Rust

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a wide spread of frame rates in Rust, depending on resolution and quality preset. Across the recorded measurements, this combination ranges from 39 FPS at 4K Ultra to 149 FPS at 1080p Low. The data indicates a system that can comfortably handle most settings at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires careful preset selection to stay above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The following sections break down the measured performance, component roles, and practical recommendations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo posts its strongest results. The Low preset reaches an average of 149 FPS. Medium averages 128 FPS, with a minimum of 109 FPS and a maximum of 147 FPS. High averages 121 FPS. Ultra, the most demanding preset, still delivers an average of 96 FPS. All four presets at 1080p clear the 60 FPS threshold by a substantial margin, with even the worst-case minimum at Medium (109 FPS) sitting well above playable levels. The spread between Low and Ultra is 53 FPS, showing that the GPU has enough headroom at this resolution to absorb the extra load from higher settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages step down but remain strong. Low averages 131 FPS. Medium averages 103 FPS, with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 119 FPS. High averages 87 FPS. Ultra averages 66 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent: each preset loses roughly 18 to 30 FPS compared to its 1080p counterpart. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the first point where the average approaches the 60 FPS line, but it still clears it by 6 FPS. The minimum recorded at Medium (88 FPS) confirms that even transient dips stay far from stutter territory.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. Low averages 91 FPS. Medium averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. High drops to 52 FPS on average. Ultra falls to 39 FPS. Only Low and Medium meet the 60 FPS playable threshold at 4K. The jump from 1440p to 4K is harsh: Low loses 40 FPS, Medium loses 42 FPS, High loses 35 FPS, and Ultra loses 27 FPS. Interestingly, the absolute gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 52 FPS, nearly identical to the 53 FPS gap at 1080p, but the starting point is much lower. The Medium preset at 4K is the only one with full min/max data available, showing a 52 FPS floor and a 70 FPS ceiling, which means the average of 61 FPS is not a fluke but rather a stable operating point.

The resolution scaling reveals a clear pattern: at 1080p, the GPU is not fully taxed, as evidenced by the high averages across all presets. At 1440p, the load increases but remains manageable. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and only the two lightest presets keep the frame rate above 60 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data shows that the Intel Core i5-10400F provides sufficient processing power for Rust at all tested resolutions, but its influence is most pronounced at lower settings where the GPU has spare capacity. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 149 FPS, which is the highest recorded average across the entire dataset. This suggests that the CPU can feed frames quickly enough to keep the RTX 3080 Ti busy even when the graphical load is light.

As resolution increases, the GPU takes on a larger role. The frame rate drops are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario: at 1440p, the averages fall roughly 20-30% compared to 1080p for the same preset, and at 4K, they fall another 30-40% compared to 1440p. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across resolutions at the same settings, since the CPU workload does not change with resolution. Instead, the data shows a steady decline with each resolution step, which is the classic signature of GPU limitation.

Preset scaling reinforces this interpretation. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra costs 53 FPS (149 to 96). At 1440p, the same preset change costs 65 FPS (131 to 66). At 4K, it costs 52 FPS (91 to 39). The fact that the absolute cost of raising settings is similar across resolutions, while the baseline frame rate drops, indicates that the GPU is doing progressively more work per frame as resolution climbs. The CPU is not the constraint, otherwise the cost of higher presets would flatten out at higher resolutions.

The i5-10400F's benchmark scores support this view. In Cinebench R23, it scores 10,283 multi-core and 1,451 single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 6,257 multi-core and 1,420 single-core. These are mid-range results for a desktop processor, and they are sufficient to keep a high-end GPU fed at 1080p and 1440p. However, the data does not show any scenario where the CPU holds the system back. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU is most likely to become a factor, the system still produces 149 FPS, which is far above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

For practical purposes, players on this combo should treat Rust as a GPU-bound game at 1440p and 4K. At 1080p, the CPU and GPU are more balanced, but neither component appears to be a weak link. The minimum frame rate data at Medium (109 FPS at 1080p, 88 FPS at 1440p, 52 FPS at 4K) shows that dips are proportional to resolution, again pointing to GPU load as the primary variable.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Rust at 60 FPS on Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes. The recorded average at 1920x1080 Ultra is 96 FPS, which is 36 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 4K resolution?

A: Medium is the highest preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. It averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. Low also works, averaging 91 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while still clearing the threshold.

Q: How does the system perform at 1440p compared to 1080p?

A: At 1440p, the averages are lower across all presets. For example, High drops from 121 FPS at 1080p to 87 FPS at 1440p, and Ultra drops from 96 FPS to 66 FPS. The 1440p results are still playable on every preset.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti or the i5-10400F more important for Rust performance?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions. Frame rates decline consistently as resolution increases, which is typical of GPU-bound workloads. The CPU provides enough throughput to reach 149 FPS at 1080p Low, showing it is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the dataset?

A: The lowest average is 39 FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra. This is the only preset that falls below 52 FPS on average, and it is well under the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: According to the available data, no. The lowest average at 1440p is 66 FPS on Ultra. The only min/max data at 1440p is for Medium, with a minimum of 88 FPS, so even transient dips stay above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 1,260 out of 3,723 tested combos for Rust in the database. This places the setup in the upper third of all recorded configurations. The rank reflects the strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, where the system clears 60 FPS on every preset, and the acceptable performance at 4K, where two presets remain playable.

The CPU itself sits at the 68th percentile among all processors in the database, with an average benchmark score of 14,185. Its nearest rivals, based on average score, are the Intel Xeon 6756E (14,163, nearly identical), the Intel Core 7 160UL (14,232, slightly higher), the AMD EPYC 7552 (14,115, slightly lower), and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14,277, slightly higher). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the i5-10400F performs on par with a diverse set of server and mobile chips in synthetic tests, despite being a mainstream desktop part.

The GPU ranks at the 83rd percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 41,187. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (40,870, about 1% lower), the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB (41,707, about 1% higher), the NVIDIA Tesla M40 (41,897, about 2% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (40,377, about 2% lower). These are all within a small margin, which suggests that the RTX 3080 Ti delivers performance comparable to a mix of professional and newer consumer cards.

The combo rank of 1,260 out of 3,723 means that roughly two-thirds of tested systems perform worse in Rust, while one-third perform better. Given that the RTX 3080 Ti is a high-end card from the Ampere generation and the i5-10400F is a mid-range processor, the rank aligns with expectations. The data does not show any performance anomalies or mismatches that would push the combo higher or lower.

The Verdict

This PC can run Rust, and it does so with authority at most settings. The verdict by resolution is clear:

At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable. The highest preset, Ultra, averages 96 FPS, which is 36 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the ideal resolution for this combo if you want maximum visual quality without compromise.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable. Ultra averages 66 FPS, just 6 FPS above the threshold. High averages 87 FPS, Medium averages 103 FPS, and Low averages 131 FPS. For a smoother experience with headroom, High or Medium are safer choices, but Ultra does technically clear 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium are playable. Medium averages 61 FPS, which is 1 FPS above the threshold. Low averages 91 FPS, providing a comfortable margin. High (52 FPS) and Ultra (39 FPS) fall short of 60 FPS and should be avoided if frame rate is a priority.

The data shows no resolution or preset where the system becomes unplayable due to severe stutter. The minimum frame rate at 4K Medium is 52 FPS, which is below the threshold but not a catastrophic drop. At 1080p and 1440p, the minimums stay well above 60 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 61 FPS. This is the highest quality option that meets the playable threshold. Choosing Low yields 91 FPS, which is smoother but visually less detailed. High and Ultra do not meet the threshold.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 66 FPS. This is the top preset available, so you can run the game at maximum quality without dropping below the threshold. For extra safety, High at 87 FPS or Medium at 103 FPS offer more headroom, but Ultra is confirmed playable.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 96 FPS. This is the highest preset, and it delivers a frame rate well above the threshold. There is no reason to lower settings at this resolution unless you are targeting a 144 Hz or higher refresh rate display, in which case Medium (128 FPS) or Low (149 FPS) would be better fits.

For players who prioritize a consistent 60 FPS minimum rather than average, the Medium preset at 4K has a recorded minimum of 52 FPS, which falls short. In that case, Low at 4K, with its 91 FPS average, would be the safer choice. At 1440p, no min/max data is provided for Ultra, but the average of 66 FPS suggests it is close to the line; Medium with a minimum of 88 FPS is the safest option if you want guaranteed headroom.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide a sense of what other hardware would behave similarly in Rust. For the Intel Core i5-10400F, the closest matches by average benchmark score are the Intel Xeon 6756E, the Intel Core 7 160UL, the AMD EPYC 7552, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. These processors score within 0.6% of the i5-10400F in synthetic tests. In practice, a system with any of these CPUs paired with an RTX 3080 Ti would likely produce frame rates within a few FPS of the recorded values, assuming the rest of the system is comparable. The Xeon 6756E and EPYC 7552 are server parts, so they would appear in workstation or dual-socket builds, but their single-thread and multi-thread performance is close enough to the i5-10400F that Rust performance would be similar.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB, the NVIDIA Tesla M40, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070. The Radeon Pro 5300 scores about 1% lower, the Tesla cards score about 1-2% higher, and the RTX 5070 scores about 2% lower. These deltas are small, so swapping the RTX 3080 Ti for any of these cards would result in nearly identical frame rates in Rust. The Tesla M40 cards are datacenter-oriented and lack modern display outputs, but their raw compute performance is comparable. The RTX 5070 is a newer consumer card, and its slightly lower average score suggests it would perform within a few FPS of the RTX 3080 Ti.

In summary, a player with an i5-10400F and an RTX 3080 Ti can expect Rust to run at over 60 FPS on Ultra at 1080p and 1440p, and on Medium at 4K. The system ranks in the upper third of tested combos, and its nearest hardware alternatives would deliver a nearly identical experience. The data does not reveal any configuration where this combo struggles to remain playable, provided the user selects appropriate settings for the target resolution.