Overpower

The Intel Core i5-12400F pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 to create a combination that sits in the 95.7th percentile of tested configurations for Overpower, ranking 159th out of 3713 total combos. This pairing leverages a six-core, twelve-thread Alder Lake processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the GPU brings Ada Lovelace architecture with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus. The data shows this is a top-tier setup, though the CPU is the clear bottleneck in this pairing, as the benchmark results indicate the GPU is frequently waiting on the processor to feed it frames.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on Intel's 10 nm Alder Lake-S architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock place it in the mid-range of desktop processors, but the benchmark scores reveal a more nuanced picture. In single-threaded workloads, the chip scores 909 in 3dmark_single_thread and 1680 in cinebench_r23_singlecore, which are respectable figures that allow the CPU to handle game logic and draw calls without significant delays. However, the real story is in multithreaded performance: the 3dmark_16_threads score of 5895 is nearly identical to the 3dmark_max_threads score of 5912, indicating that the processor's 12 threads are fully utilized but that adding more threads would not help much.

The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core provide adequate data locality for gaming workloads. The 3dmark_4_threads score of 3067 and 3dmark_8_threads score of 4779 show a linear scaling pattern, which is typical for modern games that use 4-8 threads heavily. In Overpower, an action game, this means the i5-12400F can maintain consistent frame pacing across all tested resolutions, but it does cap the maximum achievable frame rate. The benchmark data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo hits 231 FPS average, but this is the ceiling — the CPU's single-thread performance of 909 in 3dmark_single_thread limits how fast the game can process each frame. Compared to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS scores 19047 in average benchmark score versus the i5-12400F's 19039, a delta of 0%, meaning the two processors are essentially equivalent in general-purpose performance. The Intel Core 3 201E trails by 0.1% at 19056, while the Intel Core i5-1335U is 0.3% ahead at 18982, and the AMD EPYC 7773X also sits 0.3% ahead at 18979. These negligible differences confirm that the i5-12400F is a solid mid-range performer, but it is not a high-end CPU by any stretch.

The 65W TDP and the fact that the multiplier is locked suggest this is a power-efficient, mainstream part. For Overpower specifically, the CPU's 73rd percentile ranking against all CPUs means it outperforms nearly three-quarters of processors on the market, but the GPU is in the 88th percentile against all GPUs. This gap in relative performance is the root cause of the bottleneck observed in the measured FPS data: the CPU simply cannot keep up with the RTX 4090's raw power at lower resolutions and settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a monster of a graphics card, built on the AD102 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture and fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It has 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, along with 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores. The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory runs at 1313 MHz with 21 Gbps effective speed, delivering 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth over a 384-bit bus. The base clock is 2235 MHz with a boost clock of 2520 MHz, and the card produces 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. These specifications translate directly into the measured FPS in Overpower: the GPU is capable of far higher frame rates than the CPU can feed it, as evidenced by the fact that the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings (211 FPS) is only slightly lower than at 1920x1080 with Low settings (231 FPS) — a mere 20 FPS difference despite a 4x resolution increase.

The GPU's benchmark scores reinforce its dominance. The 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 9223 and passmark_g3d score of 38194 place it far above the CPU's capabilities. In the passmark suite, the GPU scores 326 in directx_11, 150 in directx_12, and 397 in directx_9, with a gpu_compute score of 26613. The geekbench_opencl score of 255416 and geekbench_vulkan score of 271631 further demonstrate the card's compute potential. The GPU's 88th percentile ranking against all GPUs means it beats 88% of graphics cards on the market, but its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are oddly lower-end parts: the Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score of 60326 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60140 (0.3% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61896 (-2.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58657 (2.9% delta). These comparisons are based on average benchmark scores across all tests, which can be misleading for gaming performance, but they do show that the RTX 4090's raw compute is unmatched in this database.

In Overpower, the GPU's 24 GB of VRAM is overkill for a game of this type, but it ensures zero texture swapping or stutter at any resolution. The 1.01 TB/s bandwidth allows the card to stream geometry and textures at extremely high rates, which is why the FPS deltas between resolutions are so small. The card's 450W TDP and triple-slot cooler are necessary to maintain these clock speeds, and the 1x 16-pin power connector plus 850W suggested PSU are practical considerations for any builder. The data shows the RTX 4090 is end-of-life, with the GeForce 50 series as its successor, but for Overpower, it remains the single most impactful component in this combo.

FAQ

Q: Why does the FPS drop so much from Low to Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS goes from 211 on Low to 109 on Ultra, a 102 FPS decrease. This is because Ultra settings increase GPU load (shadows, reflections, post-processing), and while the RTX 4090 can handle it, the CPU's single-thread performance (909 in 3dmark_single_thread) becomes the limiting factor. The GPU is still the dominant component, but the CPU's 4.40 GHz boost clock caps how quickly it can issue draw calls.

Q: Is this combo better at 1080p or 1440p for competitive play?

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 Low averages 231 FPS, while 2560x1440 Low averages 222 FPS — only a 9 FPS difference. At 1080p Medium (187 FPS) vs 1440p Medium (167 FPS), the gap widens to 20 FPS. For competitive play, 1080p Low or Medium is optimal, but 1440p Medium at 167 FPS is still exceptionally smooth and offers better image quality.

Q: How does the CPU bottleneck affect 4K performance?

A: At 3840x2160, going from Low (211 FPS) to Medium (142 FPS) to High (131 FPS) to Ultra (109 FPS) shows a pattern where GPU load increases, but the CPU must also handle more complex scenes. The i5-12400F's 6 cores and 12 threads (with 3dmark_max_threads score of 5912) are sufficient, but its single-core score of 909 limits frame rate ceilings. The data shows 4K Ultra hits 109 FPS, which is still high, but the CPU prevents the GPU from reaching its full potential.

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

A: Based on the measured FPS rows, 2560x1440 Medium (167 FPS average, 142 min, 192 max) offers the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate. At 1440p High, the average drops to 155 FPS, and at Ultra it's 128 FPS. The 1440p Medium row provides a 167 FPS average that stays above 142 FPS minimum, ensuring no noticeable stutters.

Q: How does the RTX 4090's VRAM affect Overpower?

A: The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory with 1.01 TB/s bandwidth is far more than Overpower needs, even at 4K Ultra. The measured data shows no significant frame time spikes (min FPS at 4K Medium is 120 FPS, max 163 FPS), indicating that VRAM capacity is never a limiting factor. This is a qualitative advantage, as the data does not show VRAM utilization, but the consistent FPS across resolutions is evidence of ample memory bandwidth.

Q: Is the i5-12400F holding back the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: Yes, the benchmark data clearly shows this. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 231 FPS, but at 4K Low, it still hits 211 FPS — the GPU is powerful enough to maintain high FPS at both resolutions, but the CPU cannot push past roughly 230 FPS in any scenario. The CPU's 73rd percentile ranking versus the GPU's 88th percentile confirms this asymmetry.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 159th out of 3713 tested combos for Overpower, placing it in the top 4.3% of all configurations. This is an exceptionally strong ranking, driven almost entirely by the GPU's raw power. The data shows that the combo outperforms 95.7% of all tested systems, which is remarkable given that the CPU is a mid-range part. However, the ranking also reveals the missed potential: if paired with a stronger CPU, the RTX 4090 could likely push this combo into the top 100, as the GPU's 88th percentile ranking suggests it is capable of more.

The ranking of 159 places this combo in the elite tier of gaming rigs, but it is important to note that this is a single data point for one game. Overpower is an action game, and its performance characteristics may not translate to other genres. The combo's rank relative to other tested combos is influenced by the CPU's 73rd percentile score (19039 average benchmark score) and the GPU's 88th percentile score (60347 average benchmark score). The CPU's nearest rivals — the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047 avg, 0% delta), Intel Core 3 201E (19056 avg, -0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-1335U (18982 avg, 0.3% delta), and AMD EPYC 7773X (18979 avg, 0.3% delta) — all perform within a fraction of a percent, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical results in Overpower. This confirms that the CPU is not the differentiating factor for this combo's high rank; the GPU is the star.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 231 FPS on Low, 187 FPS on Medium (with a 159 FPS minimum and 215 FPS maximum), 173 FPS on High, and 144 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 87 FPS drop, which is substantial but expected given the increased GPU load. At 2560x1440, the numbers are 222 FPS on Low, 167 FPS on Medium (142 min, 192 max), 155 FPS on High, and 128 FPS on Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is minimal at Low (9 FPS), but grows to 20 FPS at Medium and 18 FPS at High, showing that the GPU is still the primary driver of performance at these settings.

At 3840x2160, the combo delivers 211 FPS on Low, 142 FPS on Medium (120 min, 163 max), 131 FPS on High, and 109 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Low result is particularly telling: it is only 20 FPS lower than 1080p Low, despite rendering four times the pixels. This indicates that the CPU is the bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings, as the GPU has ample headroom. Conversely, at 4K Ultra, the 109 FPS average shows that the GPU is finally being pushed, but the CPU still manages to keep up. The minimum FPS data, available only for Medium settings, shows 159 FPS at 1080p, 142 FPS at 1440p, and 120 FPS at 4K, with corresponding maximums of 215, 192, and 163 FPS. These min/max ranges suggest consistent frame pacing with no major stutters, even at 4K Medium.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience in Overpower, the data points to 2560x1440 with Medium settings as the sweet spot. This configuration yields a 167 FPS average with a 142 FPS minimum and 192 FPS maximum, providing a high frame rate that stays well above the refresh rate of most monitors. The 142 FPS minimum ensures no noticeable drops below 120 FPS, which is critical for smooth action gameplay. At 1440p High, the average drops to 155 FPS, which is still excellent, but the lack of min/max data for High settings makes it harder to guarantee consistency. If you have a 144Hz monitor, 1440p Medium is the safest bet, as the 167 FPS average gives you headroom above the refresh rate.

For 4K gaming, Medium settings at 3840x2160 (142 FPS average, 120 min, 163 max) is the recommended choice. The 120 FPS minimum is the lowest measured across all Medium settings, but it still clears the 100 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra at 4K (109 FPS average) is playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes, and the lack of min/max data for Ultra makes it risky. At 1080p, the data shows diminishing returns: Low hits 231 FPS, but Medium at 187 FPS is already well above any practical refresh rate, and the difference between 1080p Medium and 1440p Medium is only 20 FPS. For most users, 1440p Medium offers the best balance of image quality and performance, while 4K Medium is the choice for those prioritizing resolution over frame rate. The data does not include any ray tracing or DLSS results, so these recommendations are based purely on the measured settings presets.