Road 96

Road 96, the narrative-driven adventure from 2021, presents an interesting case study when paired with the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9070. The data indicates a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the story changes as you scale down. This combination, ranking in the 30th percentile of tested combos, demonstrates how a modern, high-end graphics card can be held back by an older mid-range processor in specific scenarios, yet still deliver exceptional frame rates in this particular title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the rate of that degradation tells a compelling story about the system's bottleneck. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 154 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 98 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36%. The jump to 4K further reduces the average to 52 FPS, which is a 66% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling is steep and suggests that the GPU is working progressively harder as pixel count increases, which is expected.

However, the data takes on a more nuanced character when examining the Low settings preset. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 261 FPS. This is an extremely high frame rate that likely exceeds the refresh rate of most displays. At 1440p Low, the average falls to 166 FPS, and at 4K Low, it remains a very playable 88 FPS. The fact that 4K Low still produces nearly triple the frame rate of 4K Ultra (41 FPS) indicates that the game's visual settings have a massive impact on the GPU's workload. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is a 66% reduction in FPS, which is proportionally similar to the drop seen at High settings, but it starts from a much higher baseline.

This pattern implies that for most of the resolution and settings combinations, the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The RX 9070 is being tasked with rendering the scene, and its performance scales with the resolution. The exception appears to be at 1080p with lower settings, where the frame rates become so high that the CPU's ability to feed the GPU becomes a potential bottleneck. The difference between 1080p High (154 FPS) and 1080p Low (261 FPS) is a 107 FPS jump, suggesting that when the GPU load is light, the CPU can still push a significant number of frames, but the scaling is not perfectly linear, hinting at a point where the i5-9400's six threads may start to limit the absolute maximum FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the clear workhorse in this configuration, and its specifications align with the observed performance. The GPU is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. This provides a substantial memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for a game like Road 96 at any of the tested resolutions. The memory clock speed is listed as 2518 MHz, operating at 20.1 Gbps effective, and the 16 GB capacity ensures that VRAM is unlikely to be a limiting factor even at 4K Ultra settings.

The GPU's clock speeds are also noteworthy. The base clock is 1330 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. The high boost clock indicates that the card has significant headroom to increase its performance under load, which is reflected in the high frame rates observed at 1080p. The GPU is also equipped with 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs, which are key to its pixel-pushing capabilities. This is why the 4K Ultra preset, which demands the most from these units, still yields a playable 41 FPS average.

In the broader context of the GPU market, the RX 9070's benchmark scores place it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 23877. Looking at its nearest rivals, it is a very close competitor to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, which has an average score of 24170, a delta of -1.2%. It also sits near the AMD Radeon RX 6800S (24063 score, -0.8%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile (23628 score, 1.1%). This indicates that the RX 9070's raw compute power is competitive with these cards, and the game's performance data confirms that it is capable of handling Road 96 with ease at most settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 in Road 96 places them at rank 1130 out of 3713 tested combos. This puts the pairing in the 30th percentile of all configurations, which is a solidly mid-pack result. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the GPU's high individual percentile (69th), but it makes sense when considering the CPU's more modest standing.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 2254, placing it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (avg score 2259, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i7-10710U (avg score 2248, delta 0.3%). This shows that the i5-9400 is a competent processor, but it is not a top-tier performer. The combo's overall rank suggests that in a game like Road 96, the system's performance is a blend of both components, but the CPU's lower percentile contributes to the combined score being lower than the GPU's individual standing would suggest.

The fact that this combo does not rank higher is likely due to the CPU's limitations in certain scenarios. While the GPU can produce massive frame rates, the CPU might not be able to keep up in some situations, preventing the system from achieving its full potential. The data shows that the combo is in the top 30% of all tested systems, which is a respectable position, but it also highlights that the CPU is the weaker link in this pairing for this particular game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. On the Low preset, it averages 261 FPS. The Medium preset brings this down to 191 FPS, with a min of 163 FPS and a max of 220 FPS. High settings yield an average of 154 FPS, and the Ultra preset is still very smooth at 121 FPS. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the system has more than enough power for any high-refresh-rate monitor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a noticeable decline. The Low preset averages 166 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 122 FPS, with a min of 104 FPS and a max of 140 FPS. High settings produce an average of 98 FPS, and Ultra is still playable at 77 FPS. The performance at this resolution is ideal for 1440p gaming, with the High preset comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and the Low preset capable of driving a high-refresh-rate display.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance becomes more demanding. The Low preset is the standout here, with an average of 88 FPS, which is very good for 4K. The Medium preset averages 64 FPS, with a min of 55 FPS and a max of 74 FPS, which is right at the edge of smooth gameplay. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 41 FPS. The data shows a clear trade-off at 4K, where users must choose between higher visual fidelity and smoother motion.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p users with a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 154 FPS. This provides a great balance between visual quality and performance. For those with a 240Hz monitor, the Low preset at 261 FPS would be the way to go, though the visual sacrifice may not be worth it for a narrative adventure like Road 96. The Medium preset at 191 FPS is also a strong option for very high refresh rates.

For 1440p gaming, the High preset is the recommended choice, offering an average of 98 FPS. This ensures smooth, responsive gameplay with high visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 122 FPS is also excellent for 144Hz monitors, providing a slight performance boost at the cost of some visual detail. The Ultra preset at 77 FPS is viable for those who prioritize image quality over absolute frame rate, as it remains above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

At 4K resolution, the situation is more nuanced. The Low preset at 88 FPS is the only setting that guarantees a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 64 FPS is playable but may experience dips to 55 FPS, which could be noticeable in fast-paced scenes. The High preset at 52 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 41 FPS is best reserved for players who prefer a cinematic, slower-paced experience and can tolerate lower frame rates. For most 4K users, the Low or Medium presets are the most sensible choices to maintain a stable frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 plays a crucial, if secondary, role in this configuration. It is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory. These specifications are from 2018, and while they are adequate for modern gaming, they are not state-of-the-art. The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce this, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935.

In Road 96, an adventure game that is not typically known for being heavily CPU-dependent, the i5-9400's performance is sufficient to feed the RX 9070 at most resolutions. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, as the frame rates are much lower. However, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 261 FPS. This incredibly high frame rate suggests that the CPU is still capable of processing the game's logic and draw calls quickly enough to not severely hinder the GPU.

The potential for a CPU bottleneck is most evident when comparing the scaling from 1080p to 1440p. The frame rate at 1080p Low drops from 261 FPS to 166 FPS at 1440p Low, a 36% decrease. This is a significant drop, but it is in line with the increased GPU load. The more telling comparison is between 1080p High (154 FPS) and 1080p Low (261 FPS). This 107 FPS difference shows that the GPU can work much harder when given less demanding settings, but the CPU's role in enabling this is not directly measured. The i5-9400, with its six threads, is likely a limiting factor in achieving even higher frame rates at 1080p, but the data shows it is more than adequate for a smooth experience in this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p with the Ultra preset is 121 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 9070 compare to the RTX 2080 SUPER in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23877, while the RTX 2080 SUPER has a score of 24170, making the RX 9070 1.2% slower.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K, the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rates are significantly lower at this resolution, indicating the RX 9070 is working at its maximum capacity.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a smooth 4K experience?

A: The Low preset is the best for a smooth 4K experience, as it is the only one that maintains an average FPS above 60, coming in at 88 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's overall performance ranking for Road 96?

A: The combo ranks 1130 out of 3713 tested combinations, placing it in the 30th percentile of all tested systems.

Q: Does the i5-9400 have a high number of cores and threads?

A: The i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads, which is a standard configuration for a mid-range desktop processor from its generation.