Rust

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a highly playable Rust experience across most common resolutions, with benchmark data showing a clear performance ceiling at 4K. At 1920x1080, the combo averages 161.9 FPS on Low settings, 110.9 FPS on Medium, 92.6 FPS on High, and 70.9 FPS on Ultra, comfortably exceeding the 60 FPS playability threshold at every preset. Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong: Low settings yield 111 FPS, Medium 76.9 FPS, and High 63 FPS, while Ultra drops to 45.8 FPS. At 3840x2160, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS bar with an average of 68 FPS; Medium manages 45.3 FPS, High 36.4 FPS, and Ultra 30.8 FPS. The data positions this combo at rank 2000 out of 3723 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of systems evaluated for Rust.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates reveal a predictable scaling pattern tied to resolution and graphical preset. At 1920x1080, the RTX 4060 paired with the i5-12400 demonstrates substantial headroom. Low settings produce an average of 161.9 FPS, which represents the highest frame rate recorded across all tested configurations in this dataset. Medium settings reduce the average to 110.9 FPS, a 31.5% drop from Low, while High settings yield 92.6 FPS. Ultra settings at 1080p average 70.9 FPS, still 10.9 FPS above the 60 FPS playability threshold. These figures indicate that 1080p gaming is largely GPU-bound, as even the most demanding preset maintains smooth performance.

At 2560x1440, the performance curve steepens. Low settings average 111 FPS, nearly matching the 1080p Medium result. Medium settings deliver 76.9 FPS, which is 35.1 FPS below the 1440p Low figure. High settings average 63 FPS, barely clearing the 60 FPS threshold, while Ultra drops to 45.8 FPS, falling below playable levels. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 65.2 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4060's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus become limiting factors as resolution increases.

The 3840x2160 results show the steepest falloff. Low settings average 68 FPS, the only playable preset at this resolution. Medium settings drop to 45.3 FPS, High to 36.4 FPS, and Ultra to 30.8 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 37.2 FPS, a 54.7% reduction. Notably, the 4K Low setting outperforms the 1440p Ultra setting by 22.2 FPS, suggesting that resolution scaling has a more pronounced effect on performance than preset selection in this title.

Across all resolutions, the data shows no minimum or maximum FPS values recorded, only averages. This means the analysis relies solely on mean frame rates, which can mask occasional stutters or frame-time spikes. However, the consistent averages above 60 FPS for most configurations indicate stable performance under typical gameplay conditions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 2000th out of 3723 tested combos for Rust, placing it in the 53.7th percentile of systems evaluated. This mid-pack ranking reflects a balanced pairing: the CPU sits at the 72nd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 61st percentile among all graphics cards. The combination's overall position suggests it outperforms a majority of tested systems but does not reach the upper echelon dominated by high-end hardware.

The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD EPYC 7643, which scores 0.1% higher in average benchmark score, and the Intel Core i7-1355U, which scores 0.3% higher. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 leads by 0.7%, while the Intel Core i3-14100F trails by 0.9%. These deltas are minimal, indicating that the i5-12400's six-core, twelve-thread configuration with an 18 MB shared L3 cache performs competitively against a wide range of processors, including both desktop and mobile parts.

For the GPU, the RTX 4060's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 0.2% higher, and the AMD Radeon 780M, which trails by 0.3%. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 follow at 0.5% and 0.7% behind, respectively. These comparisons underscore the RTX 4060's position as a capable mid-range graphics solution, though the deltaPct values show that its synthetic benchmark scores are closely clustered with older and lower-tier cards. In Rust specifically, the combo's rank indicates that gameplay performance aligns with these synthetic scores, delivering playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p but struggling at 4K beyond Low settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Ultra, averaging 70.9 FPS. This means users can enable maximum graphical fidelity at 1080p without sacrificing smoothness. The margin above the 60 FPS threshold is 10.9 FPS, providing a small buffer for intense gameplay moments.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is High, with an average of 63 FPS. This preset delivers a 3 FPS margin over the playability threshold, indicating that performance is close to the edge. Users seeking higher visual quality at 1440p would need to accept frame rates below 60 FPS, as Ultra averages only 45.8 FPS.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings remain playable, averaging 68 FPS. This provides an 8 FPS margin over the threshold, but it requires significant graphical compromises. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 45.3, 36.4, and 30.8 FPS respectively. For 4K gaming, the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory capacity and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for higher presets in Rust.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Rust at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo averages 70.9 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold by 10.9 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 1440p?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 average 63 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 45.8 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings. The 3840x2160 Low preset averages 68 FPS, while Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 45.3, 36.4, and 30.8 FPS respectively.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 2000th out of 3723 tested combos for Rust, placing it in the upper 53.7% of systems evaluated.

Q: Which component is more important for Rust performance at 1080p?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck. Low settings average 161.9 FPS, while Ultra averages 70.9 FPS, a 91 FPS difference driven almost entirely by GPU load.

Q: Does the CPU limit performance at any resolution?

A: The i5-12400's six cores and twelve threads appear sufficient across all tested resolutions. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K at identical settings (e.g., 92.6 FPS to 36.4 FPS on High) is consistent with GPU-bound scaling, not CPU limitation.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i5-12400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 depending on resolution. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the dominant factor, as evidenced by the wide spread between presets. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p—from 161.9 FPS to 70.9 FPS—represents a 56.2% performance reduction, which is almost entirely attributable to increased GPU workload from higher-quality textures, shadows, and effects. The CPU's role at this resolution is secondary, as even the lowest preset produces frame rates that would expose any CPU bottleneck, and the i5-12400's 4.40 GHz boost clock and 18 MB L3 cache provide ample headroom.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's influence grows while the CPU remains sufficient. The 1440p Low setting averages 111 FPS, which is 50.9 FPS lower than the equivalent 1080p setting, indicating that pixel count alone creates significant GPU load. The Medium preset at 76.9 FPS and High at 63 FPS show a gradual progression, while Ultra at 45.8 FPS falls below playability. The CPU's performance at 1440p is adequate, as the scaling between presets follows a consistent pattern that mirrors GPU-bound rendering.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the outright limiting factor. The 4K Low setting averages 68 FPS, but every increase in preset quality results in steep declines: Medium at 45.3 FPS, High at 36.4 FPS, and Ultra at 30.8 FPS. The 8 GB GDDR6 memory buffer on the RTX 4060 is likely saturated at this resolution, particularly with higher-quality textures. The CPU, meanwhile, shows no signs of bottlenecking, as the frame rate differences between resolutions at identical settings are consistent with GPU-side scaling. For example, High settings produce 92.6 FPS at 1080p, 63 FPS at 1440p, and 36.4 FPS at 4K—a pattern that aligns with pixel-count increases rather than CPU limitations.

The i5-12400's synthetic benchmarks further support its adequacy. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 indicate strong performance for a six-core part, while its Passmark multithread score of 18747 places it in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. These figures suggest that the processor can feed the RTX 4060 effectively at all tested resolutions, and the GPU's 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 236.2 GTexel/s texture rate are the primary determinants of Rust's frame rates, particularly as resolution increases.

The Verdict

This PC can run Rust successfully, with the verdict varying by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at all four presets: Low averages 161.9 FPS, Medium 110.9 FPS, High 92.6 FPS, and Ultra 70.9 FPS. This makes 1080p the optimal resolution for this combo, allowing maximum graphical settings without compromising playability. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High settings with 63 FPS, as well as at Medium (76.9 FPS) and Low (111 FPS), but Ultra falls short at 45.8 FPS. Users at 1440p should stick to High or lower presets for consistent smoothness. At 3840x2160, only Low settings meet the 60 FPS requirement, averaging 68 FPS. Higher presets at 4K are not viable, with Medium at 45.3 FPS, High at 36.4 FPS, and Ultra at 30.8 FPS. Overall, the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 deliver a solid Rust experience for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K playability limited to minimal graphical settings. The combo's rank of 2000 out of 3723 tested systems reflects its position as a competent mid-range solution for this survival title.