Overpower

The data for Overpower shows that the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB combination is fundamentally constrained by its graphics card, with performance scaling that reveals a clear GPU bottleneck at higher resolutions and a less severe, but still present, CPU limitation at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable, yet telling, pattern in how the system's performance degrades as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates sit at a playable level, but the lead over higher resolutions is modest. For instance, at High settings, the system produces 53.7 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 46.6 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of approximately 13%. Moving to 3840x2160, the average falls to 43.1 FPS, a further 8% drop from the 1440p result. This pattern—a relatively small penalty from 1080p to 4K—is the signature of a system where the CPU is already contributing to the frame time at lower resolutions, preventing the GPU from fully stretching its legs.

The scaling becomes more dramatic when looking at the Low preset, which is the least GPU-intensive configuration. Here, the RTX 3050 4 GB manages 91 FPS at 1080p, but this plummets to 81.7 FPS at 1440p and then to 66.9 FPS at 4K. The 4K result represents a 26.5% drop from 1080p, which is a much steeper decline than the High preset's 19.7% drop. This indicates that while the GPU is the primary limiting factor, it is not the only one; the CPU's performance ceiling becomes more apparent when the GPU has less work to do. The data suggests that at 1080p Low, the system is partially CPU-bound, as the frame rate is not scaling as aggressively with resolution as it would if the GPU were the sole bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The data suggests that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can consistently exceed 60 FPS, but only on the Low preset, which achieves 91 FPS. At High settings, 1080p yields 53.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much of a performance hit does enabling Ultra settings cause at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, moving from High (46.6 FPS) to Ultra (40.5 FPS) results in a performance loss of 6.1 FPS, or roughly 13%. This is a significant drop that will be noticeable in fast-paced action.

Q: Is the 4 GB VRAM a limiting factor for this game at high resolutions?

A: The data indicates that at 3840x2160, the average frame rates are low across all presets (34.5 to 66.9 FPS). While the VRAM capacity is not directly measured, the substantial drop in performance from 1440p to 4K, especially on the High preset (46.6 to 43.1 FPS), suggests the GPU is overwhelmed by the resolution, which is consistent with a 4 GB memory buffer being a constraint.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. This places it nearly identical to the Intel Core i3-10305 (2300, a 0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (2299, a 0.2% delta). It is also very close to the Intel Xeon E-2134 (2295, a 0.4% delta) and the Intel Core i7-8809G (2319, a -0.6% delta).

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Medium and High settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers an average of 57.4 FPS, while High delivers 53.7 FPS. The difference is only 3.7 FPS, which suggests that the High preset offers a better visual return for a minimal performance cost.

*Q: Is this system powerful enough for 4K gaming in Overpower?*

A: No. The benchmark results show that at 3840x2160, the best average frame rate achieved is 66.9 FPS on Low settings. On the more visually demanding High preset, it drops to 43.1 FPS, and on Ultra, it falls to 34.5 FPS. This indicates that 4K gaming is not a viable option for a smooth experience.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the dominant factor in this system's performance in Overpower. Its specifications, including a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1740 MHz, along with 2048 shading units and a 128-bit memory bus, define its capability. The 4 GB of GDDR6 memory with a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s is a critical detail. The measured FPS data reveals that the GPU's workload is the primary constraint. For example, at 1440p, the difference between Low and High settings is substantial: 81.7 FPS versus 46.6 FPS. This 35.1 FPS gap shows how sensitive the GPU is to shader and texture complexity.

The GPU's role becomes even clearer when examining the 4K results. The drop from 66.9 FPS at Low to 43.1 FPS at High is a 35.6% reduction, indicating that the GPU's processing power and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at this resolution with increased visual fidelity. The performance scaling across resolutions for a given preset is also telling. At High settings, the frame rate only drops from 53.7 FPS at 1080p to 46.6 FPS at 1440p, a relatively small decrease. This suggests that at 1080p, the GPU is not being fully utilized, hinting that other components, like the CPU, are starting to limit performance. The RTX 3050 4 GB is a modest performer, and the data confirms it is best suited for 1080p gaming, with the ability to handle 1440p only at lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database for Overpower, this specific combination of an Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB holds a rank of 1570 out of 1744 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 10% of all systems tested, which is a poor result. This ranking is a direct consequence of the measured average frame rates, which are dominated by the GPU's limitations. The RTX 3050 4 GB's performance, as evidenced by the data, is not competitive for a demanding action title like Overpower, especially at higher resolutions.

The combo's rank is more a reflection of the GPU than the CPU, as the CPU's synthetic benchmark percentile is 50, indicating average performance relative to all CPUs. However, the frame rates in game are consistently low, showing that the GPU cannot translate the CPU's adequate processing power into high FPS. The data shows that the system fails to hit 60 FPS at 1080p on any preset except Low. This combination is likely suitable for esports titles or older games, but for a modern action game, it is severely underpowered. The rank of 1570 serves as a warning that users should not expect a high-refresh-rate or high-resolution experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, with a 9 MB shared L3 cache. Its synthetic benchmark scores show it to be an average performer, with an avgBenchmarkScore of 2305 and a percentile rank of 50. In the context of Overpower, its role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The data suggests that while it is not the primary bottleneck, it does limit performance in specific scenarios.

The evidence for a CPU limitation is most apparent at 1080p with the Low preset. Here, the GPU has less work to do, and the frame rate only reaches 91 FPS. This is not a high score for a low-end graphics preset at the most common resolution. If the GPU were the only limiting factor, the 1080p Low score would likely be much higher. The relatively small scaling from 1080p Low (91 FPS) to 1440p Low (81.7 FPS) also supports this. A purely GPU-bound system would show a larger drop. The 6-core, 6-thread configuration of the i5-9400 is likely insufficient to fully saturate the RTX 3050 4 GB in this scenario, leaving performance on the table. The CPU's performance is adequate for maintaining playable frame rates, but it is not strong enough to push the system into high-refresh-rate territory, even at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's capabilities across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates. The Low preset delivers an average of 91 FPS, which is the only measured configuration that is comfortably above the 60 FPS mark. The Medium preset achieves 57.4 FPS, High achieves 53.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 46.2 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the gap between Medium and High is small (3.7 FPS), while the jump from Low to Medium is a significant 33.6 FPS loss.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. The Low preset is the only one to remain above 60 FPS, with an average of 81.7 FPS. Medium delivers 48.4 FPS, High delivers 46.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 40.5 FPS. The differences between Medium, High, and Ultra are minor, suggesting that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor, and the extra visual details from these presets have diminishing returns.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings yield 66.9 FPS, which is still above 60, but this is the only preset that manages this. Medium and High produce nearly identical results at 44.9 FPS and 43.1 FPS, respectively. Ultra settings drop the average to 34.5 FPS, which is a very demanding configuration for this hardware.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware is at 1920x1080. The data shows that the High preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance. While Low settings achieve 91 FPS, the visual fidelity is likely poor. Medium and High are close in performance (57.4 vs 53.7 FPS), making High the superior choice as it provides better visuals for a negligible performance cost. Ultra should be avoided, as it drops the frame rate to 46.2 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold and offers a marginal visual improvement over High.

For users with 1440p monitors, the data suggests that the Low preset is the only viable option for smooth gameplay, as it is the only one that exceeds 60 FPS (81.7 FPS). The Medium and High presets are not recommended, as they both hover around the 47-48 FPS mark, which will feel less responsive. 4K gaming is not recommended for this system. While the Low preset achieves 66.9 FPS, the visual quality will be significantly compromised, and the Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below 45 FPS, resulting in a subpar experience. The most sensible approach is to prioritize a 1080p resolution and use the High preset for a consistent and visually acceptable frame rate.