Undisputed

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Undisputed, a sports title that appears to scale aggressively with both CPU and GPU capabilities. The data presents a clear picture: this pairing is built for high-refresh-rate displays, with even the most demanding settings yielding playable performance. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them against the component specifications, and explains what the numbers mean for the gaming experience.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor from the Arrow Lake Refresh generation, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The processor features a substantial cache hierarchy, including 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Its multi-threaded performance is strong, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51731 and a Passmark multithread score of 60860. Single-thread performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7303.

In the context of Undisputed, the processor's role is to feed the GPU with data and manage the game's simulation logic. The high boost clock of 5.80 GHz is particularly relevant for a sports game, which often has a primary simulation thread that benefits from high single-core performance. The benchmark results suggest the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested setting. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 400 FPS. This is a scenario where the GPU is typically underutilized, and the frame rate is often limited by the CPU's ability to process draw calls and game logic. The fact that the system reaches 400 FPS indicates the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has ample headroom for this title.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the processor scores 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX, and 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9135. It also outperforms the AMD EPYC 7F72 by 1.3%. These are marginal differences in synthetic benchmarks, and in a game like Undisputed, such small deltas are unlikely to translate into noticeable frame rate differences, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The processor's 96th percentile ranking vs all CPUs indicates it is in the top tier of available processors for this workload.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 400 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This demonstrates the extreme performance ceiling of the combination at lower graphical loads.

Q: Does the game show a preference for single-core or multi-core CPU performance?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck. Even at 1080p Low, where CPU load is highest relative to the GPU, the system achieves 400 FPS. The strong single-core performance (7303 in Cinebench R23) and multi-core performance (51731 in Cinebench R23) both appear sufficient for the game's demands.

Q: How does the RTX 5070's memory configuration affect performance?

A: The RTX 5070 has 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is ample for the game's requirements, as frame rates remain high even at 4K Ultra, where memory pressure is highest.

Q: Is the combo more likely to be CPU-limited or GPU-limited at 4K?

A: The performance drop from 1080p to 4K indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 238 at 1080p to 109 at 4K, a reduction of over 50%. This is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

Q: What is the performance difference between the lowest and highest settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 289 on Low settings to 111 on Ultra settings. This represents a 61.6% drop in average frame rate when moving from the least to most demanding preset.

Q: How does the combo's performance rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 555th out of 2813 tested combinations, placing it in the top 20% of all systems tested for this game. This indicates it is a high-performing pairing, though not the absolute top-tier combination.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Analyzing the measured frame rates across resolutions reveals the classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At Low settings, the average frame rate at 1080p is 400 FPS, dropping to 289 FPS at 1440p, and further to 183 FPS at 4K. This shows a 54.25% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is even more pronounced at High settings: 238 FPS at 1080p, 172 FPS at 1440p, and 109 FPS at 4K. This is a 54.2% drop from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, the figures are 288 FPS, 208 FPS, and 132 FPS respectively, representing a 54.2% reduction as well.

At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 153 FPS at 1080p, 111 FPS at 1440p, and 70 FPS at 4K, a 54.2% decline. The consistency of this percentage drop across all settings is striking. This indicates that the scaling is primarily driven by the GPU's pixel throughput capabilities, not by changes in CPU load or other system components. The RTX 5070's pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s are the attributes that determine how quickly it can render these higher-resolution frames.

The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly half when moving from 1080p to 4K is a textbook example of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its high boost clock and 24 cores, has more than enough performance to keep up with the GPU at all tested resolutions. This is further confirmed by the 1080p Low result of 400 FPS. If the CPU were a significant bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates at lower resolutions, which is not the case here. The data shows the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a capable partner that does not hold back the RTX 5070 in Undisputed.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides clear guidance on settings choices depending on the user's display and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. At 1080p, all presets deliver excellent performance. Low settings achieve an average of 400 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. Medium and High settings produce 288 FPS and 238 FPS, respectively, which are also exceptionally high. Ultra at 1080p still delivers a very smooth 153 FPS. For users with 1080p displays, High or Ultra settings would provide the best balance of visual quality and performance.

At 1440p, the situation remains favorable. Low settings hit 289 FPS, Medium at 208 FPS, and High at 172 FPS. All of these are well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on 1440p monitors. Ultra at 1440p drops to 111 FPS, which is still playable but may not fully utilize a high-refresh-rate panel. For 1440p, High settings appear to be the sweet spot, offering a high average FPS of 172 with improved visuals over Medium.

At 4K, the choice becomes more critical. Low settings produce a very playable 183 FPS. Medium settings still deliver a strong 132 FPS. High settings drop to 109 FPS, which is acceptable for 60 Hz displays but not ideal for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors. Ultra at 4K yields 70 FPS, which is the lowest measured value but is still playable on a 60 Hz display. For 4K, the data suggests that Medium settings offer the best trade-off, with an average of 132 FPS, which is within the range of many 120 Hz+ 4K displays. The High preset at 109 FPS is also a viable option for those prioritizing visual quality over maximum frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination holds a rank of 555 out of 2813 tested combos for Undisputed. This places it in the 80.3rd percentile of all tested systems. This is a strong ranking, indicating that this pairing provides a high level of performance compared to other CPU and GPU combinations. The data suggests that while this system is not in the absolute top tier, it is positioned well above the median performer.

The ranking is likely influenced by the RTX 5070's position in the GPU hierarchy. The GPU has a percentile rank of 82 vs all GPUs, indicating it is a high-end card, though not the fastest available. Similarly, the CPU is ranked in the 96th percentile vs all CPUs. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a high-end GPU results in a system that is capable of delivering excellent performance in this game, as evidenced by the measured frame rates. The 555th rank out of 2813 combos confirms that there are faster systems, but this combo is still within the top 20% of all tested configurations, making it a highly capable setup for Undisputed.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following table details the exact measured average frame rates for all tested scenarios:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

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

| 3840x2160 | Low | 183 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 132 | 112 | 151 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 109 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 70 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 289 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 208 | 177 | 239 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 172 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 111 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 400 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 288 | 245 | 331 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 238 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 153 | - | - |

The data shows a consistent pattern. For each resolution, the frame rate decreases as settings increase from Low to Ultra. The difference between Low and Ultra is substantial. At 1080p, the difference is 247 FPS (from 400 to 153). At 1440p, it is 178 FPS (from 289 to 111). At 4K, it is 113 FPS (from 183 to 70). The min and max FPS data are only provided for Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate fluctuates between 245 and 331 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it ranges from 177 to 239 FPS. At 4K Medium, it ranges from 112 to 151 FPS. The stability of the frame rate, as indicated by the min and max values, suggests that the game runs smoothly without significant hitches, even at higher resolutions.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU, built on a 5 nm process. It has a base clock of 2325 MHz and a boost clock of 2512 MHz. The GPU is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. It features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs. Its compute capabilities include 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU's measured performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong, with a Passmark G3D score of 29137 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077.

In Undisputed, the GPU's role is to render the boxing ring, fighters, and crowd. The game's visual fidelity scales with settings, and the RTX 5070 handles this effectively. The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for all tested settings, including 4K Ultra. The memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s allows for efficient texture streaming and high-resolution rendering. The GPU's boost clock of 2512 MHz is a key factor in its ability to maintain high frame rates. The performance difference between settings is significant, with the GPU's workload increasing substantially at higher presets.

The GPU's performance is the primary limiter at 4K. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 70 FPS. This is because the GPU is tasked with rendering a much larger number of pixels and applying more complex effects. The GPU's pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s are the hardware specifications that dictate how quickly it can process these tasks. The RTX 5070's percentile rank of 82 vs all GPUs indicates it is a high-performing card, but the 4K Ultra result of 70 FPS shows its limits in this demanding scenario. The GPU is clearly the component that determines the frame rate at higher resolutions, as the CPU has ample headroom.