To The Core

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates in To The Core, an Idle genre title. The measured data shows this pairing is heavily GPU-limited at lower resolutions but becomes more balanced as resolution increases, with performance scaling that reveals distinct bottlenecks. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, ranks the combo against other tested systems, and provides precise FPS figures across all measured settings.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 brings a 14-core, 14-thread configuration to the table, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This Arrow Lake-S architecture chip, built on a 3 nm process, is a desktop part that supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. With a 24 MB shared L3 cache and 3 MB L2 per core, the processor has ample cache for game logic and physics calculations typical of idle genre titles.

Benchmark results place this CPU in the 90th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 48995. In Cinebench R23, it scores 32924 in multi-core and 4648 in single-core tests. The single-core performance is particularly relevant for To The Core, as idle games often rely on a single primary thread for simulation updates. The PassMark single-thread score of 4394 corroborates strong single-thread capability, while the multi-thread score of 38706 indicates the 14 cores can handle background tasks without impacting the main game loop.

The CPU's nearest rivals show how tightly grouped this segment is. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, a negligible 0.4% advantage. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 sits 0.5% ahead at 49228, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is 0.6% behind at 48698, and the Intel Core i5-14600K trails by 0.8% at 48618. These sub-1% deltas mean the Core Ultra 5 245 offers essentially identical compute performance to its direct competitors, making any FPS differences in To The Core attributable to other factors.

In this game specifically, the CPU's role is secondary but not irrelevant. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 355 FPS, which suggests the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond typical display refresh rates. The data indicates the processor is not a limiting factor at any tested resolution, as even at 4K Ultra with 81 FPS, the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is primarily a GPU workload increase. The 65 W TDP and ECC memory support are platform features that do not directly influence gaming performance but reflect the processor's positioning.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, based on the GA104 chip with Ampere architecture, provides 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1725 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). With 5888 shading units, 184 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, the GPU delivers 20.31 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for To The Core's demands, as even at 4K Ultra settings, the game runs at 81 FPS without indication of texture thrashing.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 17208 places it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, which is modest compared to the CPU's 90th percentile standing. This percentile gap is the first clue that the GPU is the bottleneck in most scenarios. The nearest GPU rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT at 17083 (0.7% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 at 17037 (1.0% higher), the AMD Radeon HD 7970M at 17019 (1.1% higher), and the NVIDIA Tesla K40c at 17468 (1.5% lower). These small deltas again indicate the RTX 3070 is competitive with its immediate peers.

In To The Core, the GPU's role scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, the 355 FPS result shows the GPU is not saturated, but at 4K Ultra, the 81 FPS figure demonstrates significant load. The setting-to-setting progression at each resolution reveals the GPU's compute and bandwidth limits. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3162 and PassMark G3D score of 22214 provide theoretical context, but the measured FPS data is more actionable for this title. The GPU's 220 W TDP and PCIe 4.0 x16 interface are standard specifications that do not constrain performance here.

The data suggests the RTX 3070's 8 GB VRAM is the primary constraint at higher settings, as the FPS drops from 115 at 4K Medium to 81 at 4K Ultra — a 34 FPS reduction that correlates with increased memory pressure. However, the GPU still delivers playable frame rates at all tested configurations, indicating the game is well-optimized for this hardware tier.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and RTX 3070 combination ranks 1601 out of 3725 tested combos in To The Core. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all tested systems, which is lower than the individual component percentiles might suggest. The CPU's 90th percentile and GPU's 61st percentile do not translate to a top-tier gaming combo because the game's performance is overwhelmingly GPU-bound, and the RTX 3070's mid-range standing limits the overall result.

The rank of 1601 out of 3725 means approximately 57% of tested combos outperform this pairing in To The Core. This is a notable finding because the CPU is highly capable, but the GPU holds the combo back. The data shows that combos with faster GPUs but slower CPUs likely achieve higher frame rates, as the game's demand on the processor is relatively low. Conversely, combos with the same GPU but better CPUs would not see meaningful improvements, as the limiting factor is the graphics card.

The rank also reflects the game's genre. Idle games typically have modest graphics requirements, so the RTX 3070's mid-range performance is sufficient for high frame rates, but the combo does not reach the upper echelons of the benchmark database. The 3725 total combos include systems with far more powerful GPUs, such as those with 24 GB or more VRAM, which naturally achieve higher FPS at 4K Ultra settings. The 1601 rank is therefore a fair assessment of this combo's position relative to the full spectrum of tested hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce 355 FPS average, Medium yields 300 FPS with a minimum of 255 FPS and maximum of 345 FPS, High achieves 260 FPS, and Ultra drops to 209 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 146 FPS reduction, which is a 41% decrease from the lowest to highest preset. The Medium setting's min-max range of 255-345 FPS indicates frame time consistency, with only a 90 FPS spread.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but decrease noticeably. Low settings produce 239 FPS, Medium averages 202 FPS with a range of 172-232 FPS, High delivers 175 FPS, and Ultra falls to 141 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at each setting is consistent: Low decreases by 116 FPS (33%), Medium by 98 FPS (33%), High by 85 FPS (33%), and Ultra by 68 FPS (33%). This uniform percentage drop across settings indicates a resolution-driven GPU bottleneck rather than a settings-driven one.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are the lowest but still respectable. Low settings average 136 FPS, Medium averages 115 FPS with a range of 98-133 FPS, High produces 100 FPS, and Ultra drops to 81 FPS. The 4K results show a larger relative gap between settings, with Ultra being 40% slower than Low. The Medium setting's min-max range of 98-133 FPS (35 FPS spread) is the tightest of any resolution, suggesting stable performance under load.

The complete dataset shows that the combo never drops below 81 FPS in any tested configuration, which is a strong result for a mid-range GPU. The maximum FPS of 355 at 1080p Low exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors, while the minimum of 81 FPS at 4K Ultra remains above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium settings consistently show the narrowest FPS ranges, indicating that this preset offers the best frame pacing across all resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 a bottleneck in To The Core?*

A: No. The CPU's 90th percentile standing and high single-thread score of 4648 in Cinebench R23 indicate it can feed the GPU well beyond the measured frame rates. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 355 FPS, demonstrating the CPU is not limiting performance.

Q: How does the RTX 3070's 8 GB VRAM hold up at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for To The Core at 4K Ultra, as the combo maintains an average of 81 FPS. The drop from 115 FPS at Medium to 81 FPS at Ultra indicates increased memory pressure, but the game does not exceed the VRAM capacity.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high refresh rates?

A: At 2560x1440, the combo delivers between 141 FPS (Ultra) and 239 FPS (Low), which comfortably exceeds 144 Hz refresh rates. At 4K, only Low settings (136 FPS) reach above 120 FPS, while Ultra drops to 81 FPS.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest GPU rivals in terms of average score?

A: The RTX 3070's average score of 17208 is 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083), 1.0% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17037), and 1.1% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7970M (17019). It is 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla K40c (17468).

Q: Does the combo's rank of 1601 out of 3725 indicate poor performance?

A: No, the rank reflects that 57% of tested combos are faster, but the combo still achieves a minimum of 81 FPS at 4K Ultra. The rank is influenced by higher-end GPUs in the database, not by any deficiency in this pairing.

Q: Which settings preset offers the most consistent frame rates?

A: Medium settings show the narrowest FPS ranges at all resolutions: 255-345 FPS at 1080p, 172-232 FPS at 1440p, and 98-133 FPS at 4K. These ranges indicate the best frame pacing under load.

Settings Recommendations

The Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance consistency across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 300 FPS average with a range of 255-345 FPS, which is sufficient for any display. At 1440p, Medium achieves 202 FPS with a 172-232 FPS range, providing a comfortable margin above 144 Hz refresh rates. At 4K, Medium maintains 115 FPS with a 98-133 FPS range, ensuring the frame rate never dips below 98 FPS.

High settings are a viable alternative for users prioritizing visual fidelity. At 1080p, High produces 260 FPS, at 1440p it delivers 175 FPS, and at 4K it averages 100 FPS. The lack of min/max data for High settings means frame consistency is less certain, but the average frame rates are still well above playable thresholds. Ultra settings, while visually superior, reduce performance by 23-41% compared to Medium, making them a less attractive option for competitive play.

Low settings provide the highest frame rates (355 FPS at 1080p, 239 FPS at 1440p, 136 FPS at 4K) but sacrifice visual quality. For users with high refresh rate monitors (240 Hz or above), Low at 1080p or 1440p is the only way to fully utilize the display's potential. However, the data indicates that Medium is the sweet spot for most users, as it maintains frame rates above 98 FPS at 4K while offering better visual fidelity than Low.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU as the primary limiting component. At Medium settings, the combo achieves 300 FPS at 1080p, 202 FPS at 1440p, and 115 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a 43% decrease from 1440p to 4K, totaling a 62% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The consistent 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p across all settings indicates that the GPU's fill rate and bandwidth are the determining factors.

At Low settings, the scaling is similar: 355 FPS at 1080p, 239 FPS at 1440p, and 136 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 33% and 43% respectively, matching the Medium preset's scaling. This uniform scaling pattern confirms that resolution is the dominant variable, with settings having a secondary effect. At Ultra settings, the drop from 1080p (209 FPS) to 1440p (141 FPS) is 33%, and from 1440p to 4K (81 FPS) is 43%, again showing the same scaling factor.

The limiting component is clearly the GPU. The CPU's performance remains constant across resolutions, but the GPU's workload increases with pixel count. The RTX 3070's 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 20.31 TFLOPS compute are the constraints that prevent higher frame rates at 4K. The 8 GB VRAM also becomes a factor at 4K Ultra, as the 34 FPS drop from Medium to Ultra at 4K (115 to 81 FPS) is larger than the corresponding drops at 1080p (41 FPS) and 1440p (61 FPS), indicating memory pressure amplifies the resolution penalty.