Rust

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is a mid-range combination that delivers playable performance in Rust, but the experience hinges heavily on your chosen resolution and settings. The recorded data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p, this combo has headroom for maxed-out visuals, while 4K demands significant compromises. This analysis breaks down the exact measured frames per second (FPS) across all tested configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows this combo is capable of high refresh rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 142. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 102 FPS, with a minimum of 86 and a maximum of 117. High settings yield an average of 86 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, still maintains a solid average of 65 FPS. All four presets at this resolution stay well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance scaling is more pronounced. Low settings produce an average of 104 FPS. Medium settings average 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80. High settings drop to an average of 59 FPS, which is just below the playable threshold. Ultra settings bring the average down to 45 FPS. The data indicates that Medium is the highest preset that consistently maintains 60 FPS or more at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to keep up with demanding presets. Low settings average 62 FPS, which is barely above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings average 27 FPS. The results show that only the Low preset is playable at 4K, and even then, the average FPS is tight against the playable limit.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a significant shift in system bottleneck depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary driver of performance, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed the graphics card at lower resolutions. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop from 142 to 65 FPS, a substantial 54% decrease, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where increasing graphical load directly impacts frame rates.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU workload becomes more intense, but the CPU still manages to keep up. The average FPS at Low settings drops from 142 at 1080p to 104 at 1440p, a 27% reduction. However, the more telling figure is at Medium settings, where the average drops from 102 at 1080p to 70 at 1440p, a 31% reduction. This suggests the GPU is still the limiting factor, but the gap is narrowing.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant bottleneck. The average FPS at Low settings is 62, which is a 40% drop from the 104 FPS seen at 1440p. The difference between presets also becomes more severe: the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 35 FPS, compared to a 59 FPS gap at 1440p and a 77 FPS gap at 1080p. This compression of frame rates across presets at 4K indicates that the GPU is maxed out and cannot handle the increased pixel count, making the CPU's role less significant at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

For players targeting a consistent 60 FPS experience, the data suggests specific presets for each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the only playable option is Low settings, which delivers an average of 62 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, but it leaves no room for error in demanding scenes.

At 2560x1440, the best choice is Medium settings, providing an average of 70 FPS. This preset offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, with a minimum recorded FPS of 59, which is just a hair below the target.

At 1920x1080, the best choice is Ultra settings, which maintains an average of 65 FPS. This allows players to experience the game at its highest visual fidelity while still clearing the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Rust, but the experience is highly dependent on resolution. The verdictByResolution data is clear: at 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 62 FPS. At 2560x1440, both Low and Medium presets are playable, with Medium being the best at 70 FPS. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with Ultra being the best at 65 FPS.

In practical terms, this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can handle Ultra settings without issue. For 1440p, players will need to stick to Medium settings to maintain a smooth experience. 4K gaming is possible, but only with Low settings, and the frame rate is close to the limit. The data suggests that 1080p is the sweet spot for this hardware, offering a high-quality visual experience with a comfortable performance margin.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 35, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Only the Low preset achieves an average of 62 FPS at this resolution.

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

A: The best preset is Medium, which delivers an average FPS of 70. This is the highest setting that maintains an average at or above 60 FPS, though the minimum recorded FPS is 59.

Q: How does the performance at 1080p compare to 1440p on Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080, Medium settings average 102 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same settings average 70 FPS. This represents a 31% decrease in average FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 1080p?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS for Ultra at 1920x1080 is 65, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. It is the most demanding preset that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for Medium settings at 4K?

A: The minimum FPS recorded for Medium settings at 3840x2160 is 35, with a maximum of 47 and an average of 41.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at 3840x2160. The frame rates compress significantly across presets, and the average FPS at Low settings is only 62, suggesting the graphics card is saturated.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Rust, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks at 2272 out of 3723 tested combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which aligns with the measured performance data. While it is not a top-tier combination, it is also not at the very bottom, indicating it is a viable mid-range option for 1080p and light 1440p gaming.

The CPU's percentile rank is 47, meaning it performs better than 47% of all tested CPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, have nearly identical average benchmark scores. The GPU's percentile rank is 59, putting it above the CPU in relative standing. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, has a nearly identical average benchmark score, with a delta of -0.7%. This suggests the GPU is a solid mid-range performer. The combination of a slightly below-average CPU and a slightly above-average GPU results in a system that is capable, but not exceptional, for running Rust at high framerates on lower resolutions.