Undisputed

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers a compelling performance profile in Undisputed, with the data showing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combination produces extremely high frame rates that suggest the CPU is the primary limiting factor, while at 4K, the GPU takes over as the dominant constraint. This analysis breaks down the measured results across resolutions, settings, and component roles.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable yet informative scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 207 FPS at 1920x1080 to 150 FPS at 2560x1440, representing a 27.5% decrease. Moving further up to 3840x2160, the average falls to 95 FPS, which is a 36.7% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 54.1% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling curve is characteristic of a system where the GPU becomes progressively more stressed as pixel count increases.

The Low settings row tells a similar story with steeper absolute numbers. At 1080p Low, the average reaches 324 FPS, dropping to 252 FPS at 1440p (a 22.2% decrease) and then to 159 FPS at 4K (a 36.9% drop from 1440p). The fact that 4K Low still produces 159 FPS indicates that the RX 6800 XT has substantial headroom even at the highest resolution, but the scaling curve shows the GPU is working progressively harder.

Medium settings provide the most complete data set, including minimum and maximum frame rates. At 1080p Medium, the average is 251 FPS with a minimum of 213 FPS and maximum of 288 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 181 FPS (27.9% lower), with a minimum of 154 FPS and maximum of 208 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 115 FPS (36.5% lower than 1440p), with a minimum of 97 FPS and maximum of 132 FPS. The consistent 27-37% reduction between each resolution step strongly suggests the GPU is the scaling bottleneck, as CPU-bound scenarios typically show smaller frame rate differences when resolution increases.

Ultra settings produce the lowest frame rates across the board, with 133 FPS at 1080p, 96 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 27.8%, and from 1440p to 4K is 36.5%. These percentages closely mirror the other settings presets, reinforcing that the scaling behavior is resolution-driven rather than setting-driven. The 4K Ultra result of 61 FPS is notable because it approaches the threshold where gameplay smoothness could become a concern, though it remains above 60 FPS.

The limiting component analysis is clear: at 1080p, the i5-9400 with its 6 cores and 6 threads likely caps performance, as evidenced by the 324 FPS Low result that far exceeds what the GPU needs to render. As resolution climbs to 1440p and 4K, the GPU's rendering load increases proportionally, and the RX 6800 XT's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 512.0 GB/s bandwidth become the determining factors. The data shows that this combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where the frame rates remain high without the CPU becoming a severe limitation.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide clear guidance on which preset delivers the best experience. The Medium preset stands out as the optimal choice for this combination, offering a strong balance between visual quality and performance. At 1080p Medium, the average of 251 FPS with a minimum of 213 FPS ensures smooth gameplay even during intense boxing sequences. At 1440p Medium, the average of 181 FPS with a minimum of 154 FPS keeps the experience fluid on high refresh rate monitors. Even at 4K Medium, the 115 FPS average with a minimum of 97 FPS remains well above the 60 FPS threshold for comfortable play.

High settings also merit consideration, particularly for users who prioritize visual fidelity. At 1440p High, the 150 FPS average is still excellent, and at 4K High, the 95 FPS average remains playable on most displays. The gap between High and Medium at each resolution is relatively modest: 44 FPS at 1080p (207 vs 251), 31 FPS at 1440p (150 vs 181), and 20 FPS at 4K (95 vs 115). This suggests that High settings do not impose a prohibitive penalty, making them a viable choice for users with 144Hz monitors.

Ultra settings are the most demanding, and the data indicates they should be reserved for lower resolutions or users with less stringent frame rate requirements. At 1080p Ultra, the 133 FPS average is still high, but at 1440p Ultra, the 96 FPS average drops below the 100 FPS mark, and at 4K Ultra, the 61 FPS average sits just above the 60 FPS threshold. The step from High to Ultra at 4K costs 34 FPS (from 95 to 61), which is a significant loss for the incremental visual improvement.

Low settings produce the highest frame rates but are not recommended for this hardware, as the combo is capable of much better visual quality without sacrificing playability. The 324 FPS at 1080p Low is excessive for most monitors, and even the 4K Low result of 159 FPS exceeds the refresh rate of typical 4K displays. The data suggests that Medium settings provide the best experience per the measured rows, offering a strong balance of frame rate and visual quality that maximizes the hardware's potential.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz are modest by modern standards, and the 9 MB of shared L3 cache provides adequate data sharing for the six cores. The CPU's benchmark scores place it in the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (avg score 2259, deltaPct -0.2), the Intel Core i7-10710U (avg score 2248, deltaPct 0.3), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (avg score 2246, deltaPct 0.4), indicating that the i5-9400 sits in the mid-range of processor performance.

In Undisputed, the CPU's role becomes apparent through the measured frame rates at 1080p. The 324 FPS average at Low settings suggests that the processor can feed the GPU with data faster than the GPU can render at lower resolutions. However, the lack of hyper-threading means the 6 threads must handle all game logic, physics, and AI, which could become a bottleneck in complex scenes. The single-core performance, as indicated by the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 935, is adequate but not exceptional, which aligns with the 1080p results showing high but not unlimited frame rates.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s via dual-channel DDR4 memory could limit data throughput in scenarios where the processor must stream large amounts of game data. However, the measured results show that this limitation is not severe in Undisputed, as even at 4K Ultra, the system maintains 61 FPS. The processor's 65 W TDP suggests it operates within a modest power envelope, but the data does not indicate any thermal throttling issues at the tested settings.

Comparing the i5-9400 to its nearest rivals, the performance differences are minimal. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is 0.2% slower, the Intel Core i7-10710U is 0.3% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is 0.4% faster in average benchmark score. These small deltas indicate that the i5-9400 is tightly grouped with its peers, and the CPU's contribution to the Undisputed results is consistent with its mid-range positioning. The data shows that at 1440p and 4K, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as frame rates scale with resolution as expected for a GPU-bound scenario.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT achieves a rank of 1219 out of 3718 tested combos in Undisputed, placing it in the 67.2nd percentile of all combinations. This ranking reflects the balanced nature of the pairing, where the mid-range CPU and high-end GPU complement each other without either component dramatically limiting the other's potential.

The combo's rank of 1219 out of 3718 means that approximately 67% of tested combinations perform better, while 33% perform worse. This positioning is notable because the RX 6800 XT alone ranks in the 85th percentile among all GPUs, suggesting that the CPU is holding back the GPU's full potential in this game. The GPU's average benchmark score of 48477 places it in the top 15% of graphics cards, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (avg score 47743, deltaPct 1.5), the Intel Arc A550M (avg score 49737, deltaPct -2.5), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (avg score 49957, deltaPct -3).

In contrast, the CPU's 47th percentile ranking indicates it is squarely in the middle of the performance distribution. The delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles (47 vs 85) suggests a mismatch that manifests in the 1080p results, where the CPU likely caps frame rates. However, the overall combo rank of 1219 is reasonable given these constraints, and the high frame rates measured at 1440p indicate that the pairing works well for that resolution.

The combo's performance relative to other tested configurations can be inferred from the measured FPS data. At 1440p High, the 150 FPS average is strong, and at 4K Medium, the 115 FPS average demonstrates the GPU's capability. The rank of 1219 reflects that many combos with newer or higher-end CPUs achieve better frame rates at 1080p, but the RX 6800 XT ensures the combo remains competitive at higher resolutions where the GPU matters more. The data suggests that users with this combo should target 1440p or 4K to maximize the hardware's potential.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 offers the best balance, with 150 FPS average at High settings and 181 FPS at Medium. At 4K, the average drops to 95 FPS High and 115 FPS Medium, which is still playable but less optimal.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 207 FPS at 1080p to 95 FPS at 4K, a 54.1% reduction. At Low settings, the drop is from 324 FPS to 159 FPS, a 50.9% reduction.

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

A: At 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as indicated by the 324 FPS Low result that exceeds the GPU's rendering capability. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as frame rates scale consistently with resolution.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates at Medium settings?

A: The measured minimums are 213 FPS at 1080p, 154 FPS at 1440p, and 97 FPS at 4K. These values indicate smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, which is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259), 0.3% slower than the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248), and 0.4% slower than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246).

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 61 FPS, which just exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. However, High settings at 4K provide a more comfortable margin with 95 FPS average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 324 FPS, Medium produces 251 FPS with a minimum of 213 and maximum of 288, High produces 207 FPS, and Ultra produces 133 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 191 FPS, indicating that settings have a significant impact on frame rate at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show the expected reduction. Low settings yield 252 FPS average, Medium yields 181 FPS with a minimum of 154 and maximum of 208, High yields 150 FPS, and Ultra yields 96 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 156 FPS, slightly narrower than at 1080p, suggesting the GPU is beginning to take on more load.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops more substantially. Low settings produce 159 FPS average, Medium produces 115 FPS with a minimum of 97 and maximum of 132, High produces 95 FPS, and Ultra produces 61 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 98 FPS, the narrowest of all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is the dominant factor at 4K.

The Medium settings rows provide the only complete min/max data, allowing for an analysis of frame time consistency. At 1080p, the difference between minimum (213) and maximum (288) is 75 FPS, while at 1440p, the difference is 54 FPS (154 to 208), and at 4K, the difference is 35 FPS (97 to 132). This narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates more consistent frame pacing, likely due to the GPU being fully utilized.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a high-end graphics card based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, featuring the Navi 21 chip built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The GPU contains 4608 shading units, 288 texture mapping units, and 128 render output units, along with 72 ray tracing cores. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory operates on a 256-bit bus, providing 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's clock speeds are 1825 MHz base, 2015 MHz game, and 2250 MHz boost, with memory running at 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective).

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 85th percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 48477. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (avg score 47743, deltaPct 1.5), the Intel Arc A550M (avg score 49737, deltaPct -2.5), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (avg score 49957, deltaPct -3). The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 24980 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3689 further illustrate its strong performance.

In Undisputed, the GPU's role becomes evident in the resolution scaling data. At 4K, the frame rates at all settings remain respectable, with even Ultra settings achieving 61 FPS. The 16 GB VRAM capacity ensures that texture-heavy scenes do not cause memory bottlenecks, as the game's requirements are well within the GPU's memory budget. The 512.0 GB/s bandwidth provides sufficient data throughput for high-resolution rendering, as demonstrated by the 4K Medium result of 115 FPS.

The GPU's 128 ROPs and 288 TMUs contribute to the strong fill rate and texture processing capabilities, which are relevant for a sports game with detailed character models and arenas. The 20.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power ensures that the GPU can handle the physics and visual effects in Undisputed without issue. The GPU's TDP of 300 W and dual-slot design indicate it requires adequate cooling, but the measured results show no performance degradation at the tested settings.

The GPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals shows it is competitive, with the RTX A1000 Mobile being 1.5% faster and the Arc A550M being 2.5% slower. The RX 6800 XT's 85th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests it is well-suited for high-resolution gaming, and the measured results confirm this. At 1440p High, the 150 FPS average and 4K High 95 FPS average demonstrate that the GPU has ample headroom for this game, with the CPU being the more limiting factor at lower resolutions.