Road 96

Road 96, an adventure title from 2021, presents an interesting case for high-end hardware analysis. The measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination shows a system that is overwhelmingly capable, often pushing frame rates well beyond display refresh rate capabilities. The benchmark results indicate that the primary bottleneck shifts dramatically depending on the resolution and settings selected, moving from a purely GPU-bound scenario at 4K Ultra to a scenario where the CPU's frame generation limits are tested at 1080p Low. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to understand the scaling behavior, the role of each component, and how this specific configuration ranks among the 2,903 tested combos.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern, particularly at higher settings. At the Low preset, the average frame rate falls from 392 FPS at 1920x1080 to 132 FPS at 3840x2160, a reduction of 66.3%. This steep decline is expected, as the number of pixels being rendered quadruples from 1080p to 4K, placing an immense load on the graphics card. The RTX 4090, with its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth, is working hard to fill those pixels, but the sheer fill rate demand is the limiting factor here.

Moving to the High preset, the scaling is slightly less dramatic but still indicates a GPU limitation. The average frame rate drops from 231 FPS at 1080p to 147 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 78 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 66.2%, nearly identical to the Low preset. This consistency suggests that the game's rendering pipeline is heavily pixel-bound even at lower settings, and the extra detail from the High preset does not change the fundamental scaling curve. The data shows that the RTX 4090 is the dominant constraint at 4K, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed it frames.

The most telling data point for identifying the limiting component is the performance at 1080p Low. Here, the system achieves 392 FPS, which is an extraordinarily high frame rate. This indicates that the CPU and game engine are capable of generating frames at a very high rate. However, the gap between 1080p Low (392 FPS) and 1080p High (231 FPS) is 161 FPS, a 41% difference. This gap is almost entirely due to the increased GPU workload at the High preset. The resolution scaling data, therefore, points to a system where the RTX 4090 is the performance ceiling at 4K and at higher settings, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus provides a high enough ceiling to avoid becoming a bottleneck until frame rates approach the 400 FPS range.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the central component in this configuration, and its specifications directly correlate with the measured frame rates. The card's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory is ample for Road 96 at any resolution, preventing any potential memory capacity bottlenecks that could cause stuttering or texture pop-in. The 384-bit memory bus and 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth provide the high throughput necessary to sustain the high pixel fill rates demanded at 4K. The benchmark results show that the GPU's role is most critical at the Ultra preset, where the average frame rate at 4K is 61 FPS, a 21.8% drop from the High preset's 78 FPS.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, are the engine that drives these results. The boost clock is the sustained frequency under load, and its performance is evident in the scaling between the Medium and High presets. At 4K, the Medium preset averages 97 FPS, while High averages 78 FPS, a difference of 19 FPS. This 19.6% performance hit for the increased visual fidelity of the High preset is a clear indication of the GPU's shading and texture processing units working at their limit. The card's 16,384 shading units and 512 texture mapping units (TMUs) are fully utilized at these settings.

The RTX 4090's position in the broader market is highlighted by its benchmark scores. Its Passmark G3D score is 38,194, and its average benchmark score is 60,347. These numbers place it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Interestingly, the nearest rivals based on average benchmark score are not other gaming cards but professional workstation parts, including the Intel Arc Pro A60 and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M. This data suggests that in terms of raw compute and graphics processing power, the RTX 4090 is so far ahead of consumer gaming alternatives that its closest competitors are in a different market segment. The data shows that this GPU is the definitive performance driver in this combo, and its power is the reason the system can achieve a 132 FPS average at 4K Low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus serves as the foundation for this system, and its role in Road 96 becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. This processor features 24 cores and 24 threads, a configuration that prioritizes multi-threaded workloads. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.80 GHz are high, and the 36 MB of shared L3 cache is substantial. For a game like Road 96, which is an adventure title and may not be heavily multi-threaded, the single-thread performance is often more critical. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,303 points and multi-core score of 51,731 points demonstrate its high capability in both areas.

The CPU's role is best illustrated by the frame rates achieved at the 1080p Low preset. The 392 FPS average at this setting reflects the CPU's ability to process game logic and issue draw calls rapidly. This is a scenario where the GPU is not the bottleneck; instead, the CPU's frame generation limit is being approached. The data shows that the CPU's high boost clock of 5.80 GHz is crucial here, as it allows for rapid single-threaded execution. The high single-thread score in Cinebench R23 (7,303 points) supports this, indicating strong per-core performance.

Comparing this CPU to its nearest rivals based on average benchmark score provides context. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has a nearly identical average score of 83,807, being just 0.2% slower. This suggests that the 290K Plus offers a marginal performance uplift over its direct predecessor. The other rivals are AMD EPYC server processors, which have different performance characteristics. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% faster in average score, while the EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 are 1.1% and 1.2% slower, respectively. This data shows that the 290K Plus is positioned at the top tier of consumer desktop processors, with its performance rivaling even server-class parts in certain workloads. In this game, the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor at 4K, but it is the component that enables the extremely high frame rates seen at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves a rank of 124 out of 2,903 tested combos in Road 96. This places the system in the top 4.3% of all configurations tested, which is a strong result. The data indicates that this is a high-performing combo, but it is not the absolute best, suggesting that there are other pairings that can achieve even higher frame rates in this specific title. The rank is a combined metric, reflecting the overall performance across all tested resolutions and settings.

The fact that this combo does not rank higher, despite having one of the most powerful consumer GPUs and a top-tier CPU, is likely due to the specific performance characteristics of the game. The rank of 124 suggests that other combos, perhaps with CPUs that have even higher single-thread performance or lower latency, may edge out this configuration in the frame-rate ceiling scenarios at 1080p. The GPU's nearest rivals based on average benchmark score are professional cards, which are not typically used for gaming, so the competition at the top of the list is likely from other high-end consumer GPU and CPU pairings.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals also informs the combo's ranking. While the 290K Plus is only 0.2% faster than the 285K in average benchmark score, this small delta could translate to a few frames per second in CPU-bound scenarios. The benchmark results indicate that the combo's rank is a function of the synergy between the two components. The RTX 4090 provides the raw graphical power, and the 290K Plus ensures that the GPU is fed with enough data to avoid stalling. The data shows that this pairing is well-balanced, but there is still headroom for other configurations to perform better, likely by pushing the CPU frame generation limit even higher.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best experience for different display configurations. For 4K (3840x2160) displays, the High preset is the recommended choice. The average frame rate of 78 FPS is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, and it offers a significant visual improvement over the Medium preset, which averages 97 FPS. The Ultra preset, averaging 61 FPS, is playable but very close to the 60 FPS threshold, and the performance cost of 17 FPS over High for the extra visual fidelity may not be worth it for many users. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot for 4K, balancing visual quality with a comfortable performance margin.

For 1440p (2560x1440) displays, the High preset is also an excellent choice, with an average frame rate of 147 FPS. This is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many high-end monitors, ensuring a very smooth experience. The Ultra preset, at 115 FPS, is also viable and would be a good choice for users with a 120 Hz display who want maximum visual quality. The Low preset at 1440p produces 249 FPS, which is unnecessary for most displays and would sacrifice too much visual fidelity for a marginal benefit.

For 1080p (1920x1080) displays, users have considerable flexibility. The High preset at 231 FPS is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors (240 Hz), providing a smooth and detailed image. The Ultra preset at 181 FPS is also excellent and is recommended for users who prioritize visual quality over maximum frame rate, as it still provides a very high level of performance. The Medium preset at 287 FPS is a good option for competitive play on 240 Hz or 360 Hz monitors, but the visual quality reduction from High is noticeable. The Low preset at 392 FPS is only recommended for esports-style play where every frame counts, but the data suggests it is unnecessary for this adventure game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination in Road 96.

At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptionally high across all settings. The Low preset yields an average of 392 FPS. The Medium preset averages 287 FPS, with a minimum of 244 FPS and a maximum of 330 FPS. The High preset averages 231 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 181 FPS. This data shows a clear progression, with the Ultra preset being 46% slower than the Low preset, highlighting the significant GPU load increase.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very high. The Low preset averages 249 FPS. The Medium preset averages 183 FPS, with a minimum of 155 FPS and a maximum of 210 FPS. The High preset averages 147 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 115 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is evident, with the Ultra preset seeing a 36.5% drop in frame rate, from 181 FPS to 115 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance is still solid for a 4K experience. The Low preset averages 132 FPS. The Medium preset averages 97 FPS, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 111 FPS. The High preset averages 78 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 61 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is substantial, with the High preset seeing a 47% reduction in frame rate, from 147 FPS to 78 FPS. This data confirms that 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario, pushing the RTX 4090 to its limits.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a consistent 60+ FPS experience?

A: All tested resolutions and settings achieve an average frame rate above 60 FPS. Even the most demanding setting, 4K Ultra, averages 61 FPS. The data shows that this system can handle 4K gaming comfortably at the High preset, which averages 78 FPS.

Q: How does the performance at 1080p Low compare to 4K Ultra?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p Low, the average frame rate is 392 FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it is 61 FPS. This represents a performance drop of 84.4%, indicating a massive increase in GPU workload at the higher resolution and settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at 4K or at high settings, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. However, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 392 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests the CPU's frame generation limit is being approached, but it is still high enough to avoid being a significant constraint.

Q: What is the measured frame rate range for 1440p Medium settings?

A: The average frame rate is 183 FPS. The minimum measured frame rate is 155 FPS, and the maximum is 210 FPS. This shows good frame pacing with no severe dips.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 4K?

A: The High preset averages 78 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 61 FPS. This is a 21.8% performance decrease for the Ultra preset, which may not be justified for the additional visual detail in an adventure game.

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

A: This combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 124th out of 2,903 tested combos. This places it in the top 4.3% of all systems tested for this game.