; the measured frame rates are almost never constrained by the processor. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the 92.3 FPS average is more likely a GPU limit than a CPU one, given the i5-12400’s strong single-thread performance (3,456 in PassMark single-thread). The CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the decisive component in this pairing. It features 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has 2,048 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with a boost clock of 1740 MHz. Its FP32 performance is 7.127 TFLOPS. The 4 GB VRAM is a critical weakness for Overpower at higher settings, as the game’s texture and geometry demands likely exceed this capacity, causing frame rate drops. The GPU sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, which is average, but its small memory pool makes it unsuitable for high-resolution gaming. The data confirms this: at 1440p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 37.7, and at 2160p Ultra, it falls to 32.2 FPS. The GPU is the primary bottleneck across all measured configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution and settings increase.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 92.3, which is smooth and playable. Medium settings yield 58.3 FPS, still acceptable for most players. High settings drop to 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45.3 FPS, which is borderline for a fast-paced action game.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades noticeably. Low settings produce 80.2 FPS, which is still good, but Medium drops to 51.3 FPS. High settings average 45.3 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37.7 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles. Low settings average 67.4 FPS, which is surprising but likely due to the reduced graphical load. Medium settings drop to 40.5 FPS, High to 38.9 FPS, and Ultra to 32.2 FPS. These 4K numbers are largely unplayable for a title like Overpower, where responsiveness is key.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Overpower?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can consistently exceed 60 FPS, and only at Low settings (92.3 FPS). At 1440p, only Low settings (80.2 FPS) remain above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The measured average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 45.3 FPS. This is playable but not ideal for a fast action game, and frame drops are likely during intense scenes due to the 4 GB VRAM limit.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19,850. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700, scores 19,831, which is 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i7-8700 scores 19,894, which is 0.2% higher. This puts the i5-12400 in a dead heat with those older i7 parts.

Q: Why is the 4K performance so poor?

A: The 4 GB VRAM on the RTX 3050 is insufficient for 4K textures and geometry in Overpower. The measured data shows a sharp drop-off, with 4K Ultra averaging only 32.2 FPS, a 30% decrease from 1080p Ultra.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The CPU’s benchmark scores (77th percentile) are far above the GPU’s (50th percentile), and the FPS drops are consistent with GPU memory and bandwidth constraints, not CPU processing limits.

Q: What settings should be avoided?

A: Avoid Ultra settings at 1440p and 4K, as they yield 37.7 and 32.2 FPS respectively. High settings at 4K (38.9 FPS) are also too low for smooth gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and playable frame rates, the data points to 1080p Medium as the optimal configuration. At this setting, the combo averages 58.3 FPS, which is smooth enough for most action games while still providing a better visual experience than Low. If a higher frame rate is preferred, 1080p Low offers 92.3 FPS, which is excellent but sacrifices visual fidelity. At 1440p, Low settings (80.2 FPS) are the only viable option for a consistently smooth experience. High settings at 1080p (52 FPS) are a compromise, but the drop to 45.3 FPS at Ultra makes that preset less advisable. For 4K, the data suggests that even Low settings (67.4 FPS) are acceptable, but Medium and above fall below 41 FPS, which is not recommended for this genre.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU’s limitations. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 92.3 at 1080p to 80.2 at 1440p (a 13% decrease) and then to 67.4 at 4K (a 27% decrease from 1080p). This scaling is relatively gentle, suggesting the GPU is not completely overwhelmed at low settings. However, at Ultra settings, the drop is much steeper: from 45.3 at 1080p to 37.7 at 1440p (a 17% decrease) and to 32.2 at 4K (a 29% decrease from 1080p). This pattern indicates that as the graphical load increases, the 4 GB VRAM and the GPU’s compute power become the binding constraint. The 1080p to 1440p transition at High settings shows a modest drop from 52 to 45.3 FPS, but the 1440p to 4K transition at High settings is nearly flat (45.3 to 38.9 FPS), implying that the GPU is hitting a hard limit. The data clearly shows that the component limiting performance is the RTX 3050 4 GB, not the i5-12400, since the CPU has sufficient headroom to handle the frame rate changes.