To The Core

The pairing of an Intel Core i5-9400 with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER produces frame rates that are decisively playable across every tested configuration in To The Core, but the data reveals a clear hierarchy where resolution and settings dictate the experience. At 1080p, the combination delivers exceptional speed, while 4K Ultra pushes the hardware to its most demanding, yet still smooth, territory. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the roles of each component, and how this specific combo stacks up against a large field of tested systems.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best performance result recorded for this combo in To The Core?*

A: The highest average frame rate measured is 373.5 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 109.1 FPS on Ultra settings to 182.7 FPS on Low settings, with High settings yielding 136.5 FPS and Medium producing 155.3 FPS.

Q: Is the frame rate consistent across different resolutions?

A: No, the data shows a significant scaling pattern. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 334.5 at 1920x1080 to 235.4 at 2560x1440 and further to 136.5 at 3840x2160.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low setting produces an average of 322.4 FPS, while the Ultra setting produces an average of 191.8 FPS. This represents a substantial performance cost for the highest visual fidelity.

Q: How does this specific combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER holds the rank of 408 out of 1756 tested combos in To The Core.

Q: What is the overall benchmark standing of the GPU in this combo?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 42576 and sits in the 84th percentile compared to all other GPUs.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant force in this pairing, and its specifications in the FACT PACK make it clear why it delivers such high frame rates. The GPU is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This substantial memory bandwidth is critical for feeding the 7168 shading units at high resolutions, ensuring that texture data is readily available to maintain the high frame rates observed in the benchmark results.

The GPU's clock speeds further explain its performance ceiling. With a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, the RTX 4070 SUPER can sustain high computational throughput. The benchmark data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the combo maintains an average of 109.1 FPS, which suggests that the GPU is rarely the sole bottleneck, even in the most demanding scenario. The performance scaling across settings reinforces this; for instance, at 4K, moving from Low (182.7 FPS) to Ultra (109.1 FPS) represents a 40% reduction in frame rate, which is a direct consequence of the increased pixel shading and memory pressure placed on the GPU.

In the context of the game's results, the GPU's 84th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 42576 place it in the upper echelon of graphics cards. Its nearest rivals in the FACT PACK, such as the NVIDIA RTX A6000 with a score of 42653 and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE with a score of 42723, are within a 0.3% deltaPct of its score. This indicates that while the RTX 4070 SUPER is powerful, it is not at the absolute top of the performance pyramid, but its 12 GB VRAM and high-speed architecture are more than adequate for the demands of To The Core at the tested settings and resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 serves as the supporting pillar in this configuration, and its role is most apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU is less constrained. This processor features 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. In the benchmark results, the frame rates at 1080p are exceptionally high, reaching up to 373.5 FPS on Low settings. These figures suggest that while the CPU is capable of keeping up with the GPU's output, the processor's performance is a more significant factor at these lower resolutions.

The CPU's benchmark scores provide context for its capabilities. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 7969, and its single-core score is 1125. In terms of overall average benchmark score, it sits at 2305, placing it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs. This mid-pack standing is reflected in its nearest rivals, which include the Intel Core i3-10305 with a score of 2300 (a 0.2% deltaPct) and the Intel Xeon E-2134 with a score of 2295 (a 0.4% deltaPct). These close scores indicate that the i5-9400's processing power is solid but not exceptional by modern standards.

The impact of the CPU's performance is visible in the frame rate scaling. At High settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 334.5, which drops to 235.4 at 1440p. This 30% reduction is a typical consequence of increased GPU load. However, the CPU’s 6-core, 6-thread configuration and 9 MB of shared L3 cache are sufficient to prevent major stutters or bottlenecking in this idle genre game, which typically does not demand extreme multi-threaded performance. The data suggests the i5-9400 provides a stable foundation, ensuring the GPU can operate near its full potential, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU becomes the primary determinant of frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and predictable pattern across resolutions and settings, with no anomalies. At the highest resolution tested, 3840x2160, the performance is consistently strong. The average frame rates are 182.7 FPS on Low, 155.3 FPS on Medium, 136.5 FPS on High, and 109.1 FPS on Ultra. This demonstrates a steady decline in performance as visual fidelity increases, with the step from High to Ultra being the most demanding, representing a 20% drop from 136.5 FPS to 109.1 FPS.

Moving down to 2560x1440, the frame rates see a significant boost, highlighting the reduced pixel count. The results are 322.4 FPS on Low, 274 FPS on Medium, 235.4 FPS on High, and 191.8 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, with Ultra delivering 40% fewer frames per second than Low. This indicates that players seeking the highest refresh rates will prefer lower settings, while those with 144Hz monitors can still achieve excellent results with High settings.

At 1920x1080, the performance is extraordinary, with the combo pushing past the 300 FPS mark in most configurations. The average FPS is 373.5 on Low, 353.1 on Medium, 334.5 on High, and 286.5 on Ultra. Even at the most demanding setting, the frame rate remains far above the refresh rate of typical high-end monitors. The data shows that at this resolution, the differences between settings are less pronounced than at higher resolutions, with only a 23% difference between Low and Ultra, suggesting that the CPU is beginning to limit the maximum achievable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of the benchmark database, this specific combination of components performs admirably. The combo holds a rank of 408 out of 1756 tested combinations in To The Core, placing it in the top quarter of all systems tested. This ranking is a reflection of the GPU's high performance and the CPU's adequate support, which together produce the impressive frame rates detailed in the measured FPS breakdown.

The GPU's individual standing is a key driver of this strong rank. With an average benchmark score of 42576 and a percentile rank of 84, the RTX 4070 SUPER is a top-tier performer. Its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (42653 score, -0.2% deltaPct) and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (42723 score, -0.3% deltaPct), are nearly identical in overall performance, indicating that the GPU is in a very competitive performance tier. The CPU, while less impressive in its own percentile ranking, does not drag down the overall combo result, as the game's data suggests that the GPU is the primary driver of the high frame rates achieved.

The rank of 408 indicates that while many combos are faster, this configuration is far from a slouch. It outperforms the vast majority of the 1756 tested systems, which confirms the RTX 4070 SUPER's raw power. The i5-9400, despite being an older 6-core processor, does not create a severe bottleneck in To The Core, allowing the GPU to deliver its full potential. Consequently, this combo is positioned as a high-performing setup, ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and for a smooth 4K experience, as evidenced by its numerical results.