Undisputed

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a robust 1080p experience in Undisputed, but the data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as resolution climbs. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo posts an average of 270 FPS, which is more than double the 4K Ultra result of 49.1 FPS. This massive spread indicates that at lower resolutions, the frame rate is primarily limited by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU, while at higher resolutions, the GPU's rendering workload takes over as the dominant constraint.

The scaling pattern from 1080p to 1440p shows a moderate drop across all settings. For example, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 164.5 at 1080p to 118.5 at 1440p, a reduction of roughly 28%. Moving from 1440p to 4K at the same High preset yields a steeper decline to 76.1 FPS, which is a 36% drop. This non-linear progression is typical of a system where the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory buffer and 128-bit bus become increasingly stressed at 4K, while the i7-12700K continues to provide sufficient single-thread throughput.

At 4K, the gap between Low and Ultra settings is dramatic: 127.8 FPS versus 49.1 FPS. This 2.6x difference highlights that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution. The RTX 4060's boost clock of 2460 MHz and 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth are simply not enough to sustain high frame rates when pixel count quadruples from 1080p. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the 270 FPS ceiling suggests the CPU's 5.00 GHz boost clock is the primary driver, allowing the GPU to operate well below its maximum potential.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process and a die size of 159 mm². Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. In Undisputed, these specifications directly translate to the measured frame rates. At 4K Ultra, the combo hits 49.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many users target, indicating that the memory bandwidth and 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are insufficient for the highest settings at that resolution.

The GPU's performance percentile of 66 versus all GPUs places it in the upper-middle tier. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, has an average benchmark score of 23321, which is 0.6% higher than the RTX 4060's average of 23181. This close margin suggests that in compute-heavy tasks, the two cards are nearly interchangeable. However, the RTX 4060's 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores, while not heavily utilized in a sports title like Undisputed, contribute to its overall architectural efficiency.

Looking at the measured FPS across settings, the GPU's role becomes clearer. At 1440p Medium, the combo achieves 138.5 FPS, while at 4K Medium it drops to 92.7 FPS. The 33% reduction from 1440p to 4K at Medium settings shows the GPU struggling with the increased pixel workload. The data suggests that for smooth 4K play, users must dial down to Low settings, where 127.8 FPS is achievable. The RTX 4060's 8 GB frame buffer is likely a limiting factor at Ultra, as the high-resolution textures and effects in Undisputed can exceed this capacity, leading to the 49.1 FPS result.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. With a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, it provides strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and Geekbench single-core score of 2561. In Undisputed, which is a sports simulation, the CPU's job is to handle game logic, physics, and AI, all of which benefit from high clock speeds.

The CPU's percentile of 89 versus all CPUs indicates it outperforms the vast majority of processors. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, has an average benchmark score of 35802, which is only 0.3% higher than the i7-12700K's average of 35684. This near-parity in synthetic benchmarks translates to similar real-world performance in CPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 270 FPS, which is likely CPU-limited, as the RTX 4060 could theoretically render more frames if the CPU could feed them faster.

The 12 cores and 20 threads provide ample multi-threaded throughput, as shown by the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29241. However, in Undisputed, the game's reliance on single-thread performance is evident from the 1080p results. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 164.5 FPS, which is a 39% drop from the Low setting. This drop is more attributable to the GPU's increased workload from higher-quality textures and effects than to CPU limitations. The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce memory latency, which is crucial for maintaining high frame rates in fast-paced sports action.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 890 out of 1580 tested combos in Undisputed, placing it in the 56th percentile of all configurations. This mid-pack ranking reflects a balance between the CPU's strong performance and the GPU's mid-range capabilities. While the CPU is in the 89th percentile, the GPU's 66th percentile drags the overall combo down, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

In practical terms, this ranking means the combo is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming than for 4K. At 1440p High, the 118.5 FPS result is competitive, and at 1080p Ultra, the 105.8 FPS average is smooth. The 4K Ultra result of 49.1 FPS, however, is below the comfort zone for most players, which aligns with the combo's lower overall ranking among the 1580 configurations. The data indicates that for a more balanced 4K experience, a stronger GPU would be necessary, as the CPU has headroom to support higher frame rates—evidenced by the 270 FPS at 1080p Low.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The combo achieves an average of 164.5 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 23181, which is 0.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6600M's score of 23321.

Q: What is the 4K Ultra performance of this combo?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 49.1, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo hits 270 FPS, suggesting the CPU's 5.00 GHz boost clock is the primary limiter, as the GPU has ample headroom.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 890 out of 1580 tested combos in Undisputed, placing it in the middle of the pack.

Q: How does the i7-12700K's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The i7-12700K's average benchmark score is 35684, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845's score of 35802.