Rust

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a balanced mid-range combination for Rust. The data shows this setup can handle the game well at standard resolutions, but struggles at 4K with higher presets. The RTX 4060 provides the bulk of the rendering power, while the six-core i5-9400 keeps up adequately at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across three resolutions and four quality presets, using only the recorded database numbers.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the database shows the Ultra preset is the most demanding setting that remains playable. The recorded average frame rate at Ultra is 69.4 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold with a small margin. This is the best visual quality you can run without dipping below playable performance. Lowering to High increases the average to 94.6 FPS, but Ultra remains the optimal choice for maximum fidelity while staying above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the highest playable preset is High, with an average of 64.5 FPS. This is a tighter margin above the 60 FPS threshold than at 1080p, but it is still comfortably playable. The Medium preset runs at 74.4 FPS and Low at 110 FPS, but High offers the best visual balance without sacrificing playability. The Ultra preset at this resolution drops to 47.3 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold and should be avoided.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes significantly. Only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS, hitting 63.3 FPS. This is the only playable option at 4K according to the recorded data. The Medium preset drops to 46.5 FPS, High falls to 39.2 FPS, and Ultra is the worst at 28 FPS. For 4K gaming, you must use Low settings to stay playable, and even then the margin above 60 FPS is narrow.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals how the CPU and GPU split their workload in Rust. At 1920x1080, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as the frame rates are high across all presets. The jump from Low (142 FPS) to Medium (110.8 FPS) is a drop of 31.2 FPS, and from Medium to High (94.6 FPS) another 16.2 FPS. The i5-9400’s six threads are sufficient to feed the RTX 4060 at this resolution, so the GPU is the limiting factor as settings increase.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop across the board, but the pattern is similar. Low runs at 110 FPS, Medium at 74.4 FPS, and High at 64.5 FPS. The delta between Low and Medium is 35.6 FPS, and between Medium and High it is 9.9 FPS. At this resolution, the GPU is doing more work, but the CPU still keeps up, as the playable settings include High. The Ultra preset at 47.3 FPS shows that the GPU is now struggling with the increased pixel count and shader load.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant bottleneck. Low runs at 63.3 FPS, but Medium drops to 46.5 FPS, a loss of 16.8 FPS, and High falls to 39.2 FPS. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus are stressed at 4K, and the measured data shows only Low can achieve playable frame rates. The i5-9400’s role diminishes at this resolution, as the GPU is saturated with pixel work and the CPU has spare capacity. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a 30% drop in frame rate at High (from 94.6 to 64.5), and from 1440p to 4K at High another 39% drop (from 64.5 to 39.2), confirming the GPU’s increasing load.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the database lists the nearest rivals to the i5-9400 based on average benchmark scores. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-9400’s average of 2254. This mobile-oriented chip would behave nearly identically in Rust, though it is not a direct desktop replacement. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% higher than the i5-9400, and would provide similar frame rates, though its power characteristics differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% higher, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% lower. All four rivals are within a fraction of a percent in average score, so any of them would deliver near-identical CPU-bound performance in Rust. The i5-9400 sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it is roughly in the middle of the pack, and these rivals all occupy that same performance band.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals to the RTX 4060 are surprisingly older or integrated parts. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, which is 0.2% lower than the RTX 4060’s average of 17639. This is an older discrete GPU, but the database shows it matches the RTX 4060 in average score. The AMD Radeon 780M, an integrated graphics solution, scores 17588, 0.3% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 17551, 0.5% lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 scores 17509, 0.7% lower. These rivals are all within 0.7% of the RTX 4060’s average score, which suggests they would produce similar frame rates in Rust at the same settings, though the RTX 4060 has modern features like ray tracing that these rivals lack. The GPU sits at the 61st percentile of all GPUs, which is above the CPU’s percentile, indicating the GPU is relatively stronger in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Rust at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 69.4 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings. This is above the 60 FPS playable threshold, though the margin is modest.

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

A: High is the best playable setting at 2560x1440, with an average of 64.5 FPS. Ultra drops to 47.3 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, so High is the maximum you should use.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings. The recorded average at 3840x2160 with Low is 63.3 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 46.5, 39.2, and 28 FPS respectively.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck at 4K. The frame rate drops sharply as settings increase, from 63.3 FPS at Low to 28 FPS at Ultra, indicating the RTX 4060 cannot handle the pixel load at higher presets.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its closest rivals, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259), Intel Core i7-10710U (2248), AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246), and Intel Core i3-10305 (2264), are all within 0.4% of its score, so they would perform nearly identically in Rust.

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

A: The measured average is 110.8 FPS. This is significantly higher than the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience with more headroom than Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full range of settings was measured. Low produced an average of 142 FPS, the highest of any resolution and settings combination. Medium dropped to 110.8 FPS, High to 94.6 FPS, and Ultra to 69.4 FPS. All four presets at this resolution are playable, with even the lowest average (Ultra) exceeding the 60 FPS threshold by 9.4 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the averages are lower across the board. Low runs at 110 FPS, Medium at 74.4 FPS, High at 64.5 FPS, and Ultra at 47.3 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 35.6 FPS, which is the largest single-step decline at this resolution. High is still playable, but Ultra is not, falling 12.7 FPS below the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the data shows a steep decline. Low averages 63.3 FPS, which is barely playable. Medium drops to 46.5 FPS, High to 39.2 FPS, and Ultra to 28 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium is 16.8 FPS, and between Medium and High it is 7.3 FPS. Ultra is the least playable, with an average that is 32 FPS below the 60 FPS threshold.

The min and max FPS values are not recorded in the database, so only averages are available for analysis. The pattern is consistent: as resolution and settings increase, the average frame rate decreases, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The i5-9400 maintains sufficient performance at lower resolutions, but the RTX 4060’s 8 GB memory and bandwidth constraints show at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this combination of Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 at position 2074 out of 3723 tested combos for Rust. This places it in the 56th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of other combinations but is not near the top. The ranking reflects a balanced setup where the GPU is stronger than the CPU in relative terms, as the GPU sits at the 61st percentile while the CPU is at the 47th percentile.

This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the measured performance. At 1080p, the combo delivers playable frame rates at all settings, including Ultra. At 1440p, it handles High but not Ultra. At 4K, it only manages Low. The ranking suggests that many other tested combinations, likely those with newer or higher-tier CPUs, can push higher frame rates at 1440p and 4K. However, for 1080p gaming, this combo is more than adequate, and the 1440p High preset is a solid outcome for a mid-range pairing.

The 3723 total combos in the database include a wide range of hardware, from budget to enthusiast. A rank of 2074 means there are 1649 combos that perform worse and 2073 that perform better. The i5-9400, despite being an older six-core part, does not drag the combo down dramatically because Rust is not heavily multi-threaded at these settings. The RTX 4060 carries most of the weight, and its modern architecture handles the game’s rendering demands efficiently at 1080p and 1440p. For users targeting 60 FPS gameplay, this combo is a reliable choice at 1080p and a workable one at 1440p, but it is not suited for 4K beyond the lowest preset.