To The Core

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers exceptional performance in To The Core, a title that proves remarkably scalable across resolutions and settings. The measured data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at lower resolutions, with the CPU’s substantial headroom becoming apparent only when frame rates approach four digits. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches an average of 414 FPS, a figure that highlights the processor’s strength in feeding the GPU, while at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 94 FPS, demonstrating a clear shift to graphics-bound workloads. The benchmark results indicate a configuration that easily dominates high-refresh-rate displays at 1440p and remains highly playable at 4K, making it a versatile pairing for this idle game’s demanding visual presets.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K illustrates a textbook scaling curve, with the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 303 FPS, which jumps to 414 FPS when settings are lowered to Low. This 36.6% increase in performance at the same resolution strongly suggests that the RTX 3080 is not yet saturated at 1080p, and the CPU is capable of pushing far beyond the 400 FPS mark. However, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p at High settings shows a reduction from 303 FPS to 204 FPS, a 32.7% drop that aligns with the increased pixel workload. The trend continues to 4K, where the High preset yields 117 FPS, representing a 61.4% decrease from the 1440p figure.

The most telling data point for identifying the bottleneck is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the spread between Low (414 FPS) and Ultra (244 FPS) is 170 FPS, a 69.7% gap that indicates the GPU’s shading and memory subsystems are heavily taxed by the Ultra preset. At 1440p, this spread narrows to 114 FPS (278 FPS vs 164 FPS), and at 4K, it narrows further to 65 FPS (159 FPS vs 94 FPS). This convergence at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is the dominant constraint, as the relative cost of each setting tier diminishes when pixel fill-rate demands escalate. The data shows that the CPU has ample single-thread performance to maintain high frame delivery, but the RTX 3080’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth become the decisive factors at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, demonstrates its capabilities through the measured FPS data. The GPU’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory, paired with a 320-bit bus and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth, provides the necessary throughput for high-resolution textures and effects. The benchmark results show that at 4K, the GPU’s memory subsystem is the primary driver of performance, with the Ultra preset producing 94 FPS, a 41.2% reduction from the Low preset’s 159 FPS. This indicates that the 10 GB capacity is sufficient for this game’s demands, as the memory bandwidth scales effectively with resolution, but the shader complexity of the Ultra preset significantly impacts frame delivery.

The GPU’s core configuration includes 8704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, with boost clocks reaching 1710 MHz. The measured FPS at 1440p Medium (235 FPS) and 4K Medium (135 FPS) shows a 42.6% performance drop when resolution increases, which is consistent with the GPU’s pixel rate of 164.2 GPixel/s. The texture rate of 465.1 GTexel/s becomes a limiting factor at higher settings, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra result of 94 FPS, which is the lowest measured average. The RTX 3080’s 68 RT cores and 272 tensor cores are present, but for this idle game, the traditional rasterization pipeline appears to be the primary workload, as the data shows a predictable scaling pattern based on resolution and settings.

The GPU’s benchmark scores further contextualize its performance. The PassMark G3D score of 25086 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4407 indicate strong compute capabilities. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 152423 shows the GPU’s ability to handle parallel workloads, which is relevant for the compute-heavy aspects of To The Core. The GPU’s percentile rank of 68 among all GPUs places it in the upper tier, and its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA P106-100 with a deltaPct of -0.3%, show that the RTX 3080 is closely matched with a few specific competitors in raw benchmark terms, though the measured FPS data reveals its real-world strengths in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K, with its 16 cores and 24 threads, provides a robust foundation for this gaming workload. The processor’s base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz, combined with 30 MB of shared L3 cache, ensure that frame delivery is never CPU-bound in the measured scenarios. The CPU’s benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116, indicate exceptional multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and max-thread score of 12412 further confirm that the CPU can handle the game’s logic and draw-call processing without becoming a bottleneck.

At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 414 FPS, a figure that approaches the practical limits of display technology and highlights the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU at extreme frame rates. The CPU’s performance in this scenario is critical, as the game’s idle mechanics likely involve frequent state updates and UI rendering, which benefit from the high single-thread performance. The PassMark single-thread score of 4333 and multi-thread score of 45887 show that the CPU excels in both latency-sensitive and throughput-oriented tasks. The processor’s 89th percentile rank among all CPUs places it in the top tier, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 with a deltaPct of -0.2%, demonstrate that the i7-13700K is competitively positioned.

The CPU’s role becomes less prominent at higher resolutions, where the GPU takes over as the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the CPU’s performance is sufficient to maintain 94 FPS, but the data shows that the game’s frame rate is dictated by the GPU’s rendering capabilities. The CPU’s 125 W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide flexibility for system builders, and the UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU serves as a fallback, though the discrete RTX 3080 is the primary rendering solution. The benchmark results indicate that the i7-13700K is an excellent match for the RTX 3080, as it provides the necessary headroom to avoid CPU-induced frame drops even in the most demanding scenarios.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 414, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This represents the best-case scenario for frame rate, showcasing the CPU’s ability to drive the GPU to its limits.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo produces an average FPS of 94. This is the lowest measured average across all configurations, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed at this resolution and preset combination.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the data shows a clear shift toward GPU limitation. The difference between Low (278 FPS) and Ultra (164 FPS) settings is 114 FPS, which is a 69.5% gap, indicating that the GPU’s rendering capabilities are the main constraint at this resolution.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 350, with a minimum of 297 and a maximum of 402. This suggests a stable experience with minor frame-time variance.

Q: How does the RTX 3080’s memory configuration impact performance?

A: The RTX 3080’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory with 760.3 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for To The Core at all tested settings. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the memory subsystem is a key factor, but the 10 GB capacity does not appear to be a limiting constraint in this game.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1049 out of 3725 tested combos, placing it in the top 28.2% of all configurations. This rank reflects the strong performance of the i7-13700K and RTX 3080 pairing in this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional frame rates across the board. The Low preset yields an average of 414 FPS, the Medium preset produces 350 FPS with a minimum of 297 and maximum of 402, the High preset achieves 303 FPS, and the Ultra preset reaches 244 FPS. This 1080p data reveals a performance hierarchy that is consistent with the settings’ visual fidelity, with the Low preset offering a 69.7% higher frame rate than Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a clear step down due to the increased pixel count. The Low preset delivers 278 FPS, the Medium preset achieves 235 FPS with a minimum of 200 and maximum of 271, the High preset produces 204 FPS, and the Ultra preset yields 164 FPS. The 1440p results demonstrate a 41.0% reduction in performance from Low to Ultra, which is a smaller gap than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down further, with the Low preset achieving 159 FPS, the Medium preset producing 135 FPS with a minimum of 114 and maximum of 155, the High preset delivering 117 FPS, and the Ultra preset reaching 94 FPS. The 4K data shows a 69.1% reduction from Low to Ultra, which is consistent with the increased demands on the GPU’s shading units and memory bandwidth. The minimum FPS values at Medium settings across all resolutions (297 at 1080p, 200 at 1440p, and 114 at 4K) indicate that the combo maintains playable frame rates even in demanding scenes, with the 4K Medium result remaining above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 244 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate display. The Medium preset offers 350 FPS, providing a 43.4% performance increase over Ultra with likely minimal visual degradation for an idle game. For users prioritizing maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 414 FPS is the best choice, but the High preset at 303 FPS offers a balanced compromise between visual quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset produces 164 FPS, which is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate commonly found on 1440p monitors. However, the High preset at 204 FPS provides a 24.4% performance boost over Ultra, making it a more attractive option for users who want to ensure consistent frame delivery. The Medium preset at 235 FPS offers the best balance for 1440p, as it delivers high frame rates while maintaining a minimum FPS of 200, which is ideal for smooth gameplay. The Low preset at 278 FPS is the top performer, but it may sacrifice too much visual fidelity for the marginal frame rate gain.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields 94 FPS, which is playable but may not fully utilize a 120 Hz or 144 Hz 4K display. The High preset at 117 FPS is a better option for 4K gaming, as it provides a 24.5% performance increase over Ultra while likely offering similar visual quality. The Medium preset at 135 FPS is the recommended choice for 4K, as it delivers a high frame rate with a minimum of 114 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience. The Low preset at 159 FPS is the best for maximizing frame rates, but the visual trade-offs may be noticeable at this resolution. Overall, the Medium preset at 1440p provides the best experience per the measured rows, offering a high average FPS and strong minimum frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination ranks 1049 out of 3725 tested combos in To The Core, placing it in the 71.8th percentile of all configurations. This rank reflects the strong performance of the pairing, which is capable of delivering high frame rates at all tested resolutions. The combo’s ranking is influenced by both the CPU’s high single-thread performance and the GPU’s robust rasterization capabilities, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 89 among all CPUs places it in the top 11% of processors, and its average benchmark score of 46881 is closely matched by its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 has an average score of 46971, a deltaPct of -0.2%, indicating nearly identical performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022 with a -0.3% delta, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535 both score slightly lower at 46654 and 46653, respectively, with deltaPct values of 0.5%. This indicates that the i7-13700K is competitive with the best CPUs in its class, providing a solid foundation for gaming.

The GPU’s percentile rank of 68 places it in the upper third of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, -0.3% delta), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250, -0.3% delta), AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, -0.4% delta), and AMD Radeon R9 M290X (23276, -0.4% delta). These close benchmark scores suggest that the RTX 3080 is a strong performer, but the measured FPS data in To The Core shows that it excels in this specific title, delivering frame rates that are well above the 60 FPS target at 4K Ultra. The combo’s rank of 1049 out of 3725 demonstrates its balanced performance, with the CPU and GPU working together to provide a seamless gaming experience across all resolution and settings combinations.