Road 96

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a highly playable experience in Road 96, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and presets. The data shows a configuration that is firmly capable of smooth frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K Ultra remains the only setting that pushes the system to its limits. This analysis examines the measured results, contextualizes the hardware’s role, and provides actionable settings guidance.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 58 W TDP. The processor’s cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. While the chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, its PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes provides ample bandwidth for the RTX 4060.

Benchmark data places this CPU in the 72nd percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 13516. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (avg score 13534, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-1250U (avg score 13462, delta 0.4%), and the Intel Core i3-10105 (avg score 13430, delta 0.6%). In multi-threaded workloads, the i3-12100F achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11912, while its single-core score of 1681 highlights strong per-thread performance. PassMark results show a multithread score of 14015 and a single-thread score of 3444, indicating that the CPU’s 4-core design is well-optimized for lightly-threaded tasks.

In Road 96, an adventure game, the CPU’s role is moderate but not negligible. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and presets suggest that the i3-12100F never becomes a bottleneck, as even at 1080p Low the system averages 199.3 FPS. The 8 threads are sufficient for the game’s engine, which likely relies on a few primary threads for gameplay logic and rendering. The high boost clock of 4.30 GHz ensures responsive single-threaded performance, which is critical for maintaining consistent frame pacing in a narrative-driven title. The data shows that the CPU’s 4-core configuration, while not a powerhouse for heavily threaded applications, is entirely adequate for this game’s demands, allowing the RTX 4060 to operate at its full potential.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear hierarchy across presets and resolutions, allowing for precise recommendations based on target frame rates. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 199.3 FPS on Low, 145.7 FPS on Medium, 118 FPS on High, and 93.5 FPS on Ultra. These figures indicate that even at Ultra, the configuration maintains well above 60 FPS, providing a smooth experience for users with high-refresh-rate monitors. For 1080p, the High preset offers an optimal balance, delivering 118 FPS while retaining visual quality improvements over Medium.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected scaling impact. Low settings yield 131.2 FPS, Medium produces 95.3 FPS, High achieves 75.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 62 FPS. At this resolution, the High preset is recommended for a consistent 75 FPS experience, while users prioritizing frame rate can select Medium for 95.3 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p remains playable at 62 FPS, but the margin above 60 FPS is slim, making High the preferred choice for stability.

At 3840x2160, the system’s limits become apparent. Low settings average 65.3 FPS, Medium drops to 51.6 FPS, High falls to 38 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 28.7 FPS. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only option that maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS, while Medium hovers near 50 FPS and may be acceptable for users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness. High and Ultra at 4K are not recommended, as the frame rates drop below 40 FPS, which can detract from the game’s narrative pacing. Across all resolutions, the data indicates that the High preset provides the best overall experience when balancing visual quality and performance, with 1440p High being the sweet spot for this configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra with this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 93.5 FPS, indicating the configuration can handle the highest preset at this resolution without dipping below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the i3-12100F compare to its nearest rival in CPU benchmarks?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534) and 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i7-1250U (13462). It outperforms the Intel Core i3-10105 (13430) by 0.6%.

*Q: Is the RTX 4060 capable of 4K gaming in Road 96?*

A: At 3840x2160, the RTX 4060 achieves 65.3 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 51.6 FPS on Medium and 38 FPS on High. Ultra settings produce only 28.7 FPS, so 4K is only viable at Low or Medium presets.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: This combo ranks 967 out of 1684 tested combinations in Road 96, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations.

Q: What is the boost clock of the i3-12100F?

A: The processor’s boost clock is 4.30 GHz, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz, which contributes to its strong single-threaded performance in lightly-threaded games.

*Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 4060 have, and does it affect Road 96?*

A: The RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. In Road 96, this capacity is sufficient across all tested presets, as the frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings without signs of memory-related stuttering.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 967 out of 1684 tested combinations in Road 96 places it in the 57th percentile of all configurations tested for this game. This positioning reflects the balance between the i3-12100F’s modest 4-core design and the RTX 4060’s mid-range performance. The rank indicates that while this setup is not at the top tier, it outperforms a significant majority of tested combos, making it a solid choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 13516 puts it in the 72nd percentile among all processors, with its nearest rivals separated by less than 1.8% in score. This tight clustering suggests that the i3-12100F’s performance is highly competitive with other mid-range processors. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 23181 places it in the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23321, delta -0.6%) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (23338, delta -0.7%) as close competitors.

In the context of Road 96, the combo’s rank is more than adequate for the game’s demands. The measured FPS data shows that the configuration consistently delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p across all presets, with only 4K Ultra falling below 30 FPS. The rank of 967 suggests that many higher-tier combos exist, but the practical performance for this specific game is excellent, as the bottleneck is primarily the GPU at higher resolutions. The data indicates that this combo is well-matched for Road 96, offering a smooth experience without requiring excessive hardware investment.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using TSMC’s 5 nm process, with 18,900 million transistors on a 159 mm² die. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1830 MHz, with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and memory runs at 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective). The RTX 4060 includes 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 24 RT cores, and 96 tensor cores, delivering 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU’s TDP is 115 W, with a suggested PSU of 300 W.

In Road 96, the RTX 4060’s performance is the primary determinant of frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions. The measured data shows a clear scaling pattern: at 1080p, the GPU delivers 199.3 FPS on Low and drops to 93.5 FPS on Ultra, while at 1440p, it ranges from 131.2 FPS on Low to 62 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the GPU’s limits are exposed, with 65.3 FPS on Low and only 28.7 FPS on Ultra. This scaling indicates that the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game’s textures and effects at 1080p and 1440p, but the rendering load at 4K exceeds the GPU’s compute capabilities.

The GPU’s benchmark results show a PassMark G3D score of 19545 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 101030, with its nearest rival being the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23321, delta -0.6%). The RTX 4060’s 66th percentile ranking among all GPUs reflects its position as a capable mid-range card. In Road 96, the GPU’s role is clear: it provides ample performance for mainstream resolutions, but 4K gaming requires significant settings reductions. The data suggests that the RTX 4060 is best utilized at 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates on High settings, or at 1080p for maximum performance on Ultra. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor in this game, as even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate is constrained by compute rather than memory capacity.