Pc Building Simulator

Pc Building Simulator is a simulation title that stresses system configuration logic more than raw rendering, yet the measured frame rates from the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 reveal a combo that is heavily GPU-bound at high settings, with CPU headroom that only becomes evident at lower resolutions and settings. The data shows this pairing ranks 1293rd out of 3002 tested combos in this game, placing it in the 43rd percentile of all configurations, which is a middling result driven almost entirely by the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface rather than the CPU’s substantial compute power.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, and it carries a 125 W TDP. The CPU has a 36 MB shared L3 cache, with 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. In Pc Building Simulator, such a processor is far beyond what the game’s simulation logic requires, but its impact on frame rates is still measurable through the benchmark results, particularly when the GPU is not the bottleneck.

The CPU’s benchmark scores are exceptional. In Cinebench R23, it scores 51,731 multi-core and 7,303 single-core, while in Cinebench R20 it achieves 21,727 multi-core and 3,067 single-core. PassMark multithread score is 60,860, and single-thread score is 4,823. These numbers place the 290K Plus in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84,003. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83,807, a delta of just 0.2% in favor of the 290K Plus. Other rivals include the AMD EPYC 4584PX at 83,090 (1.1% slower) and the AMD EPYC 9135 at 82,980 (1.2% slower), while the AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 85,072, which is 1.3% faster than the 290K Plus.

For Pc Building Simulator, the CPU’s role is mostly about ensuring that simulation logic—tracking components, compatibility, and thermal loads—never becomes a frame rate limiter. The data confirms this. At 1080p Low settings, the combo delivers 284 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. At 1080p Medium, it drops to 201 FPS, and at 1080p High, it hits 142 FPS. The CPU’s 5.80 GHz boost clock and 24 threads provide ample headroom for the game’s single-threaded and lightly threaded tasks, which is why the frame rates at 1080p are so high. The processor’s PassMark data compression score of 698,346 and integer math score of 166,194 further indicate strong general-purpose performance that would keep simulation overhead minimal.

However, the CPU’s contribution is capped by the GPU. At 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 45 FPS, which is a 84% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This is not a CPU limitation—the 290K Plus is far more capable than what the game needs. Instead, the data shows that the CPU is essentially idling relative to the GPU’s workload at higher resolutions. The 36 MB L3 cache and dual-channel memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s are more than sufficient for Pc Building Simulator’s memory access patterns, which are modest compared to AAA shooters or strategy games. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking among all processors means it outperforms 96% of CPUs tested on this benchmark database, yet the combo’s overall rank of 1293 out of 3002 suggests that the CPU’s dominance does not translate to frame rate dominance in this specific game.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the limiting component in this pairing. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The RTX 5060 has 3,840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines, along with 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores. Its FP32 performance is 19.18 TFLOPS, and it draws a 145 W TDP with a suggested 300 W PSU. The GPU is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC, with a die size of 181 mm² and 21,900 million transistors.

In benchmark tests, the RTX 5060 scores 20,891 in PassMark G3D and 10,899 in PassMark GPU compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3,628, and Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores are 112,787 and 113,321 respectively. The GPU sits in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26,331. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon 860M at 26,401 (0.3% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 at 26,421 (0.3% faster), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary at 26,553 (0.8% faster). The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26,011, which is 1.2% slower than the RTX 5060.

For Pc Building Simulator, the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is a critical constraint. At 4K Ultra, the game requires more memory than the GPU can efficiently handle, leading to an average of 45 FPS. The 128-bit memory bus and 448 GB/s bandwidth are also limiting factors at high resolutions. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the RTX 5060 delivers 284 FPS, but at 4K Low, that drops to 94 FPS—a 67% reduction. This is not a CPU issue, as the 290K Plus remains constant. The GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs means it outperforms 72% of GPUs tested, but in a simulation game that is not graphically intensive, the RTX 5060’s mid-range positioning becomes more apparent at 4K.

The RTX 5060’s pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s and texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s are respectable for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but they are insufficient for maintaining high frame rates at 4K with Ultra settings. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support and 12_2 feature level are more than adequate for Pc Building Simulator, which was released in 2019 and does not utilize the latest graphics features. The RTX 5060’s 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores are largely unused in this game, as Pc Building Simulator does not employ ray tracing or DLSS. This means the GPU’s raw rasterization performance, as measured by its 19.18 TFLOPS FP32, is what determines frame rates, and that performance is simply not enough to push 4K Ultra above 45 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Why does the combo achieve only 45 FPS at 4K Ultra when the CPU is in the 96th percentile?

A: The CPU is not the limiting factor. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for 4K Ultra settings in Pc Building Simulator, as evidenced by the 45 FPS average. The GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is a mid-range part, and the data shows that resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K causes a dramatic frame rate drop, which is characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26,331. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26,401 (0.3% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26,421 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26,553 (0.8% higher). The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26,011, which is 1.2% lower. These differences are small, indicating that the RTX 5060 is closely matched with these GPUs.

Q: What is the highest frame rate this combo achieves, and at what settings?

A: The highest measured frame rate is 284 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At 1080p Medium, it drops to 201 FPS, and at 1080p High, it hits 142 FPS. The lowest frame rate is 45 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus significantly faster than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: The 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84,003, while the 285K scores 83,807. This represents a delta of 0.2%, meaning the 290K Plus is only marginally faster. In Pc Building Simulator, this difference is unlikely to result in any measurable frame rate change, as the CPU is not the bottleneck.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations in Pc Building Simulator?

A: The combo ranks 1293rd out of 3002 tested combos, which places it in the 43rd percentile. This is a mid-pack ranking, reflecting the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions despite the CPU’s high performance.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth and how does it affect 4K performance?

A: The RTX 5060 has a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s across a 128-bit bus. At 4K, this bandwidth is insufficient for maintaining high frame rates, as shown by the 94 FPS at 4K Low and 45 FPS at 4K Ultra. The 8 GB VRAM also becomes a constraint at 4K Ultra, where the game likely exceeds the available memory.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination ranks 1293rd out of 3002 tested combos in Pc Building Simulator. This places the combo in the 43rd percentile, meaning 43% of tested configurations perform better and 57% perform worse. Given that the CPU is in the 96th percentile of all processors and the GPU is in the 72nd percentile, the combo’s mid-pack ranking suggests that the pairing is imbalanced: the CPU is far more capable than the GPU for this game’s demands.

The ranking is influenced by the fact that Pc Building Simulator is not a graphically demanding game. The RTX 5060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the combo produces 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target that many users consider smooth. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 284 FPS, which is excellent, but this is an outlier setting. Most users will play at High or Ultra settings, where the combo delivers 142 FPS at 1080p, 90 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K. These numbers are playable at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the experience is less than ideal.

The combo’s rank of 1293 out of 3002 is consistent with the GPU’s 72nd percentile positioning. A GPU in the 72nd percentile, when paired with a CPU in the 96th percentile, should theoretically rank higher, but the game’s low graphical demands mean that the GPU’s limitations are more apparent. The CPU’s 24 cores and 5.80 GHz boost clock provide no advantage in a game that is not multi-threaded to that degree. The combo’s ranking is therefore a reflection of the GPU’s mid-range performance, not the CPU’s high-end capabilities.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 284 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 179 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K Low, it falls to 94 FPS, a 67% reduction from 1080p Low. This scaling is consistent with a GPU that is limited by its memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity. The RTX 5060’s 448 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p, but at 4K, the higher pixel count demands more memory throughput, which the GPU cannot provide.

At High settings, the pattern is similar but with lower absolute values. The combo achieves 142 FPS at 1080p High, 90 FPS at 1440p High (a 37% drop), and 47 FPS at 4K High (a 67% drop from 1080p High). At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 135 FPS at 1080p, 85 FPS at 1440p (a 37% drop), and 45 FPS at 4K (a 67% drop). The consistent percentage drops across all settings indicate that the scaling is purely resolution-driven, with the CPU playing no role in the performance degradation.

The limiting component is clearly the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates that remain constant or improve at higher resolutions, as the CPU workload does not increase significantly with resolution. Instead, the frame rates drop proportionally with the increase in pixel count, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance. The CPU’s 5.80 GHz boost clock and 24 threads are more than sufficient for Pc Building Simulator’s simulation logic, and the data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 284 FPS, which is near the limit of what most displays can show. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is also a factor at 4K Ultra, where the game may exceed the available memory, leading to the 45 FPS result.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers four resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), with average FPS values for all combinations and min/max FPS values for Medium settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 284 FPS. Medium settings produce 201 FPS, with a minimum of 171 FPS and a maximum of 232 FPS. High settings produce 142 FPS. Ultra settings produce 135 FPS, which is the lowest at this resolution but still well above 60 FPS. The 284 FPS at Low is the highest average FPS in the entire dataset, indicating that the CPU is not limiting at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop consistently. Low settings produce 179 FPS. Medium settings produce 127 FPS, with a minimum of 108 FPS and a maximum of 146 FPS. High settings produce 90 FPS. Ultra settings produce 85 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is approximately 37% across all settings, which is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. At 1440p Ultra, the 85 FPS average is still playable, but it is approaching the threshold where some users might notice stuttering.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are significantly lower. Low settings produce 94 FPS. Medium settings produce 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 76 FPS. High settings produce 47 FPS. Ultra settings produce 45 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 48% on average, which is steeper than the 1080p to 1440p drop, indicating that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is becoming a more severe constraint at 4K. The 45 FPS at 4K Ultra is below the 60 FPS target, and the 47 FPS at 4K High is only marginally better. The Medium setting at 4K, with an average of 66 FPS, is the only 4K option that provides a smooth experience, though the minimum of 56 FPS indicates occasional dips below 60 FPS.

The Medium settings are the only ones with min/max FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the range is 171 to 232 FPS, a spread of 61 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 108 to 146 FPS, a spread of 38 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 56 to 76 FPS, a spread of 20 FPS. The narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is more consistently saturated at 4K, leading to less variance in frame times. This is another indication that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance remains constant regardless of resolution.