Undisputed

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a study in stark hardware contrast. The CPU is a high-end desktop part with a strong multi-threaded foundation, while the GPU is an entry-level, end-of-life component. In Undisputed, this pairing produces a bottleneck-heavy experience where the graphics card determines the outcome at every resolution. The data shows a combo that ranks 3591 out of 3718 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 4% of all systems. This is a configuration that can deliver playable frame rates, but only when settings are carefully managed.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K belongs to the Core 12th Gen series, built on the Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process. It packs 12 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The processor features a 25 MB shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface. Its thermal design power is 125 W, and it is unlocked, allowing for overclocking. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and a single-core score of 1850.5, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 15790 and a single-core score of 2308.

However, in the context of Undisputed, the CPU's raw power is largely irrelevant. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings are consistently low, which points to the GPU as the primary constraint. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 and the max-thread score of 9979 suggest that the processor has ample headroom for modern games. Even the 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and the Passmark single-thread score of 4013 indicate strong per-core performance, which is typically critical for sports titles. The data indicates that the i7-12700K is not the limiting factor here.

The processor's percentile ranking against all CPUs is 84, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of desktop processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-13600T with an average score of 35305 and a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Core i7-12700KF with an average score of 35365 and a delta of -0.2%, are nearly identical in performance. The i7-12700K's average benchmark score of 35287 puts it right in line with these chips, showing that it is a top-tier performer in its class. With 20 threads, it can handle any background tasks or streaming overhead without breaking a sweat, but this capability does not translate to higher FPS in this game because the GPU is saturated first.

The CPU's L2 cache is substantial at 1.25 MB per core, and its L1 cache is 80 KB per core. This large cache hierarchy helps with game logic and physics calculations, but in Undisputed, the bottleneck is the pixel throughput of the GTX 1650. The benchmark results show that moving from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p yields a drop from 109 FPS to 42 FPS, a clear sign that the workload is shifting entirely onto the GPU. The CPU is waiting at the sidelines, ready to feed frames, but the GPU cannot process them fast enough. Therefore, the i7-12700K's role is to ensure that frame pacing remains consistent and that there are no CPU-related stutters, which the high thread count and clock speeds easily handle.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process, with a die size of 200 mm² and 4,700 million transistors. It features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz, with memory running at 2001 MHz (8 Gbps effective). It has 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. The card's FP32 performance is 2.984 TFLOPS, and its texture rate is 93.24 GTexel/s. The GPU sits at the 40th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 7472.

This GPU is the definitive bottleneck in this combo. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score include the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (7447, delta 0.3%) and the Intel Arc A310 (7550, delta -1%), which are all in the same performance tier. In a game like Undisputed, the 4 GB VRAM capacity is a critical limitation. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo averages only 19 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 42, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the GTX 1650 struggles with the game's higher-quality textures and effects, likely running out of memory or bandwidth.

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: the GPU scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 109, which is excellent for a fast-paced sports title. However, at the same resolution with High settings, it drops to 65 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 42 FPS. The 1440p results are more demanding: 79 FPS at Low, 57 FPS at Medium, and 47 FPS at High, with Ultra dropping to 30 FPS. At 4K, only the Low preset is somewhat playable at 50 FPS, while Medium manages 36 FPS and High drops to 30 FPS. The GTX 1650's 128.1 GB/s bandwidth is simply not enough to feed the GPU at higher resolutions, causing the performance to plummet.

The GPU's DirectX 12 support is rated at 12_1, and it supports Vulkan 1.4 and OpenGL 4.6. While the architecture is capable, the hardware is limited. The 896 shading units are not sufficient for the pixel shader workload at high settings in Undisputed. The Passmark G3D score of 7880 and DirectX 11 score of 58 indicate that the card is a generation behind modern requirements. In practical terms, the GTX 1650 will deliver its best experience at 1080p, and users should avoid Ultra presets entirely to maintain a responsive frame rate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Undisputed with this combo?*

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can achieve a consistently high frame rate. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 109, and it drops to 65 FPS at High settings. At 1440p, the average FPS ranges from 79 (Low) to 30 (Ultra), while at 4K, the maximum average is 50 FPS (Low).

*Q: Is the GTX 1650's 4 GB VRAM enough for Undisputed?*

A: The benchmark results indicate that the 4 GB VRAM is a limiting factor at higher settings. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 19, and at 2560x1440 with Ultra, it is 30. The performance degradation suggests the GPU is struggling with memory capacity or bandwidth, making high and ultra presets impractical.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305 (delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365 (delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403 (delta -0.3%). The differences are negligible, meaning the CPU performance is on par with these alternatives.

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K?

A: The data shows that 4K is not a viable option for smooth gameplay. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 50 on Low, 36 on Medium, 30 on High, and 19 on Ultra. Only the Low preset approaches playability, but it still falls short of the 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 57 FPS, while the High preset averages 47 FPS. This is a 10 FPS drop for turning up the settings, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed by the High preset's additional visual effects.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 3591 out of 3718 tested combinations for Undisputed. This places it in the bottom 4% of all systems, confirming that the GTX 1650 is the primary reason for the low overall performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 3591 out of 3718 tested combinations is a clear indicator of its position in the performance hierarchy. This rank places the system in the bottom percentile, meaning that 96% of all tested combos perform better in Undisputed. The i7-12700K is a powerful CPU, ranking in the 84th percentile against all CPUs, but the GTX 1650's 40th percentile ranking drags the entire system down. The pairing is fundamentally imbalanced; the CPU has far more capability than the GPU can utilize.

When looking at the CPU's rivals, the i7-12700K is statistically tied with the i5-13600T, i7-12700KF, and i7-13700T. If any of these CPUs were paired with the GTX 1650, the results would be nearly identical because the GPU is the bottleneck. The GPU's rivals, such as the AMD Radeon HD 8850M and the Intel Arc A310, are also in the same performance bracket, further cementing the GTX 1650's status as a low-end part. The data suggests that the combo's rank is almost entirely determined by the GPU, not the CPU.

In practical terms, this combo is suitable for budget-conscious builders who already own a high-end CPU from a previous build or who prioritize CPU performance for other tasks. For Undisputed, however, the rank indicates that users will need to compromise heavily on visual fidelity to get acceptable frame rates. The combo's performance is sufficient for 1080p gaming at Low to Medium settings, but it lacks the headroom for higher resolutions or presets. The benchmark results confirm that this is not a balanced pairing for this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across four resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results: an average of 109 FPS on Low, 79 FPS on Medium, 65 FPS on High, and 42 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 67 and a maximum of 91, indicating some frame variance but generally smooth gameplay. The High preset at 65 FPS is still playable, but the Ultra preset at 42 FPS is borderline for a sports game that benefits from high refresh rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, which is still good, but the Medium preset drops to 57 FPS with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. The High preset averages 47 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 30 FPS. The 1440p results show that the GTX 1650 is beginning to struggle, especially with the higher preset levels. The frame pacing at Medium (48-65 FPS) is acceptable, but anything above that becomes inconsistent.

At 3840x2160, the combo is clearly out of its depth. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is the only playable option at this resolution. The Medium preset averages 36 FPS with a minimum of 31 and a maximum of 41, which is choppy. The High preset drops to 30 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 19 FPS, making it unplayable. The data shows a linear decline in performance as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU with limited memory bandwidth and shading power.

The FPS breakdown highlights the GPU's limitations. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra cuts the frame rate by more than half (109 to 42 FPS). At 4K, the same jump reduces the frame rate from 50 to 19 FPS. The minimum FPS values, where available, show that the combo can experience significant dips, particularly at 1440p Medium (48 FPS minimum) and 4K Medium (31 FPS minimum). These dips can cause noticeable stuttering in gameplay, especially during intense boxing exchanges.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for Undisputed with this combo depend entirely on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset at 65 FPS offers the best balance between visual quality and performance. It provides a smooth experience without the steep performance penalty of the Ultra preset. The Medium preset at 79 FPS is also a strong choice, especially for players who prefer higher frame rates for smoother animations. The Ultra preset at 42 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold and may introduce input lag.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the highest viable option, averaging 57 FPS. The Low preset at 79 FPS is the best choice for competitive play, but Medium offers a better visual experience while remaining mostly smooth. The High preset at 47 FPS is playable but may feel sluggish, and the Ultra preset at 30 FPS should be avoided. For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 50 FPS is the only recommendation, as it provides a somewhat playable experience. The Medium preset at 36 FPS is too inconsistent, and the High and Ultra presets are not viable.

The data suggests that the GTX 1650 is best utilized at 1080p with Medium or High settings. The 4 GB VRAM and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for these presets, but they cannot handle the demands of higher resolutions or Ultra settings. The benchmark results indicate that the Medium preset provides a good foundation, with the High preset offering diminishing returns for the frame rate cost. For a smooth, consistent experience, the Medium preset is the safest choice across all resolutions, as it maintains a minimum FPS of 67 at 1080p and 48 at 1440p. The Ultra preset is a clear outlier and should be avoided for any serious gameplay session.