Fivem

Fivem is a multiplayer modification framework that stresses both CPU and GPU heavily, depending on the resolution and settings. The data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination reveals a system that is exceptionally fast, but the scaling pattern shows where the bottlenecks lie. At 1080p, the frame rates are astronomical, indicating a CPU-bound scenario. As resolution increases to 4K, the load shifts to the GPU, and the performance curve becomes more predictable. This analysis breaks down the measured results, comparing them against the nearest rival hardware to give a practical view of what this combo can deliver.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and dramatic shift in performance as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 368 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, that figure drops to 242 FPS. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average is 135 FPS. This represents a significant 63% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at the lowest preset, which points to the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor as the pixel count increases.

The scaling is less aggressive at higher settings. With Ultra settings, the frame rate goes from 180 FPS at 1080p, to 119 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 66 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 63%, which is nearly identical to the Low preset scaling. This suggests that even at high graphical loads, the GPU is still the primary constraint when moving to 4K. The RTX 4090, with its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth, has the raw resources to handle these resolutions, but the sheer pixel count of 4K proves to be a substantial workload.

The pattern indicates that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its 24 cores and 5.80 GHz boost clock, can push frame rates far beyond what most displays can show. The difference between 1080p Low (368 FPS) and 1440p Low (242 FPS) is a 34% drop, which is a larger relative decrease than the 1440p to 4K drop of 44%. This non-linear scaling is typical of a system where the CPU is the ceiling at lower resolutions, but the GPU takes over as the resolution climbs. The data suggests that for competitive play at 1080p, the CPU is doing the heavy lifting, while for 4K gaming, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Fivem?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 368 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's score of 83807. This indicates a near-identical level of CPU performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 a good match for the CPU in Fivem?

A: The benchmark results indicate a good match, but with a caveat. At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, meaning the GPU has headroom. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is fully utilized, and the CPU's strength ensures it is not holding back performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rate drops from 135 FPS on Low settings to 66 FPS on Ultra settings. This is a 51% reduction in frame rate when moving to the highest graphical preset.

Q: Where does this specific CPU+GPU combo rank among all tested combinations in Fivem?

A: This combination ranks 84th out of 3005 tested combos, placing it in the top 3% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: Does the CPU's high core count help in Fivem?

A: Fivem is a multiplayer mod, which often requires managing many entities and scripts. The 24 cores and 24 threads likely help maintain high minimum frame rates, as seen in the 1440p Medium result with a 163 FPS minimum. The high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 96th percentile ranking, is also critical for the game's main simulation thread.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. In the context of Fivem, this CPU appears to be the primary driver of performance at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the average frame rate is significantly higher than at 4K, regardless of settings. This is a classic sign of a CPU bottleneck, where the processor is able to feed frames to the GPU faster than the GPU can render them at lower resolutions.

The CPU's performance is quantified by its average benchmark score of 84003, which places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83807, a negligible 0.2% difference. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 score 83090 and 82980, respectively, putting them 1.1% and 1.2% behind. On the other side, the AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 85072, which is 1.3% higher. This shows that the 290K Plus is a top-tier consumer CPU, though its performance is closely matched by its direct predecessor.

The high core count is likely beneficial for the multiplayer aspect of Fivem, as server-side scripts and multiple player interactions can be offloaded to different cores. However, the game's core logic often relies on a single main thread, making the strong single-core performance (a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7303) equally important. The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample fast memory for game data. The benchmark results suggest that the CPU's role is to provide a massive headroom for frame generation, ensuring that even the most complex multiplayer scenarios do not cause the frame rate to drop below the GPU's output capability at any resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 368 FPS, Medium settings average 290 FPS with a minimum of 247 FPS and a maximum of 334 FPS, High settings average 232 FPS, and Ultra settings average 180 FPS. These numbers indicate that even at the highest settings, the system is capable of driving a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor well past its limits.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally high. Low settings produce an average of 242 FPS. Medium settings average 191 FPS, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 220 FPS. High settings average 153 FPS, and Ultra settings average 119 FPS. At this resolution, the frame rates are still high enough for smooth competitive play, though the gap between Low and Ultra narrows compared to 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. Low settings average 135 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings average 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and a maximum of 122 FPS. High settings average 85 FPS, and Ultra settings average 66 FPS. The minimum FPS of 90 at 4K Medium is notable, as it shows the system can maintain a stable experience above 60 FPS even with a significant workload. The progression from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a steady decline, with Ultra settings being about half the speed of Low settings, highlighting the massive graphical demands of the RTX 4090 at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 84th out of 3005 tested combos for Fivem. This places it in the top 2.8% of all systems tested, which is an exceptional result. The rank reflects the combined strength of both components, as the CPU is in the 96th percentile and the GPU is in the 88th percentile of their respective categories.

The system's ranking reflects the balance of this pairing. While the CPU is slightly ahead of its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the GPU's performance is closely matched by other professional-grade cards. For instance, the RTX 4090's average benchmark score of 60347 is essentially identical to the Intel Arc Pro A60's score of 60326 (0% delta). This suggests that the GPU is not the unique contributor to this high rank; rather, it is the combination of a top-tier CPU with a flagship GPU that yields such a high position.

The rank of 84 means that 83 other combinations of CPUs and GPUs have produced higher average frame rates in Fivem. Given the hardware's pedigree, this could be due to the game's specific sensitivity to certain CPU features or the fact that some other combos might use even more extreme hardware. However, for a mainstream enthusiast build, this rank signifies that the user is getting a near-best-case performance scenario for Fivem.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend entirely on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p, the system is so powerful that even Ultra settings (180 FPS) will exceed the refresh rate of most monitors. For a 144Hz or 165Hz display, Ultra settings are the clear choice, as the frame rate is high enough to fully utilize the display's capabilities. If a player has a 240Hz monitor, dropping to High settings (232 FPS) or Medium settings (290 FPS) is advisable to maximize smoothness, though the visual fidelity loss may not be worth the extra frames for a game like Fivem.

At 1440p, the recommendations shift. For a 144Hz monitor, High settings (153 FPS) are the sweet spot, providing a high frame rate with good visual quality. Medium settings (191 FPS) are better for a 165Hz or 240Hz display, but the jump to Low settings (242 FPS) is only recommended for the most competitive players who prioritize frame rate above all else. Ultra settings (119 FPS) are still viable for a 120Hz display, but the visual gains over High are minimal compared to the 22% performance drop.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. For a 144Hz display, the system cannot reach the required frame rates at any setting. The best option is Low settings (135 FPS), which is just below the threshold. For a 120Hz display, Low (135 FPS) and Medium (106 FPS) settings are the best choices, with Medium offering a better balance of visuals and performance. High settings (85 FPS) are acceptable for a 60Hz or 75Hz display, while Ultra settings (66 FPS) should only be used on a 60Hz display where visual fidelity is the priority over frame rate. The data clearly shows that for a smooth 4K experience, the user must compromise on the preset, as even the RTX 4090 cannot maintain high frame rates at maximum settings in Fivem.