Core Ultra 9 285K + RTX 3080 in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

Every figure below is a measurement aggregated from published review charts — the CPU's frame-rate ceiling and the GPU's frame-rate ceiling in this game, combined. Settings: Epic preset, render scale 100% (native, no upscaling). CPU ceiling measured at 1080p, highest settings (TechPowerUp CPU suite), RTX 5090.

1080p73–73 fps · Balanced pairing 1440p57–57 fps · Strong GPU limit 4K34–34 fps · Strong GPU limit

1080p

Balanced pairing

Expected frame rate: 73–73 fps (measured range across sources).

CPU Core Ultra 9 285Kceiling ~86 fps on its own

GPU RTX 3080ceiling ~73 fps on its own

The two measured ceilings sit within 14.7% of each other — neither part wastes much of the other.

That range suits a 60 Hz monitor; a high-refresh panel would be underused in this game.

Confidence: MEDIUM — based on 2 source measurements for these two parts.

1440p

Strong GPU limit

Expected frame rate: 57–57 fps (measured range across sources).

CPU Core Ultra 9 285Kceiling ~86 fps on its own

GPU RTX 3080ceiling ~57 fps on its own

The GPU side is lower by about 33.1%: the pair runs at the lower ceiling, and upgrading the other part alone would not raise it.

That range suits a 60 Hz monitor; a high-refresh panel would be underused in this game.

Confidence: MEDIUM — based on 2 source measurements for these two parts.

4K

Strong GPU limit

Expected frame rate: 34–34 fps (measured range across sources).

CPU Core Ultra 9 285Kceiling ~86 fps on its own

GPU RTX 3080ceiling ~34 fps on its own

The GPU side is lower by about 59.7%: the pair runs at the lower ceiling, and upgrading the other part alone would not raise it.

That range sits under a smooth 60 in this game at the tested preset — expect to trade settings for frame rate.

Confidence: MEDIUM — based on 2 source measurements for these two parts.

GPUs measured in this game at 1440p that clear this CPU:

RTX 4090 — ceiling ~98 fps (smallest step that removes the limit) · full result

This pair in other measured games

Alan Wake 2 — Strong GPU limit, 65–65 fps at 1440p
Baldur's Gate 3 — Balanced, 107–107 fps at 1440p
Counter-Strike 2 — Strong GPU limit, 257–257 fps at 1440p
Cyberpunk 2077 — Mild GPU limit, 74–79 fps at 1440p
Elden Ring — this pair is not both measured there yet.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — Strong GPU limit, 83–83 fps at 1440p
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 — Strong GPU limit, 77–77 fps at 1440p
Starfield — Strong GPU limit, 35–68 fps at 1440p

Sources for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

TechPowerUp

Full data: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 benchmarks · how verdicts are computed.