To The Core

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake-S desktop processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 memory support position it as a mid-range part, yet the benchmark data reveals it performs well above that tier in synthetic workloads. The CPU holds the 82nd percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25,236. Its nearest rivals in aggregate performance include the Intel Core i7-13620H (25,201, 0.1% slower), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25,365, 0.5% faster), the AMD EPYC 9474F (25,103, 0.5% slower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 (25,099, 0.5% slower). This clustering within a 0.5% band shows that the i5-13400F is effectively tied with several very different processor designs in raw compute.

In To The Core, an Idle genre title, the game's demands are modest enough that the CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads never appear to be a limiting factor. The measured FPS at 1080p with Low settings reaches 289.2 FPS, and even at 4K Ultra the system stays playable at 63.4 FPS. The single-threaded performance, indicated by a 3DMark single-thread score of 960 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2,301, suggests that the game's logic thread benefits from the 4.60 GHz boost clock. Multi-threaded throughput, measured at 7,307 in 3DMark max threads and 21,279 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, provides ample headroom for any background tasks or game overhead. The data shows no scenario where the CPU's 65 W TDP or 10-core configuration becomes a bottleneck; instead, the frame rates scale almost entirely with GPU load and settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS rows cover four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) across three resolutions. At 1080p, every preset exceeds 170 FPS, so the choice comes down to visual quality versus diminishing returns. Low delivers 289.2 FPS, Medium 246.9 FPS, High 215.7 FPS, and Ultra 173.4 FPS. The gap from Low to Ultra is 115.8 FPS, but the step from High to Ultra is only 42.3 FPS, while Medium to High is 31.2 FPS. For a smooth experience at 1080p, High offers a strong balance: it stays above 200 FPS while providing substantially better visuals than Low or Medium.

At 1440p, the same pattern holds with lower absolute numbers. Low hits 193.6 FPS, Medium 162.7 FPS, High 144.8 FPS, and Ultra 115.6 FPS. Here, High remains the recommended preset because it keeps the frame rate well above 120 FPS, which is comfortable for most displays, while Ultra drops to 115.6 FPS — still playable but showing a 29.2 FPS penalty over High. At 4K, the situation tightens: Low produces 111.6 FPS, Medium 96.7 FPS, High 80.8 FPS, and Ultra 63.4 FPS. For 4K, High is the best choice if the user prioritizes staying above 60 FPS, as it does so with a 17.4 FPS margin over Ultra. Medium is a viable alternative for those who want extra headroom, offering 96.7 FPS.

Across all resolutions, the data indicates that High is the sweet spot. It consistently delivers frame rates that are 25-35% higher than Ultra while maintaining a visual quality level that is only one step below maximum. The measured rows show no benefit to dropping below High at 1080p or 1440p, since the CPU and GPU combination already achieves high numbers, but at 4K, Low or Medium may be preferred if the user has a 120 Hz display.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear GPU-bound pattern. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 215.7 at 1080p to 144.8 at 1440p (a 70.9 FPS drop, or 32.9% reduction) and then to 80.8 at 4K (a further 64.0 FPS drop, or 44.2% reduction from 1440p). This scaling is consistent with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER being the primary limiter at higher resolutions. The GPU, with its 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, has to push 4x the pixels of 1080p, and the data shows the expected exponential falloff.

At Low settings, the drop is steeper in percentage terms: 289.2 FPS at 1080p, 193.6 at 1440p, and 111.6 at 4K. The 1080p Low figure of 289.2 FPS is so high that it likely approaches the CPU's frame delivery limit for this game, but by 4K the GPU is clearly the constraint. The ratio of 4K Low to 1080p Low is 0.386 (111.6 / 289.2), while the same ratio at High is 0.375 (80.8 / 215.7). These nearly identical ratios suggest that the GPU's relative performance scaling is consistent regardless of settings, which is typical for a graphics-bound workload.

The fact that 4K Ultra still achieves 63.4 FPS is notable, given the RTX 2070 SUPER's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A400 (22,307, 0.5% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z (22,006, 0.9% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (22,729, 2.3% faster), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 (21,670, 2.5% slower). The RTX 2070 SUPER's average benchmark score of 22,206 places it in a tight cluster, and its 9.062 TFLOPS FP32 performance is sufficient for To The Core's moderate graphics demands. The resolution scaling data confirms that this game is not CPU-limited at any tested setting, as the i5-13400F's 10 cores are never the bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER achieves a combo rank of 1,084 out of 1,756 tested combinations in To The Core. This places the pairing in the 61.7th percentile of all combos — above the median but not near the top. Given that the CPU ranks in the 82nd percentile and the GPU in the 65th percentile, the combo's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU, which is the weaker component in this pairing.

The rank of 1,084 means there are 672 combos that perform better in this game. Those superior combos likely use newer or higher-tier GPUs, as the CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads are more than adequate for an Idle game. The data shows that the i5-13400F's nearest CPU rivals (all within 0.5% average score) would produce nearly identical combo ranks if paired with the same GPU, since the game's frame rates are GPU-bound. Similarly, the RTX 2070 SUPER's nearest GPU rivals (RTX A400, GTX TITAN Z, RTX 4060 Mobile, RX 5700) would all yield similar combo ranks, with deltas of 2.5% or less in GPU score.

This rank is not a verdict on the hardware's quality but rather a statement about its position in a specific game. To The Core is an Idle genre title with modest requirements, so the combo's rank reflects the fact that many other tested systems have more powerful GPUs. The measured FPS data shows that this combo still delivers excellent frame rates — over 80 FPS at 4K High — so the rank of 1,084 should be interpreted as "solidly mid-pack" rather than "underperforming." The data indicates that users with this combo will have a smooth experience at all tested resolutions and settings, with the only caveat being that 4K Ultra dips to 63.4 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F strong enough for this game?

A: Yes. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads, combined with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, provide more than enough performance. The measured frame rates never show CPU limitation, as even 4K Ultra hits 63.4 FPS, and the CPU's 82nd percentile ranking confirms it is well above average.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 22,206. The NVIDIA RTX A400 scores 22,307 (0.5% faster), the GTX TITAN Z scores 22,006 (0.9% slower), the RTX 4060 Mobile scores 22,729 (2.3% faster), and the RX 5700 scores 21,670 (2.5% slower). All are within a 2.5% band.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p?

A: High is recommended. It delivers 144.8 FPS, which is above 120 FPS for high-refresh displays, while Ultra drops to 115.6 FPS. Medium offers 162.7 FPS but with lower visual quality.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, with caveats. At 4K High, it achieves 80.8 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 63.4 FPS. Both are above 60 FPS, so the experience is playable, but users wanting higher frame rates should use Medium (96.7 FPS) or Low (111.6 FPS).

Q: How significant is the CPU's multi-threaded performance for this game?

A: Not very significant. The game is GPU-bound, as shown by the resolution scaling. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,279 and 3DMark max threads score of 7,307 are strong, but they do not influence the measured FPS in this idle game.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1,084 out of 1,756 tested combinations. This places it in the 61.7th percentile, meaning it outperforms the majority of tested systems, though many higher-ranked combos use more powerful GPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 289.2 FPS
• Medium: 246.9 FPS
• High: 215.7 FPS
• Ultra: 173.4 FPS

At 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all settings. The spread from Low to Ultra is 115.8 FPS, with each step down in quality adding roughly 30-40 FPS. Low's 289.2 FPS is likely near the display's refresh rate limit for most monitors, making higher settings preferable for visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 193.6 FPS
• Medium: 162.7 FPS
• High: 144.8 FPS
• Ultra: 115.6 FPS

The 1440p results show a similar pattern to 1080p but with a consistent reduction of about 30-35% across settings. High at 144.8 FPS remains above the 120 Hz threshold, while Ultra at 115.6 FPS is still smooth but begins to show the GPU's limits. Low at 193.6 FPS is ideal for competitive play, but the visual difference from High is noticeable.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 111.6 FPS
• Medium: 96.7 FPS
• High: 80.8 FPS
• Ultra: 63.4 FPS

At 4K, the RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are tested. Low maintains over 100 FPS, but High drops to 80.8 FPS and Ultra to 63.4 FPS. The 17.4 FPS gap between High and Ultra at 4K is the largest relative drop in the dataset, indicating that Ultra's additional effects are costly at this resolution.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent hierarchy: Low > Medium > High > Ultra, with the absolute differences shrinking as resolution increases. The 1080p Low to 4K Ultra range spans from 289.2 FPS down to 63.4 FPS, a 4.56x reduction. This scaling is typical for a GPU-bound title, and the measured rows provide clear guidance for users based on their display's native resolution and refresh rate.