To The Core

Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, tested in To The Core, deliver a performance profile that is heavily influenced by resolution. At 1080p, the combination produces exceptionally high frame rates, with the Low preset reaching 313 FPS. As the resolution increases to 1440p and then 4K, these numbers scale down predictably, but the overall experience remains smooth across all tested configurations. The data indicates a system where the CPU provides ample headroom at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates range from 185 FPS on Ultra to 313 FPS on Low. Moving to 2560x1440, these averages drop to a range of 124 FPS on Ultra to 210 FPS on Low. At 3840x2160, the averages fall further to 71 FPS on Ultra and 120 FPS on Low.

This scaling reveals that the RTX 4060 is the performance bottleneck at higher resolutions. For instance, the High preset yields 229 FPS at 1080p but falls to 154 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 75 FPS. The same preset at 4K produces 88 FPS, which is a 141 FPS drop from the 1080p result. This steep decline with each resolution step indicates that the GPU's processing capabilities are being saturated as the pixel workload increases.

Conversely, the relatively small performance delta between settings at the same resolution suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor. At 1080p, the difference between Low (313 FPS) and Ultra (185 FPS) is 128 FPS, which is substantial. However, the fact that even the Ultra preset at 1080p achieves 185 FPS implies the i7-14700K is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain high performance. The scaling pattern points to a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming, capable for 1440p, and still playable at 4K with adjusted settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for maximizing frame rate with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the highest average frame rates. The Low preset reaches 313 FPS, while the Ultra preset still achieves 185 FPS, making it the resolution where the system's performance ceiling is highest.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 71 FPS on Ultra to 120 FPS on Low. The Medium preset averages 102 FPS with a minimum of 87 FPS, indicating that playable performance is achievable at this resolution.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K bottlenecking the RTX 4060?

A: Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a significant drop, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU's high multi-core score of 33440.5 in Cinebench R23 suggests it has ample processing power for this game.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 210 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 124 FPS. This represents a performance difference of 86 FPS between the two settings.

Q: Does the combo rank well compared to other tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2004 out of 3725 tested combos for this game. This places it in the 53rd percentile, indicating it performs above the median but is not in the top tier of configurations.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only measured minimum FPS values are for the Medium preset. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 87 FPS, at 2560x1440 it is 151 FPS, and at 1920x1080 it is 225 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for To The Core, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 holds the 2004th position out of 3725 total combos. This rank places it slightly above the halfway point, indicating a performance level that is better than a majority of tested systems, but far from the top performers.

The CPU itself is a strong component, holding a 94th percentile rank among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 69355. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69515, a delta of -0.2%, and the AMD EPYC 9115, which scores 69288, a delta of 0.1%. This shows that the i7-14700K is performance-competitive with these high-end processors, despite its mid-range ranking in this specific game combo.

The GPU, however, has a more moderate standing. The RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its closest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666, delta -0.2%) and the AMD Radeon 780M (17588, delta 0.3%). This suggests that while the GPU is capable, it is not an exceptionally high-performing part, which explains the combo's mid-pack ranking. The data indicates that the overall rank is likely dragged down by the GPU's performance relative to other available graphics cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance for this combo across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves the highest average of 313 FPS. The Medium preset averages 265 FPS, with a minimum of 225 FPS and a maximum of 304 FPS. High settings produce 229 FPS, while Ultra is the most demanding, yielding 185 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down. Low settings average 210 FPS, Medium averages 178 FPS with a minimum of 151 FPS and a maximum of 205 FPS. High settings produce 154 FPS, and Ultra drops to 124 FPS. This resolution still provides high frame rates, comfortably exceeding 120 FPS even on the most demanding preset.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4060 begins to show its limits. Low settings average 120 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings average 102 FPS, with a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 117 FPS. High settings produce 88 FPS, and Ultra falls to 71 FPS. While all presets are playable, the lower settings are necessary to maintain a consistently high frame rate at this resolution.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is for maximum frame rates, 1440p is a sweet spot for high refresh rates, and 4K is viable with settings adjustments. The measured minimum FPS values for the Medium preset across all resolutions indicate stable performance, with the 4K minimum of 87 FPS being the lowest recorded.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with a memory clock of 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective). It contains 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores. The card's 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 performance and a pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s are key metrics for its rendering capabilities.

In To The Core, the GPU's role is clearly defined by the resolution scaling. The data shows that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions. The substantial drop in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, particularly at the Ultra preset (185 FPS down to 71 FPS), is a direct result of the GPU's processing limits being reached. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for the game at these settings, as no texture-related stuttering is indicated by the data.

The GPU's performance metrics, such as its Passmark G3D score of 19545 and its 61st percentile rank, place it as a mid-range performer. This is consistent with its observed behavior in the game, where it can handle high frame rates at lower resolutions but struggles to maintain top-tier performance at 4K. The boost clock of 2460 MHz helps to keep performance competitive, but the card's 128-bit memory bus and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are limiting factors for high-resolution workloads.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's resolution and performance goals. For players seeking the absolute highest frame rates, particularly for competitive play or high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, the Low preset at 1920x1080 delivers 313 FPS. This provides the maximum performance headroom.

For a balance between visual quality and performance, the High preset is recommended for most users. At 1080p, it provides 229 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1440p, the High preset averages 154 FPS, offering a great experience for 1440p 144Hz monitors. Even at 4K, the High preset achieves 88 FPS, which is playable.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for users with 1080p displays, where it still achieves a high average of 185 FPS. At higher resolutions, the Ultra preset's performance drops significantly, with 124 FPS at 1440p and 71 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset is a viable middle ground, offering 265 FPS at 1080p, 178 FPS at 1440p, and 102 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that High settings provide the best overall experience across all resolutions, as it maintains playable frame rates even at 4K while providing a higher level of visual fidelity than Medium or Low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 33 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU's multi-core performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 score of 33440.5 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20767. Its single-core performance is also notable, with a Cinebench R23 score of 2160 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2569.

In To The Core, the CPU's role is to provide the frame data that the GPU renders. The data indicates that the i7-14700K is more than capable of this task. Even at 1080p with the Low preset, where the GPU is less stressed, the frame rates reach 313 FPS, suggesting that the CPU is not a bottleneck. The CPU's high single-thread performance (4472 in Passmark single-thread) is particularly beneficial for a game's main thread, ensuring that the GPU is fed with data efficiently.

The CPU's 94th percentile rank and its average benchmark score of 69355 place it among the top processors. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, show that it is highly competitive. In this specific game, the CPU's power is not fully utilized, as the performance scaling is primarily tied to the GPU. However, its strong multi-core and single-core scores ensure that it will not hold back the RTX 4060 in this or similarly demanding titles.