To The Core

# To The Core with AMD Ryzen 5 8400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

This combination of AMD's 6-core Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA's flagship RTX 5090 produces exceptional frame rates in To The Core, reaching 566 FPS at 1080p Low settings and maintaining playable performance even at 4K Ultra. The pairing ranks 86th out of 3,725 tested combinations, placing it in the top 2.3% of all configs in this database. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the dominant performance driver at higher resolutions, while the CPU's 6-core/12-thread configuration proves more than sufficient for this idle-genre title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is built on the Zen 4 architecture using the Phoenix codename, fabricated on TSMC's 4nm process. This 6-core, 12-thread processor operates with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, drawing a 65W TDP. The processor features a 16 MB shared L3 cache, with 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core. Its memory interface supports dual-channel DDR5 with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, and the CPU connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 8400F demonstrates solid multi-threaded capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20,851 points and single-core score of 2,943 points indicate balanced performance. The PassMark multithread score of 24,389 and single-thread score of 3,685 reinforce this profile. The processor achieves a 77th percentile ranking versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25,005.

The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F with an average score of 24,964 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i7-11850H at 24,935 (0.3% behind), and the Intel Core i7-13620H at 24,911 (0.4% behind). The AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25,103, placing it 0.4% ahead. These deltas are remarkably tight, showing the 8400F sits in a crowded performance band.

For To The Core specifically, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low settings, where CPU limitations would typically surface first, the system achieves 566 FPS average. This suggests the 6-core configuration with 12 threads provides ample headroom for this idle-genre game's processing demands. The 3DMark scores reinforce this: 16-thread score of 6,091 and max-thread score of 6,165 show the processor scales well with available threads.

The single-thread performance, measured at 951 in 3DMark single-thread and 2,943 in Cinebench R23 single-core, proves adequate for game logic and physics calculations. For an idle game like To The Core, where the simulation may run continuously in the background, the 65W TDP and efficient 4nm process help maintain consistent performance without thermal throttling concerns.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 represents the pinnacle of the GeForce 50-series, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB202 chip. This GPU packs 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs. It features 170 ray tracing cores and 680 tensor cores, enabling 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The 32 GB of GDDR7 memory operates across a 512-bit bus, delivering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth — a figure that proves critical for 4K gaming.

The RTX 5090's clock speeds reach 2,407 MHz boost, with a base clock of 2,017 MHz. Its 575W TDP and suggested 950W PSU requirement indicate a power-hungry flagship, but the performance justifies the appetite. The GPU achieves a 92nd percentile ranking versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79,842.

In the GPU benchmark database, the nearest rivals show interesting comparisons. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB scores 79,605 (0.3% behind), while the Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB scores 79,396 (0.6% behind). The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT trails by 1.1% with a score of 78,940, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X leads by 1.4% at 80,959. These deltaPct values show the RTX 5090 sits within a tight cluster of high-performance GPUs in synthetic tests.

For To The Core, the RTX 5090's massive memory bandwidth and 32 GB VRAM capacity ensure no memory-related bottlenecks even at 4K Ultra settings. The PassMark G3D score of 39,650 and GPU compute score of 26,756 demonstrate strong raw performance. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 18,355 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 376,728 confirm the GPU's ability to handle modern graphics workloads.

The GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the system delivers 142 FPS average — a 75% drop from the 566 FPS at 1080p Low. This scaling pattern indicates the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU maintains sufficient frame delivery at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals distinct scaling patterns across resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the RTX 5090 produces extraordinary frame rates: 566 FPS at Low, 528 FPS at Medium, 458 FPS at High, and 369 FPS at Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these figures drop to 420 FPS at Low, 355 FPS at Medium, 308 FPS at High, and 248 FPS at Ultra. At 4K, the performance further declines to 240 FPS at Low, 203 FPS at Medium, 176 FPS at High, and 142 FPS at Ultra.

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent pattern. At Low settings, the drop from 566 to 240 FPS represents a 57.6% reduction. At Medium, the drop from 528 to 203 FPS is a 61.6% reduction. High settings see a drop from 458 to 176 FPS (61.6% reduction), while Ultra settings drop from 369 to 142 FPS (61.5% reduction). This consistency across settings suggests the scaling is primarily resolution-driven rather than settings-driven.

The frame rate deltas between settings at each resolution are also informative. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra costs 197 FPS (34.8% reduction). At 1440p, the Low-to-Ultra delta is 172 FPS (41.0% reduction). At 4K, the same comparison shows a 98 FPS drop (40.8% reduction). These percentages indicate that settings have a relatively consistent impact regardless of resolution.

The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU may introduce some limitation, as the GPU's theoretical capacity exceeds what the system delivers. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, with frame rates scaling directly with resolution. The 4K Medium setting shows a minimum FPS of 173 and maximum of 234, providing a 173 FPS floor that remains well above playable thresholds.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination achieves a rank of 86 out of 3,725 tested combos in To The Core. This placement puts the system in the top 2.3% of all configurations, a remarkable result considering the CPU is a mid-range 6-core processor paired with a flagship GPU.

The ranking reflects the game's characteristics as an idle genre title, which typically places lighter demands on CPU resources compared to GPU-intensive workloads. The 6-core/12-thread processor provides sufficient processing power, while the RTX 5090's massive compute capabilities drive the extreme frame rates observed.

Compared to the CPU's nearest rivals, the 8400F's performance is nearly identical to the Ryzen 5 7500F (0.2% difference in average score). However, the combo ranking suggests that the GPU plays a more significant role in determining overall system performance in To The Core. The RTX 5090's 92nd percentile GPU ranking, combined with the CPU's 77th percentile, creates a system that excels in GPU-bound scenarios.

The rank of 86 out of 3,725 means there are 85 combinations that outperform this pairing. Given the RTX 5090's position as a top-tier GPU, these higher-ranked combos likely feature more powerful CPUs. However, the data shows that for To The Core specifically, the 8400F's performance is sufficient to avoid major bottlenecks, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p where CPU limitations would typically manifest.

FAQ

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The system delivers an average of 308 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is a 32.8% reduction from the 458 FPS achieved at 1080p High, indicating the GPU's performance scales well with resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Ryzen 5 7500F?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25,005, which is 0.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 7500F's score of 24,964. The difference is negligible, placing both processors in a similar performance tier.

Q: Is the RTX 5090's 32 GB VRAM necessary for this game?

A: The 32 GB of GDDR7 memory provides 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. For To The Core, the data shows maximum frame rates of 608 FPS at 1080p Medium, suggesting the GPU's memory capacity does not limit performance in this title.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, Low settings produce 240 FPS average, while Ultra settings produce 142 FPS average. This represents a 40.8% reduction in performance from Low to Ultra at 4K resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 86th out of 3,725 tested combos in To The Core, placing it in the top 2.3% of all systems in the database.

Q: What minimum FPS can I expect at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves a minimum FPS of 302 and a maximum of 409, with an average of 355 FPS. The 302 FPS floor ensures smooth gameplay even during demanding scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combination is presented below, organized by resolution and settings.

1920x1080 (Full HD):

• Low: 566 FPS average
• Medium: 528 FPS average, 449 FPS minimum, 608 FPS maximum
• High: 458 FPS average
• Ultra: 369 FPS average

2560x1440 (Quad HD):

• Low: 420 FPS average
• Medium: 355 FPS average, 302 FPS minimum, 409 FPS maximum
• High: 308 FPS average
• Ultra: 248 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K Ultra HD):

• Low: 240 FPS average
• Medium: 203 FPS average, 173 FPS minimum, 234 FPS maximum
• High: 176 FPS average
• Ultra: 142 FPS average

The data shows that at every resolution and setting combination, the system maintains frame rates well above playable thresholds. Even the most demanding configuration — 4K Ultra at 142 FPS average — provides a smooth experience. The minimum FPS values recorded at Medium settings (449 at 1080p, 302 at 1440p, 173 at 4K) indicate consistent frame delivery without significant dips.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows the system's ability to handle high-resolution gaming. At Low settings, the 1080p-to-4K drop is 326 FPS (57.6%), while at Ultra settings, the drop is 227 FPS (61.5%). The consistent percentage drops across settings suggest the GPU's rendering workload scales predictably with pixel count, and the CPU maintains adequate frame delivery throughout.

For users targeting specific performance levels, the data provides clear guidance. At 4K Ultra, the system delivers 142 FPS, which is suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. At 1440p, all settings produce frame rates exceeding 248 FPS, making this resolution ideal for 240Hz monitors. At 1080p, even Ultra settings achieve 369 FPS, exceeding the refresh rate of most gaming displays.