Core i9-14900K + GeForce RTX 4080 Super bottleneck at 1440p
High-end Intel with high-end NVIDIA at the resolution most of these builds actually run.
GPU limited, which is optimal for gaming
- Memory 16 GB
- Storage NVMe SSD no cost
- Video memory 16 GB
The short answer
At 1440p for gaming the Core i9-14900K could feed about 182 fps, but the GeForce RTX 4080 Super tops out near 136 fps, so the card is the limiting part. That is the normal and preferable situation in a gaming PC.
The same parts at other resolutions
| Resolution | Estimated FPS | Verdict | Unused |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1440p | 136 | GPU limited, which is optimal for gaming | 25.3% |
| 1080p | 168 | GPU limited, barely | 7.7% |
| 4K | 88 | The graphics card is the bottleneck | 51.6% |
This table is the whole argument against treating a bottleneck percentage as a property of two parts. It is a property of two parts and a workload.
What to do
- This is the normal state for a gaming PC. The graphics card should be the part working hardest.
- Lower shadow, reflection and ray tracing settings first. They cost the most frames for the least visual difference.
- Turn on DLSS, FSR or XeSS in quality mode. It raises frame rate specifically when the card is the limit.
- If you want a real jump, a faster graphics card is the upgrade that will actually show up. The Core i9-14900K has room to feed a quicker card.
Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i9-14900K |
| Cores / threads | 24 / 32 |
| Graphics card | GeForce RTX 4080 Super |
| Video memory | 16 GB |
| Assumed workload | Gaming |
| Assumed memory | 16 GB |
| Assumed storage | NVMe SSD |
Change the memory, drive and workload assumptions in the calculator, or see more pairings for the Core i9-14900K or the GeForce RTX 4080 Super.
Questions people ask about this pairing
Does the Core i9-14900K bottleneck the GeForce RTX 4080 Super?
At 1440p for gaming the Core i9-14900K could feed about 182 fps, but the GeForce RTX 4080 Super tops out near 136 fps, so the card is the limiting part. That is the normal and preferable situation in a gaming PC.
What frame rate should I expect at 1440p?
Around 136 FPS as a modelled average across recent AAA titles at high settings. Competitive shooters and older games will run considerably higher; heavy ray tracing will run lower.
Should I upgrade the graphics card?
If you want a real jump, a faster graphics card is the upgrade that will actually show up. The Core i9-14900K has room to feed a quicker card.
Does the answer change at other resolutions?
At 1080p the estimate is about 168 FPS and the verdict is "GPU limited, barely". At 4K the estimate is about 88 FPS and the verdict is "The graphics card is the bottleneck".