Road 96

Road 96 is not a demanding title by modern standards, but the benchmark results for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination reveal a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics card at higher resolutions. The data indicates a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p, with a significant performance cliff emerging at 4K Ultra settings. The Core Ultra 7 265 provides ample headroom, but the aging RTX 2060 SUPER becomes the definitive bottleneck as pixel count and graphical fidelity increase.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the severity of the drop varies significantly based on the quality preset. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 sees average FPS fall from 170 to 108, a reduction of 62 FPS. Moving from 1440p to 4K (3840x2160) at Low settings brings the average down further to 57 FPS, meaning the jump from 1080p to 4K at Low settings costs 113 FPS, or roughly 66% of the initial performance. This steep decline is a classic indicator that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the workload scales almost linearly with the number of pixels being rendered.

The scaling behavior becomes even more pronounced at higher quality settings, where the GPU is already under significant stress. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 100 at 1080p to 64 at 1440p, and then plummets to 34 at 4K. The 4K High result is less than half of the 1080p High result, demonstrating that the RTX 2060 SUPER's compute and memory resources are being saturated. The Ultra preset paints an even bleaker picture for 4K gaming, with the average FPS falling to just 26, a figure that is below the threshold for smooth, consistent gameplay. The delta between 1080p Ultra (78 FPS) and 4K Ultra (26 FPS) is 52 FPS, showing a 67% performance loss, which strongly suggests that the 8 GB of VRAM and the GPU's raw throughput are being overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical detail.

The data implies that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this scaling. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265, with its high multi-threaded performance, is capable of feeding the GPU at 1080p, but as resolution increases, the GPU's rendering time per frame grows, giving the CPU more idle time. The fact that the FPS drops so dramatically at 4K, regardless of the preset, confirms that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the sole performance ceiling. For users targeting 4K, the benchmark results indicate that even Low settings, which yield 57 FPS, are the only viable option for a playable frame rate, while Medium settings at 42 FPS and High at 34 FPS are borderline, and Ultra at 26 FPS is not recommended.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In the context of Road 96, an adventure game that is not typically CPU-intensive, this processor provides a massive amount of computational headroom. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any tested resolution or setting. At 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed and frame rates are highest (170 FPS), the Core Ultra 7 265 is still able to deliver the data needed to sustain those frame rates without issue.

The processor's benchmark scores highlight its capability. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and single-core score of 5960 place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 4464P and Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, have average scores that are within 0.3% of this chip, confirming that it sits at the top of the desktop performance tier. For a game like Road 96, the processor's role is to ensure that frame times are consistent and that there are no CPU-related hitches that could disrupt the narrative experience. The data shows no evidence of such issues, as the FPS scaling is smooth and consistent with GPU-bound behavior.

The Core Ultra 7 265 also features integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 32 Execution Units, but this is irrelevant for this benchmark configuration as the discrete RTX 2060 SUPER handles all rendering. The processor's dual-channel DDR5 memory support and 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth are more than sufficient for the game's data streaming needs. The Passmark multi-thread score of 49682 and single-thread score of 4689 further confirm that the CPU is a high-performance part that will not hinder the RTX 2060 SUPER in this title. In essence, the Core Ultra 7 265 is overqualified for Road 96, ensuring that the GPU is always the limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the component that dictates the overall performance in this benchmark. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus and a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, it has enough bandwidth for 1080p and 1440p gaming but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with high detail. The GPU's boost clock of 1650 MHz and its 2176 shading units deliver a raw FP32 throughput of 7.181 TFLOPS, which is modest by today's standards but adequate for a game of Road 96's visual complexity at lower resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark percentile of 62% places it in the mid-range of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and AMD Radeon Pro 5700, with average scores within 0.5% of this card. This indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is competitive with entry-level and mid-range modern parts. However, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical limitation at 4K. The benchmark results show that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 26, which is likely due to the GPU hitting its memory capacity limit and having to rely on slower fallback methods. The transition from Medium to High at 4K results in a drop from 42 FPS to 34 FPS, and then to 26 FPS at Ultra, showing that each step up in settings has a significant cost.

The GPU's role is clearly the primary bottleneck. At 1080p, the card is able to flex its muscles, delivering 170 FPS at Low settings and 100 FPS at High settings. The 78 FPS at 1080p Ultra is still a very playable experience. At 1440p, the card performs admirably, with 108 FPS at Low and 64 FPS at High, making 1440p High a solid target for a smooth experience. The 4K results are the only ones that fall short of the 60 FPS threshold, except for Low settings, which just misses it at 57 FPS. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011 and Passmark G3D score of 16462 reflect a GPU that is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and the Road 96 data confirms this assessment.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER pairing ranks 2059 out of 2903 total combos for Road 96. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is a surprising result given the CPU's high performance. This ranking underscores the fact that the GPU is the weak link in this pairing. While a high-end CPU like the Core Ultra 7 265 can push frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios, it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in a graphically demanding title at high resolutions.

The combo rank of 2059 is a direct consequence of the GPU's mid-range status. Other combinations featuring more powerful GPUs would naturally rank higher, as they would be able to maintain higher frame rates at 4K. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates. At 4K, its performance is below average compared to other tested combos, which likely include systems with more modern and powerful graphics cards.

The disparity between the CPU's high percentile (93%) and the combo's low rank (2059th) is a clear indication that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting factor. This is a classic example of an unbalanced system where the CPU has far more power than the GPU can utilize in a specific game. For users looking to play Road 96, this combo would deliver an excellent experience at 1080p and a good experience at 1440p, but it would not be a top-tier performer at 4K. The ranking serves as a warning that the graphics card should be the primary consideration when upgrading for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all settings. At 1920x1080, the system shows its strength. Low settings deliver an average of 170 FPS, providing a highly responsive experience. Medium settings average 124 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. High settings drop to an average of 100 FPS, which is still excellent. Ultra settings are also very playable, with an average of 78 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the RTX 2060 SUPER is more than capable of driving high refresh rate monitors, even at the highest quality presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings average 108 FPS, making it a great choice for competitive play or high refresh rate displays. Medium settings average 79 FPS, with a range of 67 to 91 FPS, which is a solid 60+ FPS experience. High settings average 64 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings see a more significant drop, averaging 50 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. This resolution represents the sweet spot for this combo, balancing visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings are the only preset that comes close to a playable frame rate, averaging 57 FPS. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS, which is a less consistent experience. High settings average 34 FPS, which is starting to feel choppy. Ultra settings average just 26 FPS, making the game barely playable. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo with high-quality settings. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, even Low settings may not be sufficient, as the average of 57 FPS is close to the threshold but could dip below in more demanding scenes.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system in Road 96?

A: The benchmark data indicates that 2560x1440 at High settings offers an average of 64 FPS, providing a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. For a higher frame rate, 1920x1080 at Ultra settings delivers an average of 78 FPS, which is excellent for a high refresh rate display.

Q: Can this system run Road 96 at 4K?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K Low settings, the average FPS is 57, which is nearly playable. However, at higher settings, the frame rate drops substantially, with Medium at 42 FPS, High at 34 FPS, and Ultra at 26 FPS, making the game feel unresponsive at these settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results clearly show that the GPU is the bottleneck. The FPS scales dramatically with resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU has a 93rd percentile ranking and is more than capable of keeping up with the GPU at all tested settings.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, which is 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5700. This indicates that it performs almost identically to these other mid-range GPUs.

Q: What are the specific frame times for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS. This shows a consistent frame delivery with no major stutters, as the minimum is still well above 60 FPS.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM on the RTX 2060 SUPER a limiting factor at 1080p?

A: No. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 170 FPS at Low and 78 FPS at Ultra, indicating that the 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for this resolution and game. The VRAM limitation becomes more apparent at 4K, where the performance drops significantly at higher quality presets.