Rust

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a strong performance profile for Rust, though the results vary significantly depending on the resolution and graphics preset. The database shows this combination achieving solid frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires a more careful selection of settings to maintain smooth gameplay. The recorded measurements indicate that the RTX 4070 SUPER provides ample graphics horsepower, but the older six-core i5-9400 can become a limiting factor at lower resolutions where the CPU load is proportionally higher.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a comprehensive view of performance scaling.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high across all settings. The Low preset delivers an average of 139.4 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combination. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 121.8 FPS, a reduction of 17.6 FPS from Low. The High preset yields 112.7 FPS on average, showing a further but smaller decline. The most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 102.7 FPS, which keeps the experience well above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 36.7 FPS, indicating that the GPU handles the increased visual load without severe penalties.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but the gap between presets widens. The Low preset averages 125.6 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings reduce this to 108.5 FPS, and High comes in at 101.2 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 76.9 FPS, which is still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p shows a difference of 48.7 FPS, a more pronounced drop than at 1080p, reflecting the increased pixel count and shading demands.

At 3840x2160, the performance picture changes notably. The Low preset averages 102.1 FPS, which remains excellent. Medium settings drop to 67.8 FPS, still playable but with less headroom. The High preset averages 59.9 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold, while the Ultra preset falls to 46.4 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 55.7 FPS, the largest of any resolution, demonstrating that the RTX 4070 SUPER is pushed harder at this resolution and the CPU becomes less of a bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database records the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS for each resolution.

At 1920x1080, all four presets clear the 60 FPS mark. The best settings are Ultra, which achieves an average of 102.7 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a very comfortable frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the situation is similar. All presets are playable, and the best settings are Ultra with an average of 76.9 FPS. This allows users to run the game at maximum quality without falling below the playability threshold.

At 3840x2160, the options are more limited. The High preset averages 59.9 FPS, which fails to meet the 60 FPS requirement. The best settings that remain at or above 60 FPS are Medium, which averages 67.8 FPS. This is the recommended choice for 4K users who prioritize smooth gameplay over maximum visual fidelity.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Rust at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but not at the highest settings. The database shows that Medium settings at 3840x2160 achieve an average of 67.8 FPS, which is playable. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 46.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 provide an average of 76.9 FPS, which is the highest quality preset that remains above 60 FPS. This makes it the recommended choice for 1440p displays.

Q: How does the Low preset perform at 1080p?

A: The Low preset at 1920x1080 averages 139.4 FPS, the highest frame rate recorded for this combination. This is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at any resolution?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset is playable at both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440, averaging 102.7 FPS and 76.9 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, Ultra averages 46.4 FPS, which is not playable.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Medium and High at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, Medium averages 67.8 FPS while High averages 59.9 FPS. The difference is 7.9 FPS, and it is enough to push the High preset below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the performance drop significantly when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At High settings, the average drops from 112.7 FPS at 1080p to 101.2 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 11.5 FPS. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 102.7 FPS to 76.9 FPS, a larger reduction of 25.8 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset is more sensitive to resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 1149 out of 3723 tested combos in the database for Rust. This places it firmly in the upper third of all configurations, indicating that it offers above-average performance for this game. The percentile position suggests that a significant majority of tested systems are slower, while a minority of high-end builds outperform it.

The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU. The RTX 4070 SUPER is a high-end graphics card that ranks in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-9400 ranks in the 47th percentile among all CPUs. The combination of a very strong GPU with a mid-range CPU results in a system that excels at higher resolutions where the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but it does not reach the top ranks because the CPU limits performance at lower resolutions.

The database shows that this combo is capable of delivering playable frame rates in almost all scenarios, with the only exception being the Ultra preset at 4K. The rank of 1149 out of 3723 reflects its overall versatility, as it handles 1080p and 1440p at maximum settings with ease.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this system.

For the Intel Core i5-9400, the closest alternatives in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2259 versus the i5-9400's 2254, a delta of -0.2 percent. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, a delta of 0.3 percent. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a delta of 0.4 percent, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, a delta of -0.4 percent. These CPUs would produce very similar CPU-bound performance in Rust, meaning the overall frame rates would be nearly identical when the GPU is not the limiting factor. Users with any of these processors paired with an RTX 4070 SUPER would see comparable results.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, the nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, which scores 43262 versus the RTX 4070 SUPER's 43223, a delta of -0.1 percent. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268, a delta of -0.1 percent. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43301, a delta of -0.2 percent, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667, a delta of -1 percent. These GPUs would deliver nearly identical graphics performance in Rust, so swapping the RTX 4070 SUPER for any of these would result in very similar frame rates across all resolutions and presets.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this PC can run Rust effectively across most resolution and preset combinations. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with the best settings being Ultra at 102.7 FPS. This provides a fully smooth experience at maximum quality.

At 2560x1440, the same is true. All presets are playable, and the best settings are Ultra at 76.9 FPS. This makes 1440p gaming with high visual fidelity a very viable option.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more nuanced. The Low preset at 102.1 FPS and the Medium preset at 67.8 FPS are both playable. The High preset at 59.9 FPS just misses the 60 FPS threshold, and the Ultra preset at 46.4 FPS is not playable. The verdict for 4K is that Medium settings are the best choice, offering a playable frame rate with acceptable visual quality.

In summary, this PC is a strong performer for Rust. It handles 1080p and 1440p at maximum settings without issue, and it can manage 4K with reduced but still playable settings. The only scenario where it falls short is 4K at High or Ultra presets, where the frame rate dips below the playability threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER shifts depending on the resolution and preset selected.

At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a more significant role. The frame rates are very high, with the Low preset reaching 139.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 36.7 FPS, which is the smallest absolute drop among the three resolutions. This suggests that at 1080p, the i5-9400 is able to feed the GPU adequately, and the GPU is not fully saturated. The CPU's six cores and six threads are sufficient to keep the frame rates high, and the GPU has headroom to spare.

At 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more important. The frame rates are still high, but the gap between Low and Ultra widens to 48.7 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is starting to work harder as the pixel count increases. The i5-9400 remains capable, but the RTX 4070 SUPER is now the primary driver of performance. The Ultra preset at 76.9 FPS shows that the GPU can handle the load, but the CPU is no longer the limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant component. The difference between Low and Ultra is 55.7 FPS, the largest of any resolution. This shows that the RTX 4070 SUPER is heavily loaded at 4K, and the CPU's role diminishes. The i5-9400 provides enough throughput to avoid becoming a bottleneck, but the GPU's raw compute power determines the frame rates. The Ultra preset at 46.4 FPS and the High preset at 59.9 FPS demonstrate that the GPU cannot maintain 60 FPS at these settings, regardless of the CPU's performance.

The data indicates that for this game, the GPU matters more at higher resolutions, while the CPU has a greater influence at 1080p. The RTX 4070 SUPER is strong enough to push frame rates high at 1440p and below, but it reaches its limits at 4K with demanding presets. The i5-9400 is adequate for the task, but it does not hold the system back in any meaningful way.