Undisputed

Undisputed, the 2023 boxing title from the Sports genre, presents an interesting scalability profile for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination. The measured data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but which also demonstrates the raw CPU horsepower necessary to push frame rates to extreme levels at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across three resolutions and four quality presets, interpreting what the numbers mean for the balance of this specific hardware pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160 shows a classic pattern of increasing graphical load, but the magnitude of the performance drop is telling. At High settings, the average frame rate moves from 284 FPS at 1080p, down to 205 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 130 FPS at 4K. This represents a 28% decrease when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 37% decrease from 1440p to 4K. The data indicates that the performance ceiling is being lowered significantly as pixel count increases, which points directly at the GPU as the primary limiting factor in this scenario.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced when examining the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves a staggering 476 FPS, which drops to 344 FPS at 1440p and 218 FPS at 4K. The 4K figure is less than half of the 1080p number, a clear sign that the rendering workload at 4K is substantial even on the lowest settings. This suggests that while the RTX 4080 SUPER is exceptionally fast, it still encounters a significant workload increase at 4K that the CPU cannot fully compensate for, even with its high boost clock.

What is particularly interesting is the behavior at the Medium preset. This is the only setting tier where the data includes both minimum and maximum frame rate values. At 4K Medium, the average is 157 FPS with a minimum of 133 FPS and a maximum of 180 FPS. This indicates a frame time variance that is more noticeable than at lower resolutions, likely due to the increased complexity of the scene geometry and effects at this preset. The spread between min and max suggests that while the average is high, there are moments of heavier load that cause brief dips in performance.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 183 FPS, which is still very high. However, this drops to 132 FPS at 1440p and then plummets to 83 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure is the lowest recorded in the entire dataset, representing a 55% reduction from the 1080p Ultra score. This steep decline is a textbook example of a GPU-bound scenario where the increased shading, texture, and post-processing demands of the Ultra preset at 4K overwhelm the graphics card's capabilities.

The data suggests that for this game, the transition from 1080p to 1440p is a moderate step, but the jump to 4K is a much larger hurdle. The RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of VRAM and 736.3 GB/s memory bandwidth are likely sufficient for the data throughput, but the raw compute power required for 4K rendering at high refresh rates is clearly the bottleneck. The CPU, with its high single-thread performance, appears to be keeping up with the demands of the game's logic and physics, as evidenced by the extremely high frame rates at 1080p, but it is not the component that limits performance as resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Undisputed, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER holds a rank of 215 out of 2813 total combinations. This places it in the top 7.6% of all tested configs, indicating that it is a high-performing setup for this title. The percentile ranking is a strong indicator that most other hardware pairings will not achieve the same level of performance, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

The combo's rank is likely influenced heavily by the GPU's performance, as the game appears to be graphically intensive. The RTX 4080 SUPER's percentile rank among all GPUs is 86, which is quite high, but its average benchmark score of 54209 is nearly identical to the RTX 4080, showing a negligible delta of -0.1%. This suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the SUPER variant offers only a marginal improvement, but the measured FPS in Undisputed shows it is more than capable of delivering high frame rates.

The CPU's contribution to this ranking cannot be overlooked. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has a percentile rank of 96 among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 84003 is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. This indicates that the 290K Plus is one of the fastest consumer processors available, which helps ensure that it does not become a bottleneck in less demanding graphical scenarios. The combination of a top-tier CPU and a high-end GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for a game like Undisputed, which can be sensitive to both CPU and GPU performance depending on the settings.

The fact that the combo ranks 215th out of 2813 confirms its overall capability, but it also implies that there are 214 other combinations that perform better. These are likely to include GPUs that are even more powerful than the RTX 4080 SUPER, such as those with higher memory bandwidth or more compute units. The data does not provide specifics on these superior combos, but the ranking serves as a benchmark for what is achievable with this particular pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the workhorse of this system for Undisputed, and its measured performance across the board confirms its high-end status. With a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz, the AD103 chip is running at speeds that allow for substantial throughput. The 10240 shading units and 320 texture mapping units provide the raw compute power needed to drive the high frame rates seen in the data.

The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This is a significant asset for a game like Undisputed, which likely requires large texture sets and detailed character models. The memory bandwidth seems sufficient to feed the GPU's cores without causing a major bottleneck, as evidenced by the high average FPS at 1440p and 1080p. However, the drop to 4K suggests that even this bandwidth is tested, particularly at the Ultra preset.

The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks provides context for its in-game results. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6600 is a measure of its DirectX 12 capabilities, and its Passmark G3D score of 34245 is a general indicator of its gaming performance. These scores, combined with its 86th percentile rank, show that it is a top-tier card. The data for Undisputed, however, shows a more nuanced story. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is not linear, and the Ultra preset at 4K creates a significant challenge.

The fact that the card is listed as "End-of-life" with a successor in the GeForce 50 series is interesting, but it does not diminish its performance here. The measured FPS in Undisputed shows that it is still a very capable card for this title. The launch MSRP of 999 USD places it in the high-end segment, and its performance justifies that positioning, delivering playable frame rates even at the most demanding settings. The RTX 4080 SUPER is clearly the component that determines the system's performance ceiling at higher resolutions, and the data shows it is a strong ceiling to have.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Undisputed with this combo for the highest frame rates?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 476 FPS, which is the highest measured in the dataset. This indicates that 1080p is the resolution where the CPU and GPU combination can produce the most extreme frame rates.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its direct predecessor in this analysis?

A: The nearest rival data for the RTX 4080 SUPER shows that it has an average score of 54209, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 has an average score of 54247. This represents a delta of -0.1%, indicating that the SUPER variant is virtually identical in performance to the standard RTX 4080 in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: At which settings and resolution does the system show the most significant performance dip?

A: The largest performance drop is observed when moving from 1080p Ultra (183 FPS) to 4K Ultra (83 FPS), which is a 55% reduction in average frame rate. This is the largest relative decrease across all settings and resolutions in the measured data.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: The high frame rates at 1080p, such as 476 FPS on Low settings, suggest that the CPU is not a limiting factor at lower resolutions. However, the significant frame rate drops at 4K, particularly at Ultra settings, indicate that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for this combo in the entire dataset?

A: The lowest minimum frame rate recorded is 133 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings. This is the only preset where minimum FPS data is provided, and it shows that even the dips in performance are well above playable thresholds.

Q: How does this combo's rank compare to the total number of tested configurations?

A: The combo is ranked 215 out of 2813 tested combinations for Undisputed. This places it in the top 7.6% of all configurations, indicating that it outperforms the vast majority of other hardware pairings for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The dataset provides a comprehensive look at performance across 12 distinct scenarios, covering three resolutions and four quality presets. The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its maximum potential. The Low preset yields an average of 476 FPS, which is an exceptional result and indicates that the CPU and GPU are working efficiently with minimal graphical overhead. The Medium preset produces an average of 343 FPS, with a minimum of 291 FPS and a maximum of 394 FPS, showing a wider variance as more effects are enabled. The High preset delivers 284 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 183 FPS. This shows a clear progression of performance cost as visual fidelity increases.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates are still very high but show a noticeable reduction from 1080p. Low settings yield 344 FPS, which is a 28% decrease from the 1080p result. Medium settings produce 248 FPS, with a minimum of 211 FPS and a maximum of 285 FPS, maintaining a smooth experience. High settings average 205 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 132 FPS. This resolution presents a sweet spot for high refresh rate monitors, as all presets except Ultra maintain an average above 200 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance demands become significant. The Low preset still manages an impressive 218 FPS, showing the card's raw power. Medium settings drop to 157 FPS, with a minimum of 133 FPS and a maximum of 180 FPS, which is still comfortably playable. High settings average 130 FPS, and Ultra settings average 83 FPS, which is the lowest figure in the entire dataset. This resolution requires more careful settings management for a consistently high refresh rate experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus plays a crucial role in enabling the extreme frame rates seen at lower resolutions. With 24 cores and 24 threads, it has substantial parallel processing power, and its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.80 GHz provide excellent single-thread performance. The data shows that at 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU is capable of feeding the graphics card with enough data to achieve frame rates well above 300 FPS on lower presets.

The CPU's benchmark scores support its high-end positioning. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51731 and single-core score of 7303 are indicative of a processor that excels in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The Passmark single-thread score of 4823 is particularly relevant for gaming, as many game engines still rely on a few primary threads for the main game logic. This strong single-thread performance is likely a key reason why the frame rates at 1080p are so high.

The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core provide a large and fast memory pool for frequently accessed game data. This helps to reduce latency and improve frame pacing. Its memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s on a dual-channel DDR5 bus ensures that the CPU can quickly communicate with system memory, which is essential for a fast-paced sports title like Undisputed.

However, the CPU's role becomes more passive as resolution increases. The data shows a clear pattern where the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the CPU's contribution is less critical. The fact that the frame rate drops from 476 FPS at 1080p Low to 218 FPS at 4K Low suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck; rather, the GPU is struggling to render the increased pixel count. The CPU's high performance ensures that it does not hold the system back, but it is the GPU that determines the final outcome at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

For players seeking the absolute highest frame rates, particularly for competitive play or use with a very high refresh rate monitor, the 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings is the clear choice, delivering an average of 476 FPS. This configuration minimizes visual fidelity but maximizes responsiveness. The Medium preset at 1080p is a strong alternative, providing an average of 343 FPS with a more balanced visual experience, and its minimum of 291 FPS ensures consistent performance.

For a high-refresh-rate experience at 1440p, the High preset is the optimal choice, yielding 205 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining an average frame rate that is well above the 144 Hz threshold. The Medium preset at 1440p is also excellent, offering 248 FPS, but the High preset's visual improvements are likely worth the 17% performance cost for most users. The Ultra preset at 1440p, at 132 FPS, is also viable for 120 Hz displays, but it represents a substantial performance hit.

At 4K, the balance shifts decisively. The High preset provides the best experience for a 120 Hz display, with an average of 130 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that can consistently maintain a triple-digit frame rate at this resolution. The Medium preset offers a more comfortable margin with 157 FPS, and its minimum of 133 FPS makes it a safer choice for avoiding any noticeable dips. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 83 FPS, is playable but does not offer the smoothness of the other presets and is best reserved for players with 60 Hz displays or those who prioritize maximum visual fidelity over frame rate.

The data indicates that the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4080 SUPER is powerful enough to handle any preset at 1080p and 1440p with ease. For 4K, the recommendation is to stick with High or Medium settings to ensure a consistently high frame rate, as the Ultra preset pushes the GPU to its limits and results in a significant performance drop. The measured performance suggests that this system is best utilized with a high refresh rate 1440p monitor, where it can deliver a superb balance of visuals and speed.