Road 96

Road 96 is an adventure title that leans on narrative pacing rather than constant high-intensity action, but the measured frame data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 still reveals clear performance tiers across resolutions and settings. The combo ranks 1527th out of 2903 tested combinations in this game, placing it near the middle of the database. This page breaks down what those numbers mean, how the CPU and GPU each contribute, and which settings deliver the best experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake architecture at a 3 nm process node. It has 14 cores and 14 threads, which is an unusual configuration where every core is a full performance core with no hyper-threading. The base clock is 3.40 GHz, and the boost clock reaches 5.00 GHz. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared across the chip, while L2 is 3 MB per core and L1 is 192 KB per core. This CPU sits in the 89th percentile of all tested processors, meaning it outperforms most alternatives in general benchmark terms.

In synthetic tests, the Core Ultra 5 235 posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The R20 results are 6202 multi-core and 875 single-core, while R15 shows 1488 multi-core and 210 single-core. PassMark results include a multi-thread score of 37816, a single-thread score of 4516, and a physics score of 2570. Data compression hits 390711, encryption 29293, and integer math 87948. These numbers indicate a strong mid-to-upper tier desktop chip that should not bottleneck a game like Road 96 at typical frame rates.

Looking at nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 46030, which is 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 46098, which is 0.1% higher. The AMD EPYC 4364P scores 45970 (0.2% lower), and the AMD EPYC 7303 scores 45960 (0.2% lower). The differences are tiny, all under one percent, meaning the CPU's raw compute capability is effectively on par with those four rivals in aggregate benchmarks.

For Road 96 specifically, the game is an adventure with modest CPU demands compared to heavy simulation or strategy titles. The 14-core design with high boost clocks means the processor can handle any background tasks while keeping single-thread performance strong for game logic. The measured FPS data shows the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 201 FPS average, which is far above display refresh rates for most monitors. The jump from 1080p to 1440p to 4K shows a clear GPU-bound trend (detailed later), so the CPU has headroom to spare. The 65 W TDP and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth with DDR5 support are adequate for this workload. The 14 threads mean the game cannot be fully utilizing all cores, but that is fine because the clock speeds and IPC handle the load efficiently.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is an Ada Lovelace architecture GPU on a 5 nm process, featuring 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines. It has 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores. The base clock is 1830 MHz with a boost clock of 2460 MHz. Memory is 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, running at 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective), which provides 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's FP32 performance is 15.11 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6. The TDP is 115 W, with a dual-slot cooler and a 1x 12-pin power connector.

In the benchmark database, the RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 at 17666 (0.2% higher), the AMD Radeon 780M at 17588 (0.3% lower), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 at 17551 (0.5% lower), and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 at 17509 (0.7% lower). These deltas are small, indicating the RTX 4060's raw compute is closely matched to those older or integrated parts in aggregate, though the 4060 has modern feature support and driver optimizations that matter in actual games.

For Road 96, the GPU's role is dominant. The measured FPS at each resolution and settings tier scales directly with GPU load. At 1080p Low, the average is 201 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 128 FPS; at 4K Low, it falls to 68 FPS. This pattern shows that as pixel count rises, the GPU becomes the primary constraint. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for Road 96 at all tested settings, since the game is not VRAM-hungry. The 128-bit memory bus and 272 GB/s bandwidth are enough for the game's art style, which features stylized visuals rather than extreme texture detail. The RTX 4060's 48 ROPs and 15.11 TFLOPS deliver the frame rates seen in the data, and the boost clock of 2460 MHz is well utilized in a title that does not push thermals to the limit.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data allows a clear analysis of how resolution scaling affects performance. At 1080p, the combo achieves high averages: 201 FPS on Low, 147 FPS on Medium, 119 FPS on High, and 93 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, those numbers drop to 128 FPS on Low, 94 FPS on Medium, 76 FPS on High, and 59 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the averages fall to 68 FPS on Low, 50 FPS on Medium, 40 FPS on High, and 31 FPS on Ultra.

The percentage drops between resolutions are consistent. From 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the FPS falls from 201 to 128, a reduction of about 36%. From 1440p Low to 4K Low, it drops from 128 to 68, a 47% reduction. For Medium settings, the progression is 147 to 94 to 50, which is a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 47% drop from 1440p to 4K. High settings go from 119 to 76 to 40, with a 36% and 47% drop respectively. Ultra settings go from 93 to 59 to 31, with a 37% and 47% drop. The pattern is nearly identical across settings, which indicates that the scaling is purely resolution-driven rather than settings-driven.

This consistency points to the GPU as the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences at higher resolutions, because the CPU load would stay constant while the GPU work increases. Instead, the FPS falls nearly proportionally with the pixel count increase, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario at 1440p and 4K. At 1080p, the CPU still has headroom, but the GPU is doing most of the work even there, since the 201 FPS at Low is likely near the GPU's maximum output for that scene complexity.

The data also shows that 4K Ultra is the only combination that drops below 30 FPS (31 FPS average), while 4K High sits at exactly 40 FPS. The 4K Medium row includes a minimum FPS of 42 and a maximum of 57, which gives a small window of variance. Similarly, 1440p Medium has a min of 80 and max of 108, and 1080p Medium has a min of 125 and max of 169. These min/max values are only available for Medium settings, but they suggest stable frame pacing with no severe stutters, as the minimums are not drastically lower than the averages.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience depends on the target display resolution and the desired frame rate. The data shows four settings presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, each with average FPS at three resolutions.

For 1080p, every preset delivers at least 93 FPS. The Low preset hits 201 FPS, which is excellent for high refresh rate monitors. Medium reaches 147 FPS, High gets 119 FPS, and Ultra stays above 90 FPS at 93. Since Road 96 is an adventure game with a focus on narrative and visual style, the Ultra preset at 1080p is the recommended choice if you have a 60-90 Hz display, because you get the best visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. If you have a 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitor, the High preset at 119 FPS is a better match, as it stays above 100 FPS while still looking better than Medium.

For 1440p, the situation changes. Low delivers 128 FPS, Medium hits 94 FPS, High reaches 76 FPS, and Ultra drops to 59 FPS. The Medium preset at 94 FPS is a solid sweet spot for 60 Hz displays, and it also has a recorded minimum of 80 FPS, which means no major drops. High at 76 FPS is also playable and provides better visuals, but the average is lower. Ultra at 59 FPS is just under 60, which may cause occasional dips below refresh rate on a 60 Hz panel. For most users at 1440p, Medium offers the best balance between visual quality and smoothness, with High as a viable option if you prioritize image fidelity.

For 4K, the options are more limited. Low averages 68 FPS, Medium averages 50 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 31 FPS. The Low preset is the only one that stays comfortably above 60 FPS, while Medium is playable at 50 FPS but may feel less smooth on 60 Hz displays. High at 40 FPS is acceptable for a slower-paced adventure game, and Ultra at 31 FPS is borderline, likely causing noticeable judder during camera pans. For 4K, the Low preset is the recommended choice for a consistent experience, with Medium as an option if you prefer better shadows and texture filtering. The min/max data for 4K Medium (42 to 57) shows that the frame rate stays within a narrow band, so there are no severe spikes.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination holds a rank of 1527 out of 2903 tested combos in Road 96. This places it just above the median, meaning about 52.6% of all tested combinations perform better on average, and about 47.4% perform worse. The rank is based on the measured FPS across all resolution and settings combinations, which are aggregated into a single score.

This rank is surprising given the CPU's 89th percentile and the GPU's 61st percentile. The CPU is well above average, but the GPU is closer to mid-pack. Since Road 96 is GPU-bound at most settings, the GPU's percentile is more influential on the combo's overall position. An RTX 4060 at the 61st percentile pulls the combo down from what the CPU alone would suggest. The nearest GPU rivals in aggregate score are all within 0.7% of the RTX 4060, so the 4060 is not a high-flying part; it is a solid mid-range card that delivers playable frame rates but does not dominate.

The rank also reflects the game's modest requirements. Many combos with older or weaker GPUs can still run Road 96 at decent settings because the game is not demanding. The 2903 tested combos include a wide range of hardware, and the 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 15.11 TFLOPS are sufficient but not exceptional. The rank of 1527 means that a large number of weaker combos still achieve similar FPS at lower settings, which compresses the performance field. In contrast, a more demanding game would likely push the RTX 4060 higher in the rankings relative to older GPUs, because those older parts would struggle more.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 201, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only setting and resolution combination that exceeds 200 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. FPS drops consistently by roughly 36% from 1080p to 1440p and 47% from 1440p to 4K across all settings presets, which is a classic GPU-bound pattern. The CPU has a high single-thread score of 2085 in Cinebench R23, and at 1080p Low the frame rate is high enough that the CPU is not a constraint.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p High and 4K High?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 119. At 4K High, the average FPS is 40. This represents a 66% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same High preset.

Q: Is the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM enough for Road 96 at 4K Ultra?

A: The measured data shows that 4K Ultra runs at an average of 31 FPS, which means the game loads and runs without crashing. The 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor because the game's art style does not require large texture pools. The low frame rate is due to the GPU's compute power, not memory capacity.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested combos in Road 96?

A: The combo ranks 1527th out of 2903 tested combinations. This places it in the middle of the pack, with approximately 52.6% of combos performing better and 47.4% performing worse.

Q: Which settings preset at 1440p provides the most stable frame pacing?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 has a measured average of 94 FPS, with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS. This narrow range (minimum is 85% of the average) indicates stable frame pacing with no severe drops. The Low and High presets at 1440p do not have min/max data recorded, but their averages (128 and 76) suggest similar stability based on the overall pattern.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured frame rate data for this combo in Road 96, organized by resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low settings: average FPS 201, no min/max recorded.
• Medium settings: average FPS 147, minimum 125, maximum 169.
• High settings: average FPS 119, no min/max recorded.
• Ultra settings: average FPS 93, no min/max recorded.

At 2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low settings: average FPS 128, no min/max recorded.
• Medium settings: average FPS 94, minimum 80, maximum 108.
• High settings: average FPS 76, no min/max recorded.
• Ultra settings: average FPS 59, no min/max recorded.

At 3840x2160 (4K):

• Low settings: average FPS 68, no min/max recorded.
• Medium settings: average FPS 50, minimum 42, maximum 57.
• High settings: average FPS 40, no min/max recorded.
• Ultra settings: average FPS 31, no min/max recorded.

The 1080p Low result of 201 FPS is the only measurement above 200. The 4K Ultra result of 31 FPS is the only measurement below 35. The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data for every resolution, showing that the RTX 4060 maintains a consistent frame rate without large spikes or drops. Across all resolutions, the FPS scales inversely with pixel count, and the relative differences between settings presets remain similar: Low is always the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, then Ultra. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 108 FPS (201 vs 93). At 1440p, the gap is 69 FPS (128 vs 59). At 4K, the gap is 37 FPS (68 vs 31). This shrinking gap at higher resolutions further confirms the GPU-bound nature of the workload, as the GPU has less headroom to differentiate between settings when it is already saturated.