To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers exceptional performance in To The Core, an Idle game that proves surprisingly demanding at higher settings. The benchmark data shows a configuration capable of triple-digit frame rates even at 4K, with the CPU and GPU both playing significant roles depending on resolution. This analysis breaks down the measured results, component roles, and overall ranking.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 252.3 frames per second. This is the most demanding preset tested at this resolution, showing a significant drop from the Low preset’s 432.9 FPS.

Q: How much faster is the 1080p Low preset compared to the 4K Ultra preset?

A: The 1080p Low preset achieves 432.9 FPS, while the 4K Ultra preset runs at 96.2 FPS. The 1080p Low result is approximately 4.5 times higher than the 4K Ultra result, illustrating a massive performance scaling gap across resolution and quality.

Q: What is the RTX 4070's average benchmark score and percentile ranking?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37283 and sits in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. This indicates it outperforms the majority of graphics cards in the database.

Q: Which CPU is the closest rival to the Ryzen 9 5900X based on average score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS is the closest rival, with an average score of 39747, which is 0.7% higher than the Ryzen 9 5900X's score. The Intel Core i7-13700 is also close, scoring 39857, a 1% advantage.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU appear to be the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K, the frame rate drops are proportional to the increased pixel count, indicating the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The difference between the 4K Low (165.1 FPS) and 4K Ultra (96.2 FPS) shows the GPU's workload scaling with settings.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X?

A: The launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is $549. This information is listed for reference only.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the central component for rendering in To The Core. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a substantial 504.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This bandwidth is likely crucial for handling the game's data at high resolutions without causing stutters. The GPU's architecture, Ada Lovelace, is built on a 5 nm process and features 5888 shading units, 184 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, allowing for high pixel and texture fill rates.

The measured FPS data shows the RTX 4070's performance scaling with settings. At 1080p, the GPU produces a massive 432.9 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 316.1 FPS on High and 252.3 FPS on Ultra. This pattern is consistent at all resolutions. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz, combined with its core configuration, allows it to maintain high frame rates even when the game's visual complexity increases. The benchmark results confirm that the RTX 4070 is a capable performer in this title, with its average benchmark score of 37283 placing it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. While its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 with a score of 37507 (0.6% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile with a score of 38135 (2.2% higher), the desktop RTX 4070 holds its own in this specific game.

Resolution Scaling

The benchmark results show clear scaling across the three tested resolutions. Moving from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K significantly increases the rendering load. For example, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 316.1 at 1080p to 213.2 at 1440p, a 32.5% reduction, and then to 120.1 at 4K, a further 43.7% reduction. This demonstrates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck as resolution increases.

This pattern is similar across all settings. On Low settings, the frame rate drops from 432.9 at 1080p to 288 at 1440p and then to 165.1 at 4K. The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a performance loss of over 60% in each case. The data indicates that while the CPU is strong enough to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, the GPU's workload at 4K becomes the dominant factor limiting performance. The difference between the 4K Low and 4K Ultra settings (165.1 vs 96.2 FPS) also shows that the GPU is responsible for handling the increased detail and effects, as the frame rate drops by over 40% when moving from Low to Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 9 5900X and RTX 4070 achieves a combo rank of 470 out of 1756 tested combinations in To The Core. This places the setup in the top 27% of all configurations in the database. This ranking is a strong indicator of the platform's overall capability.

The high rank is supported by the component-level performance. The CPU's average benchmark score of 39453 places it in the 90th percentile, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-13700F with a deltaPct of 0.9%, show that it is a high-end performer. The GPU, with its 81st percentile ranking, is also a strong contender. The combined strength of these two components allows the system to achieve high frame rates across all tested settings, but the rank of 470 suggests that other combinations, possibly with higher-end GPUs, can push even higher. The data shows this combo is well-balanced, but it is not the absolute top performer in the database.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X provides the processing power for this combo. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, it offers substantial multi-threaded capability. Its boost clock of 4.80 GHz and 64 MB of L3 cache are key factors for gaming performance. The CPU's benchmark scores confirm its strength, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 33150 and a single-core score of 4680.

In To The Core, the CPU's role is less about raw frame generation at high resolutions and more about maintaining a solid foundation. At 1080p, where the GPU is less strained, the CPU's performance is crucial for achieving the high frame rates seen in the data. For instance, the 432.9 FPS result at 1080p Low requires a processor capable of handling the game's simulation and logic at that speed. The Ryzen 9 5900X, with its high single-thread performance, is up to the task. Its percentile ranking of 90 places it above most CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4245P with a deltaPct of 0.2%, indicating a very close performance level. The 3dmark benchmarks for the CPU, such as a single-thread score of 941 and a max-thread score of 10075, further illustrate its capability to handle both light and heavy workloads.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 432.9 FPS
• Medium: 365.3 FPS
• High: 316.1 FPS
• Ultra: 252.3 FPS

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 288 FPS
• Medium: 243.8 FPS
• High: 213.2 FPS
• Ultra: 173.5 FPS

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 165.1 FPS
• Medium: 140.2 FPS
• High: 120.1 FPS
• Ultra: 96.2 FPS

The data shows a consistent drop in performance as settings increase from Low to Ultra. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 180.6 FPS. At 1440p, this difference is reduced to 114.5 FPS. At 4K, the difference narrows further to 68.9 FPS. This pattern suggests that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the absolute performance drop from changing settings is less severe. All results remain playable, with even the lowest average FPS of 96.2 (4K Ultra) being well above standard refresh rates. The data confirms that this combo is capable of delivering a smooth experience at any tested configuration, with the most demanding settings still providing near or above 100 FPS.