To The Core

To The Core is an idle game that rarely stresses modern hardware, yet the measured frame rates from the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 reveal a configuration that is decisively GPU-bound at higher resolutions but CPU-capable enough to push extreme frame rates at 1080p. The data shows a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, offering a clear picture of where its performance ceiling lies in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, which is expected for a game like To The Core, but the magnitude of the decline tells a specific story about component balance. At Low settings, the system delivers 313 FPS at 1080p but falls to 120 FPS at 4K, a reduction of roughly 62%. This is a massive hit that points directly to the GPU becoming the primary constraint as pixel count multiplies. The RTX 4060, with its 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB of VRAM, is being tasked with rendering four times the pixels at 4K compared to 1080p, and the performance data reflects that strain.

Moving from 1440p to 4K at Medium settings shows a similar pattern. The average FPS drops from 178 to 102, a decline of about 43%. Meanwhile, the jump from 1080p to 1440p at Medium settings only reduces performance from 265 to 178 FPS, a 33% drop. This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and shading capacity are being saturated more aggressively as resolution climbs, with the 4K results being particularly telling. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is also 49 FPS (120 vs 71), indicating that the GPU is also sensitive to settings load at that resolution.

The data indicates that this combo is not resolution-agnostic. At 1080p, the system is likely hitting a point where the CPU can feed the GPU fast enough to produce scores above 300 FPS, but the GPU still holds the ultimate ceiling. At 4K, the CPU is effectively out of the equation, and the RTX 4060’s raw throughput defines the experience. The scaling curve suggests that for players targeting high refresh rates, 1080p is the sweet spot for this pairing, while 4K is more suited to a smooth 60-100 FPS experience on High or Medium presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, and in To The Core, its role is to avoid becoming the bottleneck. With a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, the chip has substantial single-thread headroom, which is crucial for a genre that often relies on game logic and simulation ticks. The benchmark results for the CPU show a single-thread score of 1136 in 3dmark and 4333 in PassMark, indicating strong per-core performance that supports high frame rate rendering.

However, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution tested. At 1080p Low, the system produces 313 FPS, which is a high number, but the fact that it does not exceed that threshold suggests the GPU is still the primary constraint, even at the lowest settings. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see the FPS plateau across different resolutions at the same settings. That is not the case here; the FPS scales down consistently with resolution, confirming that the 13700K has ample headroom.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are also relevant for background tasks or streaming, but the game itself does not appear to leverage the full 24 threads. The 3dmark max threads score of 12412 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 show a powerful processor, but the performance in To The Core is not limited by core count. The data suggests that the 13700K is a capable partner for the RTX 4060, providing enough throughput to keep the GPU fed at 1080p and 1440p, but it is not the component that defines the frame rate here.

In comparison to its rivals, the 13700K’s average benchmark score of 46881 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971, a delta of -0.2%. This indicates that in general compute tasks, the two are neck-and-neck, but in To The Core, the specific game engine’s demands are met easily by both. The CPU’s high boost clock is likely the reason it can push beyond 300 FPS at 1080p, but the game’s idle nature means the processor is rarely stressed to its limits.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the decisive component in this pairing for To The Core. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth, the GPU is designed for mainstream 1080p gaming, and the data shows it excels there but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The boost clock of 2460 MHz and 3072 shading units give it respectable compute power, but the memory subsystem is the key limitation at higher resolutions.

At 1080p, the RTX 4060 delivers outstanding results, with an average of 313 FPS at Low and 229 FPS at High. This shows that the GPU can handle the pixel workload easily at this resolution, with the settings having a moderate impact. The move to 1440p sees a drop to 210 FPS at Low and 154 FPS at High, which is still highly playable and indicates the GPU is starting to work harder. At 4K, the performance falls to 120 FPS at Low and 88 FPS at High, which is a significant reduction but still respectable for a demanding resolution.

The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is not directly tested in the measured FPS data, but the performance degradation at 4K suggests that memory bandwidth is a factor. The 128-bit bus is narrow by modern standards, and the 272.0 GB/s bandwidth is a bottleneck when rendering 4K textures and effects. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 19545 and 3dmark Steel Nomad score of 2302 place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer, which aligns with the observed results.

The RTX 4060’s nearest rivals in general benchmarks include the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores 17588 (a delta of 0.3%), and the AMD Radeon Pro 560, which scores 17551 (a delta of 0.5%). These are integrated or older mobile parts, respectively, showing that the RTX 4060 is positioned above them in raw compute. However, in To The Core, the GPU’s memory bandwidth is the critical factor, and the data shows that it is the primary limiter at 4K, where the FPS drops below 100 on Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 313 FPS, which drops to 265 FPS on Medium, 229 FPS on High, and 185 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum of 225 FPS and a maximum of 304 FPS, showing a tight range that indicates stable performance. This resolution is clearly where the RTX 4060 shines, with all presets exceeding 180 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. Low settings average 210 FPS, Medium drops to 178 FPS (with a min of 151 and max of 205), High averages 154 FPS, and Ultra falls to 124 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is about 41%, which is more pronounced than at 1080p, where the drop is about 41% as well, but the absolute numbers are lower. This resolution is still highly playable on all presets, with even Ultra maintaining above 120 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 120 FPS, Medium drops to 102 FPS (with a min of 87 and max of 117), High averages 88 FPS, and Ultra falls to 71 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 49 FPS, or about 41%, which is consistent with the other resolutions, but the absolute values are lower. The Medium preset’s minimum of 87 FPS suggests that there can be occasional dips below 90 FPS, which may be noticeable on a 120Hz or higher refresh rate display.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the difference between Low and Ultra is roughly 60-70% across all resolutions, indicating that the settings presets have a uniform impact on the GPU load. The lack of min/max data for most presets means we cannot fully assess frame time consistency, but the Medium presets at each resolution show reasonable min-to-max spreads, suggesting stable performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 configuration ranks 2004th out of 3725 combos for To The Core. This places it in the 46th percentile, meaning it outperforms just under half of all tested systems. This mid-pack ranking is a direct result of the RTX 4060’s position as a mainstream GPU, as the CPU is clearly capable of higher performance. The rank suggests that while this combo is not a top-tier performer, it is far from underpowered, and it offers a balanced experience for the game’s demands.

The combo’s ranking is likely dragged down by the GPU’s 4K performance, where it falls behind configurations with more powerful graphics cards. However, at 1080p and 1440p, the system’s frame rates are competitive with many higher-end pairings. The data indicates that the CPU is not holding the system back, as its individual benchmark scores place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 61st percentile. This disparity suggests that the system’s overall rank is limited by the GPU, and pairing the 13700K with a more powerful GPU would yield a significantly higher rank.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores nearly identically (46971 vs 46881), meaning a system with that CPU and the same GPU would likely rank similarly. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon 780M, have significantly lower standalone scores, but in this game, the RTX 4060’s dedicated VRAM and bandwidth give it an edge. The combo’s rank of 2004 out of 3725 is a solid mid-table result, indicating that it handles To The Core well but is not optimized for maximum frame rates at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, Ultra settings are the best choice, as they provide an average of 185 FPS, which is well above the 144Hz refresh rate that most monitors support. The drop from Low to Ultra is only 128 FPS, but the visual fidelity gain is substantial, and the performance remains exceptionally smooth. There is no reason to use lower settings at this resolution, as the GPU has ample headroom.

At 1440p, High settings offer the best balance, with an average of 154 FPS. This is sufficient for high-refresh-rate displays and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium, which averages 178 FPS but may lack some graphical features. Ultra at 1440p still delivers 124 FPS, which is playable, but the jump to High is a more comfortable margin for maintaining consistent frame times. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, Medium is a viable option, but High is the recommended preset for a quality experience.

At 4K, the recommendation is to use Medium settings, which averages 102 FPS and has a minimum of 87 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on a 60Hz display and is a good compromise between visual quality and performance. High settings at 4K drop to 88 FPS, which is still playable but may show stutters on some panels. Ultra at 4K, with an average of 71 FPS, is best avoided unless the user has a VRR display and prefers maximum visual fidelity. Low settings at 4K are unnecessary, as Medium provides a significant visual boost for only an 18 FPS penalty.

The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can push high frame rates on the highest presets. For 4K, the RTX 4060’s limitations are clear, and users should adjust their expectations accordingly. The Medium preset at 4K is the sweet spot, offering a playable experience without sacrificing too much visual quality.