Overpower

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination delivers a compelling, high-refresh-rate experience in Overpower, an action title released in August 2023. Benchmark results show this pairing is capable of pushing well past 100 frames per second at 1440p with high settings, while still maintaining playable performance at 4K. The data indicates a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but one that still benefits from the CPU's strong single-threaded capabilities at lower settings.

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

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a mobile processor built on the Panther Lake architecture using a 3 nm process. It features 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This is a high-frequency part with a modest 25 W TDP, which is typical for efficient mobile performance. The processor's cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB of L3 cache. It supports dual-channel LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 18,911 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,200.5 points in single-core. Its average benchmark score is 44,466, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals show a tight cluster of performance: the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 44,573 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i9-13950HX scores 44,342 (0.3% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 44,309 (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i5-13600 scores 44,240 (0.5% lower). This indicates the 388H is effectively on par with these desktop-class and high-end mobile parts in overall CPU throughput.

For Overpower, the CPU's role becomes evident when examining the FPS scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 208 FPS, a figure that is unlikely to be limited by the GPU. This high frame rate suggests that the processor's boost clock of 5.10 GHz and its strong single-core performance (evidenced by the 2,200.5 Cinebench R23 single-core score) are sufficient to feed the RTX 5080 adequately. The CPU's 16 threads are more than enough for a modern action game, and the data shows no signs of a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions. The processor's passmark single-thread score of 4,280 further confirms its ability to handle game logic and draw calls quickly. While the 388H is not a top-tier desktop replacement part, its performance cluster around the Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Core i5-13600 suggests it is more than capable of keeping up with the demands of high-refresh-rate gaming.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is a high-end graphics card based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a substantial 960.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2617 MHz, with memory running at 1875 MHz (30 Gbps effective). The card features 10,752 shading units, 336 texture mapping units, and 112 raster operation units. It also includes 84 RT cores and 336 tensor cores, making it fully capable of handling DirectX 12 Ultimate workloads.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5080 achieves a score of 36,565 in Passmark G3D and 86,377 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its average benchmark score is 56,083, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals show a mixed bag: the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55,757 (0.6% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55,698 (0.7% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54,828 (2.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 57,367 (2.2% lower). This places the RTX 5080's raw compute performance in a competitive band, but its advantage in Overpower is likely amplified by its high memory bandwidth and driver optimizations.

The GPU's role in Overpower is clearly dominant. Looking at the measured FPS data, moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings drops performance from 121 FPS to 92 FPS, a 24% reduction. This scaling behavior is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering resolution directly impacts the workload. The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for even the Ultra preset at 4K, preventing any potential texture-related performance hits. The boost clock of 2617 MHz ensures that the card sustains high frame rates across all settings, and the data shows that the card is the primary limiter at resolutions above 1080p. The GPU's pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s are substantial, allowing it to handle the visual effects and geometry demands of a modern action game without issue.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K, which is critical for understanding the system's bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 208 at 1080p to 186 at 1440p, a 10.6% decrease, and then to 158 at 4K, a 15.1% decrease from 1440p. This shows that even at Low settings, the GPU is becoming a significant factor at higher resolutions.

At High settings, the scaling is more pronounced. The average FPS is 121 at 1080p, 108 at 1440p (a 10.7% drop), and 92 at 4K (a 14.8% drop from 1440p). This consistent percentage decrease between resolutions indicates a strong GPU dependence. The difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings is 29 FPS, which is a 24% reduction in performance. This is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario.

The Medium settings data provides the most complete picture, with min and max FPS values available. At 1080p, the average is 130 FPS with a min of 111 and max of 150. At 1440p, the average drops to 116 FPS (a 10.8% drop), with a min of 99 and max of 133. At 4K, the average is 99 FPS (a 14.7% drop from 1440p), with a min of 84 and max of 113. The fact that the min FPS values also scale down proportionally suggests that the entire frame delivery pipeline is being stressed by the increased resolution, not just the average render time.

The most telling comparison is between Low and Ultra settings. At 1080p, the difference between Low (208 FPS) and Ultra (100 FPS) is 108 FPS, showing a massive impact from graphical fidelity settings. At 4K, the difference between Low (158 FPS) and Ultra (76 FPS) is 82 FPS. This data indicates that the RTX 5080 is the limiting component at all resolutions above 1080p. The CPU's performance is sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 1080p Low, but as resolution increases, the GPU's workload scales linearly, and it becomes the primary bottleneck. The system is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates with high settings, but at 4K Ultra, it falls below the 100 FPS threshold.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Overpower?*

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 208 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system averages 76 FPS. This is the most demanding configuration tested, and while playable, it shows a significant drop from the 4K Low preset's 158 FPS.

*Q: Is this system more CPU-limited or GPU-limited in Overpower?*

A: Benchmark results indicate the system is primarily GPU-limited at resolutions above 1080p. For example, at High settings, performance drops by 24% when moving from 1080p (121 FPS) to 4K (92 FPS), a scaling pattern characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU is only likely to be a limiting factor at 1080p with Low settings.

Q: What is the difference between 1440p and 4K performance at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 116 at 2560x1440 to 99 at 3840x2160, a 14.7% decrease. The minimum FPS also drops from 99 to 84 during this transition.

Q: How does the CPU's synthetic benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has an average benchmark score of 44,466. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, scores 44,573, which is 0.2% higher. This places the two processors in the same performance tier.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how might it affect performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 has a memory bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This high bandwidth is likely a key factor in maintaining strong performance at 4K resolutions, where large amounts of texture and geometry data must be streamed quickly.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Overpower, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 holds a rank of 735 out of 2,980 total combos. This places it in the top 25% of all tested configurations, indicating a strong overall performance level. The rank reflects a balance between the CPU and GPU capabilities, with the system performing well across various settings and resolutions.

The rank of 735 is notable given the mobile nature of the CPU. The Core Ultra X9 388H is a power-efficient part with a 25 W TDP, yet it manages to pair with a high-end 360 W GPU to achieve a top-quartile ranking. This suggests that the CPU's performance is not a limiting factor in the overall ranking, and the system's placement is largely determined by the RTX 5080's capabilities. Comparatively, the CPU's synthetic benchmark percentile is 88, and the GPU's is 87, both of which are high. The combo rank of 735 out of 2,980 is consistent with these individual performance levels, indicating that the system performs as expected without any significant compatibility or driver issues.

The data shows that the combo is more competitive at lower resolutions. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 208 FPS, which is a very high score that would likely outperform many other combinations. However, at 4K with Ultra settings, the 76 FPS average is respectable but not class-leading. The rank of 735 reflects this versatility; it is a system that can handle competitive e-sports titles at high refresh rates and also provide a smooth experience in demanding AAA games at 4K, albeit with some compromises on settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data points are the exact measured average FPS values for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination in Overpower. The data includes both resolution and settings scaling.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 208 FPS average
• Medium: 130 FPS average (min 111, max 150)
• High: 121 FPS average
• Ultra: 100 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 186 FPS average
• Medium: 116 FPS average (min 99, max 133)
• High: 108 FPS average
• Ultra: 89 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 158 FPS average
• Medium: 99 FPS average (min 84, max 113)
• High: 92 FPS average
• Ultra: 76 FPS average

This breakdown shows a clear hierarchy of performance. At 1080p, the system is capable of exceeding 200 FPS on the lowest settings, but this drops to 100 FPS on the highest settings. The step up to 1440p results in a consistent 10-11% reduction in FPS across all settings, while the step to 4K results in a further 14-15% reduction. The Medium settings are the only tier with min/max data, and the spread between the min and max FPS at each resolution is roughly 20% of the average, indicating a stable frame delivery without severe stuttering. The system is most comfortable at 1440p, where it can maintain over 100 FPS on High settings and nearly 90 FPS on Ultra, making it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate monitors.