Rust

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a commanding performance profile in Rust, with measured frame rates that scale predictably across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the combination is overwhelmingly fast, pushing average FPS from 136.3 at Ultra settings to 252.2 at Low, while 2560x1440 remains highly fluid with a 96.8 average at Ultra and a 223.1 average at Low. The only scenario where this combo dips below the 60 FPS playable threshold is at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, where the average falls to 57.8, but every other tested configuration at 4K clears the bar comfortably.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data covers three resolutions and four presets, with average FPS values recorded for each combination. Starting at 1920x1080, the lowest tested preset is Low, which produces an average of 252.2 FPS. Medium settings yield 215.1 FPS, High drops to 179.8 FPS, and Ultra still delivers a robust 136.3 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is substantial—a reduction of 115.9 FPS—but even the most demanding preset at this resolution stays far above any playability concern.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance curve steepens. Low settings average 223.1 FPS, Medium drops to 148.4 FPS, High comes in at 122.9 FPS, and Ultra settles at 96.8 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 126.3 FPS, which is slightly larger than at 1080p, indicating that resolution scaling amplifies the cost of higher presets. Notably, the jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs 25.5 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 26.1 FPS—a relatively even distribution.

At 3840x2160, the demands become severe. Low settings average 129.8 FPS, Medium drops to 84.5 FPS, High falls to 73.5 FPS, and Ultra averages just 57.8 FPS. This is the only resolution where any preset fails to reach 60 FPS, and it is specifically the Ultra preset that misses the mark. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 72.0 FPS, and the step from Medium to High costs 11.0 FPS, while High to Ultra costs 15.7 FPS. The data shows that Ultra at 4K is the sole configuration that will produce noticeable stutter or frame pacing issues for players targeting a locked 60 FPS.

Across all resolutions, the minimum and maximum FPS values are not provided in the dataset, so the analysis relies solely on averages. That said, the averages themselves are consistently high enough to indicate smooth gameplay in most scenarios. The 4K Ultra result of 57.8 FPS is the only outlier, sitting just below the 60 FPS threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals how the workload shifts between the Intel Core i5-14600K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. At 1920x1080, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck; the average FPS at Low (252.2) versus Ultra (136.3) shows a 115.9 FPS swing, which is driven mostly by GPU load. However, the CPU's 14 cores and 20 threads are capable of feeding the RTX 4090 at these high frame rates, as evidenced by the 252.2 FPS ceiling. The data indicates that at 1080p, the CPU has headroom even at Low settings, but the GPU still dictates the difference between presets.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The Low preset averages 223.1 FPS, which is only 29.1 FPS lower than at 1080p Low, suggesting that the CPU remains a limiting factor at very high frame rates. But once settings increase, the GPU load grows disproportionately: Medium drops by 66.7 FPS compared to 1080p Medium, and Ultra drops by 39.5 FPS compared to 1080p Ultra. This pattern shows that at 1440p, the RTX 4090 begins to take on more of the rendering burden, while the i5-14600K still provides sufficient throughput for the lower presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the dominant component. The Low preset averages 129.8 FPS, which is 93.3 FPS lower than at 1080p Low—a massive drop that cannot be attributed to CPU limitations. The RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are being taxed heavily at 4K, and the CPU's role diminishes. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 72.0 FPS, which is smaller than the 115.9 FPS gap at 1080p, confirming that the GPU is the performance ceiling at this resolution. For players using 4K displays, the i5-14600K is more than adequate; the RTX 4090 is the sole determinant of frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Rust at 60 FPS on a 4K display?

A: Yes, at High, Medium, and Low settings. The measured averages are 73.5 FPS at High, 84.5 FPS at Medium, and 129.8 FPS at Low. Ultra settings fall short at 57.8 FPS, so players should avoid Ultra at 4K.

Q: What is the best preset for 2560x1440?

A: Ultra settings are fully playable, with an average of 96.8 FPS. All four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—clear the 60 FPS threshold at 1440p, so players can choose based on visual preference.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At Ultra settings, the drop is from 136.3 FPS to 96.8 FPS, a loss of 39.5 FPS. At Low settings, the drop is from 252.2 FPS to 223.1 FPS, a smaller loss of 29.1 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 overkill for Rust at 1080p?

A: The data suggests yes for most presets, as even Ultra settings average 136.3 FPS. However, the CPU becomes a more significant factor at 1080p Low, where the 252.2 FPS result shows the GPU is not the bottleneck.

Q: Which preset should I use for 4K to maximize visual quality while staying above 60 FPS?

A: High settings are the best choice, as they deliver 73.5 FPS on average. Medium settings offer a higher 84.5 FPS but with lower visual fidelity. Ultra is not recommended due to its 57.8 FPS average.

Q: Does the i5-14600K bottleneck the RTX 4090 in Rust?

A: At 1080p and 1440p Low presets, the CPU can limit frame rates, as seen in the 252.2 FPS and 223.1 FPS results. At 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, and the CPU has ample headroom.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for both components provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly. For the Intel Core i5-14600K, the closest matches in average benchmark score are the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H with an average score of 48698 and a delta of -0.2%, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 with a score of 48995 and a delta of -0.8%, and the AMD EPYC 4345P with a score of 48470 and a delta of 0.3%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287 with a delta of 0.7%. These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Rust, meaning the frame rates at 1080p Low or 1440p Low would be essentially unchanged.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, the nearest rivals are quite different in nature. The Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score of 60326 with a delta of 0%, which is surprisingly close given the architectural differences. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60140 with a delta of 0.3%, and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61896 with a delta of -2.5%. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58657 with a delta of 2.9%. These GPUs would produce similar average FPS in Rust, though the RTX 4090's 24 GB memory and higher shading unit count (16384) may offer advantages in other titles. In Rust specifically, the measured data suggests that swapping the RTX 4090 for any of these alternatives would yield frame rates within a few percentage points, based on the benchmark deltas.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Rust, and it does so with authority at most settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with the best setting being Ultra at 136.3 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable, with Ultra averaging 96.8 FPS. At 3840x2160, three of the four presets clear 60 FPS: High at 73.5 FPS, Medium at 84.5 FPS, and Low at 129.8 FPS. The only configuration that fails the 60 FPS threshold is 4K Ultra, which averages 57.8 FPS. The verdict is clear: this combination is more than capable of delivering a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p with maxed-out settings, and at 4K with High settings or lower. Players who insist on 4K Ultra will need to accept a sub-60 FPS experience, but the data shows that High settings provide a nearly identical visual experience with a comfortable margin above the playability threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 81st out of 3723 tested combos in Rust, placing it in the top 2.2% of all configurations. This rank reflects the strength of both components individually: the i5-14600K sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, and the RTX 4090 sits at the 88th percentile among all GPUs. The high ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows that this combo outperforms the vast majority of systems in Rust. The 81st position out of 3723 means there are 80 combinations that produce higher frame rates, but those likely involve even more powerful CPUs or specialized configurations. For a mainstream desktop processor paired with a top-tier consumer GPU, this rank is exceptional and confirms that the system is well-balanced for Rust, with no single component dragging down overall performance.