Undisputed

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 presents a fascinating case study in bottleneck dynamics within Undisputed. The data reveals a configuration where the aging GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, but the modern CPU ensures that even the most demanding settings remain playable. This analysis dissects the measured performance metrics to understand where this combo stands and what it means for the player experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data illustrates a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 190.4 FPS, which drops to 136.8 FPS at 1440p and further to 84.2 FPS at 4K. This represents a 28% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 56% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The significant drop at 4K strongly indicates that the GTX 1070's pixel throughput is the limiting factor, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

The scaling behavior changes notably when moving to higher settings. At Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 69.8 FPS at 1080p to 50.2 FPS at 1440p and 33.9 FPS at 4K. This tighter scaling curve suggests that at Ultra, both the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are saturated, making the resolution transition more linear. The 1080p to 4K delta at Ultra is 51%, slightly less pronounced than at Low, which implies that the GPU is already near its limits even at 1080p with these settings.

What is particularly revealing is the 4K Medium result of 62.9 FPS. This is only 21% lower than the 1440p Medium score of 99.9 FPS, suggesting that at Medium settings, the GPU is still managing to keep up with the increased pixel count without a catastrophic collapse. However, the jump from Medium to High at 4K (62.9 to 53.8 FPS) shows a 14% penalty, while the jump from High to Ultra (53.8 to 33.9 FPS) is a massive 37% penalty. This indicates that Ultra settings introduce effects that heavily tax the GTX 1070's 256-bit memory bus and 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 compute.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested configurations for Undisputed, this combo ranks 1328 out of 1580 total combinations. This places it in the bottom 16% of all tested systems, which is expected given that the GTX 1070 is an end-of-life product from 2016. The CPU, however, is a modern powerhouse that ranks in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, but its performance is largely irrelevant here because the GPU cannot translate that processing capability into frame rate at high resolutions.

The combo's rank is more a reflection of the GPU's age than the CPU's capability. The i5-14600KF's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core i5-14600K (0.4% faster), the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.6% slower), and the AMD EPYC 4345P (0.5% faster). These minuscule deltas of less than 1% demonstrate that the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its class. The GPU, by contrast, sits at the 51st percentile among all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER, which is 1.4% faster in average benchmark score.

The disparity between the CPU's 93rd percentile ranking and the GPU's 51st percentile ranking creates an inherent imbalance. In a game like Undisputed, which is a sports title that likely relies more on consistent frame pacing than raw physics, this imbalance means the CPU is often waiting on the GPU to deliver frames. The measured data supports this: at 1080p Low, the 190.4 FPS average is likely still below what the CPU could theoretically produce, but at 4K Ultra, the 33.9 FPS result shows the GPU is the definitive bottleneck.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is built on the Pascal architecture with a 16 nm process node from TSMC. Its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical specification for understanding the 4K performance. At 4K resolution, the frame buffer demands significantly more memory throughput, and the 256.3 GB/s bandwidth becomes a limiting factor when texture quality increases.

The GPU's clocks are set at a base of 1506 MHz and a boost of 1683 MHz. The memory operates at 2002 MHz with 8 Gbps effective speed. These clocks are relatively modest by modern standards, and the FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS reflects the GPU's age. The pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s are the specifications that directly impact resolution scaling.

Looking at the measured results, the GTX 1070 shows its strengths in the 1080p and 1440p ranges. At 1080p Medium, it achieves 135.6 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it hits 99.9 FPS. These are respectable numbers for a GPU that is now several generations old. However, at 4K, the limitations become apparent. The 4K High average of 53.8 FPS is playable, but the 4K Ultra result of 33.9 FPS falls below the threshold generally considered smooth for a sports title. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for this game at 4K, but the memory bandwidth and shading power are not enough to maintain high frame rates at Ultra settings.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Undisputed with this combo?*

A: The data shows that 1440p offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. At High settings, the combo delivers 80.1 FPS at 1440p, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, while 4K High drops to 53.8 FPS.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Undisputed?*

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K Medium settings, the combo achieves 62.9 FPS, which is playable. However, 4K Ultra drops to 33.9 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF scores 49367 on average benchmarks, which is 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600K (49166) and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (49062). It is 0.5% lower than the AMD EPYC 4345P (49595).

Q: Is the GTX 1070 a bottleneck for the i5-14600KF in this game?

A: Yes, particularly at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 190.4 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 33.9 FPS. The GPU's 51st percentile ranking versus the CPU's 93rd percentile confirms the GPU limits performance.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings produce 136.8 FPS, while Ultra produces 50.2 FPS. This represents a 63% reduction in performance when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: Does the game favor CPU or GPU performance?

A: The scaling data indicates the game is heavily GPU-bound. The CPU has 14 cores and 20 threads with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, but the frame rates consistently drop as resolution increases, pointing to the GPU as the limiting factor.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 125W TDP. The CPU's cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a substantial amount of cache for a mid-range desktop processor, which helps with gaming performance.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 32889 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4643 in single-core. These scores place it well above average, with a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Passmark multithread score of 38697 and single-thread score of 4273 further confirm its strong processing capabilities.

For Undisputed, the CPU's role appears to be providing a stable foundation for the GPU. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 190.4 FPS, which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach high frame rates. However, the CPU's potential is capped by the GPU's limitations. Even at 1080p Ultra (69.8 FPS), the CPU is likely not the limiting factor, as the GPU's workload increases with settings.

The nearest rival data shows the CPU is performing within 1.4% of its closest competitors, confirming there are no unexpected performance issues. The 0.4% delta with the Intel Core i5-14600K indicates the "F" variant (without integrated graphics) is essentially identical in performance. This means the CPU is not a source of frame rate variance in this combo; the GPU is the definitive bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution. For 1080p, High settings provide 114.1 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, while Ultra drops to 69.8 FPS, still above 60 FPS. The 1080p Medium setting of 135.6 FPS offers a good middle ground for players who prioritize frame rate over visual detail.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 80.1 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 50.2 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in noticeable stutter in a fast-paced sports game. Medium at 99.9 FPS is also viable, but High provides a better visual experience without sacrificing too much performance.

For 4K, the choices are more constrained. Medium settings at 62.9 FPS is the only preset that maintains playable frame rates above 60 FPS. The High preset at 53.8 FPS is marginal, and Ultra at 33.9 FPS is not recommended. Players targeting 4K should stick with Medium settings to ensure smooth gameplay.

The data suggests that the "High" preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, as it provides a consistent frame rate that is at least 50.2 FPS at 1440p and 53.8 FPS at 4K. The jump from High to Ultra incurs a performance penalty of 39% at 1080p (114.1 to 69.8 FPS), 37% at 1440p (80.1 to 50.2 FPS), and 37% at 4K (53.8 to 33.9 FPS). This consistent penalty indicates that Ultra settings introduce effects that disproportionately tax the GTX 1070.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 53.8 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 84.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 62.9 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 33.9 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 80.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 136.8 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 99.9 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 50.2 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 114.1 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 190.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 135.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 69.8 |

At 1080p, the combo shows strong performance across all settings, with even Ultra achieving 69.8 FPS. The Low setting at 190.4 FPS demonstrates the CPU's ability to drive high frame rates when the GPU is not heavily loaded. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 63% drop (190.4 to 69.8 FPS), which is expected for a GPU of this class.

At 1440p, the performance remains solid, with High at 80.1 FPS being the recommended setting. The Low setting at 136.8 FPS is still very high, but the Ultra setting at 50.2 FPS shows the GPU's limits. The 1440p data shows a 63% drop from Low to Ultra (136.8 to 50.2 FPS), matching the 1080p scaling.

At 4K, the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low setting at 84.2 FPS is playable, but the Ultra setting at 33.9 FPS is not. The 4K data shows a 60% drop from Low to Ultra (84.2 to 33.9 FPS), which is slightly less than at lower resolutions, indicating that the GPU is already saturated at 4K Low. The 4K Medium result of 62.9 FPS is the only setting that provides a smooth experience above 60 FPS at this resolution.