Fivem

Fivem, the multiplayer modification framework built on Grand Theft Auto V, presents a unique performance profile where server-side simulation and heavy CPU-bound scripting often dictate frame rates. In this configuration, the Intel Core i5-9400 is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, creating a stark imbalance between a dated six-core processor and a flagship Blackwell GPU. The measured data across resolutions and presets reveals a system that is consistently constrained by the processor, with the RTX 5090’s immense rendering power left largely untapped.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate behavior across resolutions is atypical for a high-end GPU. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 215.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low yields 185.5 FPS, a 14.1% reduction, while 4K Low produces 139.9 FPS, a further 24.6% drop from 1440p. These scaling losses are modest compared to what a GPU-bound scenario would show, indicating that the CPU is the primary limiter even at lower resolutions. If the RTX 5090 were the bottleneck, the 4K to 1080p delta would be far more dramatic, often exceeding 50% or more in conventional titles.

The gap narrows significantly when comparing higher presets. At High settings, 1080p yields 177.5 FPS, 1440p produces 156.2 FPS (-12.0%), and 4K delivers 87 FPS (-44.3%). This steeper decline at 4K High suggests that while the CPU still limits performance at lower resolutions, the GPU begins to take on more responsibility as resolution and shading complexity increase. The Ultra preset tells a similar story: 1080p Ultra hits 166.9 FPS, 1440p Ultra drops to 122.5 FPS (-26.6%), and 4K Ultra falls to 65.9 FPS (-46.2%). The data shows that the RTX 5090 only becomes a significant factor at 4K with higher presets, where its raw throughput is required to maintain playable frame rates.

GPU Role

The RTX 5090’s specifications are formidable on paper, but the benchmark results indicate that its role in this pairing is largely secondary. With 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, the card provides 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, which is far more than Fivem’s engine can utilize at 1080p or 1440p. The GPU’s boost clock of 2407 MHz and 21,760 shading units are effectively idle for much of the testing, as evidenced by the small performance gaps between Low and High presets at 1440p: 185.5 FPS vs. 156.2 FPS, a 15.8% difference. At 1080p, Low to High only drops from 215.9 FPS to 177.5 FPS, an 17.8% reduction, which is mild for a preset jump that typically doubles shading load.

The GPU’s percentile rank of 94 against all GPUs underscores its elite standing, yet the measured FPS in Fivem does not reflect that dominance. Instead, the RTX 5090 appears to be waiting on the CPU to feed it draw calls. The 4K Ultra result of 65.9 FPS is the only data point where the GPU’s memory bandwidth and pixel rate (423.6 GPixel/s) are likely taxed. Notably, the RTX 5090’s nearest rival, the RTX 5090 D, scores only 0.1% differently in average benchmarks, but such synthetic scores are irrelevant here because Fivem’s engine does not scale with the GPU’s compute capabilities. The card’s 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is a theoretical ceiling that this game will never approach.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is the decisive factor in this build. With 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 2.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, this Coffee Lake processor is a modest mid-range part from 2018. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 7969 and single-core score of 1125 place it at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, which is a mediocre standing for a system paired with a flagship GPU. The CPU’s 9 MB of shared L3 cache and 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth are sufficient for everyday tasks, but Fivem’s multiplayer environments, which simulate dozens of players and vehicles, are notoriously single-thread sensitive.

This explains the FPS behavior at 1080p. Low settings yield 215.9 FPS, but Ultra only reduces this to 166.9 FPS, a 22.7% penalty. In a GPU-bound scenario, the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p would be much larger. The CPU’s single-core performance is the wall. The Cinebench R20 single-core score of 472 is telling; modern processors often exceed 600 in this test, but the i5-9400’s older architecture cannot keep up with Fivem’s physics and script processing. The data shows that even at 4K Low, the processor manages 139.9 FPS, which is only 35.2% lower than 1080p Low, a modest drop that confirms the CPU is still the bottleneck at 4K with lighter settings.

How This Combo Ranks

Among 1,792 tested combinations, this pairing ranks 219th. This is a surprisingly low position for a system containing the RTX 5090, which alone ranks in the 94th percentile of all GPUs. The ranking reflects the severe CPU limitation. For context, the i5-9400’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.2% faster) and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (0.2% faster), while the Intel Core i7-8809G is 0.6% faster. These are all mid-range or low-end parts, and none of them would be considered a suitable match for a flagship GPU in any modern game.

The combo rank of 219 out of 1792 places this system in the top 12.2% of all tested combos, but this is a hollow achievement. The RTX 5090’s presence inflates the ranking, yet the measured FPS at 1080p Ultra (166.9 FPS) or 1440p Ultra (122.5 FPS) could be achieved with a significantly cheaper GPU. The data suggests that the i5-9400 is holding the RTX 5090 back to a degree where the GPU’s 94th percentile standing is meaningless. A system with a modern 8-core CPU and a mid-range GPU would likely produce similar or better FPS in Fivem, making this pairing an inefficient use of the RTX 5090’s capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a clear hierarchy for optimizing the experience without wasting the GPU’s potential. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 215.9 FPS, which is far beyond what any display can show, while Ultra still achieves 166.9 FPS. Since the CPU is the limiter, dropping from Ultra to Low only gains 49 FPS, or 29.4%, which is substantial but not transformative. For competitive play, the Low preset at 1080p offers the highest frame rate, but the visual quality loss is significant. The Medium preset at 197.5 FPS is a balanced choice, offering a 8.5% reduction from Low while improving visuals.

At 1440p, the situation changes. The High preset yields 156.2 FPS, which is only 15.8% lower than Low (185.5 FPS). This is the sweet spot. The Ultra preset drops to 122.5 FPS, a 21.6% reduction from High, which is a meaningful trade-off for marginal visual gains. For most users, 1440p High provides the best combination of fluidity and fidelity, especially since the GPU is not the bottleneck here. The 4K resolution tells a different story. At 4K High, the system produces 87 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a 120Hz display. The Ultra preset at 65.9 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay. The Low preset at 139.9 FPS is the only 4K option that approaches high refresh rates, but it sacrifices too much visual detail.

Given the CPU limitation, the recommended preset is 1440p High. This setting leverages the RTX 5090’s headroom without pushing the CPU into a state where it cannot maintain frame pacing. The 156.2 FPS result is above the threshold for most high-refresh monitors, and the visual quality is substantially better than Low. For users with 4K displays, 4K High at 87 FPS is acceptable, but they should be prepared for occasional dips in busy multiplayer lobbies. The data does not support using Ultra at any resolution, as the CPU bottleneck ensures that the extra GPU load yields diminishing returns. The i5-9400’s 6 threads are simply insufficient to feed the RTX 5090 at higher settings, making 1440p High the optimal balance of performance and image quality.