The Long Drive

The Long Drive is a driving simulation that rarely stresses modern hardware, but the combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER produces a wide range of results depending on how you configure it. The data shows a clear pattern: this pairing is capable of extreme frame rates at lower resolutions, but the balance shifts dramatically as you increase visual fidelity. The measured FPS numbers reveal a system that is often GPU-limited at 4K, but becomes increasingly CPU-bound at 1080p, especially on lower presets.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is steep, which is typical for a high-end GPU paired with a mid-range CPU. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 332.6 at 1920x1080 to 127.8 at 3840x2160, a reduction of roughly 62%. This is a massive drop, and it indicates that at 1080p Low, the system is heavily CPU-limited; the RTX 4080 SUPER is being held back by the processor's ability to feed it frames. As the resolution increases to 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the frame rate falls to a level that still feels smooth but is far from the triple-digit highs seen at lower resolutions.

Looking at High settings, the scaling is less extreme but still pronounced. The average FPS goes from 180.4 at 1080p to 122.6 at 1440p, and finally to 69 at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 44% reduction, which clearly shows the GPU's workload increasing significantly at higher pixel counts. The RTX 4080 SUPER has the raw power to handle this, but the data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, you cannot rely on High settings alone; the 69 FPS average is playable, but it leaves little headroom for dips. In contrast, the jump from 1080p to 1440p at High settings is only a 32% reduction, indicating that the CPU can still keep up reasonably well at this resolution, with the GPU starting to take on more of the load.

The pattern is consistent across all presets. At Ultra settings, the 4K average of 46.7 FPS is a significant drop from the 129.9 FPS at 1080p. This 64% reduction is the largest of all settings presets, confirming that Ultra at 4K is a heavy load for this combo. The data strongly suggests that the limiting component changes with resolution. At 1080p and 1440p, the Intel Core i5-13400F's performance is often the bottleneck, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. At 4K, the RTX 4080 SUPER becomes the primary constraint, and the CPU's role diminishes. This is an important consideration for anyone choosing a display for this setup.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for The Long Drive, this specific pairing holds a strong position. The data shows a combo rank of 115 out of 1734 tested combos, placing it in the top 6.6% of all configurations. This is a very respectable result, indicating that the i5-13400F and RTX 4080 SUPER work well together for this title. The ranking reflects that while the CPU is not the absolute fastest available, its performance is more than adequate to support the GPU's capabilities in this game, allowing the system to achieve high frame rates in most scenarios.

The CPU itself sits in the 82nd percentile when compared to all other processors, which is a solid score. Its average benchmark score of 25236 is nearly identical to several close rivals. For instance, it is only 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13620H and 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D. This means that for this game, the choice of CPU among these mid-range options will have a negligible impact on performance. The GPU, meanwhile, is in the 88th percentile of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 53610. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 2.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7700S, showing that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier performer.

The combination of a high-performing GPU with a capable CPU results in a system that ranks well above average. The data indicates that this combo is not just about raw GPU power; it is about a balanced pairing that avoids severe bottlenecks. The rank of 115 suggests that many other combinations with stronger CPUs or different GPUs fail to achieve better results in this specific game, likely due to the game's engine and its reliance on certain hardware characteristics. This is a pairing that delivers a consistently high level of performance without any single component dragging the other down.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average frame rate for this combination at 2560x1440 with High settings is 122.6 FPS. This is a very playable frame rate for a driving simulator, offering a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, it can, but with caveats. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 69, which is smooth. However, at 4K with Ultra settings, the average drops to 46.7 FPS, which may feel less fluid. Lowering the preset to Medium at 4K yields an average of 107.5 FPS, which is the better option for high-refresh 4K.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25236. This is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-13620H's score of 25201 and 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D's score of 25365. The performance difference between these processors is effectively negligible.

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

A: No, the data suggests the opposite. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 332.6, which is incredibly high. This indicates that the CPU is likely the limiting factor at this resolution, as the GPU is not being fully utilized to produce even higher frame rates.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in this game?

A: This specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks 115th out of 1734 tested combos for The Long Drive. This places it in the top 6.6% of all tested systems, indicating a very strong overall performance.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low settings is 232.8, while on Ultra settings it is 86. This represents a significant 63% drop in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest preset at this resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of how this system performs across all resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of extremely high frame rates. On Low settings, it averages 332.6 FPS, which is an exceptional result for any game. Medium settings reduce this to 295.4 FPS, and High settings bring it down to 180.4 FPS. Even on Ultra, the system manages an average of 129.9 FPS, which is still very fast. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 61% reduction in performance, but even the lowest number is more than enough for the vast majority of displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but begin to show the GPU's workload. Low settings average 232.8 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth. Medium settings produce 193.2 FPS, and High settings average 122.6 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, averages 86 FPS. This is a 63% drop from Low to Ultra, a similar pattern to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower. At this resolution, the system is still very capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors, especially on Medium and High presets.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more moderate. Low settings average 127.8 FPS, which is still a great result for 4K. Medium settings follow at 107.5 FPS, and High settings average 69 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 46.7 FPS. This marks a 63% reduction from Low to Ultra, consistent with the other resolutions. The data shows that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, High settings are the maximum you would want to use, while Medium settings offer a more comfortable buffer. For 120+ FPS at 4K, you would need to stick with Low settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends heavily on your display's refresh rate. For a 1080p or 1440p monitor with a high refresh rate of 144Hz or more, the Medium preset is the best choice. At 1080p, Medium averages 295.4 FPS, and at 1440p it averages 193.2 FPS, both of which are well above the 144Hz threshold. This provides a very smooth, responsive experience with better visual quality than Low. High settings are also viable at these resolutions, with 180.4 FPS at 1080p and 122.6 FPS at 1440p, but they offer diminishing returns in visual fidelity for a significant drop in frame rate compared to Medium.

For a 4K display, the recommendation changes. If you have a 60Hz monitor, the High preset is the best option, as it averages 69 FPS, providing a smooth experience that is just above the 60 FPS target. If you have a 120Hz or 144Hz 4K monitor, you will need to use the Low preset, which averages 127.8 FPS, to take full advantage of the display's capabilities. The Medium preset at 4K averages 107.5 FPS, which is a good middle ground for 100Hz+ monitors. The Ultra preset should be avoided on a 4K display, as its 46.7 FPS average is below the 60 FPS threshold and will not feel as fluid.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for most users. It provides a substantial visual upgrade over Low while maintaining frame rates that are high enough for smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, it is the only preset that can deliver a playable experience on high-refresh displays. For those with standard 60Hz 4K monitors, High is the sweet spot, offering a significant improvement in visual detail without compromising on smoothness.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The benchmark results show that it is a strong performer in multi-threaded tasks, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21279 and a Passmark multithread score of 25032. Its single-thread performance is also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3004 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3634. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset for gaming.

In The Long Drive, the CPU's role is crucial, particularly at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, frame rates are exceptionally high, often exceeding 300 FPS on Low settings. This suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with a massive number of frames, but it also indicates that the CPU is the limiting factor at this resolution. The performance scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe than from 1440p to 4K, which further supports the idea that the CPU's performance is a bottleneck at 1080p, but less so at higher resolutions. The 16 threads are likely well-utilized by the game's simulation and physics logic.

The processor's 82nd percentile ranking among all CPUs and its near-identical benchmark scores to rivals like the Intel Core i7-13620H and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D show that it is a well-balanced mid-range option. For this specific game, the CPU does not hold back the RTX 4080 SUPER to any significant degree, except in the most extreme 1080p scenarios. The data indicates that the i5-13400F provides a solid foundation for this high-end GPU, ensuring that the system's performance is not severely limited by the processor. Its 65W TDP also makes it an efficient choice, though this is a minor factor compared to its raw performance capabilities.