Road 96

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT presents a fascinating case study in Road 96, a 2021 adventure title. The measured frame rates reveal a system where the GPU is the dominant force, but the CPU still plays a crucial supporting role that becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. The data suggests a well-balanced pairing for high-refresh 1080p gaming, but one that requires careful settings management to achieve smooth 4K output.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K shows a dramatic and consistent drop in performance across all settings, a clear indicator that the Radeon RX 6750 XT is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 212.2 FPS at 1920x1080 to 134.5 FPS at 2560x1440, and then down to 72.6 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 36.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling pattern is remarkably linear, suggesting that the GPU's rendering workload is scaling directly with pixel count, with no other component artificially capping the output.

At Ultra settings, the trend is similar but the absolute numbers are lower. The frame rate goes from 99.1 FPS at 1080p to 64.8 FPS at 1440p, a 34.6% reduction, and then to 32 FPS at 4K, a 50.6% drop from 1440p. The steeper percentage decline from 1440p to 4K at Ultra compared to Low suggests that the GPU is becoming more saturated at the highest settings, leaving less headroom for the resolution increase. This behavior is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the graphics card's compute units and memory bandwidth are fully utilized.

The data implies that at 4K, the system is almost exclusively limited by the GPU. The CPU, with its 12 threads and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, has ample headroom at this resolution, as the frame rate is low enough that the processor can easily feed the graphics card. The question becomes whether the GPU's 12 GB of VRAM and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the asset loading demands of Road 96 at 4K, which the performance numbers suggest they are, albeit with frame rates that dip below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play at High settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, is clearly the centerpiece of this system's gaming performance. Its 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs, combined with a boost clock of 2600 MHz, deliver the raw throughput needed for Road 96's stylized visuals. The GPU's memory configuration of 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus provides 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical factor for texture streaming in an adventure game that likely features large, detailed environments.

The benchmark results show the GPU's strength in synthetic tests, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2548 and a Passmark G3D score of 20700. Its percentile rank of 79 versus all GPUs places it in the upper echelon of graphics cards, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 with a deltaPct of -1.3, indicating the RX 6750 XT is only 1.3% slower in average benchmark score. This close margin against a high-end card from the previous generation suggests that the RX 6750 XT is a formidable performer for its class.

In the context of Road 96, the GPU's role becomes more defined when examining the measured FPS. At 4K Ultra, the GPU produces just 32 FPS, which is unplayable for most users. However, at 1080p Low, it achieves 212.2 FPS, showing that the card is capable of extreme frame rates when the graphical load is light. The data suggests that the GPU's performance ceiling is well above what the CPU can deliver at lower resolutions, but at 4K, it is the definitive limiting factor. The FP32 performance of 13.31 TFLOPS and the pixel rate of 166.4 GPixel/s provide a theoretical foundation that aligns with the measured results, showing a GPU that is powerful but not over-provisioned for the demands of 4K gaming.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, plays a less prominent but still essential role in the system's performance. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, along with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, provide solid single-threaded performance that is critical for game logic and physics. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14372 and a single-core score of 2029, which are respectable numbers for a mid-range desktop processor.

The CPU's percentile rank of 75 versus all CPUs puts it in the upper quartile of processors, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and the Intel Core i7-1260P. The deltaPct values for these rivals are 0 and -0.2 respectively, indicating that the i5-11400F is virtually tied with these competitors in average benchmark score. This suggests that the CPU is not a weak link in the system, but rather a capable mid-range part that can keep pace with more expensive options in certain workloads.

In Road 96, the CPU's role is most apparent at 1080p Low settings, where the frame rate reaches 212.2 FPS. This is a high enough frame rate that the CPU's ability to process draw calls and game state updates becomes a potential limiting factor. The data shows that the GPU is capable of much higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 3DMark scores, but the CPU's 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock are sufficient to drive the game to over 200 FPS at 1080p. The fact that the frame rate scales so predictably with resolution suggests that the CPU is not bottlenecking the system at any resolution, but rather that the GPU's workload is the primary constraint. The 65W TDP and 14 nm process node are also worth noting, as they indicate a power-efficient design that won't generate excessive heat, allowing the CPU to maintain its boost clock during extended gaming sessions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers excellent performance across the board. Low settings produce an average of 212.2 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. Medium settings yield 157.9 FPS, High settings drop slightly to 124.4 FPS, and Ultra settings still manage a very playable 99.1 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is capable of high-refresh gaming at any preset, with even the most demanding settings staying above the 90 FPS mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low settings average 134.5 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play or high-refresh monitors. Medium settings produce 97.6 FPS, High settings drop to 78.5 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 64.8 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern where each increase in settings level reduces the frame rate by roughly 15-20%, which is a consistent and predictable scaling behavior. At 1440p, the system is still capable of smooth gameplay at High settings, but Ultra settings push the frame rate below the 70 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. Low settings average 72.6 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target for most users. Medium settings drop to 54.4 FPS, High settings fall to 43.4 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 32 FPS. The 4K results show that the system is clearly GPU-bound, with the RX 6750 XT struggling to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings. The jump from 1080p to 4K at each settings level represents a roughly 60-65% reduction in frame rate, which is consistent with the increased pixel count. The data suggests that 4K gaming is only viable at Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are barely acceptable for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT achieves a rank of 826 out of 1684 tested combos in Road 96. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is a somewhat surprising result given the individual strength of both components. The GPU's percentile rank of 79 and the CPU's percentile rank of 75 suggest that both parts are above average, yet their combination doesn't crack the top half of all tested systems. This ranking indicates that while the system is capable, there are many other combinations that deliver better performance in this specific game.

The rank of 826 out of 1684 means that the combo is in the 51st percentile of all tested combinations. This suggests that Road 96 is not particularly demanding on either component, and that many lower-tier GPUs paired with stronger CPUs, or vice versa, can achieve similar or better results. The data implies that the system is well-balanced but not exceptional for this title, with the GPU being the more critical component for determining overall performance. The fact that the combo ranks in the middle suggests that Road 96 rewards systems with high single-threaded CPU performance and strong GPU memory bandwidth, both of which this system has, but perhaps not to the same degree as higher-ranked combos.

The ranking also highlights that the CPU and GPU are relatively evenly matched in terms of their contribution to overall performance. Neither component is holding the other back significantly, which is a positive sign for overall system balance. However, the middle-of-the-road ranking suggests that users looking for top-tier performance in Road 96 might need to look at more expensive CPU or GPU options, even though this combo delivers solid frame rates at most settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Road 96?

A: The highest average FPS is 212.2, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Road 96?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K Low settings, it averages 72.6 FPS, which is playable. At 4K High settings, it drops to 43.4 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 32 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Radeon RX 6750 XT has an average benchmark score of 35327, which is 1.3% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, its nearest rival in the data.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance relative to its multi-thread performance?

A: The CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2029 and a multi-core score of 14372, indicating strong single-thread performance that is less than 15% of its multi-core capability.

Q: At which resolution does the system provide the best balance of performance and visual quality?

A: The data suggests 2560x1440 High settings, which averages 78.5 FPS, provides a good balance between frame rate and visual fidelity.

Q: How does the system rank among all tested combos in Road 96?

A: It ranks 826 out of 1684 tested combos, placing it in the middle of the pack for this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

For users with a 1920x1080 monitor, the data shows that Ultra settings are the best choice, as they still deliver an average of 99.1 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness, and the system has enough headroom that even the most demanding scenes should remain above 60 FPS. Medium settings at 1080p are a viable alternative for users who want to maximize frame rates, but the visual improvement from Medium to Ultra is likely worth the 59 FPS difference.

At 2560x1440, the recommendation is High settings, which averages 78.5 FPS. This provides a smooth experience while maintaining high visual fidelity. Ultra settings at 1440p average 64.8 FPS, which is still playable but may dip below 60 FPS in intense scenes. Medium settings at 1440p offer 97.6 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh monitors, but the visual downgrade from High is noticeable. For the best balance of performance and quality at 1440p, High settings are the clear winner.

For 4K gaming at 3840x2160, the data suggests that Low settings, averaging 72.6 FPS, are the only viable option for a smooth experience. Medium settings at 4K average 54.4 FPS, which is borderline playable but may experience stuttering. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as they fall below 45 FPS, which is not suitable for a smooth gaming experience. Users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate might consider Medium settings, but the data indicates that Low settings provide the most consistent performance at this resolution.