To The Core

To The Core is an idle game, but the benchmark data shows it still scales heavily with hardware, and the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 produces a wide spread of frame rates depending on resolution and settings. The measured results range from a very playable 71 FPS at 4K Ultra to a massively high 313 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating that this combo is versatile enough for both high-fidelity slow-burn gameplay and fast-paced clicking if the game ever demands it. Because the data is measured, not simulated, the frame rates reflect real-world performance for this specific pairing, and the analysis below breaks down exactly where the bottlenecks lie and how to configure the game for the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep but consistent, revealing a system that transitions from CPU-bound at lower resolutions to GPU-bound at higher ones. At 1080p High, the combo produces 229 FPS, but moving to 1440p High drops that to 154 FPS—a 32.8% reduction—and then 4K High falls further to 88 FPS, which is 61.6% lower than the 1080p figure. This pattern strongly suggests that at 1080p, the Intel Core i5-14600KF is doing most of the heavy lifting, as the GPU is not being stressed enough to limit the output. The 14 cores and 20 threads of the CPU are likely keeping the frame pipeline fed, allowing the RTX 4060 to run at lower utilization.

The scaling becomes more telling when looking at the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the system hits 313 FPS, which drops to 210 FPS at 1440p and 120 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is particularly interesting because it shows that even with minimal graphical load, the resolution increase alone cuts performance by over 61% compared to 1080p Low. This indicates that the RTX 4060’s 128-bit memory bus and 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth are a limiting factor at 4K, regardless of settings, as the GPU must push more pixels through the same memory subsystem. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory also plays a role here, as higher resolutions require more frame buffer space.

When comparing the Ultra preset, the trend continues but with lower absolute numbers. The combo achieves 185 FPS at 1080p Ultra, 124 FPS at 1440p Ultra, and 71 FPS at 4K Ultra. The jump from 1080p to 1440p Ultra shows a 33% performance hit, while the jump to 4K Ultra costs another 42.7% of the 1440p score. This suggests that Ultra settings amplify the GPU load more than resolution alone, and the RTX 4060 starts to struggle at 4K Ultra, dropping below the 90 FPS threshold that many users consider minimum for smooth gameplay. The data shows that 4K Ultra is the only configuration in the measured set that dips below 80 FPS, making it a borderline case for high-refresh-rate monitors.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs based on average benchmark scores, and its measured performance in To The Core reflects a card that is capable but not top-tier. The GPU’s boost clock of 2460 MHz and base clock of 1830 MHz are relatively high, and the Ada Lovelace architecture with 3072 shading units helps it push through the game’s rendering demands. However, the 128-bit memory bus is narrow compared to higher-end cards, and the 272.0 GB/s bandwidth is a clear constraint at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the 4K scaling above.

The RTX 4060’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is sufficient for this game at most settings, but the data suggests it might be a bottleneck at 4K Ultra. The drop from 102 FPS at 4K Medium to 71 FPS at 4K Ultra is a 30.4% decrease, which is larger than the step from Medium to High at the same resolution. This indicates that Ultra settings likely increase memory pressure beyond what the 8 GB frame buffer can comfortably handle, causing the GPU to work harder on memory management rather than pure rendering. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302 and the PassMark G3D score of 19545 position this card as a solid mid-range performer, and the game’s results align with that classification.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4060 is nearly identical in raw compute to the AMD Radeon 780M, with only a 0.3% delta in average benchmark scores. This is surprising given the discrete GPU nature of the RTX 4060 versus the integrated graphics of the 780M, but in To The Core, the measured FPS shows the RTX 4060 pulling ahead significantly at 1080p, likely due to its dedicated memory bandwidth and higher boost clocks. The RTX 4060 also outperforms the AMD Radeon Pro 560 by 0.5%, which is a negligible margin in synthetic tests but may manifest differently in actual gameplay. The GPU’s PassMark DirectX 12 score of 76 is low compared to other APIs, but the game appears to be well-optimized for DirectX 11, as the score of 175 suggests, which likely contributes to the strong performance seen in the measured rows.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600KF and RTX 4060 combination ranks 2004 out of 3725 tested combos for To The Core, placing it in the 46.2nd percentile of all system pairings. This is a mid-pack ranking, which is slightly surprising given the strong individual benchmark scores of both components. The CPU alone sits in the 90th percentile of all processors, and the GPU is in the 61st percentile, so the combined rank suggests that the game is not heavily dependent on either component’s strengths, or that other combos with higher-end GPUs simply dominate the top spots.

The rank of 2004 out of 3725 means there are 1721 combos that perform worse and 1720 that perform better, making this a perfectly average pairing in the grand scheme of tested hardware. However, the measured FPS tells a more positive story for practical use. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 229 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on gaming monitors, and even 4K High at 88 FPS is playable on a 60 Hz display. The ranking likely suffers because the RTX 4060 is not a high-end GPU, and many of the combos above it will feature cards with more VRAM and wider memory buses.

The CPU’s nearest rivals provide context for why the combo ranks where it does. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is only 0.3% ahead in average benchmark score, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is 0.4% ahead, meaning the i5-14600KF is essentially trading blows with these chips. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% behind, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8% behind the i5, so the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo’s mid-pack ranking. Instead, the GPU’s 61st percentile standing likely drags the combined rank down, as games like To The Core that scale well with GPU power will favor systems with stronger graphics cards.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play To The Core with this combo?

A: The data shows 1440p High provides the best balance, delivering 154 FPS average. This is 33% faster than 4K High at 88 FPS, while still offering higher visual fidelity than 1080p High at 229 FPS. If you have a 144 Hz monitor, 1440p High is the sweet spot, as it exceeds that refresh rate with room to spare.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K High, the combo achieves 88 FPS, which is smooth on a 60 Hz display. At 4K Ultra, performance drops to 71 FPS, which is still playable but may feel less fluid on high-refresh-rate panels. The measured data shows 4K Low at 120 FPS is the only 4K setting that exceeds 100 FPS, so users prioritizing frame rate over visuals should stick to Low or Medium at 4K.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest rival in this game?

A: The RTX 4060’s average benchmark score is 17639, while the AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, a 0.3% difference. In practical terms, this means the RTX 4060 is marginally faster in synthetic tests, but the measured FPS in To The Core shows the discrete GPU pulling ahead, especially at lower resolutions where its higher boost clock of 2460 MHz provides an advantage.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data indicates the CPU is more of a limiting factor at 1080p. The i5-14600KF delivers 313 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU is capable of more, as evidenced by the 4K Low score of 120 FPS. At 1080p, the CPU’s 14 cores and 20 threads are likely maxing out, preventing the RTX 4060 from reaching its full potential. This is common in games with high frame rate ceilings.

Q: What settings should I use for a 240 Hz monitor?

A: To hit 240 FPS, you need to play at 1080p Low, which the data shows averages 313 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 265 FPS, still above 240 FPS. If you want Ultra settings, the average falls to 185 FPS, which is below 240 FPS, so you would need to accept a lower preset or a lower refresh rate.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM on the RTX 4060 cause issues in this game?

A: The measured data does not show explicit VRAM-related stutters, but the performance drop from 4K Medium (102 FPS) to 4K Ultra (71 FPS) is 30.4%, which is larger than the step from Medium to High. This suggests that Ultra settings at 4K may be pushing the 8 GB frame buffer to its limit, causing the GPU to spend more time managing memory instead of rendering.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In To The Core, the CPU’s role is most evident at lower resolutions, where the frame rate is not constrained by the GPU. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 313 FPS, which is 2.6 times higher than the 4K Low score of 120 FPS. This indicates that the CPU is able to feed the GPU with enough frames at 1080p, but the GPU becomes the bottleneck as resolution increases.

The CPU’s benchmark scores show it is a strong performer, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544 and a single-core score of 4594. This multi-core strength is relevant for To The Core, as idle games often have background simulation and calculation threads that benefit from more cores. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 20 threads help maintain smooth frame pacing even when the game is running many concurrent processes. The CPU’s 90th percentile ranking among all processors confirms that it is not the weak link in this combo.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-14600KF is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 in average benchmark score, with only a 0.3% difference. This means that swapping the CPU for a Ryzen 9 7900 would likely produce very similar FPS in To The Core, assuming the GPU remains the same. The CPU’s 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier make it a flexible choice for overclocking, but the measured data does not include overclocked results, so the performance shown is at stock settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for this combo, and the choice depends on your display’s refresh rate and resolution. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset at 185 FPS is the best experience if you have a 165 Hz or 180 Hz monitor, as it maintains high visual quality while staying above the refresh rate. If you have a 240 Hz monitor, the Medium preset at 265 FPS is the recommended choice, as it still exceeds 240 FPS while offering better visuals than Low. The Low preset at 313 FPS is only necessary for 300 Hz or higher displays, which are rare.

For 1440p, the High preset at 154 FPS is the optimal balance for 144 Hz monitors, as it exceeds the refresh rate with a 30 FPS margin. The Medium preset at 178 FPS is better for 165 Hz or 180 Hz displays, and the Ultra preset at 124 FPS is suitable for 120 Hz panels. The Low preset at 210 FPS is overkill for most 1440p monitors and should only be used if you have a 240 Hz display at this resolution, which is uncommon.

At 4K, the recommendations change dramatically due to the GPU’s limitations. The High preset at 88 FPS is the best experience for 60 Hz displays, as it provides smooth gameplay with good visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 102 FPS is better for 100 Hz or 120 Hz monitors, but the Ultra preset at 71 FPS should be avoided unless you prioritize graphics over frame rate and have a 60 Hz panel. The Low preset at 120 FPS is the only way to exceed 100 FPS at 4K, making it the choice for high-refresh-rate 4K displays, though it sacrifices visual quality. The data shows no measured configuration exceeds 120 FPS at 4K, so users with 144 Hz 4K monitors will not be able to fully utilize their refresh rate with this combo.