Undisputed

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Undisputed, with the data showing that the CPU provides ample headroom while the GPU becomes the primary scaling factor at higher resolutions and settings. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p, but which struggles to maintain playable framerates at 4K with maximum quality settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF brings substantial processing power to this pairing, featuring 12 cores and 20 threads based on the Alder Lake architecture. With a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, this processor is positioned to handle both the simulation and physics workloads typical of a sports title like Undisputed. The benchmark data confirms its strength, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28,979 and a single-core score of 4,091, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of this game, the CPU's performance appears more than sufficient. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 241.7 FPS, a figure that is only 26.7% higher than the 4K Low result of 108.5 FPS. This relatively modest drop when moving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings suggests that the processor is not the limiting factor at lower graphical loads. The i7-12700KF's single-thread performance, indicated by a Geekbench single-core score of 2,526 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 1,043, is critical for maintaining high frame rates in games that are not heavily multi-threaded, and the data shows no bottleneck even at the highest frame rates measured.

The processor's standing relative to its nearest rivals reinforces its capability. The i7-12700KF scores an average benchmark of 35,355, which is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i9-12900HX and 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-14400. This near-identical performance to the i9-12900HX, a mobile flagship, indicates that the desktop i7 is not holding back the RX 6650 XT in this title. The data suggests that the CPU is a stable foundation, allowing the GPU to dictate the final frame rate output across most settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the decisive component in this configuration, equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its clock speeds are robust, with a base of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz. The GPU's benchmark percentile sits at 72, and its average score of 29,024 places it in a tight race with the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, which it matches with a 0% delta.

The GPU's role becomes clear when analyzing the performance scaling across different settings. At 1080p, the jump from Medium (170.2 FPS) to Ultra (93.2 FPS) represents a 45.3% drop in performance, demonstrating the significant load increase that the most demanding presets place on the graphics card. The 8 GB VRAM allocation is sufficient for the game's requirements at the tested resolutions, as there is no evidence of a frame rate collapse that would indicate memory swapping or capacity issues.

The RX 6650 XT's performance relative to its peers shows it is a mid-range contender. It is only 0.5% faster than the Intel Arc A370M and 0.6% faster than the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH, according to the average benchmark scores. However, the measured in-game results show that this GPU is capable of delivering smooth gameplay at 1440p High, achieving 104.7 FPS. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance scaling in this title, with its compute capabilities (10.79 TFLOPS FP32) directly impacting the frame rate as resolution and settings increase.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly identifies the GPU as the limiting component, with the CPU maintaining a consistent performance ceiling. At High settings, the system produces 140.8 FPS at 1080p, 104.7 FPS at 1440p, and 65.4 FPS at 4K. This represents a 25.7% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 37.5% drop from 1440p to 4K. The diminishing returns as resolution increases are typical of a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at Ultra settings. The system achieves 93.2 FPS at 1080p, 68.7 FPS at 1440p, and 41.3 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 39.9%, indicating that the RX 6650 XT's pixel throughput is being severely taxed. In contrast, at Low settings, the system scales from 241.7 FPS at 1080p to 108.5 FPS at 4K, a 55.1% reduction. While this is a large drop, the absolute frame rates at 4K Low remain playable, suggesting that the CPU can still feed the GPU at lower graphical loads.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this combination is 1440p, where the system can maintain high refresh rates even at High settings. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, and only Low settings provide a frame rate above 100 FPS. This analysis indicates that users seeking 4K performance should consider a more powerful GPU, as the i7-12700KF has the headroom to support a faster graphics card.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combination in Undisputed?

A: The data shows that 1440p is the optimal resolution, with High settings delivering 104.7 FPS and Medium settings delivering 122.5 FPS, both well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Undisputed?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K High settings, the system achieves 65.4 FPS, which is playable, but 4K Ultra drops to 41.3 FPS, which may not be smooth enough for all users. 4K Low settings provide 108.5 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 6650 XT compare to its nearest rival, the RX 6800M?

A: The average benchmark scores show a 0% delta between the two GPUs, with the RX 6650 XT scoring 29,024 and the RX 6800M scoring 29,011, indicating they offer nearly identical overall performance.

Q: Is the i7-12700KF a bottleneck for the RX 6650 XT in this game?

A: No. The CPU's performance is closely matched with the Intel Core i9-12900HX, differing by only 0.2%, and the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with a GPU-bound workload, not a CPU limitation.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low settings produce 241.7 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 93.2 FPS, representing a 61.4% reduction in performance when moving to the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM limit performance in this game?

A: The data shows no evidence of a VRAM capacity limit. The frame rates scale predictably with settings and resolution, with no sudden drops or stutters that would indicate memory exhaustion.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 1033 out of 1580 tested combos for Undisputed. This places it in the lower half of all possible pairings, which is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range positioning rather than any deficiency in the CPU. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's 72nd percentile standing, while the CPU's 89th percentile shows that the processor is performing above the level of the overall combo ranking.

The data suggests that the combo's rank is held back by the GPU, as the CPU is capable of supporting a more powerful graphics card. The measured frame rates at 1440p High (104.7 FPS) and 4K High (65.4 FPS) are solid, but they place the system in a competitive tier where many other combinations offer higher performance. For those looking to improve this ranking, the CPU has sufficient headroom to accommodate a GPU with higher average benchmark scores, such as one that would move the combo into the top half of the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 241.7 FPS on Low, 170.2 FPS on Medium, 140.8 FPS on High, and 93.2 FPS on Ultra. These numbers demonstrate a clear performance hierarchy, with the Ultra preset demanding a significant 45.3% reduction in frame rate compared to Medium.

Moving to 2560x1440, the results show 171.8 FPS on Low, 122.5 FPS on Medium, 104.7 FPS on High, and 68.7 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p results are particularly notable for High settings, which maintain a frame rate above 100 FPS, making it the recommended resolution for a smooth experience without compromising visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the system produces 108.5 FPS on Low, 76.6 FPS on Medium, 65.4 FPS on High, and 41.3 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings. The 4K Low result, while playable, shows that the system is not optimized for 4K gaming, as the frame rate is more than 50% lower than the 1080p Low result.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, High settings at 2560x1440 are the clear recommendation. This configuration achieves 104.7 FPS, which is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors and provides a significant improvement in visual quality over Medium settings, which deliver 122.5 FPS but with fewer graphical effects. The High preset at 1440p offers a 52.4% higher frame rate than the Ultra preset at the same resolution, making it a more practical choice for consistent gameplay.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is also recommended, delivering 140.8 FPS. This is slightly below the 170.2 FPS of Medium, but the visual upgrade is substantial. For users with 144 Hz monitors, the Medium preset at 1080p is a viable option to ensure frame rates stay above the refresh rate cap. The Ultra preset at 1080p, at 93.2 FPS, is less optimal, as the performance cost does not justify the incremental visual gains over High.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests that only Low settings (108.5 FPS) or Medium settings (76.6 FPS) provide a smooth experience. High settings at 4K (65.4 FPS) are borderline playable, but Ultra at 41.3 FPS is not recommended for a competitive or responsive experience. The performance scaling indicates that users should prioritize resolution over settings when using this GPU, and 1440p High remains the most efficient configuration for this hardware combination.