Undisputed

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 represents a stark contrast in hardware generations, combining a top-tier 2023 processor with an end-of-life 2017 graphics card. Benchmark data for Undisputed shows this combination is heavily constrained by the GPU, yet the CPU provides a robust foundation that prevents bottlenecks in every measured scenario. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance data for this specific pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Low settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 122.7, making it the only preset in the dataset that crosses the 120 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its closest rival, the GTX 570?

A: The data shows near-identical performance. The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 13559, while the GTX 570 scores 13564, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.0.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1466 out of 1580 total combinations in the database, placing it in the lower percentile of all tested system configurations.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: Medium settings deliver a measured average of 63.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The High preset drops to 51.2 FPS average.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: No. The i9-14900K scores in the 97th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 79824, which is more than sufficient to feed the RX 580's output capabilities in Undisputed.

Q: What is the performance difference between the i9-14900K and the i9-14900KF?

A: The i9-14900K has an average score of 79824, while the i9-14900KF scores 79245. This puts the K variant 0.7% ahead of the KF variant.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the primary performance limiter in this configuration. Its GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process, features 2304 shading units and 144 texture mapping units. The card operates with a base clock of 1257 MHz and a boost clock of 1340 MHz, paired with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. These specifications, while capable for their time, place the GPU in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13559.

The data confirms the GPU's limiting role. At 3840x2160 resolution, the card produces an average of 35.3 FPS on High settings, which drops to 21 FPS on Ultra. Even at the lower resolution of 1920x1080, Ultra settings only yield 44.9 FPS average, while High settings reach 75.3 FPS. The performance scaling across resolutions shows a classic GPU-bound pattern: moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on High settings reduces average FPS from 75.3 to 51.2, a significant drop of 24.1 FPS. This indicates the RX 580's pixel processing capabilities are being fully taxed.

The GPU's DirectX 12 benchmark score of 43 and Vulkan score of 45173 suggest mixed API performance, though the game's measured results show consistent scaling with settings adjustments. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the tested presets, as the card's 256-bit memory interface provides adequate bandwidth for the texture loads in Undisputed at these settings. However, the GPU's 6.175 TFLOPS FP32 compute performance limits its ability to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K provides an exceptionally strong foundation for this pairing. With 24 cores and 32 threads, the processor operates at a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boosts up to 6.00 GHz. This Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process, includes 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The CPU's benchmark results are impressive: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 49872 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20370, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Undisputed, the CPU's role is to maintain consistent frame pacing without introducing bottlenecks. The data shows that the i9-14900K more than adequately handles this task. The processor's nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7413, scores 80041, a mere 0.3% difference, confirming the i9-14900K's position among the fastest consumer processors. The CPU's single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7040, ensures that even the game's primary simulation thread has ample headroom.

This CPU headroom means that all performance variations in the measured FPS data can be attributed directly to GPU limitations. The processor's 125 W TDP and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 ensure it can sustain high clock speeds during extended gaming sessions. The i9-14900K's integrated UHD Graphics 770 is irrelevant in this configuration, as the discrete RX 580 handles all rendering tasks.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimizing the Undisputed experience with this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers 88.6 FPS average, while the High preset achieves 75.3 FPS. Both are well above playable thresholds, but the Low preset's 122.7 FPS average offers the smoothest experience for competitive play. The Ultra preset drops to 44.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for most users.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the optimal choice, delivering 63.9 FPS average. This maintains smooth gameplay while providing better visual fidelity than the Low preset's 91.2 FPS. The High preset at 51.2 FPS is borderline, and Ultra drops to 35.7 FPS, which is not recommended for consistent gameplay. The data suggests that 2560x1440 Medium is the sweet spot for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset achieves 55.9 FPS average, which is the only viable option at this resolution. Medium drops to 38 FPS, High to 35.3 FPS, and Ultra is unplayable at 21 FPS. Users prioritizing frame rate should stick with Low settings at 4K, while those who prefer visual quality should consider dropping to 2560x1440 for the Medium preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 1466 out of 1580 total tested combinations in the database. This rank places the combo in the bottom 7.2% of all tested systems, reflecting the GPU's age and performance limitations. Despite the CPU's top-tier status, the overall system performance is dragged down by the RX 580's 53rd percentile GPU ranking.

This ranking is consistent with the measured frame rates. While the CPU scores in the 97th percentile, the GPU's average benchmark score of 13559 is nearly matched by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 at 13564. The RX 580's closest competitor, the AMD Radeon Pro 455, scores 13416, putting the RX 580 1.1% ahead. This level of GPU performance is simply insufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming at modern resolutions.

The combo's rank relative to other tested configurations suggests that users with this hardware should focus on lower resolutions and medium settings to achieve acceptable performance. The 1580 total combinations tested show a wide range of system capabilities, and this pairing sits firmly in the lower tier despite its premium processor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a clear progression across settings. The Low preset achieves 122.7 FPS average, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce 88.6 FPS, High settings yield 75.3 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 44.9 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 77.8 FPS, demonstrating the significant impact of graphical settings on this GPU.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales downward as expected. Low settings deliver 91.2 FPS average, Medium achieves 63.9 FPS, High reaches 51.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 35.7 FPS. The transition from 1920x1080 Low to 2560x1440 Low results in a 31.5 FPS decrease, highlighting the resolution's impact on the GPU's fill rate capabilities.

At 3840x2160, the RX 580 struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings produce 55.9 FPS average, Medium drops to 38 FPS, High achieves 35.3 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 21 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 34.9 FPS, with only the Low preset approaching the 60 FPS threshold. The data across all resolutions and settings consistently shows the GPU as the limiting factor, with the CPU providing ample headroom for all scenarios.