Minimum

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 delivers a performance profile that is heavily dictated by resolution and preset selection in Minimum. The data shows a classic transition from a CPU-bound state at lower resolutions to a GPU-bound state at 4K, with the Ultra preset at 3840x2160 being the only configuration that drops below the 60 FPS threshold. This combination ranks in the 66th percentile of all tested combos, indicating a balanced pairing that favors high-refresh 1080p and 1440p gaming.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the bottleneck shifts as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces 256.5 FPS, which is exceptionally high and strongly suggests the CPU is the primary limiting factor; the graphics card has ample headroom. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings drops the average to 171.8 FPS, a reduction of 84.7 FPS, or roughly 33% lower. This is a substantial drop, but the frame rate remains far above what most displays can show, indicating the CPU is still holding the GPU back from its full potential.

At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 93.1. This represents a further drop of 78.7 FPS from the 1440p result. The scaling pattern here is telling: the performance loss from 1080p to 1440p (84.7 FPS) is nearly identical to the loss from 1440p to 4K (78.7 FPS). This linear degradation suggests the system is balancing between CPU and GPU limits, with neither component being completely overwhelmed at these settings.

The scaling picture changes dramatically when looking at the High settings. At 1080p, the system achieves 168 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 108 FPS, a 60 FPS reduction. At 4K, it falls to 57 FPS, another 51 FPS reduction. The drop from 1440p to 4K is significant, and the 57 FPS result at 4K High indicates the GPU is now the dominant limiting component, as the workload has become too heavy for the processor to feed. The Ultra preset reinforces this, with a 131.1 FPS result at 1080p that falls to 85.1 FPS at 1440p and then to 41.9 FPS at 4K, showing the GPU struggling to maintain playable frame rates at the highest resolution.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. For a game released in 2014, this memory capacity is more than sufficient for any texture load or asset streaming requirement at 4K Ultra. The memory clock is listed at 2518 MHz, with an effective data rate of 20.1 Gbps. The GPU’s boost clock is rated at 2520 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz.

The benchmark results confirm that the GPU’s role is primarily to provide raw throughput. Its Passmark G3D score is 25381, and its average benchmark score is 34780, placing it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs. In the context of Minimum, the data indicates that the GPU is not the bottleneck at 1080p, as frame rates exceed 250 FPS on Low settings. The GPU’s capabilities only become fully utilized when the resolution is raised to 4K, where the pixel fill rate and shader processing demands increase. The texture rate of 564.5 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 322.6 GPixel/s are high figures, but they are not fully exercised until the resolution scales up. The 16 GB VRAM buffer ensures that no memory-related stuttering or texture pop-in occurs, even with the Ultra preset at 4K, though the 41.9 FPS result there is more a reflection of compute limits than memory limits.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination is ranked 582nd out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the upper third of all systems tested, which is a strong showing for a pairing of a 2018 mid-range CPU with a 2025 high-end GPU. The rank indicates that while the GPU is powerful, the CPU’s performance ceiling prevents this combo from reaching the top echelons of the leaderboard.

The CPU’s nearest rivals provide context for its standing. The Intel Core i3-10305 has an average score of 2300, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-9400’s 2305 average. Similarly, the Intel Core i3-1125G4 scores 2299, also 0.2% behind. The Intel Xeon E-2134 scores 2295, a 0.4% deficit. On the other side, the Intel Core i7-8809G scores 2319, which is 0.6% ahead. These deltas are minimal, showing that the i5-9400 sits in a tightly packed group of processors where small benchmark differences do not translate into meaningful FPS variations in this game.

The GPU’s nearest rivals further clarify the system’s position. The NVIDIA A2 has an average score of 34866, which is 0.2% higher than the RX 9070’s 34780. The NVIDIA Quadro GV100 scores 34677, 0.3% lower. The AMD Radeon HD 7970 scores 34541, which is 0.7% behind, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 34511, 0.8% behind. These figures suggest the RX 9070 is a consistently strong performer, but the combo’s overall rank is tempered by the CPU’s 50th percentile standing among all CPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 256.5 FPS on Low, 203.1 FPS on Medium, 168 FPS on High, and 131.1 FPS on Ultra. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline of roughly 53 FPS per preset step, with the Ultra preset still maintaining a frame rate well above 120 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as even the lowest settings cannot push the GPU to its limits.

At 2560x1440, the results are 171.8 FPS on Low, 127 FPS on Medium, 108 FPS on High, and 85.1 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is 86.7 FPS, which is a larger absolute difference than at 1080p. The 1440p results suggest a more balanced system, as the GPU is starting to take on a larger share of the workload. The High preset at 108 FPS is a particularly strong result, offering a smooth experience for high-refresh monitors.

At 3840x2160, the data shows 93.1 FPS on Low, 71.1 FPS on Medium, 57 FPS on High, and 41.9 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Medium to High is 14.1 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 15.1 FPS. The 4K results clearly show the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck. The Low preset is the only one that provides a 4K experience above 90 FPS, while High dips below 60 FPS and Ultra falls below 45 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming on this combo requires careful settings management to maintain a playable frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 131.1 FPS is the best choice for those with high-refresh 144Hz or 165Hz monitors, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while still exceeding 120 FPS. For players prioritizing maximum competitive performance, the Low preset at 256.5 FPS is available, but the Medium preset at 203.1 FPS offers a better balance of visual quality and speed.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 108 FPS, which is excellent for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset at 85.1 FPS is also viable, especially for those with 100Hz or 120Hz displays, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over High with only a 22.9 FPS penalty. The Medium preset at 127 FPS is a strong alternative for those who prefer higher frame rates over visual effects.

For 3840x2160, the recommendation is more nuanced. The Low preset at 93.1 FPS is the only 4K configuration that breaks the 90 FPS barrier, making it the best choice for 4K gaming on a 60Hz display or for those who want headroom above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 71.1 FPS is a good compromise for 4K, offering better visual quality than Low while still staying well above the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 57 FPS is acceptable for 4K on a 60Hz screen, but it is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 41.9 FPS should be avoided unless visual fidelity is the absolute priority over smoothness. The data shows that the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p High, where the system achieves 108 FPS without compromising on settings.