Pc Building Simulator

Pc Building Simulator is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the data shows the Intel Core i5-9400 can still become a limiting factor at 1080p, where frame rates are exceptionally high. The combination of a six-core, six-thread CPU with a 16 GB Radeon RX 7600 XT delivers playable performance at 4K, but the scaling pattern across settings reveals that the graphics card is the primary bottleneck in this simulation title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, confirming that the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the dominant performance driver in this pairing. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 114.7 FPS at 1920x1080 to 75.6 FPS at 2560x1440, a 34% reduction, before falling further to 40.5 FPS at 3840x2160, which is 65% below the 1080p result. This pattern is consistent with a GPU that has a 128-bit memory bus and 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth; the pixel throughput requirement at 4K simply overwhelms the card's capabilities.

The scaling between Ultra and Low settings at each resolution further illustrates the GPU-bound nature of the game. At 4K, the jump from Low (77.7 FPS) to Ultra (36.4 FPS) represents a 53% performance penalty, indicating that the higher fidelity settings demand significantly more shading and texture work. The RX 7600 XT's 2048 shading units and 22.57 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra result of 36.4 FPS shows the card is not designed for maximum fidelity at that resolution.

The resolution scaling also reveals that the CPU is not the primary constraint until very high frame rates are achieved. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 231.8 FPS, which suggests the i5-9400's six cores and 4.10 GHz boost clock can feed the GPU adequately. However, the 1080p Low result is only 56% higher than the 1440p Low result (148.5 FPS), a smaller relative gap than the 1440p-to-4K transition, which drops by 48%. This compression at lower resolutions hints that the CPU is starting to cap performance, though the GPU still has headroom.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. For a simulation game like Pc Building Simulator, which typically relies on single-threaded logic for physics and component interaction, the 4.10 GHz boost is the most relevant specification. The benchmark data shows the CPU scores 1125 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 7969 in multi-core, placing it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's role in this specific game can be inferred from the frame rate scaling. At 1080p Low, the system produces 231.8 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most monitors. However, the fact that the 1080p Low result is not dramatically higher than the 1440p Low result (148.5 FPS) suggests that the CPU is beginning to limit the frame rate at the lower resolution. The i5-9400's six threads are adequate for the game's mechanics, but the lack of hyper-threading means it cannot push much beyond 230 FPS in this scenario. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-10305, has a nearly identical average benchmark score (2300 vs. 2305), which reinforces that the i5-9400 is a mid-range processor in 2024.

The L3 cache of 9 MB shared across six cores is sufficient for this title, as the game's data set is not large enough to cause cache thrashing. The dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth is also not a bottleneck, given that the GPU's 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is far higher. The CPU's integrated UHD 630 graphics are irrelevant here, as the discrete GPU handles all rendering.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the clear performance leader in this combo, and its specifications explain the measured results. The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory capacity is generous for Pc Building Simulator, which is not a VRAM-heavy title, but the bandwidth is the limiting factor at 4K. The card's base clock is 1980 MHz, with a boost clock of 2755 MHz and a game clock of 2470 MHz, which are high frequencies for the RDNA 3.0 architecture.

The GPU's benchmark scores show it is a mid-range performer, sitting in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs. Its Passmark G3D score is 17132, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2348. The nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600, which has an average score of 20258, just 0.6% higher than the RX 7600 XT's 20146. This indicates that the XT variant offers only marginal gains over the non-XT model, and the extra 16 GB of memory does not translate into proportional frame rate improvements in this game.

The GPU's 64 ROPs and 128 TMUs are the key pixel-pushing units. At 4K Ultra, the card achieves 36.4 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. The 4K High result of 40.5 FPS is only slightly better, showing that the GPU is the bottleneck at this resolution. The card's 190 W TDP and suggested 450 W PSU are relevant for system builders, but the 1x 8-pin power connector is standard for this class of GPU. The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is not a constraint, as the game's data transfer requirements are modest.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT ranks 1143 out of 1769 tested combos in Pc Building Simulator, placing it in the bottom 35% of systems. This ranking is lower than the individual component percentiles might suggest, indicating that the CPU is holding back the GPU in this game. The CPU's 50th percentile and GPU's 63rd percentile would imply a mid-range ranking, but the 1143rd position suggests that the pairing is not optimal for this title.

The rank is likely influenced by the fact that Pc Building Simulator is not a demanding title, so many lower-end GPUs can achieve high frame rates at 1080p. The RX 7600 XT's 16 GB memory is overkill for this game, and the CPU's six threads without hyper-threading limit the minimum frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios. The data shows that the combo is better suited for 1440p gaming, where the 75.6 FPS High result is respectable, than for 1080p high-refresh-rate gaming, where the 231.8 FPS Low result is CPU-limited.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 231.8 FPS on Low, 167.8 FPS on Medium, 114.7 FPS on High, and 108.7 FPS on Ultra. The gap between High and Ultra is only 5.2%, suggesting that Ultra is not significantly more demanding than High at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the results are 148.5 FPS on Low, 105.3 FPS on Medium, 75.6 FPS on High, and 70.5 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p Ultra result is 35% lower than the 1080p Ultra result, demonstrating the expected resolution scaling. The 1440p Medium result of 105.3 FPS is the sweet spot for 144 Hz monitors, as it stays above the 100 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the results are 77.7 FPS on Low, 55.6 FPS on Medium, 40.5 FPS on High, and 36.4 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Ultra result is below 40 FPS, which is marginal for a simulation game. The 4K Low result of 77.7 FPS is the only 4K setting that approaches 60 FPS, and it does so by sacrificing visual quality.

Settings Recommendations

The data indicates that the best experience for this combo is at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, which yields 105.3 FPS. This setting provides a smooth frame rate that exceeds the 100 FPS threshold for competitive play, while still offering decent visual fidelity. The 1440p High setting drops to 75.6 FPS, which is still playable but not as smooth. For players with 144 Hz monitors, the 1440p Medium setting is the clear recommendation.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra setting at 108.7 FPS is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a frame rate above 100 FPS. The 1080p High setting at 114.7 FPS is nearly identical in performance, so players can choose either based on preference. The 1080p Low setting at 231.8 FPS is only useful for players with 240 Hz monitors, but the visual compromise is severe.

For 4K gaming, the Low setting at 77.7 FPS is the only viable option, but it is not recommended for a simulation game where readability matters. The 4K Medium setting at 55.6 FPS is playable but not ideal, and the 4K High and Ultra settings are too slow for a satisfying experience. Players with 4K displays should consider dropping to 1440p for a better balance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides 105.3 FPS, which is the best balance of smoothness and quality. At 1080p Ultra, the system reaches 108.7 FPS, but 1440p Medium offers a higher resolution with similar frame rates.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which delivers 77.7 FPS. The 4K Medium setting drops to 55.6 FPS, and 4K Ultra falls to 36.4 FPS, which is too low for comfortable play.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as shown by the steep frame rate drop from 1440p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the CPU limits the frame rate to 231.8 FPS, as the i5-9400's six threads cannot push higher.

Q: How does the RX 7600 XT compare to the RX 7600?

A: The RX 7600 XT has an average benchmark score of 20146, while the RX 7600 scores 20258, which is 0.6% higher. The XT's 16 GB of memory does not provide a performance advantage in this game.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1143 out of 1769 tested combos in Pc Building Simulator, placing it in the bottom 35% of systems for this specific game.

Q: Does the CPU's lack of hyper-threading matter?

A: Yes, the i5-9400 has six cores and six threads, which limits its ability to push frame rates beyond 230 FPS at 1080p Low. The 4.10 GHz boost clock helps single-threaded performance, but multi-threaded workloads are constrained.