Pc Building Simulator

The pairing of an Intel Core i5-9400 with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 creates a striking imbalance in Pc Building Simulator, where the data reveals a simulation that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound. While the RTX 4090 delivers exceptional frame rates across all tested configurations, the aging six-core processor limits the ceiling in lower-resolution scenarios. Benchmark results indicate that this combo ranks 377th out of 1769 tested combinations, placing it in the top 21% of all pairings, though the GPU’s individual percentile ranking of 91% against all graphics cards contrasts sharply with the CPU’s 50th percentile standing. The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 4090 is the dominant factor, with performance scaling predictably with resolution and settings, but the i5-9400’s modest single-threaded capabilities become apparent at 1080p where frame rates plateau.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in Pc Building Simulator?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 + RTX 4090 combination ranks 377th out of 1769 tested combos, placing it in the upper tier of all tested configurations.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest rivals in average benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4090’s average benchmark score is 66473, which is 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla T4 (66733), 0.5% higher than the Tesla P40 (66127), 0.9% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 (67097), and 1.3% lower than the NVIDIA Quadro P6000 (67320).

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achieved at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the combo achieves 171.1 FPS average. The highest 4K result is 171.1 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 80.5 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080, the frame rate scaling suggests a CPU limit. The difference between Low (245.5 FPS) and High (188.9 FPS) is only 56.6 FPS, whereas at 4K the same settings gap is 82.9 FPS, indicating the GPU is more constrained at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the RTX 4090’s memory bandwidth and how does it affect performance?

A: The RTX 4090 features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. This high bandwidth supports the large frame buffers required by the simulation’s detailed rendering at 4K.

Q: How does the i5-9400’s benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The i5-9400’s average benchmark score is 2305, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i3-10305 (2300) and 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (2299). It trails the Intel Core i7-8809G (2319) by 0.6%.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 377 out of 1769 tested configurations places it within the 79th percentile of all CPU-GPU pairings tested in Pc Building Simulator. This is a strong result, but the underlying data reveals why it isn’t higher. The RTX 4090 is a top-tier GPU with a percentile rank of 91% against all graphics cards, while the i5-9400 sits at exactly the 50th percentile for all CPUs. This disparity means the combo’s overall position is dragged down by the processor’s mid-range standing.

When examining the benchmark scores, the i5-9400’s average of 2305 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with deltas of just 0.2% to 0.4% against the Intel Core i3-10305, Core i3-1125G4, and Xeon E-2134. The only rival it trails is the Core i7-8809G by 0.6%. This clustering shows that the CPU is not a differentiator in this pairing — it’s a standard performer. The GPU, however, stands apart: its average score of 66473 is within 1.3% of professional workstation cards like the Quadro P6000 and Radeon Pro Vega 56, but it’s a consumer card with far higher raw gaming potential.

The rank of 377 suggests that many other combos with faster CPUs achieve better results, likely because the simulation at lower resolutions is CPU-limited. The data supports this: at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is only 60.9 FPS (from 245.5 to 184.6), which is a 24.8% drop. At 4K, the same settings gap is 90.6 FPS (from 171.1 to 80.5), a 53% drop. This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is fully utilized at 4K, while the CPU becomes the limiting factor at 1080p, preventing the RTX 4090 from reaching its full potential.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the clear workhorse in this combination, and its specifications explain why it dominates Pc Building Simulator’s rendering workload. The GPU is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units. Its boost clock of 2520 MHz, combined with 128 ray tracing cores and 512 tensor cores, provides substantial compute power, though the game’s simulation nature may not fully utilize ray tracing features.

Memory is a critical factor: the 24 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus delivers 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. This is essential for the game’s detailed system-building visuals, which render complex 3D models of PC components with high-resolution textures. The pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s allow the GPU to fill frames quickly, which is reflected in the measured FPS data. At 4K Ultra, the combo still manages 80.5 FPS, demonstrating that the RTX 4090 has enough headroom to handle the game’s heaviest settings without dipping below playable thresholds.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its dominance. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 317684 indicate strong compute performance. However, the PassMark scores show a more nuanced picture: DirectX 11 (326) and DirectX 9 (397) are far higher than DirectX 12 (150), suggesting the card may be optimized for older APIs in this specific workload. The G3D score of 38194 is the primary gaming metric, and it places the RTX 4090 well above the average GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo scales across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the results range from 80.5 FPS (Ultra) to 171.1 FPS (Low), with Medium at 124.6 FPS and High at 88.2 FPS. The 4K numbers show a consistent pattern: each settings tier increases performance by roughly 30-40 FPS, with Ultra being the only configuration below 100 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the combo breaks past 150 FPS in all settings. Low settings hit 210.2 FPS, Medium reaches 186 FPS, High manages 160.8 FPS, and Ultra stays at 155.8 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is only 5 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns at this resolution. The 1440p results are particularly strong for high-refresh-rate monitors, as even Ultra settings exceed 155 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the results show a CPU bottleneck. Low settings produce 245.5 FPS, Medium drops to 217 FPS, High hits 188.9 FPS, and Ultra manages 184.6 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is just 4.3 FPS, and the difference between Medium and Low is 28.5 FPS. This compression at the top end indicates that the i5-9400 cannot feed the RTX 4090 fast enough, limiting the GPU’s potential. The 1080p results are still excellent, but they don’t scale as steeply as 1440p or 4K, where the GPU is the primary constraint.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data suggests prioritizing resolution over raw frame rates. At 3840x2160, High settings (88.2 FPS) offer a solid balance, but Medium (124.6 FPS) provides a significant boost without a major visual penalty. Ultra (80.5 FPS) is playable but drops below the 90 FPS threshold that many users prefer. The 4K Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo, delivering over 120 FPS while maintaining visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, all settings exceed 150 FPS, making this resolution the ideal choice for high-refresh-rate displays. Ultra (155.8 FPS) is viable with no meaningful compromise, and the 5 FPS difference between High and Ultra is negligible. Users with 144Hz monitors should target 1440p Ultra, as it stays above the refresh rate ceiling.

At 1920x1080, the CPU bottleneck makes settings selection less impactful. Ultra (184.6 FPS) and High (188.9 FPS) are nearly identical, so users can enable Ultra without sacrificing performance. Medium (217 FPS) and Low (245.5 FPS) offer higher frame rates, but the visual downgrade may not be worth it given that all settings are already above 180 FPS. For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p maximize frame rates, but for the simulation’s visual details, Ultra is the recommended choice. The overall recommendation is to run 1440p Ultra for the best balance of quality and performance, as this configuration delivers 155.8 FPS while fully utilizing the RTX 4090’s capabilities.