Fivem

Fivem, the multiplayer modification framework built on Grand Theft Auto V, presents a unique performance profile for the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily influenced by both the game's engine limitations and the specific CPU-GPU balance. As a multiplayer title, Fivem's performance is often dictated by server-side scripting and the number of connected players, which shifts the bottleneck dynamics compared to single-player benchmarks. The results here show a clear hierarchy where the RTX 5070 Ti has substantial headroom, but the six-core Coffee Lake CPU, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost of 4.10 GHz, consistently governs the upper limits of frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate behavior across resolutions tells a compelling story about where the performance ceiling resides. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra settings only moves the average FPS from 213.3 down to 154.1, a difference of 59.2 FPS. This relatively modest spread suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU is the primary limiting factor; the graphics card is not being fully utilized, so increasing visual fidelity has a diminished impact on the final frame count. The data implies that the i5-9400's six threads are working near their limit, as the RTX 5070 Ti, which sits at the 87th percentile for all GPUs, is capable of far more work than the CPU can feed it at 1080p.

Moving to 1440p, the scaling becomes more pronounced. The gap between Low (182.7 FPS) and Ultra (101.5 FPS) widens to 81.2 FPS. This is a clear sign that the GPU is starting to take on more of the rendering burden, though the CPU still exerts a strong influence. The 1440p High preset, at 132.1 FPS, is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating a playable experience but one where the frame rate is not scaling linearly with the reduction in resolution. The increase in resolution puts more pressure on the RTX 5070 Ti's 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and its 896.0 GB/s bandwidth, but the processor continues to be a significant contributor to the overall performance equation.

At 4K, the scaling fully reflects a GPU-bound scenario. The difference between Low (118.5 FPS) and Ultra (53.5 FPS) is now 65 FPS, but the absolute numbers are lower across the board. The RTX 5070 Ti, with its 43.94 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, is finally being pushed to its limits at this resolution. The 4K High preset, at 74.3 FPS, is a solid result, but the drop from 1440p High is 57.8 FPS, which is a substantial hit. This transition from CPU-limited at 1080p to GPU-limited at 4K is classic behavior for a high-end graphics card paired with a mid-range processor, and the data confirms that the i5-9400 is the anchor for high-refresh-rate gaming at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a high refresh rate?

A: At 1080p, the system achieves an average of 179.9 FPS on High settings, which is well-suited for a 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitor. Even at 1440p on High, the average of 132.1 FPS remains competitive, showing strong headroom above standard 60 FPS displays.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. This places it nearly identical to the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores 2300, a delta of only 0.2%. It is also 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (2299) and 0.4% faster than the Intel Xeon E-2134 (2295). It trails the Intel Core i7-8809G by 0.6%.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the data suggests a GPU bottleneck at 4K. The average frame rate on Ultra settings drops to 53.5 FPS, and even on Low settings it only reaches 118.5 FPS. The substantial drop from 1440p to 4K indicates the RTX 5070 Ti is being fully utilized, which is expected given the 4K pixel count.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: The difference is 81.2 FPS. Low settings yield an average of 182.7 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 101.5 FPS. This is a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality, but it still maintains a playable frame rate.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Fivem?

A: This combination ranks 333rd out of 1792 total combos tested for Fivem. This places it in the top 18.6% of all systems, which is a strong result, though it is not at the very top of the leaderboard.

Q: Does the CPU have more threads than cores?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads. This means it does not support Intel's Hyper-Threading technology, which could impact performance in heavily threaded scenarios like those found in busy Fivem servers.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, the High preset at 1440p emerges as the optimal choice from the measured data. It delivers an average of 132.1 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for most gamers. The jump from Medium (166.6 FPS) to High (132.1 FPS) costs 34.5 FPS, but the visual improvement is usually worth it. The Ultra preset at this resolution, at 101.5 FPS, is still playable, but the 30.6 FPS loss from High may not justify the marginal graphical gains in a fast-paced multiplayer environment.

At 1080p, the High preset at 179.9 FPS is also excellent, but the Medium preset at 198.7 FPS offers a better frame rate for competitive play. The data shows that the CPU is the limiter here, so dropping from High to Medium only yields an 18.8 FPS increase, which is less than the jump from High to Ultra (25.8 FPS decrease). The Low preset at 1080p, at 213.3 FPS, provides the highest frame rate but sacrifices too much visual fidelity for the performance gained.

For 4K, the High preset at 74.3 FPS is the recommended setting. The Medium preset at 88.9 FPS is also viable, but the 14.6 FPS gain over High is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 53.5 FPS is the only one that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, making it less ideal for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 118.5 FPS is playable but does not offer a compelling reason to choose it over High unless the user prioritizes frame rate above all else.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are: Low at 213.3 FPS, Medium at 198.7 FPS, High at 179.9 FPS, and Ultra at 154.1 FPS. The performance delta from Low to High is 33.4 FPS, showing that the CPU is the main constraint at this resolution, as the GPU has ample headroom to render the scenes quickly.

At 2560x1440, the results are: Low at 182.7 FPS, Medium at 166.6 FPS, High at 132.1 FPS, and Ultra at 101.5 FPS. The scaling here is more aggressive, with the gap between Low and Ultra reaching 81.2 FPS. This is a more balanced workload, but the CPU still prevents the GPU from reaching its full potential, as indicated by the high frame rates even on Low.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 118.5 FPS, Medium at 88.9 FPS, High at 74.3 FPS, and Ultra at 53.5 FPS. This is where the RTX 5070 Ti's rendering power becomes the decisive factor. The 65 FPS difference between Low and Ultra is significant, but the absolute numbers show that the GPU is now the primary bottleneck, with the CPU having less influence on the final output.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti holds a rank of 333 out of 1792 tested combos in Fivem. This places it in the top 18.6% of all systems, which is a solid showing. The rank suggests that while this is a capable setup, there are many other combinations that achieve higher average frame rates. The high rank of the GPU, in the 87th percentile, contrasts with the CPU's 50th percentile, which indicates that the processor is likely holding the system back from a higher overall placement.

The data implies that the i5-9400's six threads are a limiting factor in a game like Fivem, which is known for its CPU-intensive multiplayer scripting. A more powerful CPU with higher single-thread performance or more cores would likely push this combo higher in the rankings. However, the current configuration still delivers very playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, making it a strong performer for the majority of gaming scenarios.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, with a 9 MB shared L3 cache. In Fivem, the data shows that this CPU is the primary bottleneck at 1080p, where the frame rates are high but do not scale proportionally with GPU load. The lack of Hyper-Threading means it has 6 threads, which can be a disadvantage in a game that may need to process many concurrent player actions and server events.

The benchmark results for the i5-9400 show a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 and a single-core score of 1125. These scores, while moderate, indicate that the processor's single-thread performance is adequate for gaming, but its multi-threaded capabilities are limited by its six-thread count. In a multiplayer environment like Fivem, this can lead to frame rate dips in crowded areas or during complex scripted events. The CPU's 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth and DDR4 support are sufficient, but the data suggests that the processor's compute power is the main constraint on achieving higher frame rates at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is a powerhouse, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and using a 5 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. With 8960 shading units and a boost clock of 2452 MHz, it delivers 43.94 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Passmark G3D score of 32974 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 6604, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs.

In Fivem, the GPU's role becomes dominant at 4K resolution, where the frame rates are clearly limited by its rendering capabilities. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU is the bottleneck, with the CPU having less impact. At 1440p, the GPU is also a significant factor, but the CPU still holds some influence. The RTX 5070 Ti's performance is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, which has an average score of 52085, a delta of 0%. The GPU’s 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Fivem at any settings, ensuring that texture memory is not a limiting factor. The data confirms that this GPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, but its full potential is only unlocked at higher resolutions.