Overpower

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark study in system imbalance within the action title Overpower. The data reveals a configuration where a top-tier CPU is severely constrained by an integrated graphics solution, resulting in frame rates that are playable only at the lowest settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and ranking of this specific combo.

Resolution Scaling

The benchmark data for Overpower shows a predictable but severe drop in performance as resolution increases, a pattern that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo averages 72 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 64 FPS, a reduction of 8 frames, and at 4K Low it further falls to 54 FPS. This scaling is moderate from 1080p to 4K, but the absolute numbers remain low, indicating the graphics processor is saturated even at the lowest fidelity.

The scaling pattern becomes more telling at higher settings. At Medium settings, the average frame rate falls from 45 FPS at 1080p to 40 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 34 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 15% decrease, while the jump from 1080p to 1440p is an 11% decrease. This suggests that while resolution is a factor, the performance ceiling is so low that even modest increases in pixel count cause significant frame loss.

At High settings, the frame rates are already marginal at 1080p with an average of 42 FPS. This falls to 37 FPS at 1440p and 32 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 4K at High settings is a 10 FPS drop, which represents a 24% reduction in performance. This is a significant hit, but the starting point is so low that it never approaches a smooth experience.

Ultra settings deliver the lowest results, with the system averaging just 35 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and a stutter-prone 26 FPS at 4K. The scaling here is less about resolution and more about the GPU being completely overwhelmed by the combination of high pixel count and demanding visual effects. The data indicates that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU; the CPU is not a factor in these framerates, as the scores would be far higher if it were.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it produces a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and a single-core score of 2262.5. It also achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 21697 and a single-core score of 2655. These are flagship-level results, placing the CPU in the 95th percentile of all processors tested.

Despite this immense processing power, the CPU's role in Overpower is largely one of a spectator. The measured FPS data shows that the system cannot exceed 72 FPS even at the lowest settings and resolution. This is a clear indication that the game's frame rate is not being limited by the CPU's ability to calculate game logic or draw calls, but rather by the GPU's inability to render frames fast enough.

The CPU's Passmark multi-thread score of 58674 and single-thread score of 4697 reinforce its capability. While the game is an Action title that may be sensitive to single-core performance, the data suggests that even the most demanding single-threaded workloads are far beyond what the Arc B390 can keep up with. The i9-14900K is essentially idle waiting for the GPU to finish its work. The performance delta between the i9-14900K and its nearest rival, the i9-14900KF, is a negligible -0.3%, further confirming that the CPU is not the performance bottleneck in this configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Overpower, this pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2638 out of 2980 total combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, a position that reflects the extreme performance disparity between the two components. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's low output, which drags down the overall experience despite the CPU's top-tier standing.

The combo's rank is more than 88% of the way down the list, indicating that the vast majority of other CPU and GPU pairings deliver better frame rates in this game. This is not a reflection of the CPU's ability, but rather the severe limitation imposed by the integrated graphics. The data shows that the GPU's average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, which are decidedly entry-level parts.

Given the CPU's 95th percentile ranking, the combined rank of 2638 highlights a massive mismatch. A high-end processor paired with a bottom-tier graphics solution results in a system that performs like a low-end machine in this specific title. The ranking is a clear warning that the GPU must be the primary consideration for any gaming workload, regardless of the CPU's power.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Overpower provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all settings and resolutions. The only data points with min/max values are at Medium settings, providing a frame time variance window.

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: Average 72 FPS.
• Medium: Average 45 FPS, with min 38 FPS and max 52 FPS.
• High: Average 42 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 35 FPS.

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: Average 64 FPS.
• Medium: Average 40 FPS, with min 34 FPS and max 46 FPS.
• High: Average 37 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 31 FPS.

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: Average 54 FPS.
• Medium: Average 34 FPS, with min 29 FPS and max 39 FPS.
• High: Average 32 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 26 FPS.

The data shows that the only playable experience is at 1080p Low, where the system achieves 72 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops below 45 FPS at 1080p, and the min FPS of 38 indicates potential stutter. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the system must be run at 1080p Low, as even 1440p Low only averages 64 FPS and 4K Low drops to 54 FPS.

The difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial, with a 37 FPS drop at 1080p (from 72 to 35 FPS). This demonstrates that the GPU's processing power is severely limited, and visual quality must be sacrificed to achieve acceptable frame rates. The min FPS data at Medium settings shows that the system can dip into the 20s at 4K, which would result in noticeable hitches.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

In synthetic testing, the Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12). This score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, showing that it is at the very bottom of the performance spectrum. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster), GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), and GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% faster). This highlights that the B390's performance is comparable to decade-old entry-level discrete GPUs.

The GPU's role in Overpower is the defining factor for the entire system's performance. Its 80 W TDP and "System Shared" memory configuration mean it relies on the system's main memory, which is system dependent. The data proves that this GPU is wholly inadequate for the processing demands of the game at higher settings. The jump from Low to Medium settings at any resolution results in a significant FPS loss, while the jump to Ultra reduces the frame rate to near-unplayable levels.

The GPU's specifications, such as the 2500 MHz boost clock and 1536 shading units, are simply too modest to handle the geometry and pixel shading required by Overpower at 1080p High or above. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are grossly insufficient for the task, leading to the low average FPS observed in the data. The CPU is waiting on the GPU, and the GPU is the limiting component in every single resolution and setting combination.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and setting combo for the Intel Core i9-14900K with the Intel Arc B390 in Overpower?*

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only configuration that produces an average frame rate above 60 FPS, achieving 72 FPS. Any other setting or resolution results in average FPS below 64.

*Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck for this combo in Overpower?*

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU is a top-tier part in the 95th percentile, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. The FPS data shows that the system cannot exceed 72 FPS even at 1080p Low, indicating the GPU is maxed out.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems in this game?

A: It ranks 2638 out of 2980 total combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of tested systems. This is a low ranking directly attributed to the GPU's weak performance.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of benchmark score?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, is 1.3% faster, while the GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster. The GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster.

Q: What are the CPU's Cinebench R23 scores?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K scores 39399.5 in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test and 2262.5 in the single-core test. This performance is far beyond what the GPU can utilize in this game.