To The Core

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in To The Core, with performance scaling predictably from 1080p to 4K. The measured data shows that this combination is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the CPU's strong single-thread performance helps push frame rates to exceptionally high levels. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) data, examines the role of each component, and provides recommendations based strictly on the provided benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, indicating that the rendering load scales heavily with pixel count, a typical trait for a GPU-bound workload in an idle game with visual effects. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 303 FPS at 1920x1080 to 204 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of approximately 33%. Moving further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 117 FPS, which is roughly 62% lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline confirms that the RTX 3080's rendering throughput is the primary limiter as resolution increases.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For the Low preset, the average goes from 414 FPS at 1080p down to 159 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trend, dropping from 350 FPS to 135 FPS across the same resolution range. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, scales from 244 FPS at 1080p down to 94 FPS at 4K. The consistent proportional drop across presets suggests that the game's engine scales its workload uniformly with resolution, and the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become increasingly critical at higher pixel counts.

At 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all presets, with even the Ultra preset achieving an average of 244 FPS. This indicates that at this resolution, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU adequately, and the bottleneck shifts away from the processor. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p is 170 FPS, which narrows to 65 FPS at 4K. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck: the GPU is so saturated at 4K that the difference between quality settings has a smaller absolute impact on frame rate than it does at lower resolutions where the GPU has more spare capacity.

The data suggests that for players targeting the highest refresh rates on 1080p or 1440p monitors, this combo is more than sufficient, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the definitive limiting factor, preventing the system from reaching the very high frame rates seen at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the dominant component in this pairing for To The Core, particularly as resolution increases. Its 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus provides 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth, which is likely sufficient for the game's textures and assets at the tested settings, as no memory-related stutters are evident in the average FPS figures. The GPU's architecture, Ampere, with 8704 shading units, handles the rendering workload efficiently, allowing for high frame rates even at 4K.

The RTX 3080's clock speeds, with a base of 1440 MHz and a boost of 1710 MHz, are relatively modest, but the sheer number of cores and the high memory bandwidth compensate. In terms of raw compute, the GPU delivers 29.77 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is a strong indicator of its ability to process the pixel and vertex data required at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is capable of maintaining an average of 94 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is a demanding scenario.

Comparing to its nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores, the RTX 3080 sits close to the NVIDIA P106-100, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, AMD Radeon RX 6600M, and AMD Radeon R9 M290X, with delta percentages of -0.3% to -0.4% relative to the RTX 3080's score. This indicates that in general compute benchmarks, these cards are closely matched, but the measured game performance shows the RTX 3080's strengths. The GPU's percentile rank of 68 among all GPUs suggests it is a solidly performing card, but not at the very top tier.

The GPU's role becomes more pronounced at 4K, where the average FPS at High settings (117 FPS) is less than half of what it is at 1080p (303 FPS). This performance scaling is a direct result of the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth being saturated by the increased pixel count. The data clearly shows that for this game, the RTX 3080 is the component that determines the ceiling for frame rates, especially when the resolution is set to 2560x1440 or higher.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 on High settings with this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 204 FPS.

Q: How does the performance at 4K Ultra compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 94, while at 1080p Ultra it is 244. This represents a significant drop of 150 FPS when moving to the higher resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the exceptionally high frame rates, such as 303 FPS on High and 414 FPS on Low, suggest that the CPU has sufficient headroom. The GPU is likely the limiting factor, but the system is well-balanced enough to avoid a severe bottleneck at this resolution.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 94 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the combo achieve playable frame rates at 4K?

A: Yes, the data shows playable frame rates at 4K across all presets, with the lowest average being 94 FPS on Ultra, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: Are there any frame rate statistics for the Medium preset besides the average?

A: Yes, for the Medium preset, the data includes minimum and maximum FPS. At 1920x1080, the range is 297 FPS (min) to 402 FPS (max). At 2560x1440, the range is 200 to 271 FPS. At 3840x2160, the range is 114 to 155 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how the system performs across three resolutions and four quality presets. The results are presented as average FPS, with additional min and max values for the Medium preset.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. The Low preset yields an average of 414 FPS, which is the highest score recorded for this combo. The Medium preset averages 350 FPS, with a minimum of 297 and a maximum of 402 FPS. The High preset averages 303 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 244 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is well-suited for very high refresh rate monitors, as even the most demanding preset clears the 240 FPS mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high but show a noticeable decrease. The Low preset averages 278 FPS, dropping from 414 FPS at 1080p. The Medium preset averages 235 FPS, with a range of 200 to 271 FPS. The High preset averages 204 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 164 FPS. This resolution is still highly playable, with all presets maintaining averages above 160 FPS, making it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming.

At 3840x2160, the performance is significantly lower but still respectable. The Low preset averages 159 FPS. The Medium preset averages 135 FPS, with a minimum of 114 and a maximum of 155 FPS. The High preset averages 117 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 94 FPS. This data shows that the system can handle 4K gaming, but the frame rates are closer to the 94-159 FPS range, which is suitable for 60-144Hz displays but not for the highest refresh rate panels.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data. The variation between min and max FPS is relatively narrow, with a spread of 105 FPS at 1080p, 71 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. This tightening of the frame time variance at higher resolutions further reinforces the GPU bottleneck, as the frame pacing becomes more consistent when the GPU is more uniformly loaded.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 plays a crucial role in ensuring the GPU is fed with enough data, especially at lower resolutions where frame rates are extremely high. This processor features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its architecture, Arrow Lake, built on a 3 nm process, contributes to its efficiency. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085, placing it in the 89th percentile for all CPUs.

The CPU's performance in PassMark tests is also notable. It achieves a multi-thread score of 37816 and a single-thread score of 4516. These scores indicate a capable processor that can handle the game's logic and physics calculations without becoming a bottleneck. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz is likely a key factor in achieving the very high frame rates seen at 1080p, where the CPU's single-thread performance is often the limiting factor in less demanding scenes.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 235 is closely matched. It scores 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i9-13900HX, and 0.2% higher than both the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303. This indicates that the CPU is competitively positioned in terms of overall processing power.

In the context of To The Core, the CPU's role is to maintain a high frame rate ceiling. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of supporting average frame rates of up to 414 FPS on Low settings. This suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiting factor at this resolution. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU takes over as the main bottleneck, and the CPU's influence on the final frame rate diminishes. The CPU's 14 cores and 14 threads provide ample parallelism for the game's background tasks, ensuring smooth performance without stutters.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate of the display. For users with a 1080p monitor, the Ultra preset is a viable option, as it delivers an average of 244 FPS, which is well above the threshold for 240Hz displays. For those with 144Hz monitors, even the High preset at 1080p, with an average of 303 FPS, provides significant headroom.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is an excellent choice, offering an average of 204 FPS. This is suitable for 144Hz and even 165Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at this resolution still achieves 164 FPS, making it a good option for 144Hz displays if visual fidelity is prioritized over maximum frame rate. The Medium preset, with an average of 235 FPS, is a middle ground for those who want a higher frame rate buffer.

For 4K gaming, the choice of preset is more critical. The Ultra preset averages 94 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action on a 120Hz or higher display. The High preset, with an average of 117 FPS, is a better fit for 120Hz displays, offering a smoother experience. The Medium preset, averaging 135 FPS, is the best option for those with a 144Hz 4K monitor, as it balances visual quality with a frame rate that can take advantage of the display's capabilities. The Low preset at 4K, with an average of 159 FPS, is the top choice for competitive play where frame rate is paramount, though it sacrifices visual fidelity.

The data suggests that the High preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance across all resolutions. It provides a 303 FPS average at 1080p, a 204 FPS average at 1440p, and a 117 FPS average at 4K. This preset consistently delivers high frame rates without the performance penalty associated with Ultra settings. For most users, the High preset is the recommended starting point, with adjustments made based on the specific refresh rate of their monitor.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for To The Core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 system ranks 801st out of 2991 combos. This places it in the top 27% of all tested configurations, indicating a solidly performing pairing. The rank reflects the system's ability to deliver high frame rates across the tested resolutions and settings, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

The combo's ranking is a result of the balance between the CPU and GPU. The CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures that it does not bottleneck the GPU at lower resolutions, while the GPU's substantial rendering power allows for playable frame rates at 4K. The system's performance is consistent, with no major anomalies in the data.

While the combo does not achieve the top tier of performance, its rank of 801 out of 2991 suggests that it outperforms a majority of other systems. The high average frame rates, particularly at 1080p and 1440p, make it a strong contender for gamers who prioritize high refresh rates. The 4K performance, while lower, is still respectable and playable, making this a versatile combination for various gaming scenarios. The data confirms that this is a well-matched pairing, with neither component severely limiting the other, resulting in a strong overall ranking within the database.