Undisputed

The Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 pairing in Undisputed presents a fascinating study in component balance. The processor, a 6-core, 12-thread Comet Lake part with a 2.90 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clock, is a 10th-generation desktop chip on the Intel Socket 1200 platform. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are typical of its generation, but its benchmark profile reveals a more nuanced story. In synthetic tests, the CPU scores 4,748 in 3DMark's 16-thread test and 4,735 at max threads, showing strong scaling from its 12 threads. However, its single-thread score of 688 in 3DMark and 1,453 in Cinebench R23 single-core suggests that while it can handle multi-threaded workloads well, its per-core performance is a limiting factor in games that rely heavily on single-thread speed.

This becomes critical in Undisputed, a sports title where frame pacing and physics calculations can be sensitive to single-core throughput. The CPU's 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14,168, places it in a competitive but not elite tier. It sits remarkably close to rivals like the AMD EPYC 7552, which scores 14,115 (only 0.4% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, which scores 14,277 (0.8% ahead). The Intel Core i5-8500 is 1.1% ahead at 14,332, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 leads by 1.2% at 14,336. These deltas are minuscule, indicating that the i5-10400F is squarely in a performance cluster where architectural differences matter more than raw benchmark numbers.

The CPU's 65W TDP and 14nm process node are older, but the 3DMark results show a clear multi-threaded advantage: the 4,748 16-thread score is nearly 3.5x higher than the 1,350 2-thread score, confirming that games or tasks using more threads will see substantial gains. In Undisputed, this means the CPU can feed the GPU adequately in most scenarios, but its 688 single-thread score could become a bottleneck when the game's engine demands rapid single-core responses, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the limiting factor.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of this CPU and GPU in Undisputed achieves a combo rank of 735 out of 1,580 tested configurations. This places it in the 47th percentile of all combos, which is a surprisingly mid-tier result given the components' individual strengths. The RTX 3070, with its 72nd percentile ranking among GPUs and an average benchmark score of 28,238, is a capable Ampere-based card. The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro S7150 (28,409, 0.6% ahead), AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (27,985, 0.9% behind), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (27,956, 1% behind), and AMD Radeon R9 M295X (28,541, 1.1% ahead). These tight margins suggest the GPU is performing as expected for its class.

Yet the combo rank of 735 suggests that in Undisputed, the pairing is not unlocking its full potential. The data implies that the CPU's single-thread limitations are holding back the GPU in specific scenarios. The 1,580 total combos tested likely include many with newer, higher-clocked CPUs that pair better with a high-end GPU like the RTX 3070. The rank indicates that roughly 845 other combinations deliver better performance in this specific game, which is a significant gap. This is not a reflection of the GPU's raw power, but rather a sign that the game's engine favors CPU architectures with stronger per-core performance, such as newer Intel or AMD designs with higher IPC (instructions per clock).

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the bottleneck shifts as resolution changes. At 1080p, the combo produces very high frame rates, with Low settings hitting 308.5 FPS and Medium reaching 222.4 FPS. These numbers suggest the GPU is barely stressed at this resolution, and the CPU is doing most of the heavy lifting. The drop from 1080p Low (308.5 FPS) to 1440p Low (221.2 FPS) is a 28.3% reduction, while the drop from 1440p Low to 4K Low (140.5 FPS) is another 36.5% cut. This scaling pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior — as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the primary limiter, and frame rates drop proportionally.

However, the Ultra settings tell a different story. At 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 120.6 FPS, which drops to 86.7 FPS at 1440p Ultra (a 28.1% reduction) and then to 56.6 FPS at 4K Ultra (a 34.7% reduction). The consistent percentage drops across resolution tiers indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor at Ultra settings, even at 1080p. The RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the game's demands outstrip what this GPU can deliver, pushing frames below the 60 FPS threshold. This suggests that for competitive play at high refresh rates, 1080p or 1440p with Medium or High settings is the sweet spot, while 4K Ultra is only viable for less demanding scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 308.5 FPS on Low, 222.4 FPS on Medium, 181.6 FPS on High, and 120.6 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that the game scales well with settings, with Ultra costing roughly 61% of Low's performance. At 2560x1440, the frame rates are 221.2 FPS on Low, 160.6 FPS on Medium, 131.5 FPS on High, and 86.7 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p results are still highly playable, with even Ultra maintaining a solid 86.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly: 140.5 FPS on Low, 105 FPS on Medium, 81.9 FPS on High, and 56.6 FPS on Ultra.

The 4K Ultra result of 56.6 FPS is the only sub-60 FPS measurement, indicating that this combo is not suited for 4K Ultra gaming in Undisputed. Interestingly, the 1080p High result of 181.6 FPS is higher than the 1440p Medium result of 160.6 FPS, which is expected given the resolution difference. The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra narrows as resolution increases: at 1080p, Ultra is 60.9% slower than Low, but at 4K, Ultra is 59.7% slower. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that the visual fidelity differences between settings have a relatively smaller impact on frame rate, as the GPU is already at its limits.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is built on the GA104 chip with 5,888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. It features 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores, which are relevant for modern game effects. Its base clock of 1500 MHz and boost clock of 1725 MHz, combined with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, provide a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's transistor count of 17,400 million on an 8nm Samsung process gives it a die size of 392 mm², and its FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS is substantial for a card of its generation.

In Undisputed, the GPU's role becomes clear when examining the frame rate scaling. At 1080p Low, the 308.5 FPS result is far beyond what most displays can show, indicating the GPU is not the bottleneck. However, the 4K Ultra result of 56.6 FPS shows the GPU working at its maximum. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely a limiting factor at 4K with Ultra textures, as the 8 GB VRAM capacity may also be strained. The GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, scores only 0.9% lower in average benchmarks, yet in real gaming, the RTX 3070's higher memory bandwidth and more shading units provide a clear advantage at higher resolutions. The data shows that the GPU can deliver 140.5 FPS at 4K Low, which is impressive, but the 56.6 FPS at 4K Ultra suggests that the game's Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly demanding on memory bandwidth and compute resources.

FAQ

*Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in Undisputed?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Low, it achieves 140.5 FPS, and at 4K High, it maintains 81.9 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, it drops to 56.6 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors?

A: At 1080p, the combo delivers 181.6 FPS on High and 120.6 FPS on Ultra, making it suitable for 144Hz or even 240Hz displays. At 1440p, High settings yield 131.5 FPS, which is also excellent for high refresh rates.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14,168, which is within 1.2% of its closest competitors. It trails the AMD EPYC 7552 by only 0.4%, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.8%, and the Intel Core i5-8500 by 1.1%, while leading the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 by 1.2%.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 308.5 FPS, which is far above any display's refresh rate. This indicates the CPU is the primary limiter at this resolution, not the RTX 3070.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The RTX 3070 ranks in the 72nd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 28,238. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, scores 27,985, which is 0.9% lower.

Q: How does the combo rank overall in this game?

A: The combo ranks 735 out of 1,580 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This is surprising given the individual component strengths, suggesting the CPU's single-thread performance limits the pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience depends on the user's display and performance priorities. For 1080p gaming, High settings provide an excellent balance, delivering 181.6 FPS — well above the 144Hz threshold for most monitors. For users with 240Hz displays, Medium settings at 222.4 FPS are recommended, as the visual difference between Medium and High is often negligible in fast-paced sports games, while the frame rate gain is substantial. At 1440p, High settings at 131.5 FPS are the best choice for competitive play, offering smooth motion with minimal graphical compromises. For 4K gaming, High settings at 81.9 FPS provide a playable experience, but users seeking maximum visual fidelity should be aware that Ultra drops to 56.6 FPS, which may cause noticeable stuttering on standard 60Hz displays.

The data suggests that Ultra settings are not worth the performance cost at any resolution. At 1080p, the drop from High to Ultra costs 61 FPS (181.6 to 120.6), a 33.6% reduction that is unlikely to be justified by the visual improvements. At 1440p, the drop is 44.8 FPS (131.5 to 86.7), and at 4K, it is 25.3 FPS (81.9 to 56.6). The performance penalty for Ultra is consistent across resolutions, but the frame rate floor of 56.6 FPS at 4K makes it untenable. Therefore, the recommended preset is High for all resolutions, as it provides the best balance of visual quality and frame rate. For users with high refresh rate displays at 1080p, Medium is a viable alternative, offering 222.4 FPS with only a modest reduction in graphical fidelity.