Dave The Diver

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread desktop processor built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture, running on a 10 nm process. With a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, this CPU delivers strong single-thread performance, which is critical for Dave The Diver’s gameplay loop. The game’s measured frame rates show that this processor is far from a bottleneck; even at 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 449.7 FPS. That figure is so high that it reveals the workload is primarily GPU-bound, but the CPU’s capability ensures that it never holds back the frame delivery. The processor’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4/DDR5) provide ample bandwidth for game logic and asset streaming.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14600K scores 3,314 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 467 points in single-core, while Geekbench results show 15,846 multi-core and 2,803 single-core. These scores place the chip at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49,166. Compared to its nearest rivals, it sits within a tight band: it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and 1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, while trailing the Intel Core i5-14600KF by 0.4% and the AMD EPYC 4345P by 0.9%. For Dave The Diver, which is not a heavily threaded title, the CPU’s single-core strength—evidenced by a PassMark single-thread score of 4,270—matters more than raw multi-core throughput. The data suggests that this processor delivers consistent frame pacing, as the FPS figures remain stable without any reported minimum frame drops.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a GB202 chip on a 5 nm TSMC process. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2017 MHz with a boost clock of 2407 MHz, and its memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). With 21,760 shading units, 170 RT cores, and 680 tensor cores, the RTX 5090 delivers 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. Its pixel rate is 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate is 1,636.8 GTexel/s, making it one of the most powerful consumer GPUs available.

The RTX 5090’s benchmark results place it at the 94th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 84,306. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: it is 0.1% ahead of the RTX 5090 D and 0.2% ahead of the RTX 5050 Mobile, while trailing the NVIDIA CMP 40HX by 1.6%. In Dave The Diver, this GPU’s immense power is evident in the measured FPS. At 4K Ultra settings, the combo still achieves 154.1 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The GPU’s 32 GB VRAM is overkill for this title, but it ensures no texture or asset streaming bottlenecks occur, even at the highest settings. The 1.79 TB/s memory bandwidth allows the game’s underwater environments to render with high detail without stutter, as the data shows no minimum FPS dips that would indicate VRAM or bandwidth pressure.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p High settings, the combo delivers 350.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 265.8 FPS, a decrease of 85.1 FPS. At 4K High, the average falls further to 173.4 FPS. This scaling indicates that the GPU becomes progressively more limiting as resolution rises, which is expected given the RTX 5090’s architecture. The CPU’s role diminishes at higher resolutions because the pixel throughput demands more from the GPU’s shading units and memory subsystem.

Looking at the Low settings across resolutions, the pattern is similar: 449.7 FPS at 1080p, 351 FPS at 1440p, and 235.8 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 213.9 FPS, which is a 47.6% reduction. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 308 FPS at 1080p to 154.1 FPS at 4K, a 153.9 FPS reduction (50%). This consistent percentage drop across settings suggests that the limiting component is the GPU’s rasterization throughput rather than any CPU or memory constraint. The fact that 4K Ultra still produces 154.1 FPS indicates that the RTX 5090 has substantial headroom for this game, and the i5-14600K is more than sufficient to feed it frames at any resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 14th out of 1,626 tested combos in Dave The Diver. This top-tier placement (top 1%) reflects the strength of both components working together. The CPU’s 93rd percentile standing and the GPU’s 94th percentile standing combine to place this rig in the upper echelon of all possible configurations. The rank is particularly impressive because Dave The Diver is not a demanding title by modern standards, but the combo still delivers frame rates that are multiples of the 60 FPS target at every resolution and settings level tested.

The ranking data shows that this combo outperforms the vast majority of alternatives, but the nearest rival comparisons for each component provide context. The CPU is nearly identical in synthetic performance to its closest rivals, with deltas under 1% in all cases. The GPU similarly sits within 1.6% of its nearest competitors. This suggests that the 14th rank is achieved through the combination’s overall balance rather than one component dramatically outperforming its peers. The measured FPS data confirms this: even at the most demanding 4K Ultra setting, the combo maintains 154.1 FPS, which puts it in the top tier of configurations for this game. The data is measured, not estimated, so these results reflect real-world performance under controlled conditions.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Dave The Diver?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 449.7, achieved at 1080p with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark score, with scores of 49,166 and 49,062 respectively.

Q: Does the GPU’s 32 GB VRAM ever become a limiting factor in this game?

A: No. The measured FPS data shows no minimum FPS drops at any resolution or settings level, indicating the VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for Dave The Diver.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At Ultra settings, the combo delivers 308 FPS at 1080p and 154.1 FPS at 4K, a difference of 153.9 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for Dave The Diver?

A: It ranks 14th out of 1,626 tested combos, placing it in the top 1% of all configurations.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is at the 94th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 84,306.