Overpower

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 presents a compelling mid-range combination for playing Overpower, an Action title released in 2023. The benchmark data reveals a system that is consistently capable of delivering high frame rates across 1080p and 1440p, while also providing a playable, though more demanding, 4K experience. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU, how they each contribute to the game's performance, and what settings offer the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combination shows a predictable and clear scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 94 FPS at 1080p to 84 FPS at 1440p, a roughly 10% decrease. However, the more significant jump occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K, where the average drops from 84 FPS to 71 FPS, a decrease of over 15%. This pattern strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is becoming the dominant limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the pixel throughput demand begins to outpace the GPU's ability to render frames.

The scaling behavior across the other presets reinforces this conclusion. At the Low preset, the frame rate is exceptionally high, with 163 FPS at 1080p, 145 FPS at 1440p, and 123 FPS at 4K. The relatively smaller percentage drops between resolutions in the Low preset suggest that the CPU is able to keep up with the GPU's output, but the GPU is still being tasked harder as resolution climbs. In contrast, the Ultra preset shows the steepest relative decline, falling from 78 FPS at 1080p to 70 FPS at 1440p and then to 59 FPS at 4K. This steep drop at 4K Ultra, where the average falls below the 60 FPS threshold, is a strong indicator that the GPU's compute and memory resources are saturated, leaving the CPU with little to no influence on the final frame rate.

The data implies that for gamers targeting 4K, the resolution is heavily taxing the GPU. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K is 64 FPS (123 vs. 59), which is a massive range that highlights how much headroom the GPU has at lower settings. At 1080p, this gap is 85 FPS (163 vs. 78), suggesting that while the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, the system is less constrained and more capable of showcasing the CPU's potential. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear, and the data suggests that the most significant performance cost is paid when enabling the Ultra preset at 4K, making this the most demanding configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from Intel's Core 11th Gen series, based on the Rocket Lake architecture. It features a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In the context of Overpower, its role is to feed the Radeon RX 7700 with draw calls and game logic. The benchmark results indicate that this CPU is more than adequate for the task, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less burdened. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 163 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor in this scenario.

The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and a single-core score of 2024, place it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. This indicates it is a solid performer for gaming. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD EPYC 7H12, which it trails by only 0.3%, and the Intel Core i5-12450H, which is 0.4% ahead. While these are synthetic benchmarks, they correlate with the CPU's ability to handle the threading requirements of a modern action game. The 12 threads are beneficial for handling background tasks and the game's engine, but the strong single-thread performance, as shown by a Passmark single-thread score of 2981, is often more critical for frame pacing in games.

The data suggests that the CPU's influence on the measured FPS is most apparent when the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p, the difference between the High and Low presets is 69 FPS (94 vs. 163). This gap is not solely due to GPU load; it also reflects the CPU's capacity to process the increased number of frames. However, as the resolution increases to 4K, the CPU's role diminishes. The frame rate drops are more attributable to the GPU's rendering limits. This is a classic sign of a balanced system, where the CPU has enough headroom to prevent it from becoming the primary constraint in most gaming scenarios, but its performance ceiling is still a factor at very high frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is the undisputed workhorse in this pairing, built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 32 chip. It comes equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a substantial memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This large memory pool and high bandwidth are crucial for handling high-resolution textures and the demands of an action game, allowing the system to maintain performance without stuttering due to memory limitations. The GPU's boost clock of 2459 MHz and its FP32 compute of 25.18 TFLOPS are the raw power sources that drive the frame rates.

The GPU's performance is the primary driver of the scaling seen in the Overpower benchmarks. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 59, which is just below the 60 FPS target that many gamers consider the minimum for a smooth experience. This indicates that the GPU is fully saturated at this setting. Its Passmark G3D score of 20974 places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060, which is 1% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which is 1.7% faster. These small percentage differences in synthetic benchmarks translate to the measured FPS being in a competitive but not class-leading position.

The 16 GB of VRAM is a significant asset. While the fact pack does not provide VRAM usage data, the capacity ensures that the GPU is unlikely to be bottlenecked by memory at 4K with High or Ultra settings, which often require large frame buffers. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU can scale from 123 FPS on Low to 77 FPS on Medium, a 46 FPS drop. This steep decline suggests that the Medium preset introduces effects that heavily tax the GPU's shading units and texture units (TMUs), moving the bottleneck firmly to the GPU's compute capabilities. The GPU's role is clear: it defines the absolute performance ceiling, and its capabilities are the reason why the system can achieve playable frame rates at 4K at all, albeit with adjustments to settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across nine different configurations. At 1920x1080, the system excels. The Low preset yields an average of 163 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suitable for competitive play. The Medium preset brings an average of 102 FPS with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 117 FPS, showing good consistency. The High preset averages 94 FPS, while the Ultra preset still manages a solid 78 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience even on the highest settings at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset average is 145 FPS, which is still very high. The Medium preset averages 91 FPS (min 77, max 104), and the High preset averages 84 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 70 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combination, as even the Ultra preset maintains an average above 60 FPS, providing a great balance between visual fidelity and performance.

At 3840x2160, the demands on the GPU become apparent. The Low preset still achieves a highly playable 123 FPS average. The Medium preset averages 77 FPS (min 65, max 89), which is a good experience. The High preset averages 71 FPS, which is playable but with less headroom. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 59 FPS, dipping below the 60 FPS target. This data shows that while 4K is possible, it requires a careful choice of settings to maintain a consistently smooth frame rate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Overpower?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 163 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain a 60 FPS average at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but not on all presets. The data shows averages of 123 FPS on Low, 77 FPS on Medium, and 71 FPS on High at 3840x2160. However, the Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to the Ultra preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 145 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 70 FPS. This represents a performance difference of 75 FPS, with the Low preset being about 107% faster.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU act as a bigger bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the GPU is likely the primary bottleneck, but the CPU is well-suited to handle high frame rates. The significant frame rate differences between presets (e.g., 163 FPS on Low vs. 78 FPS on Ultra) indicate the GPU is scaling with workload, while the CPU is capable of keeping up, as evidenced by the high frame rates on lower settings.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset, and at what resolution?

A: The minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset is 65, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution. For comparison, the minimum FPS at 2560x1440 is 77, and at 1920x1080 it is 86.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its immediate rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177. It is 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 7H12 and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i5-12450H, while being 0.6% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's priority for resolution and frame rate. For gamers with a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset offers an excellent experience with an average of 78 FPS. This is high enough to ensure smooth gameplay and take full advantage of the visual features. If a higher refresh rate is the goal, the High preset at 94 FPS or the Medium preset at 102 FPS are excellent choices that provide a significant boost in frame rate with a minor reduction in visual quality. The Low preset at 163 FPS is recommended for competitive play where maximum frame rate is paramount.

For 2560x1440 displays, the Ultra preset is still the best choice for visual fidelity, maintaining an average of 70 FPS. This provides a good balance, though it leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. The High preset at 84 FPS is the best overall recommendation for this resolution, as it offers a substantial increase in frame rate over Ultra while likely retaining most of the visual polish. For gamers who prefer higher refresh rates, the Medium preset at 91 FPS is a strong alternative.

At 3840x2160, the choices become more critical. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as the 59 FPS average risks dipping below the 60 FPS target, potentially causing noticeable stutter. The High preset at 71 FPS is the best option for a smooth 4K experience, offering a good compromise between visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 77 FPS is also an excellent choice, providing a higher frame rate buffer. The Low preset at 123 FPS is available for those who prioritize a very high frame rate over all visual enhancements. In summary, the High preset offers the best balance for 4K, while the Ultra preset is best reserved for 1440p and 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of the benchmark database, the combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 is ranked 1340 out of 2980 tested combos for Overpower. This places it in the 55th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a solidly mid-range performer. This ranking is unsurprising given the individual components' percentiles; the CPU sits in the 71st percentile, while the GPU is in the 58th percentile. The combination's ranking suggests that, while it is not a top-tier system, it outperforms a majority of the tested configurations.

The ranking implies that there are many other combos that can achieve higher frame rates in this game, likely those with higher-end GPUs or CPUs. However, the data from the measured FPS shows that this specific pairing is well-balanced. The CPU has enough power to prevent it from bottlenecking the GPU in most scenarios, and the GPU has enough memory and compute power to deliver a great experience at 1080p and 1440p. The ranking reflects the system's overall capability, but the measured FPS data provides a more nuanced view, showing that it is an excellent choice for high refresh rate gaming at 1440p and for playable 4K with adjusted settings. The fact that it ranks in the middle of the pack reflects the wide variety of hardware available, but its performance metrics show it is a very capable gaming machine for the majority of users.