To The Core

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers exceptional frame rates in To The Core, an Idle genre title, across all tested settings and resolutions. The data shows a configuration that prioritizes raw throughput, with the measured results indicating that the GPU is the primary scaling factor as resolution increases, while the CPU provides ample headroom for high-refresh-rate gameplay at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, component roles, and ranking within the broader benchmark database.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as render resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 338 FPS at 1920x1080 to 227 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 130 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a significant performance cost, with the transition to 4K resulting in a frame rate that is approximately 62% lower than at 1080p. The pattern is consistent across all settings presets, indicating a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

The scaling behavior provides insight into the limiting component at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the average FPS figures are extraordinarily high, reaching 461 FPS on Low settings. Such numbers suggest that the CPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution, as the GPU is capable of rendering frames faster than the processor can feed it data. The Intel Core i5-12400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, demonstrates enough processing power to sustain these high frame rates, but the data indicates that the ceiling is being approached.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, the workload shifts decisively to the GPU. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced. For example, on Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 390 at 1080p to 262 at 1440p, and then to 150 at 4K. This steep decline at 4K strongly suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070's 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 192-bit memory bus are being fully utilized, and the GPU's compute capacity becomes the limiting factor. The data shows that the RTX 5070 is a capable 4K performer in this title, but the resolution scaling curve indicates that users seeking the highest refresh rates should consider 1440p or 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 holds the rank of 770 out of 3725 tested combos in To The Core. This places the configuration in the top 21% of all tested system pairings, a strong result that reflects the high performance of both components. The percentile ranking for the CPU alone is 73, and for the GPU it is 82, indicating that both parts are above-average performers in their respective categories.

The combo's rank of 770 is notable given the nature of the game. As an Idle genre title, To The Core may not be as demanding as a AAA first-person shooter, yet the data shows that this hardware combination still achieves a high relative standing. The high rank is likely influenced by the GPU's substantial lead over its nearest rivals. The RTX 5070's average benchmark score is 40377, which is significantly higher than the scores of its closest competitors listed in the data, such as the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318) and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063). This performance margin contributes to the overall combo ranking.

Conversely, the CPU's performance, while strong, is more closely matched to its rivals. The i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047) and the Intel Core 3 201E (19056), with delta percentages of 0 and -0.1, respectively. This indicates that the CPU is not a differentiator in this combo's ranking; rather, it is the GPU's performance that propels the combination to its 770th position. The data suggests that the combination is well-balanced, but the GPU is the primary driver of its high rank.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo in To The Core?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 461 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the peak performance point in the measured data.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in To The Core?*

A: Yes, the data shows playable frame rates at 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS is 130, and at Ultra settings, it drops to 105 FPS. These are smooth, playable figures, though not as high as lower resolutions.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its closest rival in the database?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 40377, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318) and 0.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063). It also holds a 2% lead over the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile (39568).

Q: What is the CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. This is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which scores 19047 (a 0% delta), and the Intel Core 3 201E, which scores 19056 (a -0.1% delta). It is only 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U (18982).

Q: Is there a significant difference between Medium and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, the performance gap is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 262 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 183 FPS. This is a 79 FPS difference, indicating a heavy load on the GPU with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the game's Idle genre affect the performance characteristics?

A: The measured data shows extremely high frame rates, suggesting the game is not graphically intensive. The GPU's high percentile rank (82) and the CPU's rank (73) indicate that the hardware is more than capable for this title, resulting in the high combo rank of 770 out of 3725.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the configuration shows extreme performance, with the Low preset achieving an average of 461 FPS. The Medium preset follows at 390 FPS, with minimum and maximum figures of 331 and 448 FPS, respectively. High settings produce an average of 338 FPS, and the Ultra preset, while still very high, drops to an average of 272 FPS. This data confirms that at 1080p, the system is rarely constrained by the GPU, with even the most demanding preset remaining well above 240 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptional but shows a clear step down from 1080p. The Low preset averages 310 FPS, while Medium averages 262 FPS (min 223, max 302). High settings see a further reduction to 227 FPS, and Ultra settings average 183 FPS. These figures indicate that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combo, offering high refresh rates on all presets while providing a more immersive visual experience than 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, but the results are still strong. Low settings average 177 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 310 FPS at 1440p. Medium settings average 150 FPS (min 127, max 172), High settings average 130 FPS, and Ultra settings average 105 FPS. The data shows a smooth scaling curve, with each preset step costing approximately 20-25 FPS at this resolution. The minimum FPS recorded at 4K Medium is 127, which is still well above the standard 60 FPS threshold, indicating stable performance even in demanding scenes.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and refresh rate target. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation, as it provides an average of 272 FPS. This is sufficiently high for any current high-refresh-rate monitor, and the visual quality improvements over the High preset (338 FPS) are worth the modest performance trade-off. The data shows that even at Ultra, the system is delivering over 270 FPS, leaving no performance concerns.

At 2560x1440, the High preset (227 FPS) offers the best balance for most users, providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium (262 FPS) while still maintaining frame rates above 220 FPS. For those with 240Hz monitors, the Medium preset (262 FPS) is the safest choice to ensure frame rates consistently stay above the refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 183 FPS is still excellent and recommended for those prioritizing visual fidelity over maximum frame rate, as it remains well above the 144Hz threshold.

For 4K gaming at 3840x2160, the High preset (130 FPS) is the recommended starting point, as it offers a strong balance between visual quality and performance. Users with 120Hz displays will find this preset ideal. The Medium preset (150 FPS) is also a viable option for those seeking extra headroom, while the Ultra preset (105 FPS) is best suited for users with 100Hz displays who want the absolute best image quality. The Low preset (177 FPS) is recommended only for competitive play where maximum frame rate is prioritized over visuals.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In To The Core, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with sufficient data to maintain the high frame rates observed in the measured data. The benchmark results for the CPU show strong single-thread and multi-thread performance, with a 3dmark single-thread score of 909 and a max-thread score of 5912. This indicates that the processor has ample headroom for the game's logic and physics calculations.

Given the extremely high FPS at 1080p (up to 461 FPS on Low), the data suggests that the CPU is likely the limiting factor at this resolution. The processor's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, supports this conclusion, as the CPU can process frames at a rate that exceeds what most games can generate. However, as resolution increases, the CPU's workload remains relatively constant, allowing the GPU to become the bottleneck.

The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache likely contribute to its efficient data handling in this genre. The 65W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility make it a mainstream part, but its performance is not mainstream. The data shows it is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039, placing it just ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047) and Intel Core 3 201E (19056). This near-tie in performance suggests that the CPU is a solid, but not exceptional, performer, and its role in this combo is to provide consistent, high-throughput processing without bottlenecking the RTX 5070 at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the dominant component in this configuration, responsible for the high frame rates and overall performance in To The Core. The GPU features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs, with a base clock of 2325 MHz and a boost clock of 2512 MHz. The 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s, which is a key factor in the GPU's ability to handle high resolutions and settings.

The GPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Passmark G3D score of 29137 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077. The data shows that the RTX 5070 is ranked in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40377. This places it 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318) and 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063), demonstrating its position as a high-end part.

In To The Core, the GPU's role is clear: it is the primary scaling factor at resolutions above 1080p. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is fully utilized at 4K, with the Ultra preset resulting in an average of 105 FPS. The GPU's 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, while not heavily utilized in this Idle genre title, contribute to its overall compute capabilities. The 250W TDP and 600W suggested PSU indicate that this is a power-hungry component, but its performance justifies the power draw. The data confirms that the RTX 5070 is the engine driving the combo's high rank, providing the necessary performance to achieve the measured frame rates.