Road 96

Road 96 is not a typical stress test. It is an adventure title with a stylized, low-poly aesthetic, and the benchmark results for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination reflect that. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but has enough headroom to push massive frame rates at 1080p. The measured FPS indicates that this pairing is far more capable than the game demands, making the bottleneck almost entirely dependent on the resolution and preset selected.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 254 FPS, which drops to 162 FPS at 1440p and then to 86 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47% reduction from 1440p to 4K. This steep decline is a clear indicator that the rendering load is scaling directly with pixel count, which is the primary function of the graphics card.

The trend holds across other settings, though the percentages shift slightly. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 150 FPS at 1080p to 96 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 51 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 47% reduction, identical to the Low setting. This consistency suggests that the game’s visual complexity does not introduce a CPU bottleneck at these resolutions; the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is clearly feeding the GPU fast enough.

The most telling data point is the Ultra preset. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 118 FPS, but this plummets to 75 FPS at 1440p and 40 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only one in the entire dataset that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this is the only configuration where the GPU is genuinely struggling to keep up. The scaling between 1440p and 4K on Ultra is a 47% drop, reinforcing that the RTX 4080’s compute and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors at that extreme resolution.

The data suggests that the limiting component is almost exclusively the GPU. The CPU, with its high multi-threaded performance, does not appear to be a constraint in this title. Even at 1080p Low, where the frame rate is highest, the lack of a plateau between resolutions implies the CPU is never waiting on the GPU. The performance curve is smooth and predictable, which is a sign of a well-balanced system, but it also shows that the RTX 4080 is the component that determines the final frame rate in Road 96.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of hardware combinations, this pairing sits in the top tier. The combo rank in game is 921 out of 2903 tested combinations, placing it in the 68th percentile of all systems. While not the absolute top, this is a strong result for a mobile CPU and a discrete GPU. The position indicates that while many desktop flagship setups might outperform it, this laptop configuration is faster than the majority of systems in the database for this specific game.

The rank is likely held back by the CPU rather than the GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has an average benchmark score of 63173, which places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13790F, which scores 63080 (a 0.1% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, which scores 63331 (a -0.2% delta). This shows the CPU is competitive but not class-leading, especially when compared to desktop parts that may have higher sustained power limits.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209 (a 0.1% delta), meaning the standard RTX 4080 is virtually identical in synthetic performance to its SUPER counterpart. The combination of a 93rd percentile CPU and an 86th percentile GPU results in a system that is well-matched for gaming, but the rank of 921 suggests that other combos with higher-end desktop CPUs or newer GPUs can push further ahead.

The difference between this combo’s rank and the individual component percentiles suggests that Road 96 is more sensitive to GPU performance than CPU performance. If the game were CPU-bound, the 93rd percentile CPU would likely push the combo rank higher. The fact that it sits at the 68th percentile implies that the RTX 4080 is the anchor, and other systems with faster GPUs—even if they have slower CPUs—are likely ranking above this configuration.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the undisputed workhorse in this pairing for Road 96. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, it has a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This is more than sufficient for the game’s art style, which relies on flat shading and simple geometry rather than high-resolution textures. The 16 GB capacity ensures that there is no risk of texture thrashing or memory paging, even at 4K Ultra settings.

The GPU’s clock speeds are notable. It has a base clock of 2205 MHz and a boost clock of 2505 MHz. The boost clock behavior is critical; the data shows that the GPU is able to maintain high frequencies under load, which directly contributes to the high frame rates seen at 1080p. The memory operates at 1400 MHz with an effective 22.4 Gbps speed, which is fast enough to keep the 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute fed with data. This compute throughput is what allows the card to push 254 FPS at 1080p Low, as the game’s shaders are simple enough to be processed at an incredibly high rate.

The GPU’s architectural strengths, such as its 9728 shading units and 304 tensor cores, are largely irrelevant for a game like Road 96, which does not utilize ray tracing or DLSS in these benchmarks. However, the raw rasterization power is what matters. The pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s are the specifications that determine how fast the game can fill the screen. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 40 FPS, which suggests that the fill rate is being saturated by the combination of high resolution and the game’s most demanding preset.

The GPU’s role as the primary bottleneck becomes even clearer when looking at the frame time consistency. At 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS is 101 and the maximum is 136, while the average is 119. This tight range indicates that the GPU is delivering a stable experience without significant frame time spikes. The same pattern appears at 1080p Medium, with a minimum of 158 and a maximum of 214. This consistency is a sign of a capable GPU that is not being throttled or pushed beyond its limits, even when the CPU is capable of sending frames faster.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this hardware is a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate. For players with high refresh rate displays, the Low preset at 1080p is the clear winner, delivering 254 FPS. This is the only preset that breaks the 200 FPS barrier, and it is ideal for competitive play or for those who prioritize maximum smoothness over graphical detail. However, the visual downgrade might be too steep for a narrative-driven adventure.

The Medium preset offers the best compromise. At 1080p, it produces 186 FPS, which is still exceptionally high and well above the refresh rate of most gaming monitors. At 1440p, it drops to 119 FPS, which is still excellent for a smooth experience. The frame time data for Medium is also the most consistent in the dataset, with a 101-136 FPS range at 1440p. This suggests that Medium is the most stable preset, avoiding the potential for micro-stutter that can occur at higher settings.

For those with a 4K display, the High preset is the only viable option. It produces 51 FPS on average, which is just below the 60 FPS target but playable. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as it drops to 40 FPS, which can feel sluggish. The data shows that the jump from High to Ultra is a 22% performance penalty (from 51 to 40 FPS), which is significant. Since Road 96’s art style does not dramatically benefit from Ultra shadows and post-processing, High is the sweet spot for 4K.

Ultimately, the best experience depends on the display. On a 1080p or 1440p panel, Medium is the recommended preset due to its high frame rates and stable frame times. On a 4K panel, High is the recommended preset, as it is the only one that comes close to maintaining a playable frame rate. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as it provides diminishing visual returns for a significant FPS cost.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset provides a clear picture of performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. The Low preset averages 254 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire benchmark. The Medium preset averages 186 FPS, with a minimum of 158 and a maximum of 214. The High preset averages 150 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 118 FPS. This progression shows a consistent 20-30 FPS drop per preset level, which is a linear and predictable scaling pattern.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU’s workload. The Low preset averages 162 FPS, which is a 36% drop from 1080p. The Medium preset averages 119 FPS, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 136. The High preset averages 96 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 75 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 87 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding.

At 3840x2160, the performance is the most constrained. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, which is still playable but a significant drop from the 162 FPS at 1440p. The Medium preset averages 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72. The High preset averages 51 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that falls below 50 FPS, indicating that this is the point where the RTX 4080 is fully saturated.

The data also reveals that the Medium preset is the only one with full min/max frame data at all resolutions. This is likely because it is the most balanced setting, providing a stable experience that is neither too light (Low) nor too heavy (Ultra) on the GPU. The fact that the minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 53, which is above the 40 FPS average of 4K Ultra, highlights the stability of the Medium preset.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 254, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems in this game?

A: The combo ranks 921 out of 2903 tested combinations, placing it in the top 68.3% of all systems tested for Road 96.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX or the RTX 4080 the bottleneck at 4K Ultra?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck, as the frame rate drops to 40 FPS at 4K Ultra, while the CPU’s performance metrics suggest it can handle higher frame rates.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between the Medium and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 119 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 75 FPS, a difference of 44 FPS.

Q: Does the system maintain a playable frame rate at 4K High settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 51, which is just below the 60 FPS standard for a smooth experience but is still playable.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209, a difference of 0.1%, indicating near-identical performance.