Overpower

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile delivers a highly capable 4K experience in Overpower, though the data reveals a predictable shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution climbs. At 1080p, the system demonstrates strong headroom, while 4K Ultra stresses the GPU to its limits, resulting in a 60 FPS average at High settings that drops to 50 FPS at Ultra. This combination ranks 2267th out of 3713 tested configurations, placing it in the 61st percentile of all combos, a solid mid-to-upper tier result for a mobile platform.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher pixel counts. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 137 FPS, which drops to 122 FPS at 1440p Low and further to 104 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 15% further reduction from 1440p to 4K, indicating that even at the lowest settings, the rendering load at 4K is substantial enough to cut performance by nearly a quarter compared to 1080p.

The scaling behavior becomes more pronounced at higher settings. At Medium, the system delivers 85 FPS at 1080p, 76 FPS at 1440p, and 65 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 11%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 14%. At High settings, the corresponding figures are 79 FPS, 71 FPS, and 60 FPS, with reductions of 10% and 15% respectively. The pattern suggests that as settings increase, the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth become more heavily utilized, making the resolution scaling less linear and more dependent on the specific workload.

The most telling data point is at Ultra settings, where 1080p yields 66 FPS, 1440p yields 59 FPS, and 4K yields 50 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is 11%, while the delta between 1440p and 4K is 15%. This indicates that at Ultra, the game’s most demanding visual features—likely including ray tracing effects or high-resolution textures—place a heavy burden on the GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 4K Ultra result of 50 FPS is barely playable for a fast-paced action title, suggesting that users should consider lowering settings or resolution for a smoother experience.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution, as the Core Ultra 9 185H with its 16 cores and 22 threads provides ample processing power. Even at 1080p Low, where CPU overhead is typically highest, the system still achieves 137 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings (137 to 104 FPS) shows a 24% drop, which is primarily attributable to the GPU’s pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth constraints rather than CPU limitations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 7 nm process node. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz provide strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1810.5 and Geekbench single-core score of 1794. In multi-threaded workloads, the processor achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17984.5 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 11657, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

For Overpower, an action game that likely benefits from high single-thread performance for game logic and physics, the Core Ultra 9 185H’s boost clock of 5.10 GHz is crucial. The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 137 FPS, which is the highest measured result across all settings and resolutions. This suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough frames at lower resolutions, and the bottleneck shifts to the GPU as resolution increases.

The processor’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provide sufficient data throughput for the game’s assets. The 45 W TDP is typical for a mobile H-series processor, indicating that thermal management is a consideration, but the performance data shows no signs of throttling affecting frame rates. The nearest rival comparisons show the Core Ultra 9 185H is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (0.1% faster) and Intel Core 7 250H (0.2% faster), confirming that CPU performance is not a differentiator in this combo’s ranking.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is an Ada Lovelace architecture GPU built on TSMC’s 5 nm process, featuring 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It has 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores, supporting DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical factor in Overpower at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU’s base clock of 1545 MHz and boost clock of 1890 MHz, combined with a 115 W TDP, deliver a peak FP32 performance of 11.61 TFLOPS. This places the RTX 4060 Mobile in the 67th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22729. In Overpower, the GPU’s performance is directly reflected in the measured FPS, with the 4K Ultra result of 50 FPS being the lowest measured, indicating that the GPU is fully saturated at that setting.

The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is a significant consideration. At 4K Ultra, the game likely requires more than 8 GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures and effects, which could cause the GPU to rely on system memory, reducing performance. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (50 FPS) is 17% lower than at 1440p Ultra (59 FPS), and the gap between 1440p and 4K widens as settings increase, suggesting that VRAM capacity and bandwidth are the primary bottlenecks at 4K.

The GPU’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (0.7% faster) and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (0.8% slower), indicating that the RTX 4060 Mobile offers desktop-class performance in a mobile form factor. However, the 128-bit memory bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are less than what desktop GPUs with larger buses offer, which explains the significant performance drop at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60 FPS or higher?

A: The data shows that at High settings, the combo achieves 79 FPS at 1080p, 71 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K. Therefore, 4K High is the maximum resolution that maintains a 60 FPS average, while 1080p and 1440p provide comfortable headroom above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 Mobile perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the combo delivers an average of 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. This is the lowest measured result, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor at this setting, likely due to VRAM constraints and memory bandwidth limitations.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 137 FPS, which is very high, and the performance drops consistently as resolution increases, especially at higher settings. The CPU’s strong single-thread and multi-thread scores suggest it is not limiting frame rates.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset achieves 122 FPS, while Ultra achieves 59 FPS, a 52% reduction. This large gap highlights the significant GPU workload increase from Low to Ultra, making Ultra settings suitable only for users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 2267th out of 3713 tested combinations, placing it in the 61st percentile. This indicates a mid-to-upper tier performance level, with the CPU and GPU both being above average in their respective benchmark percentiles (85th for CPU, 67th for GPU).

Q: What is the highest FPS measured across all settings and resolutions?

A: The highest FPS measured is 137 FPS at 1080p Low settings. This is the only setting that exceeds 130 FPS, indicating that the system is capable of high refresh rate gameplay but only at the lowest settings and resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1080p, the system delivers 137 FPS at Low, 85 FPS at Medium (with a minimum of 73 FPS and maximum of 98 FPS), 79 FPS at High, and 66 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset shows the only measured min/max range at 1080p, indicating some frame time variability but still maintaining a solid average.

At 1440p, the performance drops to 122 FPS at Low, 76 FPS at Medium (with a minimum of 65 FPS and maximum of 88 FPS), 71 FPS at High, and 59 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a wider min/max range (65 to 88 FPS) compared to 1080p Medium (73 to 98 FPS), suggesting that the GPU is working harder and frame pacing becomes less consistent.

At 4K, the results are 104 FPS at Low, 65 FPS at Medium (with a minimum of 55 FPS and maximum of 74 FPS), 60 FPS at High, and 50 FPS at Ultra. The 4K Medium preset shows the widest min/max range of all measured data (55 to 74 FPS), indicating significant frame time spikes that could be noticeable during gameplay. The 4K Ultra result of 50 FPS is the only measured average below 55 FPS, making it the most demanding configuration.

The scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, the drop from Low to Ultra is 71 FPS (137 to 66), a 52% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is 63 FPS (122 to 59), a 52% reduction. At 4K, the drop is 54 FPS (104 to 50), also a 52% reduction. This consistent percentage reduction across resolutions indicates that the GPU’s workload scales linearly with settings, and the relative performance impact of each setting tier is similar regardless of resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on the user’s display resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual quality. For 1080p displays, the Medium preset at 85 FPS provides an excellent balance, with the min FPS of 73 still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 79 FPS is also viable, but the Ultra preset at 66 FPS approaches the edge of the 60 FPS target.

For 1440p displays, the Medium preset at 76 FPS is the recommended choice, offering a smooth experience with a min FPS of 65. The High preset at 71 FPS is also acceptable, but the Ultra preset at 59 FPS dips below the 60 FPS target, making it less ideal for fast-paced action sequences. Users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate may still opt for High, but Medium provides the best performance headroom.

For 4K displays, the High preset at 60 FPS is the exact threshold for smooth gameplay, but the Medium preset at 65 FPS provides more headroom and a higher min FPS of 55. The Ultra preset at 50 FPS is not recommended for action gameplay, as it falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stuttering. The Low preset at 104 FPS is viable for competitive play but sacrifices significant visual quality.

The data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, providing a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate. At 1080p Medium (85 FPS), 1440p Medium (76 FPS), and 4K Medium (65 FPS), the system maintains at least 65 FPS average, with the only sub-60 min FPS occurring at 4K Medium (55 FPS). For users with 4K displays, dropping to High settings (60 FPS) is a viable alternative, but Medium is the safer choice for consistent performance.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile ranks 2267th out of 3713 tested combos in Overpower, placing it in the 61st percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects the GPU’s position in the 67th percentile of all GPUs and the CPU’s 85th percentile standing, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor in this combo’s overall ranking.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (0.1% faster) and Intel Core 7 250H (0.2% faster), showing that the Core Ultra 9 185H is competitive with other high-end mobile processors. The GPU’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (0.7% faster) and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (0.8% slower), placing the RTX 4060 Mobile in the same performance tier as these desktop-class GPUs.

Given that the combo rank is 2267 out of 3713, it sits in the upper-middle range of all tested systems. This is a respectable result for a mobile platform, especially considering that many of the tested combos likely include desktop CPUs and GPUs with higher power envelopes. The performance gap to the top combos is primarily due to the GPU’s 115 W TDP and 8 GB VRAM, which limit its performance at 4K Ultra relative to higher-end desktop GPUs with more memory and bandwidth.

The ranking also reflects the balance of this combo. While the CPU is in the top 15% of all processors, the GPU is in the top 33% of all GPUs. This means that the combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the GPU’s performance is sufficient to leverage the CPU’s strong single-thread capabilities. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the combo’s ranking would be lower if the game’s benchmark weighted 4K performance more heavily.