Ready Or Not

Ready Or Not, a tactical shooter released on 2021-12-16, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT across a matrix of settings. The data indicates a configuration that excels at high refresh rates in lower resolutions but requires careful setting adjustments to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and substantial drop in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 213.2 FPS at 1080p, to 132.7 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 67.7 FPS at 4K. This represents a 68% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, a significant scaling factor that points directly to the GPU as the primary limiting component at higher resolutions.

The pattern is consistent across all presets. At Low settings, the drop is from 269 FPS at 1080p to 171.5 FPS at 1440p, and then to 88.3 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trend: 232.6 FPS, 149.2 FPS, and 80.8 FPS respectively. Even at the most demanding Ultra preset, the progression holds: 150.9 FPS at 1080p, 94.9 FPS at 1440p, and 51.4 FPS at 4K.

This behavior is characteristic of a system where the graphics card, not the processor, is the bottleneck. The frame rate drops are roughly proportional to the increase in pixel count, which is the hallmark of GPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high, suggesting that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows exponentially, and the frame rate adjusts accordingly, demonstrating that the system is scaling with the graphics load rather than being held back by the processor.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT plays the central role in this performance profile. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a substantial foundation for modern game rendering. The memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s is a critical factor for handling the high-resolution textures and effects that Ready Or Not utilizes, particularly at 4K where the frame buffer demands are much larger.

The GPU's clock speeds are notably high, with a base clock of 2321 MHz and a boost clock of 2581 MHz. These high frequencies contribute directly to the raw compute throughput, allowing the card to process the millions of polygons and shading operations required for a tactical shooter's environments. The architecture, RDNA 2.0 on a 7 nm process, is well-suited for this workload, providing a balance of performance and efficiency.

The data suggests that the GPU is the deciding factor in all measured scenarios. At 1080p, the card's performance headroom is so vast that it achieves over 200 FPS on most presets. However, at 4K Ultra, the card is clearly working at its limits, producing an average of 51.4 FPS. This highlights that while the RX 6700 XT is a capable performer, the most demanding settings at 4K will stress it heavily, pushing it near the boundary of playable frame rates for a fast-paced game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT holds a rank of 973 out of 1748 combos for Ready Or Not. This places it slightly below the median of all tested systems, indicating that while it is not a top-tier configuration, it is by no means a weak one. The position in the lower-middle of the pack is a direct result of the CPU's modest core count, which can limit performance in scenarios where the game engine is more dependent on multi-threaded processing.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 13516 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in raw processing power include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13534 (a 0.1% difference), and the Intel Core i7-1250U at 13462 (a 0.4% difference). This indicates that the i3-12100F's processing strength is competitive with much more expensive parts. However, the GPU's average score of 33721 places it in the 77th percentile, and its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6800, which scores 33493 (a 0.7% difference).

The combination of a high-percentile GPU and a slightly lower-percentile CPU results in a system that is balanced in some respects but shows its limitations in others. The ranking suggests that for games like Ready Or Not, which can be sensitive to CPU performance, the processor may prevent the GPU from reaching its full potential, especially in lower resolutions where frame rates are extremely high.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for this combo at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate is 213.2 FPS at 1920x1080 with the High preset, indicating a very smooth experience suitable for high refresh rate monitors.

Q: How does the performance at 4K Ultra compare to 1080p Low?

A: The average frame rate drops from 269 FPS at 1080p Low to 51.4 FPS at 4K Ultra. This is a dramatic reduction, showing the significant performance cost of running the game at its most demanding settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT?

A: The launch MSRP of the GPU is 479 USD.

Q: How does the Intel Core i3-12100F's benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's score of 13534, representing a 0.1% difference.

Q: Is this combination ranked highly among all tested systems for Ready Or Not?

A: It is ranked 973 out of 1748 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the performance hierarchy for this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays with a 144Hz or 240Hz refresh rate, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 150.9 FPS, which remains above the threshold for high-refresh-rate gaming. The Medium and High presets offer even higher frame rates (232.6 and 213.2 FPS respectively) but the visual fidelity of Ultra is preferable if the monitor can support it.

At 1440p, the High preset is recommended for a balanced experience. It provides an average of 132.7 FPS, which is excellent for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is still playable at 94.9 FPS, but the drop in frame rate might be noticeable in fast-paced action. For those who prioritize maximum frame rate over visual quality, the Low preset at 171.5 FPS offers the highest performance.

For 4K resolution, the data shows that compromises are necessary. The High preset produces an average of 67.7 FPS, which is just on the edge of playability for a tactical shooter. The Medium preset yields 80.8 FPS, which is a safer choice for maintaining a consistent frame rate. The Ultra preset at 51.4 FPS is likely too demanding for a smooth experience. Therefore, for 4K, the Medium preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, ensuring the game remains playable without excessive frame rate drops.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock of 3.30 GHz can boost up to 4.30 GHz, providing solid single-thread performance, which is often critical for game logic and physics calculations. The processor's benchmark scores reflect this, with a single-core score of 893 in 3dmark and a single-thread score of 3444 in Passmark.

However, the CPU's role in Ready Or Not is nuanced. The data shows that at 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed, the frame rates are extremely high (over 200 FPS), suggesting the CPU is keeping up with the game's demands. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 4051 is nearly identical to the 8-thread score of 4026, indicating that the processor's performance does not scale significantly beyond 8 threads, which is expected for a 4-core part.

In this configuration, the CPU's performance is sufficient to avoid being a major bottleneck at standard resolutions. The system's rank of 973 out of 1748 combos suggests that while the CPU is not the strongest component, it works adequately with the RX 6700 XT to deliver playable performance. The processor's 12 MB of shared L3 cache helps with data retrieval, and its support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory offers flexibility, but its 4-core design means it may not provide the same level of performance headroom as processors with more cores in heavily multi-threaded sections of the game.