Overpower

Overpower, a 2023 action title, presents a demanding workload that stresses both the processor and the graphics card. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data reveals a system that delivers exceptionally high frame rates, with the scaling between settings and resolutions offering clear insight into where the performance bottlenecks lie in this specific configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a predictable yet informative decline as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system achieves a 232 FPS average on Low settings, which drops to 211 FPS at 4K. This 21 FPS decrease, or roughly 9%, indicates that even at the highest pixel count, the RTX 4090 is not entirely saturated, and the CPU is still capable of feeding it enough data. The gap narrows as settings increase, which is typical for GPU-bound scenarios.

Looking at the High preset, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a drop from 173 FPS to 155 FPS, a reduction of 18 FPS. Moving from 1440p to 4K High results in a further drop to 131 FPS, a 24 FPS decrease. This steeper decline at the higher resolution step suggests that the GPU's workload is growing more significantly, but the performance remains remarkably high. The differences between 1080p and 1440p are less pronounced than the jump to 4K, which points to the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor at 4K.

The Ultra preset reinforces this trend. The transition from 1080p (144 FPS) to 1440p (128 FPS) is a 16 FPS drop, and then to 4K (109 FPS) is another 19 FPS drop. Overall, from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra, the average frame rate falls by 35 FPS, a 24% reduction. This scaling pattern demonstrates that while the RTX 4090 is immensely powerful, the most demanding preset at 4K still creates a significant enough load to reduce performance, though it remains well above 100 FPS.

The most telling data point for understanding the bottleneck is the Low preset. Here, the 4K average of 211 FPS is only 21 FPS lower than the 1080p average of 232 FPS. The relatively small performance hit when quadrupling the pixel count indicates that the game is heavily CPU-limited at these frame rates, especially at lower settings. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D, despite its high performance, sets the upper ceiling for how many frames can be generated, and the GPU has enough headroom to handle resolutions up to 4K without significantly impacting the CPU-bound frame rate.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 Raphael architecture, built on a 5 nm process. Its base clock is 4.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, and it features a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large cache is a key characteristic of the X3D line and often proves beneficial in gaming scenarios. The processor's PassMark single-thread score is 3494, and its multithread score is 25047, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's role in Overpower is clearly demonstrated by the performance data, particularly at lower resolutions and settings. With a PassMark physics score of 2779, the processor's ability to handle game logic and physics calculations is substantial. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 232 FPS. When the resolution is raised to 4K with the same Low settings, the frame rate only drops to 211 FPS. This 21 FPS difference is small compared to the workload increase on the GPU, strongly suggesting the CPU is the limiting factor in this scenario.

The average benchmark score for this CPU is 44573, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, which scores 44466 (0.2% slower). The data shows this processor performs at a level comparable to high-end mobile and desktop parts. In Overpower, the high frame rates at 1080p and the relatively modest drop at 4K on Low settings indicate that the 7500X3D is not just adequate but is providing a strong foundation for the RTX 4090, allowing it to stretch its legs across a wide range of resolutions.

However, the CPU's influence is not absolute. When the preset is switched to Ultra, the frame rate at 4K drops to 109 FPS. This shows that while the CPU can drive very high frame rates at lower settings, the increased graphical complexity at Ultra settings shifts the balance, making the GPU's workload the dominant factor in determining the final frame rate. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration appears to be well-suited for Overpower, as the data does not show a scenario where the CPU's core count is a clear liability, even at the highest settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the flagship of the GeForce 40-series, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and a 5 nm process. It is a massive chip with 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs. Its memory subsystem is equally impressive, featuring 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. The card's boost clock is 2520 MHz, and its FP32 performance is rated at 82.58 TFLOPS. These specifications place it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347.

In the context of Overpower, the RTX 4090's performance is dominant. The measured data shows that it is capable of handling the game's most demanding settings at 4K with ease, maintaining an average of 109 FPS on Ultra. The GPU's immense compute power is evident when comparing the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p, where the average frame rate drops from 223 FPS to 128 FPS. This 95 FPS difference illustrates the significant increase in workload that the GPU must process for higher-fidelity visuals, a task it manages without falling below playable thresholds.

The GPU's role as the bottleneck becomes more apparent as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate is 109 FPS, which is a 35 FPS drop from the 144 FPS seen at 1080p Ultra. This scaling is a direct result of the GPU's rendering load. The 24 GB of VRAM is also a critical factor here; with a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, there is no indication from the data that memory capacity or speed is limiting performance, even at 4K with Ultra settings. The card's 128 RT cores and 512 Tensor cores likely contribute to its ability to maintain high frame rates in a modern 2023 action title.

Comparing the RTX 4090 to its nearest rivals in the database shows a close grouping in average scores. The Intel Arc Pro A60 has a score of 60326 (0.0% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61896 (-2.5% delta). While these are the closest matches by average score, the RTX 4090's gaming-oriented architecture is clearly reflected in the Overpower results. The data shows a GPU that is not just powerful on paper but delivers consistently high frame rates across the board, with its performance only being tempered by the CPU at lower resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this system in Overpower?

A: The highest average frame rate is 232 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more at 4K resolution with the Ultra preset?

A: At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 109 FPS, which is a significant reduction from the 144 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This indicates that the GPU's rendering workload is the primary limiting factor at this high resolution and settings combination.

Q: How much of a performance decrease is seen when moving from 1080p to 4K on the Low preset?

A: The average frame rate drops from 232 FPS at 1080p to 211 FPS at 4K on Low settings, a decrease of 21 FPS. This relatively small drop suggests the CPU is the main limiting factor at these settings.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 109 FPS, which is recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the RTX 4090's average benchmark score higher than its nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60347, while the Intel Arc Pro A60 has a score of 60326. This makes the RTX 4090's score 0.0% higher than its nearest listed rival.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Medium and High presets at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 167 FPS, while the High preset averages 155 FPS. This is a difference of 12 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the user's priority for frame rate versus visual fidelity. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D combined with the RTX 4090 is a high-end pairing that delivers excellent performance at all tested settings, so the choice comes down to the desired experience.

For players with high-refresh-rate 1080p or 1440p monitors, the High preset offers a strong balance. At 1080p, High delivers 173 FPS, and at 1440p it provides 155 FPS. These frame rates are significantly higher than the Medium preset's 187 FPS and 167 FPS, respectively, but the visual upgrade from Medium to High is typically substantial. The Ultra preset at 1440p still yields a very playable 128 FPS, making it a viable choice for those who prioritize maximum visual quality over the highest possible frame rates. The data shows that even at 4K, the High preset maintains a 131 FPS average, which is an excellent experience for a 4K display.

The Low preset yields the highest frame rates, with a 232 FPS average at 1080p and a 211 FPS average at 4K. While these numbers are impressive, the Low preset likely sacrifices significant visual detail. The Medium preset, which is the only setting with recorded min and max FPS values, shows a minimum of 159 FPS at 1080p and 120 FPS at 4K, suggesting it provides a consistent experience. However, given the sheer power of this hardware, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot. It provides frame rates well above 120 FPS at all resolutions and offers a better visual experience than Medium without the performance cost of Ultra. For 4K users, the Ultra preset's 109 FPS average is still a high-quality experience, but High offers a 22 FPS advantage, which may be preferable for smoother gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the measured average frame rates for all tested resolution and settings combinations. The data shows a clear hierarchy, with frame rates decreasing as resolution and settings are increased. The only combination with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values is the Medium preset. At 1920x1080 Medium, the system averages 187 FPS, with a minimum of 159 FPS and a maximum of 215 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average is 167 FPS, with a minimum of 142 FPS and a maximum of 192 FPS. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average is 142 FPS, with a minimum of 120 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 232 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 187 | 159 | 215 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 173 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 144 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 223 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 167 | 142 | 192 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 155 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 128 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 211 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 142 | 120 | 163 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 131 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 109 | - | - |