Overpower

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER pairing represents a balanced, if aging, 1080p-oriented configuration. In Overpower, the data shows this combo delivers playable frame rates at most settings, but its performance ceiling is clearly defined by the GPU at higher resolutions. The benchmark results indicate a system that handles the game’s Action genre demands without excelling, placing it in the lower percentile of tested combinations.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz, boosting up to 4.40 GHz. This configuration provides 12 MB of shared L3 cache, with 80 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. The CPU supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and its 65 W TDP classifies it as a mainstream desktop part.

Benchmark results place this CPU in the 71st percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 17177. In synthetic tests, it scores 14340 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2024 in single-core. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7H12 (0.3% higher average score) and the Intel Core i5-12450H (0.4% lower), showing that the 11400F sits in a tightly contested performance band. For gaming, the 6-core/12-thread design is sufficient for modern titles, and the 4.40 GHz boost clock ensures responsive single-thread performance.

In the context of Overpower, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 100 FPS average. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower settings, as it can push enough frames to keep the GPU busy. However, the lack of a significant performance gap between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings (89 FPS at 1440p Low vs. 100 FPS at 1080p Low) indicates that the CPU maintains adequate throughput even as resolution increases. The CPU’s 3DMark scores, such as 5652 in max threads and 868 in single thread, support its capability to handle the game’s processing demands without becoming a limiting factor in most scenarios.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture (TU116 chip) using a 12 nm process at TSMC. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1530 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It has 1408 shading units, 88 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, delivering 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

This GPU ranks in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12986. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (0.4% higher) and the AMD Radeon RX 580 (0.4% higher), indicating that the 1660 SUPER performs on par with entry-level cards from its era. In DirectX 12 tests, it scores 50 in Passmark, while its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1278. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for 1080p gaming but becomes a constraint at higher resolutions.

In Overpower, the GPU is the dominant performance limiter. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: at 1080p High, the combo averages 58 FPS, which drops to 51 FPS at 1440p and 44 FPS at 4K. This consistent decline with resolution increase points directly to the GPU’s rendering capacity. The VRAM usage is likely a factor at 4K, where the 6 GB capacity may be insufficient for High or Ultra textures, causing frame rate drops. The GPU’s boost clock of 1785 MHz and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are decent for its class, but the 1660 SUPER’s overall compute power (5.027 TFLOPS) limits its ability to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings. The measured FPS at 4K Medium (47 FPS avg) versus 1080p Medium (62 FPS avg) reinforces this, as the GPU struggles to fill the additional pixels.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the combo achieves 100 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 89 FPS at 1440p (-11%) and 76 FPS at 4K (-24% from 1080p). This relatively mild decline at Low settings suggests the CPU is still able to keep up, but the GPU’s pixel throughput is being taxed. At High settings, the drop is more pronounced: 58 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p (-12%), and 44 FPS at 4K (-24% from 1080p). The pattern repeats for Medium (62→56→47 FPS) and Ultra (48→43→36 FPS).

The percentage drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent across settings, hovering around 24-25% for Low, High, and Ultra, and 24% for Medium. This uniformity suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor, as a CPU bottleneck would show a smaller FPS drop when resolution increases (since the CPU work remains constant). The fact that the FPS drops almost linearly with pixel count (4K has 4x the pixels of 1080p, but FPS drops by only ~25%) indicates that the GPU is not purely fill-rate limited; rather, the combination of shader complexity and memory bandwidth is the constraint. The 6 GB VRAM may also cause texture swapping at 4K, explaining why the 4K High (44 FPS) and 4K Ultra (36 FPS) numbers are relatively close, as the GPU may be dropping to lower-quality textures to fit in memory.

At 1080p, the system is more balanced. The 100 FPS at Low and 58 FPS at High show that the CPU can feed the GPU adequately, but the GPU still caps performance. For gamers targeting 4K, the data indicates that only Low settings (76 FPS) approach playable levels, while Medium and above fall below 50 FPS. This suggests that the GTX 1660 SUPER is not suited for 4K gaming in Overpower beyond minimal settings, and the CPU’s role becomes secondary at that resolution.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Overpower?*

A: The data shows 1080p is the sweet spot. At High settings, the combo averages 58 FPS, which is playable. At 1440p High, it drops to 51 FPS, and at 4K High, it falls to 44 FPS. For a consistent experience, 1080p is recommended.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the primary limiter. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 100 FPS, and the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent (~25%), which is typical of GPU-bound scenarios. The CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for the game’s demands.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 12986, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 580 and 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile. This places it in a tight performance band with those cards.

Q: Is 6 GB of VRAM enough for 4K gaming?

A: The measured results show 4K performance is limited. At 4K Medium, the combo averages 47 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 36 FPS. The 6 GB VRAM likely contributes to the drop at higher settings, making 4K playable only at Low (76 FPS).

Q: What is the CPU’s performance ranking compared to other processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F is in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 17177. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7H12, scores 0.3% higher, while the Intel Core i5-12450H scores 0.4% lower.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 48 FPS, which is borderline playable. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 43 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 36 FPS. For smoother gameplay, Medium or High settings are more appropriate.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific configuration of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 3178 out of 3713 tested combos in Overpower. This places it in the lower 15% of all combinations, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this game. The rank reflects the GPU’s limitations, as the CPU is a reasonably capable part (71st percentile) but the GPU (53rd percentile) drags the overall combo down.

The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming at Medium or High settings. At 1080p Medium, it hits 62 FPS average, which is smooth for action gameplay. At 1080p High, it drops to 58 FPS, still acceptable. The combo’s rank of 3178 suggests that many other pairings offer better performance, but for users with this hardware, the key is to avoid 4K and stick to lower resolutions. The 1440p results (51 FPS High, 56 FPS Medium) are playable but not ideal, and 4K is only viable at Low settings (76 FPS). This rank also implies that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the limiting factor, as upgrading the GPU would likely improve the combo’s standing significantly.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the best experience is achieved at Medium settings, which provides 62 FPS average with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. High settings at 1080p yield 58 FPS average, which is also playable but with a slight dip. Ultra settings at 1080p drop to 48 FPS, which may feel less responsive in action sequences.

For 1440p, Medium settings are the recommended choice, delivering 56 FPS average with a minimum of 47 FPS. High settings at 1440p average 51 FPS, which is borderline. Low settings at 1440p provide 89 FPS, which is very smooth but sacrifices visual fidelity. For 4K, only Low settings are recommended, as they achieve 76 FPS average. Medium at 4K drops to 47 FPS, and High/Ultra fall below 45 FPS, which is not ideal for an action game.

In summary, the data suggests using Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p for the best balance of visual quality and performance. For 4K, Low settings are the only viable option. The combo’s limitations are evident at higher resolutions, so prioritizing frame rate over fidelity is advisable. The measured rows show that Medium settings provide the most consistent frame pacing (with min/max values available), making it the safest choice for a smooth experience.