To The Core

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates in To The Core, an idle game where the data indicates the GPU is the primary driver of performance scaling. The measured results show a configuration capable of triple-digit frame rates even at 4K Ultra, with the CPU providing ample headroom to avoid bottlenecking the graphics card across all tested settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz position it as a balanced mid-range desktop part, and its 18 MB of shared L3 cache supports efficient data handling for gaming workloads. The processor’s benchmark profile shows a 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19850, placing it in direct competition with the Intel Core i7-9700, which scores 19831 (a mere 0.1% difference).

In the context of To The Core, the CPU’s role appears to be one of consistent support rather than a limiting factor. The single-thread performance, as measured by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 910 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2249, indicates strong per-core capability. This is crucial for a game that likely relies on a primary simulation or logic thread, a common trait in the idle genre. The multi-threaded results, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15935 and a passmark_multithread score of 18747, show that the processor can handle background tasks and game logic without issue.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400’s performance is tightly clustered. It sits just 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-8700 (avgScore 19894) and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (avgScore 19928). Conversely, it is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600K (avgScore 19771). This data suggests that for this game, the CPU’s generation and core count are less impactful than the GPU, as the frame rates remain high even at lower resolutions where CPU load is typically more significant. The processor’s 65W TDP and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory further underline its flexible, mainstream positioning, but the benchmark data confirms it is not the performance ceiling in this pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, based on the Ampere architecture and GA102 chip, is a high-end graphics card with 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. Its boost clock of 1710 MHz and 8704 shading units deliver substantial raw compute power, evidenced by a passmark_g3d score of 25086 and an FP32 performance of 29.77 TFLOPS. The GPU’s 80th percentile ranking among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 35787 place it in a competitive tier.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Radeon Pro Duo (avgScore 35860, deltaPct -0.2%), the AMD Radeon 880M (avgScore 35646, deltaPct 0.4%), and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (avgScore 36101, deltaPct -0.9%). The RTX 3080 also trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile by 1% (avgScore 35435). These close margins suggest that in synthetic tests, the RTX 3080 is a well-matched competitor, but in To The Core, its performance is what defines the user experience.

The data indicates that the RTX 3080 is the dominant component in this system. The frame rates scale dramatically with resolution and settings, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance. With 68 RT cores and 272 tensor cores, the card is equipped for advanced rendering features, but for an idle game, the sheer fill rate and memory bandwidth are more relevant. The 10 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for the game’s demands, ensuring no memory-related stutters at any tested configuration. The GPU’s 320W TDP and suggested 700W PSU are high, but the performance payoff is clear in the measured FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 300.8 frames per second.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the Intel Core i7-9700?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-9700’s score of 19831, indicating nearly identical overall performance.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 412.9 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more important for performance in this game?

A: The data shows that frame rates are heavily influenced by GPU load, as increasing resolution from 1080p to 4K causes a significant drop in FPS, indicating the GPU is the primary limiting component.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 3080 and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE?

A: The RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 35787, which is 0.9% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE’s score of 36101.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the tests?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 96.6 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this configuration reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional fluidity, with average frame rates ranging from 246.2 FPS at Ultra settings to a peak of 412.9 FPS at Low settings. The Medium setting yields 352 FPS, while High settings produce 300.8 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the game is highly playable on any setting, with even the most demanding preset maintaining a frame rate well above the refresh rate of most monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains robust but shows the expected impact of increased pixel count. The average FPS at High settings is 205.9, which drops to 162.9 at Ultra. Low settings still achieve a high 279.9 FPS, while Medium settings yield 233.4 FPS. This resolution represents a sweet spot for the RTX 3080, as it maintains high frame rates while offering better image clarity than 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s workload becomes more demanding. The average FPS at High settings is 117.3, and at Ultra settings, it falls to 96.6. Medium settings produce 134.5 FPS, while Low settings yield 157.9 FPS. These 4K results are still very playable, but the drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, highlighting the GPU’s central role in determining performance. Across all resolutions, the scaling from Low to Ultra settings shows a consistent pattern of reduced frame rates, with Ultra settings typically imposing a 40-50% performance penalty compared to Low settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K provides insight into the system’s bottleneck characteristics. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 300.8 at 1080p to 205.9 at 1440p, a reduction of approximately 32%, and then to 117.3 at 4K, a further 43% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline with increasing resolution is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its strong single-thread performance, is able to feed the GPU adequately at lower resolutions, but as the pixel count rises, the RTX 3080’s rendering workload becomes the limiting factor.

The data at Low settings reinforces this analysis. At 1080p, the system reaches 412.9 FPS, indicating that the CPU is capable of driving extremely high frame rates. However, at 1440p, this drops to 279.9 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 157.9 FPS. The consistent pattern across all settings—where 4K performance is roughly 38-40% of 1080p performance—suggests that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints at higher resolutions. The RTX 3080’s 760.3 GB/s bandwidth and 164.2 GPixel/s pixel rate are being fully utilized, while the i5-12400’s processing power remains largely untapped at 4K.

This behavior confirms that for To The Core, the RTX 3080 is the dominant component. The CPU’s 77th percentile ranking and close benchmark scores to its rivals have little bearing on the final FPS numbers, as the game’s graphical load scales directly with resolution. The system is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where frame rates are exceptionally high, and it remains capable at 4K, though the 96.6 FPS at Ultra settings shows the GPU’s limits when pushed to maximum detail. The data suggests that users seeking higher frame rates at 4K would need to lower settings, as the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration.