The Long Drive

The Long Drive, a driving simulation from 2019, presents an interesting test for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination. This pairing of a modern 6-core CPU with a high-end Ampere GPU produces a wide performance envelope that shifts dramatically depending on resolution and quality settings. The measured data reveals a system that can deliver exceptionally high frame rates at 1080p but is pushed to its limits at 4K with maximum settings. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the role each component plays and how to best configure the game for this specific hardware.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, and the magnitude of that drop is heavily influenced by the graphics preset. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 268 FPS at 1920x1080 to 98 FPS at 3840x2160, a reduction to roughly 37% of the 1080p performance. This massive scaling factor indicates that even at Low settings, the pixel throughput demand at 4K is a significant burden for the RTX 3080. The GPU is the primary limiting factor here, as the CPU has ample headroom at these lower graphical loads.

Moving to Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 221 FPS at 1080p to 145 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 81 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is a 44% performance hit, while the jump from 1080p to 1440p is a 34% reduction. This pattern shows a consistent, expected cost for each resolution increase. At High settings, the drop is more linear: 138 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p, and 50 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result is barely playable, suggesting that the visual fidelity gains from High over Medium are not worth the substantial performance sacrifice at this resolution.

The Ultra preset demonstrates the most dramatic scaling. The 1080p result of 95 FPS is already the lowest of all presets at that resolution, and it plummets to 63 FPS at 1440p and just 35 FPS at 4K. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is less than half of what is achieved at 1080p Ultra. This data clearly shows that the RTX 3080's 10 GB of VRAM and 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth are insufficient for the combined load of 4K resolution and the Ultra preset in this game. The limiting component at 4K Ultra is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution in the same way.

The data suggests that 1080p is the resolution where this combo shines, with every preset except Ultra delivering over 138 FPS. At 1440p, the system remains highly capable, with High settings providing a smooth 91 FPS. 4K is only viable for playable frame rates at Low and Medium settings. The transition from 1440p to 4K is the most punishing, indicating that the graphics card's memory interface and raw compute power are the bottlenecks at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. Its benchmark results show strong single-threaded performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 951 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3685. These scores are critical for a driving simulation, where game logic, physics, and draw calls often rely heavily on a few primary threads. The CPU's boost clock of 4.70 GHz provides a solid foundation for these tasks.

In this game, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 268 FPS. This high frame rate reflects the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain such a high output. The Ryzen 5 8400F's 16 MB of shared L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are sufficient to keep up with the game's demands at this level. The processor's performance relative to its rivals is tight; it scores 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i7-11850H, indicating that it is a competent mid-range gaming CPU.

However, as resolution increases, the CPU's influence wanes. The frame rate drops are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's rendering load. At 4K Ultra, where the average FPS is 35, the CPU is likely idle waiting for the GPU to complete its work. The data does not suggest a CPU bottleneck at any resolution for this game, as even the lowest frame rates are well above what would indicate a processor limitation. The CPU is performing its role effectively, but the system's overall performance ceiling is defined by the GPU.

The 8400F's multi-threaded capabilities, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20851, are more than adequate for the game's threading model. It is unlikely that the game can fully utilize all 12 threads, but the high single-thread performance ensures that the primary game thread is handled efficiently. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs also supports the conclusion that it is a strong performer that will not hold back this GPU in most scenarios.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the dominant component in this pairing. With a boost clock of 1710 MHz, 8704 shading units, and 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, it is a powerful graphics card. Its Passmark G3D score of 25086 places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, confirming its high-end status. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s is substantial, but the 10 GB capacity appears to be a limiting factor at 4K Ultra.

The measured frame rates show the GPU's performance scaling. At 1080p, the RTX 3080 is able to render the game at very high speeds, with Low settings hitting 268 FPS and Medium at 221 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is not the bottleneck at this resolution for these settings; the CPU is likely the limiting factor in these high-FPS scenarios. As the resolution increases, the GPU's computational load increases, and its performance drops accordingly.

The most telling data is at 4K. The drop from 81 FPS at Medium to 50 FPS at High, and then to 35 FPS at Ultra, shows a steep performance curve. This suggests that the High and Ultra presets introduce effects or textures that are particularly demanding on the GPU's memory subsystem. The 10 GB VRAM capacity is likely being exceeded, leading to performance degradation. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, have similar average benchmark scores, but the RTX 3080's real-world gaming performance in this title is defined by its memory configuration. The data points to the GPU being the definitive bottleneck at 4K, especially with the Ultra preset, where the average frame rate of 35 FPS falls below the threshold for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset offers an excellent balance, providing an average of 138 FPS. This is a smooth, responsive experience for a driving game. While the Medium preset achieves 221 FPS, the jump to a 138 FPS average with High settings is a reasonable trade-off for improved visual quality. The Ultra preset, at 95 FPS, is also viable for players who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum frame rates.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the clear recommendation. At 91 FPS, it provides a fluid experience that is well-suited for the game's fast-paced driving. The Medium preset is also a strong option, with 145 FPS, but High offers a better visual experience while still maintaining a frame rate above 90. The Ultra preset, at 63 FPS, may be acceptable for some, but the significant drop from High suggests it is not worth the performance cost.

At 3840x2160, the options are more constrained. The Medium preset, with an average of 81 FPS and a minimum of 68 FPS, is the only preset that provides a consistently playable experience. The High preset, at 50 FPS, is borderline, and the Ultra preset's 35 FPS is too low for a smooth experience. For 4K gaming on this hardware, Medium settings are the highest that can be recommended, as they deliver a solid frame rate without the severe dips seen at High and Ultra. The data shows that the step from Medium to High at 4K costs 31 FPS, a 38% reduction, which is a poor trade for the visual gains.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Long Drive with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: According to the data, 1920x1080 provides the most headroom, with all presets except Ultra averaging above 95 FPS. 2560x1440 is also excellent, with the High preset delivering 91 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Long Drive?

A: Yes, but only with reduced settings. The measured data shows that 4K with the Medium preset averages 81 FPS, while the High preset drops to 50 FPS and Ultra to 35 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 268 FPS, which suggests the CPU's single-thread performance is sufficient to keep up. The GPU is not overwhelmed at this resolution, so the limiting factor is likely a combination of both, but the high frame rates indicate neither is a major constraint.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 8400F compare to its direct competitor, the Ryzen 5 7500F?

A: The data from the CPU benchmarks shows that the 8400F's average benchmark score is 25005, which is 0.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 7500F's average score of 24964.

Q: What is the lowest playable frame rate recorded for this setup?

A: The lowest average frame rate recorded is 35 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. The minimum frame rate recorded for any setting is 68 FPS, which was observed at 4K Medium.

Q: Is the RTX 3080's 10 GB of VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: The performance drop from 4K Medium (81 FPS) to 4K High (50 FPS) suggests that the VRAM capacity or bandwidth is a limiting factor at higher quality settings, as the load is likely exceeding what the 10 GB buffer can efficiently handle.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080:

• Ultra: Average FPS of 95.
• High: Average FPS of 138.
• Medium: Average FPS of 221, with a minimum of 188 and maximum of 254.
• Low: Average FPS of 268.

2560x1440:

• Ultra: Average FPS of 63.
• High: Average FPS of 91.
• Medium: Average FPS of 145, with a minimum of 123 and maximum of 167.
• Low: Average FPS of 176.

3840x2160:

• Ultra: Average FPS of 35.
• High: Average FPS of 50.
• Medium: Average FPS of 81, with a minimum of 68 and maximum of 93.
• Low: Average FPS of 98.

The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions: Low performs best, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The performance gap between Medium and High is particularly large at 4K, with a 31 FPS difference. At 1080p, the gap between Medium and High is 83 FPS, indicating that the CPU is able to maintain high frame rates until the GPU's load becomes more significant.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is ranked 1054 out of 3725 tested combos for The Long Drive. This places it in the 72nd percentile of all tested system configurations, indicating that it is a capable setup that outperforms the majority of other hardware pairings. The high rank is a result of the strong synergy between the CPU's single-threaded performance and the GPU's raw power, which allows for high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

While the GPU's rank is in the 68th percentile among all GPUs, the combination's rank of 1054 suggests that the pairing is more effective than the sum of its parts. This is likely because the Ryzen 5 8400F is well-matched to the RTX 3080, providing enough processing power to keep the GPU fed at lower resolutions. The combination is not in the top tier of systems, but its rank demonstrates that it is a well-balanced setup for this game, capable of delivering a high-quality experience at mainstream resolutions. The data shows that the 8400F's performance is on par with its nearest rivals, and the RTX 3080, while not the fastest, provides a solid foundation for gaming.