Rust

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for Rust on this configuration, pairing the Intel Core i5-11400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, was recorded at three resolutions and four quality presets. The results show a system that is overwhelmingly capable of running this survival title, with the only point of concern appearing at the highest resolution and preset combination.

At 1920x1080, the recorded average frame rates are exceptionally high across all settings. The Low preset delivers an average of 175 FPS, which is the highest figure recorded for this entire benchmark run. Stepping up to Medium produces an average of 150 FPS, with a minimum of 128 FPS and a maximum of 173 FPS. The High preset still maintains a strong average of 141 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset does not drop below the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 128 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the combination of CPU and GPU has the most headroom, with every preset delivering a triple-digit average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent, though the impact of the increased pixel count is visible. The Low preset averages 154 FPS. Medium follows with an average of 133 FPS, recording a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS. The High preset averages 124 FPS. Ultra, which is the most visually demanding setting, still produces a comfortable average of 94 FPS. The data indicates that at this resolution, the system retains enough performance to keep the game well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, even under the heaviest load.

At 3840x2160, the pattern changes. The Low preset averages 129 FPS, which is still a very high frame rate. Medium averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High averages 73 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, is the first and only setting in the entire dataset to fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 56 FPS. This marks a clear boundary for the configuration: at 4K, the graphical ceiling is reached at the High preset, as the Ultra preset cannot maintain a playable average frame rate.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database's playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS. Based on the measured averages, the best setting is the most demanding preset that still maintains an average at or above this threshold.

For 1920x1080, every preset clears the threshold. The best settings are therefore Ultra, which delivers an average of 128 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still retaining a frame rate more than double the playable baseline.

For 2560x1440, the same holds true. All presets, including Ultra, remain above 60 FPS. The best setting is Ultra with an average of 94 FPS, which offers the full visual feature set while keeping the frame rate comfortably above the threshold.

For 3840x2160, the choice is more constrained. The Ultra preset falls to 56 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The most demanding preset that still stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages 73 FPS. This is the recommended ceiling for 4K gameplay, as it balances the highest available visual quality with a playable frame rate.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The recorded data places this CPU and GPU combination at a notable rank within the database, specifically 445 out of 3723 tested combinations for this game. Examining the nearest rivals for each component provides context for what other hardware might behave similarly.

For the Intel Core i5-11400F, the database lists several processors with nearly identical average benchmark scores. The AMD EPYC 7H12 sits only 0.3% higher in average score, making it a statistical equivalent in terms of overall processing power. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is also extremely close, with a score 0.6% higher. On the other side, the Intel Core i5-12450H trails by 0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G trails by 0.6%. These four alternatives would be expected to deliver largely indistinguishable CPU-bound performance in this game.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, the nearest rivals are all workstation-class or professional cards. The Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score that is effectively identical, with a delta of 0%. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% higher, while the AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% lower. These deltas are all within a very narrow band, suggesting that for GPU-heavy workloads, these cards would land in the same performance vicinity, though the consumer-focused RTX 4090 has a different feature set and driver optimization path.

The Verdict

The verdict from the database is clear: this PC can run Rust, and it can run it exceptionally well at most settings.

At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on all four presets. The best experience is Ultra, with an average of 128 FPS. This is a definitive pass, with enough headroom for high refresh rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the configuration again passes on all four presets. The Ultra preset averages 94 FPS, which is well above the playable threshold. This resolution offers a strong balance of visual fidelity and performance, and the system handles it without issue.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The High, Medium, and Low presets all clear the 60 FPS threshold, with High being the best playable option at 73 FPS. However, the Ultra preset fails to maintain the threshold, averaging only 56 FPS. For users aiming for maximum visual quality at 4K, this configuration falls just short. For those willing to step down one notch to High, the experience remains fully playable.

In summary, the system is highly capable for Rust. The only scenario where it fails to reach the playable threshold is at the absolute maximum settings at 4K resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data provides insight into how the CPU and GPU each contribute to performance in Rust across the three tested resolutions.

The scaling from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 shows a moderate frame rate drop. At the Low preset, the average drops from 175 FPS to 154 FPS, a reduction of 21 FPS. At Medium, the drop is from 150 FPS to 133 FPS, a reduction of 17 FPS. At High, the drop is from 141 FPS to 124 FPS, a reduction of 17 FPS. At Ultra, the drop is from 128 FPS to 94 FPS, a reduction of 34 FPS. This pattern, where the higher preset sees a larger absolute drop, indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution and graphical load increase.

The scaling from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 amplifies this trend. At Low, the average drops from 154 FPS to 129 FPS, a reduction of 25 FPS. At Medium, the drop is from 133 FPS to 87 FPS, a reduction of 46 FPS. At High, the drop is from 124 FPS to 73 FPS, a reduction of 51 FPS. At Ultra, the drop is from 94 FPS to 56 FPS, a reduction of 38 FPS. The much larger absolute decreases at the higher presets confirm that the GPU is the dominant factor at 4K. The RTX 4090, while extremely powerful, is being pushed to its limits by the combination of high resolution and high preset.

At 1920x1080, the GPU has significant spare capacity. The frame rates remain very high even at Low, which suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately. The fact that the Ultra preset at 1080p (128 FPS) is higher than the Low preset at 4K (129 FPS) is notable. It shows that resolution, and therefore GPU load, has a massive impact on the final frame rate. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Rocket Lake architecture, does not appear to be a bottleneck at any tested setting, as frame rates scale consistently with the GPU load.

In practical terms, the data indicates that for this game, the RTX 4090 is the primary driver of performance differences between resolutions. The i5-11400F provides a solid foundation, but the measurable frame rate shifts are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload changing with resolution and preset.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Rust at 4K with max settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 56 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset at 4K averages 73 FPS and is the best playable option at that resolution.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 2560x1440, with an average of 94 FPS. All four presets at this resolution clear the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score that is essentially identical to the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0% delta). The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% higher, the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% higher, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% lower.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark data suggests it is not a significant bottleneck. At 1920x1080, the system reaches an average of 175 FPS at Low settings and 128 FPS at Ultra, indicating the CPU can support very high frame rates. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 7H12 and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, are within 0.6% in average score.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 averages 150 FPS, with a minimum of 128 FPS and a maximum of 173 FPS.

Q: At which resolution does the Ultra preset stop being playable?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 1920x1080 (128 FPS) and 2560x1440 (94 FPS), but not at 3840x2160, where it drops to 56 FPS.