Overpower

The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER combination delivers a playable, though not exceptional, experience in Overpower, with the CPU proving to be a more capable component than the GPU within this pairing. The benchmark data shows that while the processor holds its own against direct rivals, the graphics card is the primary limiter at higher settings, positioning this combo firmly in the mid-range tier for this action title.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-12400F 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. This configuration provides a solid foundation for gaming, as the 12 threads allow for efficient handling of modern game engines that utilize multiple cores for physics, AI, and asset streaming. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates a strong balance between single-thread and multi-thread performance: its 3dmark single-thread score is 909, while its 3dmark max-threads score reaches 5912. This indicates that the processor can handle both the primary game logic and background tasks without becoming a bottleneck.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400F performs competitively. Its average benchmark score of 19221 places it nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-8700K, which scores 19210, showing a negligible delta of 0.1%. It is also marginally ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U (19167, +0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (19364, -0.7%). This parity suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i5-12400F will deliver frame rates consistent with these established processors. The high single-thread performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2221 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2332, is particularly relevant for Overpower, as action games often rely heavily on a single primary thread for game logic.

However, the CPU’s role in this specific combo is less critical than the GPU's. Across all measured resolutions, the frame rate scaling from Low to Ultra settings follows a pattern typical of GPU-bound rendering. For instance, at 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 100.6 on Low to 48.5 on Ultra, a reduction of over half. This steep decline is characteristic of increasing graphical workload rather than CPU limitations. The CPU’s 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support provide sufficient bandwidth for the GTX 1660 SUPER, ensuring that the processor does not artificially cap the frame rate at lower settings where the GPU has more headroom. The data shows that the CPU is a capable partner, but its performance headroom is not fully utilized in this pairing, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for different display resolutions. The primary goal is to maintain a smooth, playable frame rate while maximizing visual fidelity. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 100.6 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate displays, but this comes at the cost of visual quality. The Medium preset offers a significant jump in visual detail while still delivering a very playable 60.9 FPS average. This represents the best balance for most users, as it maintains a frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold while avoiding the substantial visual compromises of the Low preset. The High preset is also viable at 57.3 FPS, but the drop below 60 FPS may be noticeable to some players. The Ultra preset at 48.5 FPS is not recommended for competitive play, as the frame rate dips into a range where responsiveness can suffer.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more demanding. The Low preset delivers a highly playable 90.5 FPS, making it the clear choice for smooth gameplay at this resolution. The Medium preset drops to 53.8 FPS, which is playable but not as fluid, while High and Ultra further reduce the average to 50.6 FPS and 45.6 FPS, respectively. For a consistent experience at 1440p, the Low preset is the only option that maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. Users with less sensitivity to frame rate fluctuations might find the Medium preset acceptable, but the data suggests that Low provides the most reliable performance.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1660 SUPER is clearly overburdened. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a playable frame rate, with an average of 74.4 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 45.4 FPS, which is below the standard playability threshold, and High (41.6 FPS) and Ultra (34.8 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only viable option, and even then, the performance is less than ideal. In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is to use the Low preset for 1440p and 4K, and the Medium preset for 1080p, as these settings provide the most favorable balance between visual quality and frame rate.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of running Overpower at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes, but with a caveat. The measured data shows an average of 57.3 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings. This is playable, but it is slightly below the 60 FPS mark, so some users may prefer the Medium preset for a more consistent experience.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the sweet spot. At this resolution, the Medium preset delivers 60.9 FPS, and the Low preset achieves 100.6 FPS, providing a wide range of playable options. Higher resolutions like 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 require the Low preset to maintain playable frame rates.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 14286. It performs nearly identically to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14314, -0.2%) and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14315, -0.2%). It is slightly behind the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (14389, -0.7%).

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The benchmark results do not indicate a significant CPU bottleneck. The frame rate scaling from Low to Ultra settings across all resolutions follows a pattern consistent with GPU limitation. The CPU’s performance is comparable to rivals like the Intel Core i7-8700K, suggesting it can keep up with the GPU's output.

Q: Is the Ultra preset usable at any resolution?

A: No. The best Ultra preset result is 48.5 FPS at 1920x1080. At 2560x1440, it drops to 45.6 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 34.8 FPS. These frame rates are below the level generally considered smooth for an action game.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration and how does it affect performance?

A: The GPU has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory capacity is sufficient for 1080p gaming, but the significant frame rate drops at 4K with higher settings suggest that the memory bandwidth and capacity become limiting factors at those resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER holds a rank of 1562 out of 1744 tested combos in Overpower. This places it in the lower percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it is functional, it is not a high-performance configuration for this game. The rank is more reflective of the GPU's limitations than the CPU's capabilities. The CPU itself sits in the 77th percentile when compared to all CPUs, showing it is a solid mid-range processor. In contrast, the GPU is in the 55th percentile when compared to all GPUs, which is a more modest standing.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU rankings highlights that this combo is unbalanced, with the GPU holding back the overall system performance. The rank of 1562 suggests that a majority of other tested combinations deliver higher frame rates in Overpower. This is likely due to the GTX 1660 SUPER being a lower-tier graphics card that struggles with the demands of the game at higher settings and resolutions. While the CPU is capable of supporting a more powerful GPU, the current pairing limits the system to the performance levels observed in the measured FPS data. For users seeking a higher rank, upgrading the GPU would be a more impactful change than upgrading the CPU, as the current processor has more performance headroom than the graphics card.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture and features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is adequate for 1080p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The GPU's base clock is 1530 MHz with a boost clock of 1785 MHz, and it has a TDP of 125 W. The performance of this GPU in Overpower is best understood through its synthetic benchmarks. Its 3dmark steel nomad dx12 score is 1278, and its Passmark G3D score is 12699, which positions it as a mid-range performer.

The GPU's role in this combo is to render the game's visuals, and the measured FPS data shows its clear limitations. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is stark, with average FPS dropping from 100.6 to 48.5. This indicates that the GPU’s shader and texture processing capabilities are quickly saturated as graphical demands increase. The 6 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor at higher settings and resolutions, as textures and geometry can exceed this capacity, leading to performance degradation. The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14314, -0.2%) and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14315, -0.2%), showing that it is closely matched with these integrated and entry-level discrete solutions.

The data shows that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the primary bottleneck in this system for Overpower. While the CPU can deliver high frame rates in less demanding scenarios, the GPU cannot maintain them when settings are increased. The decline in performance is consistent across all resolutions, with the GPU failing to provide playable frame rates at 4K with anything above Low settings. This suggests that the GPU’s raw compute power, measured at 5.027 TFLOPS FP32, is insufficient for the game's higher visual presets. In summary, the GTX 1660 SUPER provides a baseline level of performance, but its memory capacity and processing power limit the overall experience to lower settings, particularly at resolutions above 1080p.