Revolution Idle

Revolution Idle, despite being an idle game, still generates measurable GPU load, and this particular pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER lands in the 601st position out of 1774 tested combos. That places it in the upper third of all configurations, a strong result that reflects the GPU’s dominance, though the aging CPU prevents the combo from reaching the top tiers. The data indicates this is a system where the graphics card does the heavy lifting, while the processor keeps pace adequately but never pushes beyond a supporting role.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 601 out of 1774 combos is respectable, placing it roughly in the 66th percentile of all tested pairings. This is a solid outcome, but not exceptional, because the RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier card while the i5-9400 is a mid-range processor from 2018. The GPU alone sits in the 88th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it is faster than most, but the CPU’s 50th percentile standing pulls the overall combo down. In practical terms, the data shows that this pairing outperforms the majority of systems tested, yet it leaves performance on the table when compared to combos using newer, higher-core-count CPUs.

The nearest rivals for the CPU are all within a 0.6% performance delta, highlighting that the i5-9400 is effectively tied with chips like the Intel Core i3-10305 and Intel Xeon E-2134. For the GPU, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, which is only 0.2% slower, making this a very competitive matchup. This means the combo’s ranking is largely determined by the GPU’s strength, as the CPU’s performance is essentially interchangeable with several other mid-range options.

GPU Role

The RTX 4080 SUPER is the clear star of this pairing, and its specifications explain why it drives such high frame rates. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, it delivers a memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for Revolution Idle’s demands. The GPU’s base clock runs at 2295 MHz and boosts up to 2550 MHz, and it houses 10240 shading units alongside 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores. Its FP32 compute throughput of 52.22 TFLOPS is exceptionally high, which directly translates to the strong FPS figures seen in the measured data.

In the context of this game, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, even at 4K resolution. The measured 4K Ultra score of 36.2 FPS is the only point where the GPU appears stressed, but this is more a result of the Ultra preset’s demands than a hardware limitation. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU has ample headroom, as evidenced by the high FPS numbers. The GPU’s percentile rank of 88 confirms its elite status, and its average benchmark score of 53610 is just 0.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, showing it is a class leader in its price tier.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. These are modest specifications by modern standards, and its benchmark scores reflect that: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 and a single-core score of 1125. The CPU’s 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it is exactly average, which explains why it does not hold back the GPU in lower resolutions but also does not boost the combo.

For an idle game like Revolution Idle, the CPU’s role is less about raw multi-threaded power and more about maintaining consistent frame pacing. The 6-core, 6-thread configuration is sufficient to feed the RTX 4080 SUPER at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the CPU’s relative weakness is masked. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-10305, scores 2300 against the i5-9400’s 2305, a 0.2% difference, meaning this CPU is effectively at the same level as several other mainstream options.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling with resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers excellent results across all presets: Low averages 112.2 FPS, Medium 104.2 FPS, High 100.9 FPS, and Ultra 84.3 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is largely CPU-bound at lower settings, but the GPU still has enough power to maintain high frame rates even on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is 27.9 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset imposes a significant load on the GPU.

Moving to 2560x1440, the FPS drops are modest but noticeable. Low averages 95.6 FPS, Medium 88.9 FPS, High 86.1 FPS, and Ultra 65.8 FPS. The drop from 1080p Low to 1440p Low is 16.6 FPS, while the drop from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra is 18.5 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is beginning to take on more work, but the system still remains well above playable thresholds. At 3840x2160, the impact is more severe: Low averages 79.4 FPS, Medium 60.1 FPS, High 56.7 FPS, and Ultra 36.2 FPS. The 4K Ultra score is the only figure that falls below 60 FPS, making it the sole point where the hardware struggles to maintain smooth gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU holds things back at lower ones. From 1080p High to 1440p High, the FPS drops from 100.9 to 86.1, a 14.8 FPS decrease, or roughly 14.7%. From 1440p High to 4K High, the drop is from 86.1 to 56.7, a 29.4 FPS decrease, or about 34.1%. This accelerating drop as resolution increases confirms that the RTX 4080 SUPER is being pushed harder at 4K, while the CPU’s influence diminishes.

The data also shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 112.2 FPS, which is only 18.5% higher than the 4K Low score of 79.4 FPS. This relatively small gap at Low settings suggests that the CPU is limiting performance at 1080p, preventing the GPU from fully stretching its legs. Conversely, at Ultra settings, the gap between 1080p and 4K is much larger, from 84.3 to 36.2 FPS, a 57% drop, which is a clear sign of GPU saturation. In summary, the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K, with the crossover point around 1440p.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo good for Revolution Idle at 1080p?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 112.2 FPS at 1080p Low and 84.3 FPS at 1080p Ultra, both well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 scores 2305 on the average benchmark, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i3-10305 and 0.4% higher than the Intel Xeon E-2134, making it statistically tied with these chips.

Q: What is the GPU’s strongest benchmark result?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER’s highest score is in Passmark G3D with 34245, while its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 6600, demonstrating strong DirectX 12 performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: It can run it, but the average FPS is 36.2, which is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth play. The 4K High preset, at 56.7 FPS, is closer to playable but still not ideal.

Q: How does the GPU rank against all other GPUs?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER sits in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53610, putting it ahead of 88% of tested graphics cards.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 2560x1440 is the sweet spot, as it delivers 86.1 FPS on High and 65.8 FPS on Ultra, maintaining high performance without the CPU bottleneck seen at 1080p or the GPU strain at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the High preset at 1440p offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 86.1 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the 4K High score of 56.7 FPS, and it avoids the CPU limitation that appears at 1080p. For players who prefer 1080p, the Ultra preset at 84.3 FPS is entirely viable, offering the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing frame rate. At 4K, the Low preset is the only playable option, with 79.4 FPS, but even then, the Medium preset at 60.1 FPS is borderline acceptable.

The data suggests that the Ultra preset at 4K should be avoided, as the 36.2 FPS average is below the standard for smooth gameplay. Instead, the Medium preset at 4K, which yields 60.1 FPS, provides a better experience if 4K is a priority. For most users, the High preset at 1440p is the recommended choice, as it delivers nearly 90 FPS and uses the GPU’s capabilities effectively. The Low preset at 1080p, at 112.2 FPS, is only useful for competitive play where maximum frame rates are desired, but it is unnecessary given the hardware’s strength. Overall, the combo is best utilized at 1440p with High settings, offering a smooth and visually pleasing experience without pushing the GPU to its limits.