Undisputed

Undisputed, a sports title built on a physics-driven boxing simulation, presents an unusual stress pattern where the demands on the CPU and GPU diverge sharply depending on the resolution. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D across three resolutions and four quality presets, using the benchmark data as the sole source of truth.

The data reveals a configuration that is capable of extreme frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but whose frame pacing and bottleneck characteristics become more complex at 4K. The Intel Core i3-12100F is a quad-core processor with eight threads, based on the Alder Lake architecture and fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. Its 3DMark scores suggest a strong showing in multi-threaded workloads, with a 16-thread score of 4051 and a max-thread score of 4023, indicating that scaling beyond eight threads yields negligible gains, a common trait for this processor class. This is further corroborated by the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11860, which, while respectable for its class, places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, suggesting it is a solid mid-range performer rather than a high-end compute beast. Its single-thread performance, as indicated by a 3DMark single-thread score of 893, is adequate for gaming but not exceptional, often becoming the defining factor in CPU-bound scenarios like high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming.

The RTX 5090 D, by contrast, is a behemoth. With 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s, which is critical for high-resolution texture streaming. Its 21760 shading units and 680 texture mapping units provide a raw compute capability of 104.8 TFLOPS FP32. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, confirming its position as a top-tier graphics processor. Its passmark G3D score of 44065 further emphasizes its dominance. However, its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and RX 6850M XT, with delta percentages of 1.1 and -1.6 respectively. This is a curious data point, as those are mobile-class GPUs, suggesting the benchmark's comparison algorithm may be grouping the 5090 D with a different performance tier than expected, or the scores are normalized in a way that flattens the differences at the extreme high end.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F operates at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a configuration that is often considered the entry point for modern gaming. In the context of Undisputed, the CPU's role is to manage the game's simulation logic, including the physics of punches, fighter movement, and AI decision-making. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is heavily involved. The jump from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p shows a significant performance drop, from 536 FPS to 222 FPS, a 58.6% reduction. This indicates that while the GPU is capable of producing massive frame rates, the CPU's ability to feed it draw calls and process game state becomes a limiting factor at lower resolutions where the GPU is otherwise underutilized.

The benchmark results show that the i3-12100F's multi-threaded performance is its strong suit, with a Passmark multithread score of 14015. However, the game's engine may not be able to fully utilize all eight threads effectively. The 3DMark 4-thread score of 2859 is notably lower than the 8-thread score of 4026, suggesting that the processor's performance scales well with additional threads, but the game's core logic likely relies on fewer, faster cores. This is where the single-thread performance, scoring 893 in 3DMark, becomes critical. If the game's main thread is a bottleneck, the 4.30 GHz boost clock is the only mitigation. This is a plausible explanation for why the frame rates, while high, are not infinitely scalable; the CPU's single-threaded throughput sets a ceiling on the maximum achievable FPS.

Comparing it to its nearest rivals, the Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, which is essentially tied with the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492) and the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452). It is 1.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-1250U. This data indicates that for pure computational throughput, the i3-12100F is on par with a six-core CPU from the previous generation, but its advantage lies in its newer architecture's instructions per clock (IPC). In a game like Undisputed, this means the CPU can hold its own, but it is not a performance outlier. The data implies that this processor is sufficient to drive the game, but it is not the primary source of the extreme frame rates observed; that credit goes to the GPU.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the absolute centerpiece of this configuration. Its 32 GB of VRAM is a massive buffer for any game, ensuring that texture memory is never a constraint, even at 4K Ultra settings. The GPU clocks are high, with a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz. The memory runs at 1750 MHz, effectively 28 Gbps, which, combined with the 512-bit bus, yields that 1.79 TB/s bandwidth. For a game like Undisputed, which features realistic fighter models and detailed arenas, this bandwidth ensures that the GPU can stream textures and geometry without stuttering, a fact supported by the high minimum FPS values observed in the Medium preset at 4K (162 FPS).

The GPU's raw shading power, 104.8 TFLOPS, is what allows the game to run at such absurd frame rates. At 1080p Low, the GPU achieves 536 FPS, which is far beyond any display's refresh rate. This indicates that the GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution; rather, it is the CPU that cannot keep up with the GPU's potential. The RTX 5090 D's passmark G3D score of 44065 places it in a tier of its own, despite the database's nearest rival suggestions. The delta percentages to the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (1.1%) are misleading in a gaming context, as they are based on average synthetic benchmark scores across various tests, which may not reflect gaming workloads. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326 is a more relevant indicator of its gaming prowess, and it is a top-tier score.

The GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. The transition from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows that the GPU starts to take over as the primary bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 101 FPS, which is still very high but represents a 54.5% drop from the 4K Low setting (264 FPS). This scalability shows that the RTX 5090 D has the horsepower to handle the increased pixel count, but the workload is now fully on the GPU. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 D is over-provisioned for 1080p gaming with this CPU, but it comes into its own at 4K, where its compute and memory resources are more fully utilized.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the bottleneck shifts. At 1080p, the average FPS across all settings is 379.5. At 1440p, this drops to 282, and at 4K, it falls to 178. This scaling pattern is key. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 25.7% reduction, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is a 36.9% reduction. This non-linear scaling suggests that at 1080p, the system is not purely GPU-limited; otherwise, the FPS would drop more proportionally with the pixel count increase (which is roughly 1.78x from 1080p to 1440p).

Specifically, looking at the High preset, the FPS goes from 344 at 1080p to 249 at 1440p (a 27.6% drop) and then to 157 at 4K (a 36.9% drop from 1440p). If the GPU were the sole limiting factor, the 1440p score should be closer to 193 FPS (344 / 1.78). The fact that it is 249 FPS indicates that the CPU is holding the system back at 1080p, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. Once the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU’s workload becomes more substantial, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up, allowing the GPU to become the bottleneck.

This is a classic sign of a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions. The i3-12100F, with its 4 cores, simply cannot issue draw calls fast enough to keep the RTX 5090 D busy at 1080p. The data shows that the CPU is the limiting factor in this configuration at 1080p, but the GPU takes over as the primary constraint at 4K. This is a crucial insight for users: the combination is well-balanced for 4K gaming, but at 1080p, the CPU leaves performance on the table.

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

The benchmark data provides specific average frame rates for each setting, with only the Medium preset offering minimum and maximum FPS values.

At 1920x1080, the performance is as follows:

• Low: 536 FPS average. This is the highest score in the entire dataset, showcasing the GPU's raw power when the CPU can keep up somewhat.
• Medium: 416 FPS average, with a minimum of 354 FPS and a maximum of 478 FPS. The minimum FPS here is higher than the average FPS of the Ultra preset at the same resolution, indicating a stable experience.
• High: 344 FPS average.
• Ultra: 222 FPS average. This is a substantial drop from High, indicating a significant increase in GPU load or CPU draw call complexity.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high:

• Low: 418 FPS average.
• Medium: 301 FPS average, with a minimum of 256 FPS and a maximum of 346 FPS. The minimum FPS is still above 240 Hz, making this ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.
• High: 249 FPS average.
• Ultra: 160 FPS average.

At 3840x2160, the GPU finally begins to flex its muscles:

• Low: 264 FPS average.
• Medium: 190 FPS average, with a minimum of 162 FPS and a maximum of 219 FPS. This is the only 4K preset with min/max data, and the 162 FPS minimum suggests a very consistent experience.
• High: 157 FPS average.
• Ultra: 101 FPS average. This is the lowest score but still comfortably above 60 FPS, ensuring a smooth 4K experience.

The pattern is consistent: the RTX 5090 D is so powerful that even at 4K Ultra, it maintains triple-digit frame rates. The Medium preset's min/max data shows the frame pacing is tight, with the minimum FPS being at least 78% of the average FPS in all cases.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of 2813 tested combos for Undisputed, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D holds the 43rd position. This is a very high rank, placing it in the top 1.5% of all tested configurations. This ranking is impressive given the CPU's mid-range status, suggesting that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting to secure such a high position.

The rank of 43 is particularly noteworthy because it indicates that while the CPU is a limiting factor at lower resolutions, the sheer power of the RTX 5090 D at higher resolutions is enough to catapult this combo above many others with more balanced or CPU-heavy configurations. The data implies that combos ranked above this one likely feature higher-end CPUs, such as the Core i7 or i9 series, which can better feed the RTX 5090 D at 1080p, but the performance gap at 4K is minimal. This rank reflects the GPU's dominance in this pairing, suggesting that for 4K gaming, this combo is a top-tier performer, despite the apparent mismatch in component tiers.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D in this game?

A: Yes, at 1080p. The data shows that the FPS at 1080p Low (536) does not scale proportionally with the GPU's power, and the drop to 1440p (418) is relatively small, indicating the CPU limits the GPU at the lowest resolution. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, and the CPU is sufficient.

Q: What is the best resolution to use for this combo?

A: The data suggests 2560x1440 offers the best balance. The average FPS across all settings is 282, which is still extremely high, and the Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 256, ensuring a flawless high-refresh-rate experience. 4K is also viable, with a 101 FPS average at Ultra.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D's performance compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: According to the benchmark data, the RTX 5090 D has an average score of 77712, which is 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. However, these deltas are based on synthetic averages and do not reflect the massive differences in gaming performance seen in the measured FPS.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking, and what does it mean?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F is in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. This means it performs better than 68% of processors in the database, positioning it as a solid mid-range option, but not a high-end compute part, which is consistent with its performance in this game.

Q: Is the 4K Ultra setting playable with this configuration?

A: Yes, the data shows an average FPS of 101 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the high minimum FPS values on other presets suggest the frame pacing will be stable.

Q: Is there a significant difference between the High and Ultra presets?

A: Yes, the performance cost is notable. Across all resolutions, the Ultra preset is roughly 35-36% slower than the High preset. For example, at 1440p, High yields 249 FPS while Ultra yields 160 FPS, a 35.7% reduction for the increased visual fidelity.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the High preset offers the most efficient balance of visual quality and performance for this configuration. At 4K, High provides an average of 157 FPS, which is 55.4% faster than Ultra (101 FPS) while still offering high-fidelity graphics. The jump from High to Ultra incurs a massive performance penalty for diminishing returns in visual quality, as is typical for the "Ultra" preset in most games.

For users with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors (240 Hz and above), the Medium preset is the optimal choice. The data shows an average of 301 FPS with a minimum of 256 FPS, ensuring the frame rate never drops below the monitor's refresh rate. This provides a perfectly smooth and responsive experience, which is critical in a competitive sports game. The Low preset at 1440p (418 FPS) is only useful for extreme esports scenarios, as the visual degradation is likely not worth the extra frame rate headroom.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the recommended setting. It delivers a 157 FPS average, which is far above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most high-end 4K displays, providing a fluid and visually impressive experience. While the Medium preset (190 FPS) offers even more headroom, the visual step up to High is significant, and the performance is still excellent. The Ultra preset, while playable at 101 FPS, represents a significant performance investment for what is often a marginal visual improvement, making it less advisable for a game where frame rate consistency is key.