Rust

Rust places a heavy load on both the CPU and GPU, and the data for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti shows a system that is clearly capable of running the game smoothly at most settings. The recorded measurements indicate that this combination clears the 60 FPS threshold at all tested resolutions, though the choice of graphics preset becomes critical at 4K. The results show a strong balance, with the GPU often being the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides enough headroom to drive high frame rates at 1080p.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which delivers an average of 62.3 FPS. The jump to High drops the average to 54.5 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold. Low settings at this resolution produce a much higher 94 FPS average, but Medium is the highest quality option that maintains the target. Ultra is not viable here, as it only reaches 37.4 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system has enough headroom to run the game at Ultra settings, which is the highest preset tested. The average FPS at Ultra is 67, which clears the 60 FPS line with a small margin. High settings at this resolution yield 89.2 FPS, Medium produces 102.6 FPS, and Low reaches 154.7 FPS. All four presets are playable, making Ultra the best choice for visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

At 1920x1080, the story is similar, with Ultra again being the best playable preset. The average FPS at Ultra is 96.9, which is well above the threshold. High settings produce 130 FPS, Medium reaches 147.5 FPS, and Low tops out at 173.7 FPS. Every preset at 1080p is comfortably above 60 FPS, so users can prioritize visuals without concern.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component importance as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a more significant role, as the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. The frame rates are high across all presets, with Low hitting 173.7 FPS and Ultra still managing 96.9 FPS. The scaling between Low and Ultra at 1080p is about 44% fewer frames, which suggests that the GPU is being pushed harder at higher settings, but the CPU is still keeping up.

At 2560x1440, the GPU starts to become more influential. The difference between Low and Ultra is larger here, with Low at 154.7 FPS and Ultra at 67 FPS, a drop of roughly 57%. This indicates that the RTX 3080 Ti is working harder to fill the additional pixels, while the i5-11400F remains sufficient to feed it. The CPU is less of a limiting factor at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant component. The gap between Low (94 FPS) and Ultra (37.4 FPS) is massive, and even Medium (62.3 FPS) shows a significant reduction from Low. The CPU's role diminishes further, as the GPU is fully saturated by the 4K workload. The data shows that the i5-11400F can handle the game's CPU demands, but the RTX 3080 Ti determines playability at this resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the recorded averages are as follows: Low settings produce 173.7 FPS, Medium reaches 147.5 FPS, High runs at 130 FPS, and Ultra delivers 96.9 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 76.8 FPS, which shows a steady decline as visual quality increases. Even the lowest figure here is far above the 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 154.7 FPS, Medium at 102.6 FPS, High at 89.2 FPS, and Ultra at 67 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 87.7 FPS, and the gap between Medium and High is relatively small at 13.4 FPS. Ultra remains playable, but the margin is thinner than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 94 FPS, Medium at 62.3 FPS, High at 54.5 FPS, and Ultra at 37.4 FPS. This is the only resolution where not all presets are playable. Low and Medium clear the 60 FPS threshold, while High and Ultra fall short. The difference between Medium and High is 7.8 FPS, which is enough to cross the playability line.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Rust at 4K with high settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 54.5, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium is the highest playable preset at this resolution, with an average of 62.3 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 67 FPS, making it the highest quality preset that remains above 60 FPS. All other presets also clear the threshold, with Low at 154.7 FPS, Medium at 102.6 FPS, and High at 89.2 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high across all settings, from 173.7 FPS on Low to 96.9 FPS on Ultra. This indicates the i5-11400F provides sufficient processing power, and the GPU is more likely to be the limiting factor as settings increase.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti the main bottleneck at 4K?

A: Yes. The data shows a large spread at 3840x2160, from 94 FPS on Low to 37.4 FPS on Ultra. The GPU is heavily loaded at this resolution, and the CPU's role is reduced compared to lower resolutions.

Q: What frame rate can I expect with Medium settings at 1080p?

A: Medium settings at 1920x1080 yield an average of 147.5 FPS, which is far above the playable threshold and leaves plenty of headroom for competitive play.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 4K with High (54.5 FPS) and Ultra (37.4 FPS) settings. At all other resolution and preset combinations tested, the average FPS is at or above 62.3.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals in the database, the Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177. The AMD EPYC 7H12 scores 17120, which is 0.3% lower, indicating nearly identical performance. The Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17239, a 0.4% advantage, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G scores 17278, which is 0.6% faster. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U scores 17074, 0.6% slower. These small deltas mean all four alternatives would behave very similarly in Rust, with no meaningful difference in frame rates.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41187. The AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870, which is 0.8% lower, while the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707, a 1.2% advantage. The NVIDIA Tesla M40 scores 41897, 1.7% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, 2% lower. These rivals are all within a narrow band of performance, so swapping to any of them would produce comparable results in Rust, though the RTX 5070 might show a slight reduction in the most demanding 4K scenarios.

The Verdict

The data confirms that the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination can run Rust effectively. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with Ultra delivering 96.9 FPS and Low reaching 173.7 FPS. At 2560x1440, the system also handles every preset, with Ultra at 67 FPS and Low at 154.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium are playable, with Medium providing 62.3 FPS and Low at 94 FPS. The system is fully capable of running the game at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, while 4K users will need to stick to Medium or lower to maintain smooth performance.