Undisputed

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 produces a fascinating dataset in Undisputed, one that clearly delineates the responsibilities of each component. The data indicates a configuration where the GPU is the dominant force at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s four physical cores prove surprisingly capable of feeding the graphics card at lower settings.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S family, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It carries 12 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the benchmark data here does not isolate memory type impact. The processor’s benchmark profile shows a strong single-thread performance relative to its multi-thread capability, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681 and a multi-core score of 11912.

In the context of Undisputed, the CPU’s role becomes evident when examining the 1080p results. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 356.1 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 136 FPS. This 220 FPS spread across settings indicates that the CPU is not the primary constraint at this resolution; the GPU load changes dramatically with settings, and the processor maintains its ability to feed frames. The 3DMark scores for the CPU are 893 for single-thread and 4023 for max threads, placing it in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scores nearly identically on average (13534 vs 13516, a delta of -0.1%), which underscores that for gaming workloads, the i3-12100F’s clock speed and architecture are sufficient to compete with far more expensive, higher-core-count parts.

The data suggests that Undisputed is not a CPU-bound title for this processor. Even at the most demanding 4K Ultra setting, the average FPS is 60.3, which is a playable frame rate but far from the 356.1 FPS seen at 1080p Low. The bottleneck at that point is the GPU, not the CPU. The processor’s 4.30 GHz boost clock provides the single-thread headroom that sports games often require, and the 8 threads manage the game’s background tasks without causing a significant performance collapse. When comparing to the Intel Core i7-7700K, which has a deltaPct of 1.8% higher average score, the i3-12100F is effectively in the same performance class for this workload, despite having half the physical cores of that older flagship.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the clear performance driver in this pairing. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is 2520 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz. This memory capacity and bandwidth are crucial for Undisputed, as the game’s high-resolution textures and physics calculations can quickly consume VRAM. At 4K Ultra, the combo delivers 60.3 FPS, which suggests the GPU is working near its limit with the most demanding settings.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its top-tier status. It achieves a Geekbench Vulkan score of 165532 and a Passmark G3D score of 25381, placing it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA A2, has a nearly identical average score (34866 vs 34780, deltaPct -0.2%), which is a surprising comparison given the A2’s professional-grade positioning. The RX 9070’s FP32 performance is 36.13 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 322.6 GPixel/s, which aligns with the high frame rates observed at lower settings. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 356.1 FPS, a number that only a powerful GPU can achieve, indicating that the card is not leaving performance on the table due to CPU limitations.

The VRAM allocation becomes a factor when moving from Medium to High settings. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 119.4, but at 4K High, it drops to 97.4. This 22 FPS decrease is not as steep as the drop from High to Ultra (97.4 to 60.3), which suggests that the Ultra preset may be introducing effects that heavily tax the GPU’s compute units rather than just memory. The 16 GB frame buffer is likely sufficient for all tested presets, as the FPS drops are consistent with GPU compute scaling, not memory swapping.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Analyzing the resolution scaling reveals a textbook GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. From 1080p High to 1440p High, the average FPS drops from 211.8 to 155.1, a decrease of 26.7%. Continuing to 4K High, the FPS drops further to 97.4, a 37.2% reduction from 1440p. This scaling pattern is consistent with the GPU’s fillrate and bandwidth limits, as the number of pixels increases quadratically.

At Low settings, the trend is even more pronounced. The combo delivers 356.1 FPS at 1080p, 257.9 FPS at 1440p, and 163 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 27.6%, nearly identical to the High preset’s drop. However, the drop from 1440p to 4K Low is 36.8%, which is slightly larger than the High preset’s drop. This indicates that even at Low settings, where the CPU has less work to do per frame, the GPU remains the bottleneck at 4K.

The data clearly shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor until you reach extremely high frame rates. At 1080p Low, the 356.1 FPS average suggests the CPU is still able to keep up, but the GPU is also not fully saturated. The fact that the i3-12100F can push such high frame rates in this title is notable, as it demonstrates that the game’s engine does not require an excessive number of threads. The conclusion is that for users targeting 4K, the RX 9070 is the component that determines playability, while at 1080p, the CPU and GPU work in better balance, but the GPU still has headroom.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Undisputed, this pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 505th out of 1580 total combos. This places it in the top third of all configurations tested, which is a strong result considering the CPU’s modest core count. The rank of 505 suggests that while the GPU is powerful, the CPU prevents the combo from reaching the very top tiers where processors with more cores and higher multi-thread scores reside.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 72 and the GPU’s percentile rank of 79 do not directly translate to a combo rank, as the interaction between the two matters. The data shows that the i3-12100F holds back the RX 9070 slightly in CPU-intensive scenarios, but in Undisputed, the game’s reliance on GPU rendering means the combo still performs admirably. The 505th rank out of 1580 means there are 1075 combos that score lower, but there are also 504 combos that score higher, likely featuring more balanced or higher-end CPUs. For a 4-core processor, this is a solid placement, but it indicates that upgrading the CPU would yield better overall results in this game.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Examining the measured FPS rows, the sweet spot for this combo appears to be the High preset at 1440p. This setting delivers an average of 155.1 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium. At 4K, the High preset drops to 97.4 FPS, which is still playable on a high-refresh-rate display, but the jump to Ultra at 4K yields only 60.3 FPS, a substantial 38% loss for what is likely a marginal visual improvement.

For users prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1440p offers 257.9 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset at 1440p, at 184.3 FPS, provides a balanced option that is still very smooth. At 1080p, the High preset at 211.8 FPS is the best recommendation for users with high-refresh-rate monitors, as it offers a strong balance of visuals and performance. The Ultra preset at any resolution below 4K is less advisable; at 1080p Ultra, the combo still achieves 136 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Ultra does not justify the 35.8% FPS drop from 211.8 to 136. The data suggests that High is the optimal preset for this hardware, with 1440p High being the best overall experience.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 9070 in this game?

A: The data shows that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at standard resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 356.1 FPS, indicating the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output. The CPU ranks in the 72nd percentile, and its performance is within 1.8% of the Intel Core i7-7700K, suggesting it is sufficient for this title.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve over 100 FPS consistently?

A: The measured data shows that at 1440p High, the average FPS is 155.1, and at 4K High, it is 97.4. Therefore, 1440p High is the highest resolution and settings combination that maintains an average above 100 FPS. At 4K, the High preset barely misses the 100 FPS mark.

Q: How does the GPU’s VRAM affect performance at 4K?

A: The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The FPS drops from 119.4 at 4K Medium to 97.4 at 4K High, and then to 60.3 at 4K Ultra. This progression suggests that VRAM is not the limiting factor, as the card has ample memory capacity; the performance loss is more likely due to compute load.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking compared to other tested systems?

A: This pairing ranks 505th out of 1580 tested combos for Undisputed. This places it in the top third of all configurations. The CPU’s average benchmark score is 13516, and the GPU’s is 34780, but the combo rank reflects their combined performance in this specific game.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset with this hardware?

A: The Ultra preset yields 60.3 FPS at 4K and 98.5 FPS at 1440p. While these are playable, the High preset at 1440p offers 155.1 FPS, a 57.4% increase in frame rate. The data suggests that High provides a better experience with only a minor visual trade-off.

Q: Can this combo handle high refresh rate gaming at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data confirms it. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 211.8, and at 1080p Medium, it is 256.7. These frame rates are well above 144 Hz, making this combo suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p with High settings.