Undisputed

# Undisputed with Intel Core i5-14600K + Intel Arc B390

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a striking split in Undisputed: the CPU is a top-decile performer with a 90th percentile ranking among all processors, while the GPU sits at just the 9th percentile among all graphics cards. This 81-percentile gap defines every result in this dataset. The measured frames per second (FPS) across all twelve tested configurations—four settings levels at three resolutions—show a system where the integrated graphics solution is the clear bottleneck, but the CPU's strength still allows for playable frame rates at lower settings and resolutions. The data indicates a combo that ranks 2491st out of 2813 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11.5% of all system pairings for this game, a position driven almost entirely by the graphics side of the equation.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across every settings preset, revealing a graphics-bound system. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 127 FPS at 1920x1080 to 92 FPS at 2560x1440, then to 58 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 27.6% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a further 37.0% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The total drop from 1080p Low to 4K Low is 54.3%, which is a substantial penalty but still leaves the game playable at 58 FPS average.

At Medium settings, the scaling pattern is similar but with slightly different percentages. The average FPS goes from 91 at 1080p to 66 at 1440p, a 27.5% drop, and then to 42 at 4K, a 36.4% drop from 1440p. The total reduction from 1080p Medium to 4K Medium is 53.8%. The minimum FPS at Medium settings also scales: 78 at 1080p, 56 at 1440p, and 36 at 4K, maintaining a consistent ratio of roughly 0.72 from 1080p to 1440p and 0.64 from 1440p to 4K.

High settings show a more pronounced drop at the top end. From 76 FPS at 1080p to 55 FPS at 1440p is a 27.6% decline, and from 1440p to 4K High the average falls to 35 FPS, a 36.4% reduction. The total loss from 1080p High to 4K High is 53.9%, nearly identical to the Low and Medium presets. This consistency across presets suggests the scaling is resolution-driven rather than settings-driven.

Ultra settings produce the lowest frame rates and the steepest relative scaling. Starting at 49 FPS at 1080p, the average drops to 35 FPS at 1440p (a 28.6% decline) and then to 22 FPS at 4K (a 37.1% decline from 1440p). The cumulative drop from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 55.1%. At 4K Ultra, the system delivers only 22 FPS average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a sports title where timing matters.

The pattern across all four presets—roughly a 27-29% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 36-37% drop from 1440p to 4K—indicates that the limiting component scales with pixel count rather than with settings complexity. The Arc B390's system-shared memory and integrated design mean that higher resolutions directly increase the memory bandwidth demands, and the data shows the GPU cannot keep pace. The CPU, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is not the constraint here; if it were, the resolution scaling would be far flatter.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a Raptor Lake Refresh part built on Intel's 10 nm process, featuring 14 cores and 20 threads with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064, with a Geekbench multicore score of 16673 and a single-core score of 2491. Its PassMark multithread score is 38682, and the single-thread score is 4270. These numbers place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48618.

The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database are all within a narrow band. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H scores 48698, just 0.2% higher. The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470, which is 0.3% lower. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, 0.7% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, 0.8% higher. This clustering shows the i5-14600K sits in a highly competitive performance tier, with no rival more than 0.8% away in either direction.

In Undisputed, the CPU's role is to manage the simulation of boxer movements, physics, and AI logic. The game is a sports title, and the data suggests it is not particularly CPU-intensive at the resolutions tested. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 127 FPS average, which is well above the refresh rate of most displays. Even at 1080p Ultra, the CPU is not the limiter—the 49 FPS average is far below what the i5-14600K could sustain in a GPU-unbound scenario. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 provide ample bandwidth for game logic, but the measured results show the GPU is the constraint at every setting.

The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2064 and PassMark single-thread score of 4270, is relevant for a sports game where frame pacing and input response matter. The data shows that even at 4K Low, where the GPU is most stressed, the system still delivers 58 FPS, indicating the CPU can feed frames quickly enough. The 14-core configuration with 20 threads is overkill for this title, but it does ensure there is no CPU-induced stutter in the measured minimum FPS values. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 56 FPS, and at 1080p Medium the minimum is 78 FPS, both of which are respectable for a game of this type.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units, with 12 ray tracing cores. The base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2500 MHz. Its memory is system-shared, meaning there is no dedicated VRAM; the bus width and bandwidth are both system-dependent, and the memory type is listed as "System Shared." The GPU's pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, its texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, and it delivers 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 15.36 TFLOPS of FP16 performance. The TDP is 80 W, and it uses no power connectors, consistent with its integrated design.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older or entry-level discrete parts: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 (1.3% lower), the GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% lower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% lower), and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% lower). This places the Arc B390 at the very bottom of the GPU performance hierarchy, just barely above a decade-old mobile chip.

The GPU's role in Undisputed is the primary limiter. The measured FPS values follow the GPU's capability curve almost exactly. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 127 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the dataset. This is likely near the practical ceiling for the system, as the GPU can render simple scenes quickly but struggles as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 22 FPS, which is barely above a slideshow for a fast-paced sports game. The system-shared memory means that higher resolutions consume more of the same memory pool used by the CPU, and the 24 ROPs at 60 GPixel/s cannot fill a 4K frame buffer quickly enough.

The 2500 MHz boost clock is relatively high for an integrated GPU, but the 1536 shading units are few compared to any modern discrete card. The FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS is the theoretical peak, and real-world gaming performance is significantly lower. The data confirms this: at 4K High, the system manages only 35 FPS, which is 72% lower than the 127 FPS at 1080p Low. The scaling is not linear with pixel count, indicating additional overhead from the memory subsystem at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Undisputed?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only resolution where every settings preset achieves at least 49 FPS average. At Low settings, 1080p delivers 127 FPS, and even at Ultra it maintains 49 FPS. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 35 FPS, and at 4K, only Low settings (58 FPS) stay above 30 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710 (1443). All four rivals are within a 2.7% band.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 90th percentile of all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K follows the GPU's resolution-dependent performance curve, not the CPU's capabilities.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 76 FPS. This is the best balance of resolution and performance among the 1440p options, as High settings drop to 55 FPS and Ultra falls to 35 FPS.

Q: Does the system-shared memory affect performance?

A: The GPU uses system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM, and the memory bandwidth is listed as system-dependent. The data shows a steep performance drop from 1080p to 4K, which is consistent with shared memory competing with CPU demands, but the exact impact cannot be isolated from the GPU's overall low compute capability.

Q: How does this combo rank against all tested systems?

A: In Undisputed, this combo ranks 2491st out of 2813 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of all systems, a position primarily due to the GPU's 9th percentile standing.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2491st out of 2813 tested combinations in Undisputed. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of all systems tested for this game. The rank is not surprising given the individual component percentiles: the CPU is in the 90th percentile, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. A system with such a high-performing CPU and such a low-performing GPU is inherently unbalanced, and the game's performance reflects the weaker component.

The rank of 2491 means there are 2490 combinations that perform better in Undisputed, and only 322 combinations that perform worse. This is a poor showing for a system with a CPU that scores 48618 on average across all benchmark tests. The CPU's nearest rivals—the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, AMD EPYC 4345P, Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX, and Intel Core Ultra 5 245—all have similar CPU scores within 0.8%, but their GPU pairings in other combos likely push them higher in the ranking.

The data indicates that the Arc B390 is the anchor on this system's performance. Its 1482 Steel Nomad score is comparable to integrated graphics from a decade ago, and the measured FPS in Undisputed confirms this. The combo rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's limited capability, not the CPU's. If the same CPU were paired with a stronger GPU, the rank would improve dramatically, but as configured, this system sits in the bottom tier for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 127 FPS, which is the highest measured value across the entire dataset. Medium settings average 91 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS. High settings average 76 FPS, and Ultra settings average 49 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 78 FPS, showing that settings have a significant impact on performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the averages all drop substantially. Low settings average 92 FPS, a 27.6% reduction from 1080p. Medium settings average 66 FPS (56 minimum, 76 maximum), a 27.5% reduction. High settings average 55 FPS, a 27.6% reduction. Ultra settings average 35 FPS, a 28.6% reduction. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 56, which is still playable, but the Ultra preset at 35 FPS average is marginal.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. Low settings average 58 FPS, which is the only 4K preset above 50 FPS. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings average 22 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured value in the dataset, and even the Low preset at 58 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for smooth gameplay.

The complete measured FPS table is as follows: 1080p Low 127, 1080p Medium 91 (min 78, max 105), 1080p High 76, 1080p Ultra 49; 1440p Low 92, 1440p Medium 66 (min 56, max 76), 1440p High 55, 1440p Ultra 35; 4K Low 58, 4K Medium 42 (min 36, max 48), 4K High 35, 4K Ultra 22. The minimum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings at each resolution, which limits the analysis of frame pacing, but the available data shows the system maintains a consistent minimum-to-average ratio of approximately 0.85 across all three Medium presets.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to a clear recommendation hierarchy. At 1920x1080, all settings presets are playable, with Low at 127 FPS, Medium at 91 FPS, High at 76 FPS, and Ultra at 49 FPS. For players who prioritize frame rate, Low or Medium at 1080p offers the smoothest experience. The Medium preset at 91 FPS with a 78 FPS minimum is a strong choice, as it provides a significant visual improvement over Low while still maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High at 76 FPS is also viable, but the drop from Medium is 15 FPS, which is noticeable. Ultra at 49 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and should only be used if visual fidelity is the absolute priority.

At 2560x1440, the options narrow. Low at 92 FPS is the only preset that delivers a comfortable frame rate. Medium at 66 FPS (minimum 56) is playable but close to the edge, and the 56 FPS minimum could cause noticeable stutters in fast-paced exchanges. High at 55 FPS and Ultra at 35 FPS are not recommended for competitive play. The data suggests that 1440p Low is the best choice for this resolution if a smooth experience is required.

At 3840x2160, the system is not well-suited for this game. Low at 58 FPS is the only preset above 50 FPS, and even that is below the 60 FPS standard. Medium at 42 FPS, High at 35 FPS, and Ultra at 22 FPS are all below playable thresholds for a sports game. The recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely unless the player accepts a sub-60 FPS experience, and even then, Low settings are the only viable option.

The best overall experience per the measured rows is 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which provides 91 FPS average with a 78 FPS minimum. This combination offers a balance of visual quality and performance that no other preset matches. For higher resolutions, 1440p Low at 92 FPS is the next best option, but the visual downgrade from Medium to Low is significant. The data does not support any settings preset at 4K as a recommended experience, as even the best 4K result (Low at 58 FPS) falls short of the 60 FPS target.