Overpower

Overpower, the 2023 action title, responds predictably but not uniformly to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 pairing. The measured frame rates across three resolutions and four settings presets reveal a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher loads, yet shows signs of CPU headroom that allows for extreme frame rates at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the measured data to explain where the bottleneck sits and what settings deliver the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is steep but consistent with a high-end GPU being pushed harder as pixel count increases. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 271 at 1080p to 241 at 1440p, then to 205 at 4K. That is a 12% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, followed by a 15% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not perfectly linear, but the trend is clear: each resolution step costs roughly a tenth to a sixth of the performance, which indicates the RTX 4080 is still the primary limiter even at Low settings.

At High settings, the scaling is similar in percentage terms but slightly shallower in absolute FPS. The average drops from 157 at 1080p to 140 at 1440p (-11%) and then to 119 at 4K (-15%). The absolute gap between 1080p and 4K at High is 38 FPS, which is smaller than the 66 FPS gap at Low settings. This suggests that as settings increase, the GPU work per frame grows, but the relative cost of resolution remains roughly constant.

The Medium preset shows a slightly different pattern. At 1080p, the average is 169 FPS; at 1440p, it drops to 151 (-11%); and at 4K, it falls to 128 (-15%). The min FPS numbers for Medium also scale: 144 at 1080p, 128 at 1440p, and 109 at 4K. This indicates that even the worst-case frame times scale proportionally with resolution, meaning the GPU is consistently the limiting component across these configurations.

Ultra settings produce the lowest averages but the most consistent relative scaling. The average goes from 130 at 1080p to 116 at 1440p (-11%) and then to 99 at 4K (-15%). The 4K Ultra result of 99 FPS is just under the 100 FPS mark, which is notable for a game at maximum settings. The data shows no anomaly where the CPU suddenly becomes the bottleneck at lower resolutions; even at 1080p Low, the 271 FPS figure suggests the Ryzen 5 9600X can feed the RTX 4080 adequately, but the scaling pattern implies the GPU is still doing the heavy lifting.

The key takeaway from resolution scaling is that the RTX 4080’s performance degrades gracefully as pixel count rises, with a consistent 11-15% penalty per step. This is typical for a GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit bus, as the memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s is sufficient to handle the increased data load without causing a cliff effect. The CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower settings and resolutions, where frame rates exceed 200 FPS, but even then, the scaling remains GPU-driven.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this pairing, and the measured FPS data reflects its capabilities. With a boost clock of 2505 MHz and a base clock of 2205 MHz, the GPU operates at high frequencies, which directly translates to raw throughput. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth, a figure that is more than adequate for Overpower at 4K, as evidenced by the 119 FPS average at High settings.

The GPU’s compute resources are substantial: 9728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output pipelines. The 76 ray tracing cores and 304 tensor cores are also present, though their impact on this game is not separately measured. The pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s suggest the GPU can fill frames quickly, which aligns with the observed frame rates. At 4K Ultra, the average of 99 FPS indicates that the GPU is nearing its limit, but it does not fall below playable thresholds.

Comparing to the nearest rivals in the benchmark database, the RTX 4080 scores an average benchmark of 54247, which is 0.1% ahead of the RTX 4080 SUPER (54209) and 1.1% behind the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54828). This places the GPU in a tight performance band where small deltas matter. The RTX 4080’s percentile vs all GPUs is 86, meaning it outperforms 86% of tested graphics cards. The measured FPS in Overpower aligns with this standing: the GPU delivers high frame rates even at 4K, which is expected for a card in the top 14% of all GPUs.

The memory clock runs at 1400 MHz, which translates to 22.4 Gbps effective. This high memory speed is crucial for maintaining frame rates at 4K, where the data throughput demand is highest. The fact that 4K Medium produces a min FPS of 109 and an average of 128 suggests the memory subsystem is not a limiting factor, as the frame times remain consistent. The GPU’s TDP is 320 W, and while power draw is not directly measured, the performance figures are consistent with a high-power design that sustains high clocks under load.

The RTX 4080’s production status is end-of-life, but its performance in this game remains competitive. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the GPU can exceed 270 FPS, which indicates it is not holding back the CPU. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, as the CPU’s high single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2183.5) cannot compensate for the GPU’s pixel-shading workload.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. Its base clock is 3.90 GHz with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and it has a 65 W TDP. In Overpower, the CPU’s role is secondary to the GPU, but it provides enough headroom for the RTX 4080 to reach high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions and settings.

The CPU’s benchmark scores indicate strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. The 3DMark single-thread score is 1253, and the multi-thread score is 7590. Cinebench R23 scores are 2183.5 for single-core and 17528.5 for multi-core. These numbers suggest the CPU can handle the game’s logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck, which is corroborated by the measured FPS data. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 271, and at 1440p Low, it is 241. These high frame rates would be impossible if the CPU were limiting, as the GPU would be waiting for instructions.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (0.2% faster), the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (-0.5% slower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT (-0.6% slower). The 9600X’s average benchmark score is 29713, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. This percentile means it outperforms 81% of tested processors, which is respectable for a 6-core part. The fact that it keeps pace with 8-core rivals like the Ryzen 7 5800XT in average score highlights the efficiency of the Zen 5 architecture.

In Overpower specifically, the CPU’s 12 threads are sufficient for the game’s demands Pewter. The L3 cache is 32 MB shared, and the L1 cache is 80 KB per core, which helps reduce memory latency. The memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s is adequate, though the GPU’s 716.8 GB/s bandwidth dwarfs it. This asymmetry is typical, but it does not cause issues because the CPU is not moving large amounts of texture data.

The boost clock of 5.40 GHz is a key factor in maintaining high frame rates at 1080p, where the CPU must issue more draw calls per second. The single-thread performance, as measured by Cinebench R23 at 2183.5, is high enough to feed the GPU even at 271 FPS. The data shows no evidence of CPU throttling or bottlenecking, as the frame rates scale smoothly with resolution. However, at 4K Ultra, the CPU’s utilization likely drops, as the GPU takes over as the primary limiter, but the measured FPS of 99 still indicates the CPU is not holding back the GPU.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which settings preset offers the best experience for this combo. The Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot, balancing visual quality with high frame rates across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium produces an average of 169 FPS with a min of 144 FPS, which ensures smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. At 1440p, the average drops to 151 FPS with a min of 128 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays. At 4K, Medium yields an average of 128 FPS with a min of 109 FPS, which is excellent for a 4K display.

The High preset is also viable, offering averages of 157 FPS at 1080p, 140 FPS at 1440p, and 119 FPS at 4K. However, the min FPS values are not measured for High, so the consistency is less certain. The Ultra preset produces the lowest averages, ranging from 130 FPS at 1080p to 99 FPS at 4K, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for frame time spikes. The Low preset maximizes frame rates, but the visual quality degradation is likely not worth the performance gain, especially at 4K where the average of 205 FPS exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors.

Given that the Medium preset has the only measured min FPS values, it is the most predictable in terms of frame pacing. At 4K Medium, the min FPS of 109 is only 15% below the average of 128, indicating consistent performance. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best balance, as the 151 FPS average and 128 FPS min ensure a smooth experience. For 4K users, the Medium preset is recommended over High or Ultra, as the 128 FPS average is significantly higher than the 119 FPS at High and 99 FPS at Ultra, without a major visual impact.

The data suggests that the RTX 4080 is overkill for 1080p, where even Ultra settings hit 130 FPS, but it is well-suited for 1440p and 4K with Medium or High settings. The CPU’s performance is sufficient to support these settings without becoming a bottleneck, as evidenced by the high frame rates at Low settings. Ultimately, the Medium preset is the safest choice for consistent performance, while High is a good alternative for those prioritizing visual fidelity over raw FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 201st out of 3713 tested combos in Overpower, placing it in the top 5.4% of all configurations. This is a strong ranking, reflecting the high performance of both components. The percentile of the CPU (81st) and GPU (86th) individually are both above average, but the combo rank is even better, suggesting that the pairing works well together in this game.

The rank of 201 out of 3713 means that 96.6% of tested combos perform worse in Overpower. This is notable because the CPU is a mid-range 6-core part, while the GPU is a high-end card. The combo’s success likely stems from the CPU’s high single-thread performance, which allows the RTX 4080 to reach its full potential, and the GPU’s massive compute resources, which handle the game’s graphics load efficiently.

The nearest rival for the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE, has a delta of 0.2% faster, but the 9600X’s lower thread count does not hinder it in this game. The nearest rival for the GPU, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is 0.1% faster on average, but the measured FPS in Overpower would likely be nearly identical. The combo rank suggests that this specific pairing is well-balanced, with no obvious bottleneck that would drag the rank down. For comparison, a combo with a weaker CPU might rank lower due to CPU limitations at high frame rates, while a weaker GPU would rank lower due to resolution scaling.

The data shows that the combo excels at high settings and resolutions, where the GPU is the primary driver. At 4K High, the 119 FPS average is a strong result, and at 4K Ultra, the 99 FPS is just below the 100 FPS mark. The ranking of 201 out of 3713 reflects the combo’s ability to deliver high frame rates without compromise, making it a top-tier configuration for Overpower.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 271 FPS, the Medium preset delivers an average of 169 FPS with a min of 144 and max of 194, the High preset delivers an average of 157 FPS, and the Ultra preset delivers an average of 130 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 141 FPS, indicating that settings have a significant impact at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 241 FPS, the Medium preset yields an average of 151 FPS with a min of 128 and max of 173, the High preset yields an average of 140 FPS, and the Ultra preset yields an average of 116 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 125 FPS, slightly narrower than at 1080p, as the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset produces an average of 205 FPS, the Medium preset produces an average of 128 FPS with a min of 109 and max of 147, the High preset produces an average of 119 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces an average of 99 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 106 FPS, the narrowest of the three resolutions, confirming that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at 4K.

The min FPS values are only recorded for the Medium preset, which shows consistent frame times: 144 at 1080p, 128 at 1440p, and 109 at 4K. These min values are relatively close to the averages, indicating good frame pacing. The max FPS values for Medium are 194 at 1080p, 173 at 1440p, and 147 at 4K, showing that the GPU can burst to higher frame rates when the scene is less demanding. The absence of min/max data for other presets means that Medium is the only preset where frame time consistency can be assessed, which further supports its recommendation.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 99 FPS, which is just below the 100 FPS threshold. This indicates that the RTX 4080 is near its limit at maximum settings and resolution.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 9600X compare to its nearest CPU rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 5 9600X has an average benchmark score of 29713, which is 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (29656) and 0.5% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (29868). The differences are minimal, indicating similar overall performance.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest minimum FPS at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 has a minimum FPS of 128, which is the only measured min FPS for that resolution. This suggests it offers the most consistent frame pacing among the settings.

Q: What is the RTX 4080’s percentile rank among all GPUs?

A: The RTX 4080 is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms 86% of tested graphics cards. Its average benchmark score is 54247.

Q: Does the CPU become a bottleneck at 1080p Low settings?

A: No, the data shows an average FPS of 271 at 1080p Low, which indicates the CPU is not limiting performance. The high single-thread score of 1253 in 3DMark supports this, as the CPU can issue draw calls quickly enough.

Q: How does the combo rank in Overpower compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 201st out of 3713 tested combos, placing it in the top 5.4%. This is a strong result, reflecting the balanced performance of the Ryzen 5 9600X and RTX 4080 pairing.