Undisputed

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 produces a wide spread of frame rates in Undisputed, ranging from a highly playable 120.7 FPS at 1080p Low to a stutter-prone 22.5 FPS at 4K Ultra. The data clearly shows that this is a GPU-limited configuration in most scenarios, but the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance ensures that the lower-resolution results are not held back. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS table to explain what each number means for your settings choices and where the bottleneck actually sits.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a graphics card being the primary limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combination produces 120.7 FPS, which drops to 87.4 FPS at 1440p Low, a reduction of roughly 27%. Moving to 4K Low yields 57.2 FPS, which is a further 35% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern indicates that the RX 580’s pixel throughput is being saturated; the 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 resolutions require more fill rate and memory bandwidth than the 232 mm² Polaris 20 die can sustain.

The behavior at higher settings amplifies this trend. At High settings, the frame rate falls from 71.2 FPS at 1080p to 54.2 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 31.6 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is particularly punishing, with 48.7 FPS at 1080p dropping to 35.6 FPS at 1440p and then collapsing to 22.5 FPS at 4K. The fact that the 4K Ultra result is less than half of the 1080p Ultra result shows that the GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are simply overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and demanding visual effects. The data indicates that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the 57.2 FPS average is too close to the edge for consistent smoothness.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K brings 14 cores and 20 threads to this pairing, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This is a high-end desktop processor that ranks in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, and its multi-threaded Cinebench R23 score of 32881 puts it roughly on par with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which scores 49062 in the average benchmark with a delta of just 0.2%. For a sports title like Undisputed, which typically relies on a few primary threads for game logic and physics, the CPU’s single-core performance is more critical than its multi-core muscle. The Geekbench single-core score of 2803 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4642 are strong indicators that the processor will not bottleneck the RX 580 at 1080p.

Evidence for this lies in the 1080p Low result of 120.7 FPS. This figure is high enough to suggest that the CPU is feeding the GPU adequately, as the RX 580 is unlikely to reach such numbers if the processor were struggling. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce latency in physics calculations, which is relevant in a boxing game where hit detection and character interactions are frequent. However, the data also shows that the CPU’s headroom is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions; the FPS drops are far too steep to be attributed to the processor. The i5-14600K is effectively a non-issue here, providing enough single-threaded throughput to keep the GPU fully occupied.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the clear bottleneck in this configuration, and its age is evident in the benchmark scores. It sits in the 53rd percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13559, placing it directly alongside the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (13564, delta 0%) and GTX 950 (13549, delta 0.1%). The GPU features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, running at a base clock of 1257 MHz and a boost of 1340 MHz. The 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p but becomes a limiting factor at 4K.

The measured FPS data confirms the GPU’s limitations. At 1080p Medium, the card produces 87.9 FPS, which is solid for a 14 nm part from the Polaris generation. However, the jump to High settings at the same resolution drops the average to 71.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 48.7 FPS. This shows that the RX 580 can handle moderate settings at 1080p but struggles with the most demanding presets. The 4K results are bleak: even at Low, the card only manages 57.2 FPS, and at High it drops to 31.6 FPS. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 6.175 TFLOPS is not enough to push high pixel counts with complex shading, and the 42.88 GPixel/s pixel rate is clearly insufficient for 3840x2160 with any quality settings above Low.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience for this hardware combination is at 1080p with Medium settings. This preset yields 87.9 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it offers a significant visual upgrade over Low settings without the steep performance penalty of High or Ultra. The 71.2 FPS at High is still playable, but the drop to 48.7 FPS at Ultra suggests that the visual gains are not worth the frame rate loss, especially in a fast-paced sports title where response time matters.

At 1440p, the data suggests that Low settings are the only reasonable choice, producing 87.4 FPS. Medium at 1440p drops to 65.6 FPS, which is borderline, while High (54.2 FPS) and Ultra (35.6 FPS) are too inconsistent for competitive play. For 4K, the RX 580 is not a viable option for this game. The Low preset at 57.2 FPS is the only result above 30 FPS, and even that is marginal. The 31.6 FPS at High and 22.5 FPS at Ultra are effectively unplayable. Users with 4K displays should strongly consider lowering the resolution to 1440p or 1080p to maintain playable frame rates.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K bottlenecking the AMD Radeon RX 580 in Undisputed?*

A: No. The CPU’s high single-core performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2803, allows the RX 580 to reach 120.7 FPS at 1080p Low. The FPS drops at higher resolutions are far too steep to be caused by the processor, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

*Q: Can this system run Undisputed at 4K?*

A: Only at Low settings, where it produces 57.2 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 41.8 FPS, High falls to 31.6 FPS, and Ultra is unplayable at 22.5 FPS. The RX 580’s 8 GB GDDR5 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for higher settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 1080p?

A: Medium settings at 87.9 FPS is the best balance of visual quality and performance. High at 71.2 FPS is also playable, but Ultra at 48.7 FPS drops below the ideal smoothness threshold.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its closest rivals in raw benchmark scores?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 13559, which is virtually identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (13564, delta 0%) and the GTX 950 (13549, delta 0.1%). It is 1.1% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro 455.

Q: Does the i5-14600K’s multi-threading matter for this game?

A: The CPU’s multi-core performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881) is strong, but for a sports title, the single-core speed is more relevant. The processor’s 5.30 GHz boost clock and 3.50 GHz base clock provide ample headroom for game logic, ensuring it does not hinder the GPU.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average is 54.2 FPS. This is playable but not ideal for a competitive title. For a smoother experience at 1440p, the Low preset at 87.4 FPS is recommended.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration delivers its best results. Low settings yield 120.7 FPS, which is the highest measured figure across all configurations. Medium produces 87.9 FPS, High drops to 71.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 48.7 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 60% reduction in frame rate, highlighting the GPU’s sensitivity to the preset level.

The 2560x1440 results show a clear step down. Low settings produce 87.4 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium falls to 65.6 FPS, High drops to 54.2 FPS, and Ultra is only 35.6 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 59%, similar to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower across the board.

At 3840x2160, the data shows a severe degradation. Low settings are the only playable option at 57.2 FPS. Medium falls to 41.8 FPS, High to 31.6 FPS, and Ultra to 22.5 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 61%, and the Ultra result is below 30 FPS, making it unusable for a smooth experience. The combination of the i5-14600K and RX 580 is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p possible only on lower presets and 4K reserved for Low settings only.