Road 96

Road 96, an adventure title from 2021, presents a unique challenge for hardware analysis because its stylized visuals and narrative-driven gameplay place different demands on a system than a typical fast-paced shooter. The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER creates an interesting dynamic, where the age of the processor contrasts sharply with the modern capabilities of the graphics card. Benchmark results for this pairing show a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but which also reveals the limits of the older CPU when the graphical load is reduced. The data indicates a configuration capable of delivering excellent frame rates across the board, but the balance of power shifts dramatically depending on the resolution and quality settings selected.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1151 platform. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This processor was released in late 2018 and is now end-of-life, but its benchmark data shows it still holds a position in the 47th percentile of all CPUs tested. In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-9400 achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935. Its Geekbench scores are 5141 for multi-core and 1389 for single-core. These figures place it in close competition with rivals like the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which has a similar average score, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500.

In the context of Road 96, the CPU's role is to manage the game's logic, physics, and the various systems that drive its procedural narrative. The game is not known for requiring immense computational power from the processor, and the data supports this. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 263 FPS, a frame rate so high that it is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. However, this scenario is where the processor's limitations become most apparent, as the GPU is being held back. The i5-9400's six threads are sufficient for the game's core logic, but they are not enough to feed the RTX 4070 SUPER at lower resolutions, where the GPU could otherwise render even more frames. The performance gap between the CPU's capability and the GPU's potential is the defining characteristic of this pairing at 1080p.

The processor's memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and support for DDR4 memory are standard for its generation. While this is not a bottleneck in a game like Road 96, which does not stress memory subsystems heavily, it is a factor in the overall system performance. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 668 and single-core score of 94 further illustrate the processor's standing as a mid-range part from its era. When comparing the i5-9400 to its nearest rivals, the deltaPct values are all within a very tight range of -0.4% to 0.4%, indicating that its performance is nearly identical to other CPUs in its class. This means that any performance differences in Road 96 are unlikely to be caused by the CPU, as it is performing exactly as expected for its tier. The data suggests that the i5-9400 is a capable, if not spectacular, processor for this game, providing enough throughput to maintain high frame rates, but it will ultimately be the limiting factor in scenarios designed to maximize FPS.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a modern graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The card's base clock is 1980 MHz, with a boost clock of 2475 MHz. This GPU is a powerhouse, ranking in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, with synthetic benchmark scores that include a Passmark G3D score of 29995 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 and the RTX 4090 Mobile, have very similar average scores, with deltaPct values of -0.1% and -1% respectively, showing that the RTX 4070 SUPER is at the top of its performance tier.

In Road 96, the GPU is the dominant component. The benchmark results show a clear scaling pattern tied to the graphics settings. At 4K Ultra, the system averages 48 FPS, which is a demanding workload. However, dropping to 4K High raises the average to 61 FPS, and 4K Medium achieves 76 FPS. This demonstrates that the RTX 4070 SUPER has ample headroom to handle the game's visual effects, and the performance is directly tied to the GPU's workload. The 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this title, even at 4K, as the game's textures and assets are not excessively large. The card's 7168 shading units and 224 tensor cores provide immense compute power, which is leveraged for the game's rendering.

The GPU's performance is so strong that it can push frame rates to very high levels. At 1440p, the card delivers an average of 196 FPS on Low settings, and even on Ultra, it maintains a robust 91 FPS. At 1080p, the card's potential is only partially realized due to the CPU bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 263 FPS, but this is likely not a true reflection of the GPU's capability; rather, it is the point where the i5-9400 can no longer keep up. The RTX 4070 SUPER's raw power is best showcased at 1440p and 4K, where it can flex its muscle without being constrained by the processor. The data indicates that this GPU is overqualified for Road 96 at lower resolutions, but it provides a future-proof solution for more demanding titles or higher refresh rate displays.

FAQ

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

A: The system achieves an average of 182 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 48 FPS, which is the most demanding configuration tested.

Q: Is the CPU a limiting factor in this game?

A: Yes, at lower resolutions like 1080p, the Intel Core i5-9400 appears to be the bottleneck. For example, the system reaches 263 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU is capable of more, as seen by the performance scaling at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average frame rate is 263 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks 712th out of 3713 tested combos for Road 96, placing it in the top 20% of all configurations.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for this game?

A: Yes, the RTX 4070 SUPER has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, which is more than adequate for Road 96, even at 4K resolutions, as the game does not appear to be VRAM-limited based on the performance data.

How This Combo Ranks

The pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER achieves a rank of 712 out of 3713 tested combinations for Road 96. This places the system in the 81st percentile, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of other configurations tested for this game. This high ranking is almost entirely due to the GPU's exceptional performance. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 83rd percentile standing among all GPUs is the driving force behind this result. While the CPU is only in the 47th percentile, it is not a significant drag on the overall ranking because Road 96 is not a CPU-intensive title. The data shows that the system is capable of delivering high frame rates in nearly all scenarios, with the only exception being 4K Ultra, where it still manages a playable 48 FPS.

The rank confirms the GPU's ability to dominate the rendering workload. When compared to other systems, this combo excels at 1440p and 4K, where the GPU's power is fully utilized. The ranking also indicates that for a game like Road 96, investing in a high-end GPU is more beneficial than a high-end CPU. The i5-9400, while not top-tier, is sufficient to support the RTX 4070 SUPER without causing major issues. The deltaPct values for the CPU's rivals are negligible, confirming that a different mid-range processor would not significantly alter this combo's rank. In essence, this configuration represents a smart pairing for a visually-driven adventure game, where the GPU's capabilities can shine, and the CPU's limitations are rarely exposed.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend heavily on the user's display resolution and target frame rate. For players with a 4K display, the High preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering an average of 61 FPS. While the Medium preset at 4K offers a higher average of 76 FPS, the jump to High is worth the slight performance cost for a more polished visual experience. Ultra at 4K should be avoided, as the drop to 48 FPS average makes the gameplay feel less smooth.

For 1440p users, the High preset is the clear winner, achieving a very high 116 FPS average. The Medium preset is also excellent, with 144 FPS, but High offers a better visual experience for a minimal frame rate loss. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 91 FPS, is also a viable option for those who prioritize image quality above all else, as it still provides a smooth experience. At 1080p, the High preset is highly recommended, with an average of 182 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 143 FPS, is also a great choice, as it provides the best visuals while still maintaining a frame rate well above 144 Hz. The Low and Medium presets are unnecessary at this resolution, as the system has more than enough power to run the game at higher settings. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot across all resolutions, offering a significant improvement over Medium without the performance penalty of Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system produces an average of 263 FPS on Low, 226 FPS on Medium, 182 FPS on High, and 143 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution shows a min FPS of 192 and a max of 260, indicating a stable frame time with minimal stutter. At 2560x1440, the average FPS figures are 196 for Low, 144 for Medium, 116 for High, and 91 for Ultra. The Medium preset at 1440p has a min FPS of 122 and a max of 165. Moving to 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly: the system averages 104 FPS on Low, 76 FPS on Medium, 61 FPS on High, and 48 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K has a min FPS of 65 and a max of 88, showing that while the average is solid, there is some variance in frame times.

These numbers reveal a clear pattern of scaling. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 120 FPS, which is substantial. However, the difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is only 56 FPS. This indicates that as the resolution increases, the gap between settings narrows because the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The data also shows that the system is capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 4K on all settings except Ultra, and it is capable of exceeding 140 FPS at 1440p on all settings. The frame rate data, particularly the min and max values for Medium, suggests that the game runs smoothly without major frame time spikes, which is crucial for an adventure game where a consistent experience is more important than raw speed.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K illustrates the relationship between the CPU and GPU in this system. At 1080p High, the system averages 182 FPS. When moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 116 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36%. This is a significant drop, but it is expected as the GPU is now rendering 78% more pixels. However, the drop from 1440p to 4K High is less pronounced in percentage terms, going from 116 FPS to 61 FPS, a reduction of about 47%. This non-linear scaling is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor. The i5-9400 cannot process the game's data fast enough to keep the RTX 4070 SUPER fully occupied, which is why the frame rates at 1080p are not proportionally higher than at 1440p. For instance, the difference between 1080p Low (263 FPS) and 1440p Low (196 FPS) is only 67 FPS, which is a 25% drop, much less than the 78% increase in pixel count would suggest. This is because the CPU is holding the system back at 1080p. As the resolution increases to 4K, the GPU's workload becomes so heavy that it becomes the sole bottleneck. The CPU has more than enough time to prepare frames, and the frame rate is now dictated entirely by the GPU's rendering speed. The data strongly suggests that for this game, the RTX 4070 SUPER is best utilized at 1440p, where it can deliver high frame rates, or at 4K, where it is fully engaged. At 1080p, the i5-9400 prevents the system from reaching its full potential, making it a suboptimal resolution for this specific hardware pairing.