To The Core

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers a playable, though not universally smooth, experience in To The Core. The data shows this combo ranks 2750th out of 2991 tested configurations, placing it in the lower third of the database. While the CPU provides ample headroom, the GPU’s performance profile—sitting at the 5th percentile overall—acts as the primary bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS reveals a system that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming well, but struggles to maintain consistent frame rates at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in To The Core?*

A: The data shows 1920x1080 as the most effective resolution, with average frame rates ranging from 78 FPS at Ultra to 132 FPS at Low. At 2560x1440, the average drops to between 53 FPS (Ultra) and 89 FPS (Low). The 3840x2160 resolution results in averages below 52 FPS across all settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-12700K's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The benchmark data indicates the i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287. This places it within 0.4% of its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-13600T (35305, -0.1%), Intel Core i7-12700KF (35365, -0.2%), and Intel Core i7-13700T (35403, -0.3%). The performance delta across these processors is negligible.

Q: What is the GPU's standing relative to other graphics cards in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a percentile ranking of 5, indicating it performs better than only 5% of all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 1184 is closely matched by rivals like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%).

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: No, the opposite is true. The CPU is a high-end 12th Gen part that scores in the 84th percentile, while the GPU sits in the 5th percentile. The measured FPS data shows that as resolution increases, frame rates drop significantly, indicating the GPU is the limiting component, not the CPU.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 132 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 78 FPS. This represents a 54 FPS decrease, or roughly a 41% drop in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest settings.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 a better choice for this game?

A: The FACT PACK contains no data on the RTX 4090. No comparison can be made using the provided information.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance, and its specifications explain the measured results. The GPU is based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on Intel's 3 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Critically, the memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning the GPU uses the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This architecture has a TDP of 25 W and is classified as an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor), which aligns with its performance tier.

In To The Core, the GPU's limited capabilities are the primary constraint. The measured FPS shows a clear ceiling on performance. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate never exceeds 51 FPS even on the Low preset. The GPU's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are sufficient for lower resolutions but are quickly overwhelmed at higher pixel counts. The FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS provides a baseline for the compute demands of the game, but the shared memory bandwidth, which is "System Dependent," likely contributes to the performance drops observed at higher settings.

The data shows a clear pattern: the GPU's performance scales poorly with resolution. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1184 confirms its low-end standing, placing it in the 5th percentile. Its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770, are older parts, and the delta in performance is within 1.4%. This positions the Arc B370 as a capable entry-level solution for 1080p gaming but not a high-refresh-rate or high-resolution part. The 20 ROPS and 40 TMUs are adequate for the game's visual demands at lower settings, but the 1280 shading units must work harder as the pixel count rises, leading to the observed frame rate drops.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K provides a stark contrast to the GPU, offering substantial processing power that is largely underutilized in this configuration. With 12 cores and 20 threads, this Alder Lake-S processor is well-equipped for multitasking and threaded workloads. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz provide strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1850.5. The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory offer flexibility and bandwidth that the iGPU can leverage.

In To The Core, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and manage the game's logic. The benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the bottleneck. The CPU scores in the 84th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 35287. Its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-12700KF, show a performance delta of less than 0.4%, confirming that this CPU is a top-tier part. The Geekbench multicore score of 15790 and Passmark multithread score of 34404 highlight its ability to handle any background tasks without impacting game performance.

The data shows that the CPU has significant headroom. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 and max-thread score of 9979 demonstrate its multi-core capability. However, the game's FPS is limited by the GPU, not the CPU. The CPU's performance is so far ahead of the GPU that it cannot compensate for the graphics card's limitations. This is a classic case of a high-end CPU paired with a low-end GPU, where the latter dictates the final frame rates. The CPU's 125 W TDP and 10 nm process node are standard for its generation, but its compute power is not the limiting factor in this specific game test.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across different settings and resolutions. The results are consistent with a GPU-bound system.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the highest frame rates. The Low preset leads with an average of 132 FPS. The Medium preset averages 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS. The High preset averages 97 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding an average of 78 FPS. These numbers show that the game is very playable at 1080p, even on the highest settings, but the step from High to Ultra costs 19 FPS on average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops proportionally. The Low preset averages 89 FPS. The Medium preset averages 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. The High preset averages 65 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 53 FPS. At this resolution, the game remains playable on all settings, but the Ultra preset begins to approach the lower threshold of smooth gameplay. The data shows a consistent 12-14 FPS drop between each settings tier at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become severe. The Low preset is the only setting to achieve an average above 50 FPS, hitting 51 FPS. The Medium preset averages 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. The High preset averages 37 FPS. The Ultra preset averages just 30 FPS. These results indicate that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this combo, as even the lowest settings struggle to maintain a consistent 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data from 1080p to 4K reveals a steep performance curve that clearly identifies the GPU as the limiting component. At 1080p High, the average is 97 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 65 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K High, it falls to 37 FPS, a 62% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU that is running out of pixel processing power and memory bandwidth.

The drop from 1080p Low (132 FPS) to 4K Low (51 FPS) is particularly telling. The 61% performance loss is far greater than what a CPU-bound system would exhibit, as the CPU's workload does not increase with resolution. Since the CPU is a high-end part scoring in the 84th percentile, the frame rate decline must be attributed to the GPU's inability to handle the increased pixel count. The Intel Arc B370's shared memory architecture and "System Dependent" bandwidth mean that the system RAM is a factor, but the primary constraint is the GPU's compute and ROP throughput.

The data shows that the scaling is not linear. The jump from 1440p to 4K is more punishing than the jump from 1080p to 1440p. For instance, on Medium settings, the FPS drops from 112 (1080p) to 75 (1440p) to 43 (4K). The percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is 43%, compared to a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p. This suggests that the GPU hits a hard wall at higher resolutions, where the sheer number of pixels exceeds its fill rate and shading capacity. The 20 ROPS and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply too low for smooth 4K output.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution. The data shows that the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, but the user's resolution choice is the primary factor.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual fidelity, as it still delivers an average of 78 FPS. However, the Medium preset, with an average of 112 FPS and a minimum of 95 FPS, is the most consistent option for high-refresh-rate displays. The Low preset at 132 FPS is ideal for competitive play where maximum frame rate is prioritized.

For 2560x1440, the High preset provides a solid 65 FPS average, which is acceptable for most players. The Medium preset, averaging 75 FPS, is the recommended sweet spot, as it maintains a higher frame rate while still offering a visual upgrade over Low. The Ultra preset at 53 FPS is playable but may exhibit stutter in fast-paced scenes, and the data suggests it is not worth the performance cost.

For 3840x2160, the data strongly recommends avoiding the Ultra and High presets, which average 30 FPS and 37 FPS respectively. The Low preset is the only viable option, offering an average of 51 FPS. Even then, the experience is not ideal, as the frame rate is below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 43 FPS is a compromise, but the Low preset is the only one that allows for a somewhat playable 4K experience. In general, the data suggests that 1440p with Medium settings provides the best overall experience, balancing visual quality with a smooth 75 FPS average.