Ready Or Not

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a playable experience across most of Ready Or Not's settings, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling at 4K Ultra. This combo ranks in the 60th percentile of all tested configurations, showing it is a competent mid-range pairing, yet the scaling patterns indicate that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a classic GPU-bound scenario, with the RTX 4060 struggling to maintain high frame rates at the highest resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 237 FPS average, which drops by 21% to 188 FPS at High settings and further to 132 FPS at Ultra. This pattern is consistent with a GPU that has ample headroom at lower resolutions, where the CPU and memory bandwidth can keep up with the rendering demands.

Moving to 1440p, the scaling becomes more pronounced. The average FPS at Low settings is 150, which is 37% lower than the 1080p Low result. At High settings, 1440p produces 119 FPS, a 37% reduction from 1080p High's 188 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p yields 83 FPS, which is 37% lower than 1080p Ultra's 132 FPS. This consistent 37% drop across all settings when moving from 1080p to 1440p indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the additional pixel count directly translates to proportional frame rate losses.

The 4K results show an even more dramatic scaling curve. At 4K Low, the combo averages 78 FPS, which is 48% lower than 1440p Low's 150 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K produces 68 FPS, while High drops to 62 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the standout data point, delivering only 44 FPS average — a 47% reduction from 1440p Ultra's 83 FPS and a 67% reduction from 1080p Ultra. This steep decline at 4K Ultra confirms that the RTX 4060's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus are insufficient for the highest visual fidelity at this resolution, with the 44 FPS result falling below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for a smooth tactical shooter.

The scaling behavior tells a story of a GPU that is well-matched to 1080p and 1440p gaming but overextended at 4K. The 62 FPS average at 4K High is technically playable, but the 44 FPS at 4K Ultra is not. The data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1440p or 1080p, where the frame rates are consistently above 80 FPS even at Ultra settings. The 4K Low result of 78 FPS shows that the GPU can handle the resolution if visual quality is sacrificed, but the Ultra preset's 44 FPS demonstrates the hard limit of the hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1771 out of 2947 tested combos in Ready Or Not, placing it in the 60th percentile of all configurations. This ranking indicates that while this pairing is not at the top of the performance pyramid, it sits comfortably above the median, outperforming roughly 60% of all tested setups. The rank of 1771 out of 2947 represents a solid mid-tier position, meaning there are 1176 combos that perform worse and 1770 that perform better.

This ranking is consistent with the individual component performance. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has an average benchmark score of 34083, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H with a score of 33989 (0.3% higher), the AMD EPYC 4244P with a score of 34220 (0.4% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 with a score of 34222 (0.4% lower). The CPU's strong performance relative to its peers suggests that it is not the primary bottleneck in most gaming scenarios.

The RTX 4060, on the other hand, has an average benchmark score of 17639, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 with a score of 17666 (0.2% higher), the AMD Radeon 780M with a score of 17588 (0.3% lower), and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 with a score of 17551 (0.5% lower). The GPU's mid-pack ranking is the reason the combo lands at 60th percentile overall, as the CPU outperforms the GPU in relative terms.

The combination's 60th percentile ranking in Ready Or Not specifically reflects the game's demanding nature at higher resolutions. The game's tactical shooter genre typically benefits from high frame rates for precise aiming and quick reactions, and this combo's ability to deliver 119 FPS at 1440p High and 188 FPS at 1080p High demonstrates that it can meet those demands at lower resolutions. However, the 4K Ultra result of 44 FPS drags down the overall experience, suggesting that players targeting 4K should look at higher-tier GPU combinations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Ready Or Not?

A: The data shows that 1440p High delivers 119 FPS average, while 1080p High delivers 188 FPS average. Both are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1440p the optimal choice for balancing visual quality and performance. The 4K results are playable at Low (78 FPS) and Medium (68 FPS) but drop to 44 FPS at Ultra.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Ready Or Not?

A: Yes, but with significant caveats. The 4K Low preset averages 78 FPS, and Medium averages 68 FPS, both of which are playable. However, 4K High drops to 62 FPS, and 4K Ultra falls to 44 FPS, which is below the smooth gameplay threshold. Players seeking 4K should stick to Medium or Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU has an average benchmark score of 34083, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (33989) and 0.4% higher than both the AMD EPYC 4244P (34220) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34222). It ranks in the 84th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 237 FPS, Medium averages 207 FPS, High averages 188 FPS, and Ultra averages 132 FPS. This represents a 44% performance drop from Low to Ultra, with the most significant single-step decline occurring between High and Ultra.

Q: Is the RTX 4060 the bottleneck in this combo?

A: Yes, the data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 84th percentile while the GPU ranks in the 61st percentile. The resolution scaling shows a consistent 37% FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p across all settings, which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The 1440p Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with comfortable headroom above the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. The Low preset averages 237 FPS, with the Medium preset averaging 207 FPS and showing a minimum of 176 FPS and a maximum of 238 FPS. The High preset averages 188 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 132 FPS. These results indicate that 1080p gaming is well within the capabilities of this hardware, with even the most demanding preset maintaining an average above 130 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected decline from increased pixel count. The Low preset averages 150 FPS, with Medium averaging 130 FPS and showing minimum and maximum values of 111 FPS and 150 FPS respectively. The High preset averages 119 FPS, while Ultra averages 83 FPS. The 1440p results demonstrate that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors, as even the Ultra preset maintains an average above 80 FPS.

The 3840x2160 results show the most significant performance drops. The Low preset averages 78 FPS, which is playable, while the Medium preset averages 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. The High preset averages 62 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 44 FPS. The 4K Medium result of 68 FPS is the best balance at this resolution, as it maintains an average above 60 FPS while providing better visual quality than Low.

The minimum FPS data points provide additional context. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 176 FPS shows that frame times remain consistently high, with no dramatic drops. At 1440p Medium, the minimum of 111 FPS still provides a smooth experience. The 4K Medium minimum of 58 FPS is the only measured result that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that 4K gaming at Medium settings may experience occasional stutters in demanding scenes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provide substantial computational resources. In Ready Or Not, a tactical shooter that relies on CPU performance for AI calculations, physics, and game logic, this processor proves more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 4060.

The CPU's benchmark results show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14551 and a single-core score of 1759. The PassMark multi-thread score of 25933 and single-thread score of 3509 further confirm its balanced capabilities. The processor's 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates that it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market, making it an unlikely bottleneck in gaming scenarios.

The relationship between CPU and GPU performance in Ready Or Not is evident from the resolution scaling. At 1080p, where the CPU has more influence on frame rates, the combo achieves 237 FPS at Low settings, suggesting the CPU can push frame rates well beyond what most displays can show. The drop to 132 FPS at 1080p Ultra is more likely due to GPU limitations than CPU constraints, as the processor's strong single-thread performance ensures it can handle the game's logic at high frame rates.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution. The consistent 37% performance drop from 1080p to 1440p across all settings is a textbook GPU-bound pattern, where the additional pixel count directly reduces frame rates proportionally. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate drops would be less consistent and would show more variation between settings. The CPU's 22 threads and 5.00 GHz boost clock provide ample processing power for Ready Or Not's tactical gameplay, including the AI-driven enemy behavior and destructible environments.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the player's resolution and performance priorities. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset at 132 FPS average is clearly the best choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining frame rates well above the smooth gameplay threshold. The 44% performance difference between Low (237 FPS) and Ultra (132 FPS) is substantial, but the Ultra experience is still fast enough for competitive play.

At 1440p, the High preset at 119 FPS average offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset at 83 FPS is also playable, but the 30% performance reduction from High to Ultra may not justify the visual improvements in a fast-paced tactical shooter. The Medium preset at 130 FPS provides additional headroom for players with high-refresh-rate monitors, but the High preset's combination of quality and speed makes it the recommended choice.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset at 68 FPS average is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS while providing reasonable visual quality. The Low preset at 78 FPS is smoother but sacrifices significant visual detail. The High preset at 62 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 44 FPS is not recommended for serious gameplay. Players with 4K displays should accept Medium settings as the practical ceiling for this combo.

The minimum FPS data reinforces these recommendations. The 1440p Medium preset's minimum of 111 FPS ensures consistent performance, while the 4K Medium preset's minimum of 58 FPS may cause occasional frame drops. Players seeking the most consistent experience should prioritize resolutions and settings where the minimum FPS remains comfortably above 60. The 1080p Medium preset's minimum of 176 FPS provides the most stable experience, while the 1440p High preset's lack of minimum FPS data suggests it maintains consistent performance above its 119 FPS average.