Rust

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 947th out of 3,723 tested combinations in Rust. This places the combo in the upper-middle tier of the database, roughly in the 74th percentile of all tested systems. While the ranking is respectable, it is notably lower than what the GPU alone would suggest, indicating that the processor is holding back the overall result.

The RTX 4090 sits at the 88th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (0.3% ahead), and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (2.9% behind). The i5-9400, by contrast, sits at only the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average score of 2,254. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-10710U (0.3% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.4% behind). This large gap between GPU capability and CPU capability explains why the combo rank does not reach the top tier.

The data shows that the RTX 4090 is vastly more powerful than the i5-9400 in synthetic benchmarks, but in Rust, the combination still delivers playable performance at every resolution tested. The combo rank of 947 suggests that many faster CPU and GPU pairings exist, but the real-world FPS numbers remain respectable due to the raw strength of the GPU.

CPU and GPU Roles

In Rust, the balance between CPU and GPU shifts noticeably as resolution changes. At 1080p, the CPU has a more significant influence because the GPU can render frames quickly, leaving the processor as the limiting factor. The recorded data shows that at 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 104 (Ultra) to 142 (Low). The gap between the Low and Ultra presets is 38 FPS, which is the smallest difference across all resolutions. This compresses the performance range, suggesting that the CPU cannot fully feed the RTX 4090 at lower resolutions, even with less demanding settings.

At 1440p, the GPU begins to take on more responsibility, but the CPU still matters. The average FPS at 1920x1080 on Low is 142, while at 2560x1440 on Low it drops to 125, a reduction of 17 FPS. Between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p, the spread is 33 FPS (from 92 to 125), which is slightly narrower than at 1080p. This pattern suggests that as resolution increases, the GPU does more work, but the CPU remains a limiting factor at the higher preset levels.

At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU becomes the dominant component. The average FPS at Low is 105, but at Ultra it falls to 56, a difference of 49 FPS. This much wider spread indicates that the RTX 4090 is being pushed much harder at this resolution, and the CPU is less of a constraint. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a drop from 142 to 105 FPS, a 37 FPS reduction, while the same comparison at Ultra shows a drop from 104 to 56 FPS, a 48 FPS reduction. The larger drop at Ultra confirms that the GPU workload is scaling more steeply with resolution when settings are higher.

The data also reveals that the CPU limits performance at lower resolutions more than at higher ones. At 1080p, the Ultra preset runs at 104 FPS average, which is only 27% slower than the Low setting. At 4K, the Ultra preset runs at 56 FPS, which is 47% slower than the Low setting. This pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, where the RTX 4090 is working harder, while at lower resolutions, the i5-9400 cannot keep up with the GPU demand.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Rust at 4K with smooth frame rates?

A: Yes, the database shows that the 3840x2160 resolution supports High, Low, and Medium presets, all of which stay above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset averages 73 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 87 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 56 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting for 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice at this resolution, delivering a measured average of 92 FPS. This is the most demanding setting listed, and it still clears the 60 FPS target with margin.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, scores 60,326, which is virtually identical. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58,657, putting it slightly behind.

Q: Is the i5-9400 a strong match for the RTX 4090 in Rust?

A: The i5-9400 sits at the 47th percentile among CPUs, with an average score of 2,254, which is much lower than the RTX 4090's 88th percentile. In Rust, the data shows that at 1080p, the FPS range is 104 to 142, which is far lower than what a fully capable CPU could extract from the GPU, indicating a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Q: Which resolution has the biggest performance gap between Low and Ultra?

A: The 3840x2160 resolution shows the largest gap. The Low preset averages 105 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 56 FPS, a difference of 49 FPS. This is a much wider margin than at 1440p (33 FPS difference) or 1080p (38 FPS difference).

Q: Can this system run the game on Ultra at 1080p?

A: Yes. The recorded data shows that the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 104 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The database lists Ultra as the best setting at this resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (average score 2,259, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i7-10710U (average score 2,248, 0.3% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (average score 2,246, 0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-10305 (average score 2,264, 0.4% behind). These processors would behave very similarly, meaning a system with any of them might produce almost the same frame rates in Rust, all else being equal.

For the GPU, the closest rivals are the Intel Arc Pro A60 (average score 60,326, 0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (average score 60,140, 0.3% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (average score 61,896, 2.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (average score 58,657, 2.9% behind). These GPUs would deliver comparable performance in games, though the RTX 4090 still holds a slight edge over most of them based on the average scores.

A system with the Intel Core i7-10710U and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M would be a close match in overall capability, with the CPU being slightly faster and the GPU being slightly faster. The data shows that the delta in performance is small, so users can expect similar results in Rust. The same applies to the Intel Core i3-10305 and the Intel Arc Pro A60, which would track the tested combo closely.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average FPS of 73. The Medium preset runs at 87 FPS, but the Ultra preset drops below the threshold at 56 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, with an average FPS of 92. All four presets are playable, with the Low setting reaching 125 FPS, the Medium at 108 FPS, and the High at 101 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset runs at 104 FPS, which is the most demanding but still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset reaches 142 FPS, the Medium at 122 FPS, and the High at 115 FPS. The database confirms that Ultra is the best setting at this resolution.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Rust. The database shows that the system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at all three resolutions, with specific presets available. At 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with the best setting being High at 73 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, with Ultra the best at 92 FPS. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with Ultra the best at 104 FPS.

The only preset that fails to reach 60 FPS is the 4K Ultra setting, which averages 56 FPS. For users who want maximum visual quality at 4K, the system will fall just short of smooth playability, but a single step down to High delivers a comfortable 73 FPS. The i5-9400 does limit the upper frame rates at lower resolutions, but the system remains fully playable across the board.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K):

• High: 73 FPS average
• Low: 105 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100
• Ultra: 56 FPS average

At 2560x1440:

• High: 101 FPS average
• Low: 125 FPS average
• Medium: 108 FPS average, with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 124
• Ultra: 92 FPS average

At 1920x1080:

• High: 115 FPS average
• Low: 142 FPS average
• Medium: 122 FPS average, with a minimum of 104 and a maximum of 140
• Ultra: 104 FPS average

The medium presets are the only ones with recorded minimum and maximum values, and the data shows consistent performance with no major frame drops. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 74, which is still above the playable threshold. The 1440p Medium minimum is 92, and the 1080p Medium minimum is 104, both far above the 60 FPS line. The maximum frame rates peak at 140 at 1080p Medium, 124 at 1440p Medium, and 100 at 4K Medium.

The overall pattern indicates that this combo handles Rust smoothly at all common resolutions, with the only caveat being the 4K Ultra preset, which falls just short of the playable threshold.