Undisputed

Undisputed, the boxing simulation title from 2023, presents a demanding workload for mobile hardware. This analysis focuses specifically on the configuration pairing the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX processor with the AMD Radeon 880M integrated graphics. The measured data reveals a system that is severely constrained by its graphics solution, particularly at higher resolutions, resulting in a gaming experience that is largely limited to lower settings and resolutions. The benchmark results indicate a combination that sits at the very bottom of the database's tested configurations for this game, offering insights into the performance ceiling of integrated graphics in a modern sports title.

Resolution Scaling

The data for Undisputed shows a dramatic and predictable decline in frame rates as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop tells a clear story about the limiting component in this system. The frame rate collapse from 1080p to 4K is steep, indicating that the AMD Radeon 880M is the primary bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 107 at 1920x1080 to 77 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 30 FPS, and then falls further to 49 at 3840x2160. This represents a 54% decrease in performance from 1080p to 4K, a pattern that points squarely at the GPU struggling to fill the increasing number of pixels.

The scaling from Medium settings reinforces this conclusion. The average FPS at 1080p Medium is 77, which drops to 56 at 1440p and then to 35 at 4K. The performance penalty for moving from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings is over 54%, which is a substantial hit that suggests the render pipeline is overwhelmed. The fact that the frame rate does not scale linearly with the pixel count (4K has 4x the pixels of 1080p) but instead drops by roughly half indicates that other factors, such as memory bandwidth or shader throughput, are being saturated.

The most telling evidence of the GPU bottleneck is the performance at High and Ultra settings. At High settings, the system manages 64 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 46 FPS at 1440p and a mere 29 FPS at 4K. This is a consistent and severe penalty for resolution scaling. The Ultra preset is even more punishing, delivering only 41 FPS at 1080p and dropping to 19 FPS at 4K. These numbers suggest that the integrated GPU's 768 shading units and 16 ROPs are simply not sufficient to process the high-fidelity geometry and effects at larger resolutions. The data implies that the CPU, a Ryzen 9 8945HX with 16 cores, is not the limiting factor; its high multi-threaded and single-threaded scores suggest it can feed frames far faster than the GPU can render them.

How This Combo Ranks

The overall performance of this CPU and GPU combination in Undisputed is exceptionally poor when compared to other tested configurations. The comboRankInGame field places this pairing at rank 2750 out of 2813 total combos. This means it outperforms only 63 other system configurations, placing it in the bottom 2.3% of all tested hardware pairings for this game. This is a stark indicator that the Radeon 880M, despite being a modern integrated GPU, is not positioned for gaming at the level Undisputed demands.

This ranking is more a reflection of the GPU's limitations than the CPU's capabilities. The Ryzen 9 8945HX is a high-end mobile processor, and its own benchmark scores place it in the 95th percentile when compared to all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the CPU database include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with the 8945HX scoring within a negligible 0.6% of these top-tier chips. However, the GPU's average benchmark score of 8436 places it in only the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are older discrete mobile parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330. This massive disparity in component class forces the entire system to the bottom of the gaming performance charts.

The data shows a clear mismatch. A processor capable of competing with the best in the world is paired with an integrated GPU that is only comparable to entry-level discrete graphics from several generations ago. Consequently, the combo's rank is not a measure of the CPU's gaming potential, but rather a demonstration of how a powerful processor can be completely hamstrung by its graphics solution. The system's performance is effectively capped by the GPU, and no amount of CPU headroom can compensate for the lack of raw graphics processing power.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 880M is the decisive component in this system's Undisputed performance, and its specifications explain the benchmark results. The GPU is based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture and features 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and only 16 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The low ROP count is particularly damaging at higher resolutions, as it directly limits the pixel fill rate, which is measured at 46.40 GPixel/s. This explains why the frame rate drops so sharply when moving from 1080p to 1440p and 4K, as the GPU struggles to rasterize the increased number of pixels.

The GPU's memory configuration is also a critical factor. The 880M uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's main DDR5 RAM and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This is a major disadvantage compared to dedicated VRAM. The system's memory bandwidth is rated at 83.2 GB/s, which is shared between the CPU and GPU. In a graphically intensive game like Undisputed, the GPU will be competing with the processor for memory access, potentially causing stutters and limiting performance. The measured FPS data, particularly the minFps values at Medium settings (e.g., 30 FPS at 4K and 47 FPS at 1440p), suggests that there are moments of significant slowdown, which could be attributed to memory bandwidth limitations.

The GPU's clock speeds are also a point of interest. The base clock is listed as 400 MHz, with a boost clock of up to 2900 MHz. The ability to boost to such a high frequency is dependent on thermal headroom and power limits, which are constrained in a mobile form factor. The data suggests that the GPU is likely not sustaining its maximum boost clock under sustained load, contributing to the lower-than-expected frame rates. The GPU's compute capability is rated at 4.454 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, which is low compared to even modest discrete graphics cards, and this is reflected in its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 535. This score, along with a Passmark G3D score of 7615, firmly establishes the 880M as an entry-level graphics solution that is overmatched by the demands of a modern 3D sports game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Undisputed provides a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across different settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 107 FPS, which is playable, but the experience degrades quickly as settings are increased. Medium settings at 1080p yield an average of 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 and a maximum of 88 FPS, indicating some frame pacing inconsistency. High settings drop the average to 64 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to an average of just 41 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the strain on the GPU becomes more apparent. Low settings provide an average of 77 FPS, but Medium settings fall to an average of 56 FPS, with a min of 47 and a max of 64 FPS. High settings at 1440p can only manage an average of 46 FPS, and Ultra settings are nearly unplayable at an average of 30 FPS. The data shows that 1440p is only viable for Low or Medium settings if a player prioritizes frame rate over visual fidelity.

The 3840x2160 resolution results are largely unusable for serious play. The system only achieves an average of 49 FPS on Low settings. This drops to 35 FPS on Medium, with a minimum of 30 FPS, indicating that the game would feel sluggish and unresponsive. High settings at 4K net an average of 29 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to an average of 19 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this game on this hardware, regardless of the quality preset chosen. The frame rates are consistently below 60 FPS, with most falling below 30 FPS, which is a poor experience for a fast-paced sports title.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU and GPU combination capable of running Undisputed at 60 FPS?

A: The measured data shows that this is only possible at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where the average FPS is 107. At Medium settings, the average is 77 FPS, which is above 60. However, at High settings, the average falls to 64 FPS, and at Ultra settings, it drops to 41 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game on with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can consistently achieve playable frame rates above 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, even Medium settings only average 56 FPS, and at 3840x2160, all settings fail to reach an average of 50 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 8945HX's performance compare to its rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 76212, placing it in the 95th percentile. It is within 0.1% of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX's score of 76155 and 0.6% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D's score of 75779, showing it is a top-tier processor. Its performance is not the limiting factor in this game.

Q: Why are the frame rates so low at 4K resolution?

A: The low frame rates at 3840x2160 are due to the AMD Radeon 880M integrated GPU. With only 16 ROPs and a pixel rate of 46.40 GPixel/s, it lacks the raw fill rate needed for high-resolution rendering. The GPU's reliance on shared system memory also limits its bandwidth.

Q: What kind of performance can be expected from the Radeon 880M in other tasks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 8436, which places it in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs. It scores 535 in 3DMark Steel Nomad and 31285 in Geekbench OpenCL. These scores indicate it is positioned near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX and NVIDIA GeForce MX330 in overall performance.

Q: Will lowering the in-game settings to Low make the game smooth at 1440p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 2560x1440 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 77 FPS. This provides a smooth experience. However, moving up to Medium settings brings the average down to 56 FPS, which may not be smooth enough for some users.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the user's priority for frame rate versus visual quality. For players who have a 1920x1080 display, the High preset is the best balance, offering an average of 64 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience while maintaining a reasonable level of visual fidelity. While the Ultra preset offers the best graphics, its average of 41 FPS is too low for comfortable gameplay, making High the highest viable preset at this resolution.

For users with a 2560x1440 monitor, the options are more constrained. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 77 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 56 FPS, is playable but may exhibit noticeable dips, as indicated by its minimum of 47 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended at this resolution, as their averages of 46 and 30 FPS respectively are too low for a game that requires quick reactions.

At 3840x2160, no preset provides a satisfactory experience. Even the Low preset, which yields an average of 49 FPS, will feel unsteady and below the standard for smooth gameplay. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets are all unplayable, with average frame rates of 35, 29, and 19 FPS respectively. For the best experience, the data suggests that this hardware is not suited for 4K gaming in Undisputed, and users should either lower their display resolution or accept a severely compromised frame rate.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is an exceptionally powerful mobile processor, and its role in this system's performance is to provide a massive amount of headroom that the integrated GPU cannot utilize. The CPU is a 16-core, 32-thread part based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are outstanding, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and a single-core score of 6030. This indicates that the processor is more than capable of handling the game's logic, physics, and AI calculations without breaking a sweat.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. In fact, the processor's high performance makes the GPU's limitations even more apparent. The CPU can easily process frames and issue draw calls, but the Radeon 880M simply cannot keep up with the rendering workload. This is a classic case of a CPU being "ahead" of its GPU counterpart. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, score nearly identically, confirming its top-tier status. The Passmark multi-thread score of 51405 and single-thread score of 3907 further support this, showing a processor that is excellent in both multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks.

The Ryzen 9 8945HX is a "Dragon Range" chip, designed for high-performance gaming laptops. However, in this specific pairing with the Radeon 880M, its gaming potential is completely unrealized. The processor's high memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s is a shared resource, and while it's sufficient for the CPU, it is a limiting factor for the GPU. The CPU's role in Undisputed is therefore to ensure that the system never stutters due to a lack of processing power, but it cannot overcome the fundamental graphics processing deficit. The system's overall rank of 2750 out of 2813 combos is a direct result of this CPU-GPU imbalance.