To The Core

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 produces exceptional frame rates in To The Core, an Idle game that clearly favors high-end graphics hardware. The data shows this pairing is capable of delivering a highly responsive experience at every resolution tested, with performance scaling predictably as resolution decreases. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS results, the role of the processor, and how this specific combo stacks up against other tested configurations in the database.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the system’s performance scales from 1080p to 4K, highlighting where the bottleneck lies. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are extraordinarily high, indicating that the CPU is likely the limiting factor rather than the GPU. Moving up to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high, showing only a moderate decline. Finally, at 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the primary constraint, but the performance is still well above the threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 405. This number is so high that it suggests the Intel Core i5-11400F is working near its limit, as the RTX 4080 is capable of far more. The jump from 1080p High to 1440p High shows a significant drop from 405 to 272 FPS, a reduction of approximately 33%. This steep decline indicates that while the CPU is still a factor, the GPU is starting to take on a more significant workload as pixel count increases.

The transition from 1440p to 4K shows a similar pattern. At 2560x1440 High, the system averages 272 FPS, but at 3840x2160 High, it drops to 156 FPS. This represents a 43% decrease in performance. This larger percentage drop compared to the 1080p to 1440p transition confirms that the RTX 4080 is becoming the dominant limiting component at 4K resolution. The data for Medium settings reinforces this trend, with average FPS figures of 430 at 1080p, 314 at 1440p, and 180 at 4K.

The scaling behavior is typical for a high-end GPU paired with a mid-range CPU. At lower resolutions, the CPU's processing speed for game logic and draw calls caps the frame rate. As resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows, allowing it to become the primary performance driver. The 4K results, with a Low settings average of 212 FPS, demonstrate that even at the most demanding resolution, the RTX 4080 has ample headroom and is not being held back by the i5-11400F. The frame rate drop from Low to Ultra at 4K (212 to 125 FPS) is substantial, showing the GPU is fully engaged when graphical fidelity is maximized.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for this combo at 2560x1440 with High settings is 272. This indicates a very smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors.

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

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 405. At 3840x2160 High, the average FPS is 156. This represents a significant performance drop, showing that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K resolution.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: The data suggests a CPU bottleneck at 1080p, where frame rates are extremely high (e.g., 457 FPS on Low). At 4K, the GPU becomes the main constraint, as evidenced by the larger performance drops between settings, indicating the CPU has enough headroom to keep up.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 4K display?

A: For 4K, the High preset offers a strong balance, with an average of 156 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 125 FPS, which is still playable but represents a 20% performance hit for the highest visual quality.

Q: Does the CPU show a performance advantage in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival in the data is the AMD EPYC 7H12, which has a score of 17120, making the Intel part 0.3% faster.

Q: How does the RTX 4080's benchmark score compare to its closest rival?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209, which means the RTX 4080 is 0.1% ahead in this metric.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The data shows that in To The Core, this CPU is capable of driving frame rates to very high levels, but its influence is most pronounced at lower resolutions. The synthetic benchmarks for the CPU show a strong single-threaded performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and a passmark_single_thread score of 2981. These scores are important because many game engines rely heavily on single-threaded performance for core game logic.

The CPU's role in the measured results is clear when looking at the 1080p data. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 457 FPS. This is the highest average FPS recorded in the entire dataset. The fact that this is the maximum observed performance suggests that the CPU is the limiting factor here, as the RTX 4080 would not be fully utilized to produce such a high frame rate in a more demanding scenario. The performance difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 131 FPS (457 vs 326), which is a smaller relative difference compared to the gap at 4K, further indicating a CPU limit.

At 4K resolution, the CPU's role shifts. The GPU is now the primary bottleneck, but the CPU still needs to feed it data fast enough to maintain high frame rates. The fact that the system can achieve 212 FPS at 4K Low and 156 FPS at 4K High shows that the i5-11400F is not severely holding back the RTX 4080. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are sufficient for this title. The processor's 3dmark_16_threads score of 5619 and cinebench_r23_multicore score of 14340 indicate solid multi-threaded capabilities, which can help with background tasks and game streaming, but the primary driver for high FPS in this game is the GPU.

The comparison with its nearest rivals shows that this CPU is competitive in its class. Its average benchmark score of 17177 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 7H12, which scores 17120 (a 0.3% difference). This performance parity suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, users can expect similar performance from these very different processors. However, the i5-11400F's architecture, with its high boost clock, seems well-suited for gaming workloads that demand quick responses.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset to choose for the best experience. The goal is to balance visual fidelity with a frame rate that is consistently high enough for smooth gameplay. For an Idle game like To The Core, a high frame rate is beneficial for smooth animations and immediate feedback.

For 1920x1080 resolution, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 405 FPS, which is an excellent experience for any display. The Ultra preset lowers the average to 326 FPS, a 20% reduction for what is likely a marginal visual improvement. The Medium preset at 430 FPS offers only a 6% increase over High, making High the better choice for its improved visual quality. The Low preset at 457 FPS is unnecessary, as the frame rate is already so high that any further gains are imperceptible.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is again the optimal choice. With an average of 272 FPS, it provides a fluid experience on high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors. The Ultra preset drops to 219 FPS, which is still very playable but represents a 19% performance loss. The Medium preset at 314 FPS offers a 15% performance gain over High but sacrifices visual details. For most users, High provides the best balance of visual quality and performance.

For 3840x2160, the High preset is the recommended setting. It achieves an average of 156 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and is even sufficient for 144Hz 4K displays. The Ultra preset at 125 FPS is also viable, but the 20% drop in performance from High may not justify the small increase in visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 180 FPS is a good option for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, but High is the sweet spot for a premium 4K experience. The Low preset at 212 FPS is not recommended, as the visual downgrade is significant and the frame rate is already more than adequate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination holds a specific rank within the database of tested combos for To The Core. The data shows that this pairing is ranked 342nd out of 3725 total tested combinations. This places it in the top 10% of all tested combos, indicating that it is a very high-performing setup for this particular game.

This rank reflects the strength of the RTX 4080. While the i5-11400F is not a top-tier CPU, the measured FPS results show that it does not hold the system back significantly, especially at higher resolutions. The combo's performance is driven by the GPU's immense rendering power, which is evident in the 4K results. The rank of 342 out of 3725 suggests that this system outperforms the vast majority of other configurations tested, making it a formidable option for playing To The Core at any resolution.

The CPU's percentile rank of 71 and the GPU's percentile rank of 86 provide context for the combo's overall standing. The GPU is ranked higher than the CPU, which reinforces the idea that the graphics card is the primary driver of performance in this system. The combo's overall rank of 342 is a strong result, and it shows that users can expect a top-tier experience without needing to pair the RTX 4080 with the absolute fastest processor on the market.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average FPS (and where available, min and max FPS) for this specific CPU and GPU combination in To The Core.

1920x1080

• Low: Average FPS is 457.
• Medium: Average FPS is 430, with a minimum of 366 and a maximum of 495.
• High: Average FPS is 405.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 326.

2560x1440

• Low: Average FPS is 371.
• Medium: Average FPS is 314, with a minimum of 267 and a maximum of 361.
• High: Average FPS is 272.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 219.

3840x2160

• Low: Average FPS is 212.
• Medium: Average FPS is 180, with a minimum of 153 and a maximum of 207.
• High: Average FPS is 156.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 125.

This data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy across all resolutions. The Low preset always yields the highest average FPS, followed by Medium, High, and finally Ultra. The frame time consistency, as indicated by the min and max FPS for Medium settings, appears stable, with the spread between min and max being roughly 30% of the average at each resolution. This suggests a predictable and smooth gaming experience without major stutters. The combination of the i5-11400F and RTX 4080 provides a powerful foundation for To The Core, with performance that scales well and remains impressive even at the most demanding settings.