Road 96

Road 96 is a narrative-driven adventure game, and the benchmark results for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination show a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of delivering extremely high frame rates at 1080p. The data indicates a pairing where the CPU’s 6-core, 12-thread configuration is more than sufficient for the game’s demands, allowing the RTX 3080’s raw graphical power to become the primary factor in performance scaling across settings and resolutions. This specific combo ranks 1064 out of 3713 tested configurations in the game, placing it in the upper third of all possible hardware pairings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, operating with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. It sits on the AMD Socket AM4 platform and utilizes a 7 nm process from TSMC. For a game like Road 96, which is primarily a narrative adventure experience rather than a fast-paced simulation, the demands on the CPU are typically moderate, and the Ryzen 5 5500’s specifications are more than adequate to avoid becoming a bottleneck.

Looking at the synthetic benchmark data, the Ryzen 5 5500 achieves a multi-threaded score of 16,429 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 2,319 in the same test. Its Geekbench scores are 7,976 for multi-core and 1,730 for single-core. These results place the processor in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it performs better than the majority of its peers. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is virtually neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, which has an average score of 19,617, a delta of only -0.1%. It also trails the Intel Core i5-12500 by a razor-thin margin of -0.4% and the Intel Core i5-11600KF by -0.7%, while being 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-10700F.

In the context of Road 96’s measured performance, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces an average of 266 FPS. This extreme frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of handling the game’s logic and draw calls with significant headroom, as the GPU is not being stressed at such low graphical fidelity. The 3DMark scores further support this, with a 16-thread score of 5,386 and a max-thread score of 5,411, showing that the processor scales well with additional threads, even if the game may not utilize all of them. The benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 5 5500 provides a solid foundation that does not hinder the RTX 3080 in this title, even at high refresh rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip. It features 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a substantial memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1440 MHz with a boost clock of 1710 MHz. This hardware is designed for high-end gaming and, as the benchmark data shows, it is the primary driver of performance differences between settings in Road 96.

The RTX 3080’s benchmark scores place it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23,172. Its nearest rivals in the database are the NVIDIA P106-100 (delta of -0.3%), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (delta of -0.3%), AMD Radeon RX 6600M (delta of -0.4%), and AMD Radeon R9 M290X (delta of -0.4%). This indicates that while the RTX 3080 is a powerful card, its average score is closely matched by a diverse set of other GPUs in the database. However, the in-game results tell a different story, as the RTX 3080 shows a clear scaling pattern that is characteristic of a high-end graphics card.

The GPU’s influence is most evident when examining the frame rate drops from Low to Ultra settings. At 1440p, the average FPS goes from 169 on Low to 78 on Ultra, a reduction of over half. At 4K, the drop is even more pronounced, from 89 FPS on Low to 41 FPS on Ultra. This dramatic decrease highlights the GPU’s workload in handling the advanced visual effects and higher-resolution textures that come with increased settings. The card’s 10 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Road 96 at all tested configurations, as the data does not show any anomalies that would suggest memory capacity is a limiting factor, even at the 4K Ultra setting where the average is 41 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling analysis clearly demonstrates that the RTX 3080 is the limiting component as resolution increases, while the Ryzen 5 5500 continues to provide ample performance headroom. The measured FPS data shows a consistent and expected pattern: as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the average frame rates drop significantly across all settings, confirming that the GPU’s pixel-pushing capabilities are the bottleneck.

At Low settings, the system achieves an average of 266 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 169 FPS at 1440p and further to 89 FPS at 4K. This represents a 67% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K. The trend is similar but with different magnitudes for other settings. For Medium settings, the average goes from 194 FPS at 1080p to 124 FPS at 1440p, and then to 66 FPS at 4K. At High settings, the averages are 157 FPS, 100 FPS, and 53 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. Finally, at Ultra settings, the averages are 123 FPS, 78 FPS, and 41 FPS for the same resolutions.

The data shows that the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, typically around 35-40%, which is a typical result for a GPU-bound scenario. The subsequent drop from 1440p to 4K is also significant, generally another 40-50% reduction. This pattern indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution, as the frame rates continue to scale downwards with the increased GPU load. The fact that the system can still achieve 41 FPS at 4K Ultra further illustrates the RTX 3080’s strength, as this is a playable frame rate for a narrative adventure game. The benchmark results indicate that users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors will see extraordinary performance, while those on 4K displays will need to make compromises in settings to achieve higher frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend heavily on the user’s display resolution and performance targets. The data provides clear guidance for each resolution tier.

For 1080p displays, the system is capable of maxing out the game. The Ultra preset still yields an average of 123 FPS, which is well above the typical 60 FPS target and even sufficient for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset offers an even smoother experience at 157 FPS, and the Medium preset hits 194 FPS. Given that the game is an adventure title, the visual fidelity of the Ultra preset is likely worth the slight reduction in frame rate compared to Medium, as the system has plenty of headroom. The data suggests that Ultra is the best experience at 1080p, as it delivers a fluid and visually rich presentation without any performance concerns.

For 1440p displays, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 78 FPS, which is still very playable and above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset provides a more comfortable 100 FPS, which is ideal for gamers with 144Hz monitors. The Medium preset pushes this to 124 FPS. For a smooth and visually impressive experience, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot at 1440p, balancing the frame rate and graphical quality. The Ultra preset is also a viable option for those who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum smoothness.

For 4K displays, the performance drops are more pronounced. The Ultra preset averages only 41 FPS, which may be too choppy for some users. The High preset at 53 FPS is just below the 60 FPS target, while the Medium preset achieves a more comfortable 66 FPS. The Low preset hits 89 FPS. For a 4K experience, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a playable and smooth frame rate of 66 FPS while retaining a reasonable level of visual detail. The High preset is also acceptable for users who prefer higher fidelity and can tolerate a frame rate in the low 50s. The data clearly shows that the Ultra preset is not recommended for 4K on this hardware, as the frame rate dips below what is generally considered a smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with the High preset?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 with the High settings is 157 FPS, demonstrating that this combination is highly capable for high-refresh-rate gaming at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The frame rates scale down significantly as resolution increases (e.g., from 266 FPS at 1080p Low to 89 FPS at 4K Low), showing the GPU is under increasing load, while the CPU's performance is sufficient to keep up.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 compare to the Intel Core i5-12500 in average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19,593, which is 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-12500's average score of 19,668, making the difference negligible.

Q: What is the best setting preset for a 1440p monitor to ensure a frame rate above 100 FPS?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 100 FPS, and the Medium preset delivers 124 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 78 FPS, so the High preset is the highest quality option that maintains a 100 FPS average.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 56, while the average is 66 FPS and the maximum is 75 FPS.

Q: Can this system run the game smoothly at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 4K Ultra is 41 FPS, which is below the standard 60 FPS target. While it is technically playable, the Medium preset at 66 FPS offers a much smoother experience for 4K gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the exact measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination in Road 96.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average FPS of 266. No min or max FPS data available.
• Medium: Average FPS of 194, with a minimum of 165 FPS and a maximum of 224 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 157. No min or max FPS data available.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 123. No min or max FPS data available.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average FPS of 169. No min or max FPS data available.
• Medium: Average FPS of 124, with a minimum of 105 FPS and a maximum of 142 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 100. No min or max FPS data available.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 78. No min or max FPS data available.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average FPS of 89. No min or max FPS data available.
• Medium: Average FPS of 66, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 75 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 53. No min or max FPS data available.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 41. No min or max FPS data available.

The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the RTX 3080 handling 1080p and 1440p with ease, while 4K requires a reduction in settings to maintain a smooth frame rate. The Ryzen 5 5500 shows no signs of bottlenecking the GPU, as the performance scales consistently with resolution and settings.