To The Core

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 produces a distinctive performance profile in To The Core, one that is heavily dictated by resolution. The measured data reveals a system that delivers exceptional high-refresh-rate performance at 1080p, remains highly capable at 1440p, and begins to show its constraints at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across the tested configurations, examines the roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides actionable settings recommendations based solely on the provided benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals a predictable yet significant shift in system bottleneck behavior. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 278 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 187 FPS, a reduction of 91 FPS. The jump to 4K Low yields an average of 107 FPS, which is a further decrease of 80 FPS from the 1440p result. This steep linear decline indicates that the graphics card is the primary scaling factor as resolution increases, with the CPU having ample headroom at lower resolutions.

At higher graphical presets, the scaling pattern shows a similar trend but with a more compressed range. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 204 at 1080p to 137 at 1440p (a 67 FPS drop), and then to 78 at 4K (a 59 FPS drop). The Ultra preset shows the same pattern, with averages of 164 at 1080p, 110 at 1440p, and 63 at 4K. The fact that the FPS deficit between resolutions is relatively consistent across presets suggests that the RTX 5050's rendering workload is the dominant factor; as the pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and shading capabilities are taxed more heavily, limiting overall performance.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the system is not fully GPU-bound, as evidenced by the massive 278 FPS Low result. This implies the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU faster than it can render at lower resolutions. However, the gap between 1080p and 1440p performance is substantial, indicating that the GPU's capabilities are quickly saturated when pixel count increases. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is less steep, but the absolute performance at 4K, particularly at Ultra (63 FPS), shows that this resolution is best suited for lower presets or for gamers who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. Its benchmark scores are formidable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. The processor's PassMark single-thread score of 4823 and its 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicate exceptional per-core performance, which is crucial for gaming. The high boost clock of 5.80 GHz, paired with a 36 MB shared L3 cache, provides the low-latency, high-throughput environment that modern game engines require.

In To The Core, an idle game, the CPU's role is less about brute-force multi-core rendering and more about maintaining a consistent, high-frequency frame delivery. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system produces 278 FPS, but this is likely not the CPU's absolute limit. The processor's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, has an average benchmark score that is 0.2% lower, indicating these are very closely matched in general compute. This suggests that the Ultra 9 290K Plus is not a limiting factor in this game at lower resolutions, and its high single-thread performance ensures that game logic and draw calls are processed without introducing frame pacing issues.

The CPU's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 21727 and PassMark multi-thread score of 60860 show immense parallel processing power, but idle games often rely on a single main thread for simulation. The 24 cores are likely underutilized in this specific title, meaning the 290K Plus's advantage lies in its high boost clock and IPC rather than its core count. Given the performance deltas, the CPU is a strong foundation for this GPU, providing enough headroom to prevent a CPU bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p, where the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the central component in this configuration, and its characteristics directly dictate the gaming experience. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. Its compute capabilities are defined by 2560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2572 MHz. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 17326 places it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, is just 1.6% behind in average score, establishing the performance tier of this card.

The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 5050's performance is most comfortable at 1080p. At 4K, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become potential constraints. While the game isn't running out of memory based on the provided data, the 320.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely a limiting factor when processing the high-resolution textures and shaders required for 4K rendering. This is reflected in the 4K Ultra average of 63 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

The GPU's benchmark scores, including a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502 and a PassMark DirectX 12 score of 66, suggest it is a competent DirectX 12 performer. In To The Core, the RTX 5050 shows a clear performance ceiling as resolution and settings scale. The transition from Low to Ultra at 1080p results in a 114 FPS drop (from 278 to 164), illustrating that while the card is fast, it is not without limits. The GPU's TDP of 130 W and its performance relative to the RX 5600 XT indicate it is a mid-range part, and its behavior in this game aligns with that positioning, excelling at 1080p and handling 1440p well, but struggling to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 holds a rank of 1807 out of 2991 combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all possible system configurations for To The Core. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the strong individual components, but it underscores the fact that the GPU is the primary driver for game performance.

The combo's rank is a reflection of the balance between the CPU and GPU. The Ultra 9 290K Plus is a top-tier processor, with a 96th percentile ranking across all CPUs, but it is paired with a GPU that sits in the 66th percentile. The performance of the system is effectively capped by the RTX 5050. While the CPU can handle high frame rates, the GPU cannot always deliver them, especially at higher resolutions.

This ranking indicates that for a game like To The Core, the GPU is the more critical component for determining overall system performance. The 1807th rank out of 2991 suggests that many other combos, likely those with slightly weaker CPUs but much stronger GPUs, would outperform this specific pairing. The data shows a system that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming but would be outclassed by systems with more powerful graphics cards in higher-resolution scenarios. The CPU's power is somewhat wasted in this pairing, as it is never the bottleneck; the GPU is almost always the limiting factor, as seen in the resolution scaling analysis.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average FPS, and where available, minimum and maximum FPS for this combo in To The Core.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 278 FPS
• Medium: Average 235 FPS, Minimum 200 FPS, Maximum 270 FPS
• High: Average 204 FPS
• Ultra: Average 164 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 187 FPS
• Medium: Average 158 FPS, Minimum 134 FPS, Maximum 182 FPS
• High: Average 137 FPS
• Ultra: Average 110 FPS

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 107 FPS
• Medium: Average 90 FPS, Minimum 77 FPS, Maximum 104 FPS
• High: Average 78 FPS
• Ultra: Average 63 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy based on resolution and settings. At 1080p, the system is capable of delivering high frame rates even on Ultra settings, which is ideal for competitive or fast-paced gameplay. The 1440p results show a substantial drop, but all presets remain above 100 FPS, providing a smooth experience. At 4K, the system drops below the 100 FPS mark for all presets, with Ultra settings dipping to an average of 63 FPS. The minimum FPS values recorded at Medium settings (200 FPS at 1080p, 134 FPS at 1440p, 77 FPS at 4K) indicate that the system maintains good frame pacing, but there is a notable dip at 4K, suggesting the GPU is under significant load.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. The data shows that the High preset at 1440p offers an excellent balance, delivering an average of 137 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the Ultra preset (110 FPS) while maintaining a high level of visual quality, and it is well above the 100 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

For users with a 1080p monitor, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice, as it still produces a very high average of 164 FPS. The visual fidelity gain from Ultra over High is likely worth the 40 FPS sacrifice, as the absolute frame rate remains high enough to prevent any perceptible stuttering or input lag.

At 4K, the situation changes. The Low preset is the only one that consistently maintains an average above 100 FPS, with a score of 107. The Medium preset (90 FPS) is also playable, but the High (78 FPS) and Ultra (63 FPS) presets drop into a range where frame pacing may become more noticeable. For a 60Hz display, the Ultra preset's 63 FPS average is acceptable, but for higher refresh rate 4K displays, the Low or Medium presets are necessary to maintain a fluid experience. The data indicates that the Medium preset at 4K provides a good compromise, offering a 90 FPS average, which is a 27 FPS increase over High, while likely still providing a visually richer experience than Low.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in To The Core?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 278, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p High compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 1440p High, the system achieves an average of 137 FPS. At 1080p Ultra, it achieves an average of 164 FPS. The 1080p Ultra setting is 27 FPS faster on average.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The average FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, while the CPU's high single-thread score suggests it has sufficient headroom to handle the game logic at these frame rates.

Q: What is the lowest minimum FPS recorded for this system?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 77 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings.

Q: How does this combo's overall rank in the database reflect its performance?

A: The combo ranks 1807th out of 2991 tested combinations. This indicates that while the components are capable, the GPU limits the system's overall performance, placing it in the lower-middle tier for this specific game.

Q: Which settings provide the best experience for a 1440p monitor?

A: Based on the data, the High preset at 1440p provides an excellent experience, with an average of 137 FPS. This is a good balance between visual quality and performance, as it is 27 FPS faster than the Ultra preset.