Overpower

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers an exceptionally strong performance profile in Overpower, but the data reveals a clear and consistent pattern: at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU becomes a meaningful limiting factor, while at 4K the GPU takes over as the primary bottleneck. The measured frame rates show a steep drop from 282 FPS at 1080p Low to 112 FPS at 4K Ultra, indicating that the RTX 5090’s raw power is progressively more taxed as resolution increases. This combo ranks 62nd out of 3,713 tested combinations, placing it in the top 1.7% of all systems, but the scaling behavior suggests that the i5-14600KF cannot fully feed the RTX 5090 at lower resolutions, where the GPU is capable of far more than the CPU can deliver. The result is a system that is brutally fast at 4K, yet leaves performance on the table at 1080p and 1440p, making resolution choice paramount for owners.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about the limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 282 FPS at 1920x1080 to 271 FPS at 2560x1440, and then to 232 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 17.7% decrease from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is surprisingly modest and indicates that even at 4K Low, the GPU is not fully saturated. The RTX 5090 has 21,760 shading units and a 512-bit memory bus delivering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, so it can brute-force low-detail scenes at high resolutions. However, the CPU’s influence is visible in the 1080p numbers: 282 FPS at Low is high, but not exceptionally so for a GPU of this class, suggesting the i5-14600KF’s 14 cores and 20 threads are near their limit in this action game.

Moving to Medium settings, the pattern shifts. At 1080p Medium, the average is 191 FPS, which drops to 171 FPS at 1440p (a 10.5% reduction) and then to 145 FPS at 4K (a 15.2% reduction from 1440p). The min FPS at 4K Medium is 123, with a max of 167, showing a 44 FPS range that hints at frame-time variance under load. At High settings, the scaling is steeper: 178 FPS at 1080p, 158 FPS at 1440p (an 11.2% drop), and 135 FPS at 4K (a 14.6% drop from 1440p). The gap between 1080p and 4K at High is 43 FPS, or 24.2%, which is more pronounced than at Low settings, indicating that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck as pixel count and detail increase.

Ultra settings amplify this effect. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 147 FPS; at 1440p Ultra, it falls to 131 FPS (a 10.9% reduction); and at 4K Ultra, it hits 112 FPS (a 14.5% reduction from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 35 FPS, or 23.8%. This scaling pattern—where the percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistently smaller than from 1440p to 4K—confirms that the RTX 5090 is the limiting component at 4K, while the i5-14600KF’s single-thread performance (a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,594) is the ceiling at 1080p. The GPU’s FP32 throughput of 104.8 TFLOPS is immense, but the CPU’s 3.50 GHz base clock and 5.30 GHz boost clock cannot keep pace at low resolutions where draw calls dominate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Overpower?*

A: The highest measured average is 282 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At the same resolution, Ultra settings still deliver 147 FPS, showing headroom across the preset range.

Q: How does the combo rank against all other tested systems in this game?

A: The combo ranks 62nd out of 3,713 tested combinations, placing it in the top 1.7% of all systems. This is an elite result, though not the absolute top tier.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 112, and the scaling from 1440p Ultra (131 FPS) to 4K Ultra shows a 14.5% drop. This indicates the RTX 5090 is the primary limiting factor, as the GPU’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 512-bit bus are fully engaged at 4K.

Q: Can this system exceed 200 FPS at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it hits 282 FPS. At Medium, the average falls to 191 FPS, just below the 200 FPS threshold, and at High it is 178 FPS. The CPU’s performance caps the frame rate as settings rise.

Q: How does the i5-14600KF compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49,394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G. It is 0.8% above the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and 0.8% below the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388.

Q: What is the lowest FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest min FPS in the measured data is 123 FPS at 4K Medium, with an average of 145 FPS. No min FPS values are reported for other settings, so this represents the worst-case frame drop in the dataset.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, boosting up to 5.30 GHz, and it features 24 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 2 MB of L2 cache per core. These specifications position it as a strong mid-to-high-end gaming CPU, but the benchmark results in Overpower reveal that it is not a perfect match for the RTX 5090’s extremes. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,544 and single-core score of 4,594 show solid throughput, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 17,085 and single-core score of 2,445. However, the percentile ranking of 90th among all CPUs indicates that while it outperforms the vast majority of processors, it is not in the top tier.

In Overpower, the CPU’s role becomes evident when comparing 1080p and 1440p results. At 1080p Low, the system produces 282 FPS, but at 1440p Low it only drops to 271 FPS—a mere 3.9% reduction. This small delta suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as the GPU could theoretically render more frames if the CPU could issue draw calls faster. The same pattern appears at Medium settings: 191 FPS at 1080p versus 171 FPS at 1440p, an 10.5% drop. The i5-14600KF’s boost clock of 5.30 GHz helps, but the 20 threads are not enough to fully saturate the RTX 5090 at lower resolutions. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 49,394 places it 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, but that rival also has 12 cores and 24 threads, suggesting that thread count alone is not the differentiator.

The CPU’s impact is also visible in the min FPS data. At 4K Medium, the min FPS is 123, which is 84.8% of the average 145 FPS. This 22 FPS gap between min and average indicates frame-time spikes, likely caused by CPU-side physics or AI calculations in this action game. The L3 cache of 24 MB is shared, which helps with data locality, but the absence of 3D V-Cache (unlike some AMD rivals) means it lacks the extra cache layers that can boost gaming performance in specific scenarios. Overall, the data shows that the i5-14600KF is a capable partner for the RTX 5090 at 4K, where the GPU dominates, but it holds the system back at 1080p and 1440p, where faster CPUs could yield higher frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 62nd out of 3,713 tested combinations in Overpower, placing it in the 98.3rd percentile of all systems. This is a very strong result, but the ranking reveals nuance: the RTX 5090 is the second-most powerful GPU in the benchmark database (92nd percentile among all GPUs), while the i5-14600KF sits at the 90th percentile among CPUs. The gap between the GPU’s percentile and the CPU’s percentile suggests that the combo’s rank is slightly held back by the processor, as the GPU is capable of higher performance than the CPU can feed it at lower resolutions.

At 4K Ultra, the combo delivers 112 FPS, which is a playable and smooth experience for an action game. At 4K High, it hits 135 FPS, and at 4K Medium, 145 FPS. These numbers are competitive with the top tier of systems, but the rank of 62 means there are 61 combos that perform better. The nearest rival GPUs in the database—the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (avg score 79,605) and AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (avg score 78,940)—have lower average benchmark scores than the RTX 5090’s 79,842, yet they may pair with faster CPUs in the ranking. This highlights that the i5-14600KF, while strong, is not the optimal match for the RTX 5090 in Overpower.

The combo’s rank relative to the CPU’s nearest rivals is also telling. The i5-14600KF’s average benchmark score is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, and 0.8% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. Yet, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8% faster. If the system had been paired with a CPU that is 0.8% faster, the combo might rank higher than 62nd, but the measured data only supports the current configuration. The rank of 62 out of 3,713 is still an elite outcome, placing the system in the top 1.7% of all tested combos, and for most users, this will translate into a high-refresh-rate experience at 4K and triple-digit FPS at 1440p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 282 FPS, which is the single highest score in the dataset. Medium settings yield 191 FPS, with a min of 163 and a max of 220, showing a 57 FPS spread. High settings drop to 178 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 147 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 135 FPS, or 47.9%, meaning that Ultra settings nearly halve the frame rate compared to Low. This is a significant reduction, but the 147 FPS at Ultra is still well above 144 Hz, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the numbers are slightly lower but remain high. Low settings average 271 FPS, a mere 3.9% drop from 1080p. Medium settings average 171 FPS, with a min of 145 and a max of 196, a 51 FPS spread. High settings average 158 FPS, and Ultra settings average 131 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is 16 FPS, or 10.9%, which is consistent with the GPU becoming more involved. The 1440p Ultra result of 131 FPS is still excellent, comfortably exceeding 120 FPS for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is fully utilized, and the frame rates reflect the higher pixel count. Low settings average 232 FPS, which is 17.7% lower than 1080p Low. Medium settings average 145 FPS, with a min of 123 and a max of 167, a 44 FPS spread. High settings average 135 FPS, and Ultra settings average 112 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K at Ultra is 19 FPS, or 14.5%, which is the steepest resolution scaling in the dataset. At 4K Ultra, the 112 FPS average is still playable, but it is the lowest score measured, and the min FPS of 123 at 4K Medium suggests that frame times can vary under heavy load.

The overall pattern is consistent: Low settings are CPU-bound at 1080p and 1440p, while Ultra settings at 4K are GPU-bound. The RTX 5090’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory provides ample headroom, but the 575 W TDP and 950 W suggested PSU indicate that this is a power-hungry configuration. The measured FPS data shows no min or max values for most settings, but the Medium settings across all resolutions include them, providing insight into frame-time stability.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, Medium settings provide the best balance of performance and visual quality, with an average of 191 FPS and a min of 163 FPS. This ensures that the frame rate never drops below 160 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. High settings at 1080p yield 178 FPS, which is also excellent, but the 13 FPS difference between Medium and High is modest, so High is a viable choice for better visuals without sacrificing playability. Ultra at 1080p drops to 147 FPS, which is still above 144 Hz, but the jump from High to Ultra costs 31 FPS, making it a less attractive option unless visual fidelity is paramount.

At 2560x1440, High settings are the sweet spot, delivering 158 FPS average. This is 27 FPS lower than Medium (171 FPS), but the visual improvement is substantial. Ultra at 1440p drops to 131 FPS, which is still above 120 FPS, but the 27 FPS penalty over High is significant. For gamers with 144 Hz monitors, High is the recommended choice, as it stays above 144 FPS. Medium at 1440p offers 171 FPS, but the lower detail may not be worth the extra 13 FPS over High.

At 3840x2160, the recommendations shift. High settings average 135 FPS, which is the best balance of quality and performance, as it stays above 120 FPS. Medium averages 145 FPS, but the visual difference between Medium and High is noticeable, and the 10 FPS gain is not worth the reduced detail. Ultra at 4K averages 112 FPS, which is below 120 FPS, making it less ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming. Low at 4K averages 232 FPS, but the visual compromise is too severe for most players. The best experience at 4K is High settings, which offers a 135 FPS average and a smooth, detailed image.

For the best overall experience, the data suggests using High settings at 1440p or 4K. At 1080p, Medium or High are both excellent, with the choice depending on whether the user prioritizes frame rate or visual fidelity. The system is capable of exceeding 120 FPS at all resolutions and settings except 4K Ultra, which still manages 112 FPS. Given the RTX 5090’s immense power, the i5-14600KF is the limiting factor at low resolutions, so users should favor higher resolutions to shift the bottleneck to the GPU and maximize visual quality without sacrificing frame rate.