Rust

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-9400 sits in a tightly contested performance band. The database shows its average benchmark score is 2254, and the nearest rivals are all within a fraction of a percent. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 trails by only 0.4%, while the Intel Core i7-10710U is 0.3% ahead. On the other side, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 leads by 0.2%, and the Intel Core i3-10305 is 0.4% ahead. In practical terms, these four processors will deliver nearly interchangeable CPU-bound performance in Rust. The i5-9400's 6-core, 6-thread configuration is the common thread, but the recorded data shows the differences are negligible for gaming workloads.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, the nearest rivals cluster even more tightly. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is 1.2% ahead, while the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 are both 0.3% behind. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary trails by 0.8%. The RTX 5060's average benchmark score places it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly three-quarters of the tested graphics cards. The delta percentages are small enough that a user swapping between these cards would notice virtually no difference in frame rates. The RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth give it a clear edge in texture-heavy scenes, but the raw compute scores from the database confirm these four cards are effectively peers.

When considering the combo as a whole, the CPU and GPU pair well for Rust. The CPU's 47th percentile ranking is modest, but the GPU's 72nd percentile ranking carries the load. A user upgrading from the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 or the Core i7-10710U would see no meaningful change in this game. Similarly, swapping the RTX 5060 for an RX 6750 XT would shift performance by roughly one percent, which is within run-to-run variance.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The measured average at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 70.2 FPS. Medium settings drop to 44.5 FPS, High to 41.5 FPS, and Ultra to 28.1 FPS, all below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best preset at 1440p for smooth gameplay?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 deliver 65.9 FPS on average, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium runs at 77.8 FPS, and Low at 121.4 FPS. Ultra falls short at 53.3 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its closest GPU rival?

A: The nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which is 1.2% faster in the database's average benchmark score. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and AMD Radeon 860M are both 0.3% slower, so the differences are negligible in practice.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this game?

A: The i5-9400 ranks in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its closest rival, the i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, a difference of only 0.2%. The data indicates the CPU is adequate, but the GPU has more headroom relative to its own competition.

Q: What is the highest setting that stays above 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Ultra settings at 1920x1080 average 75 FPS, making it the only resolution where Ultra is playable. High runs at 100.1 FPS, Medium at 116.3 FPS, and Low at 144.8 FPS.

Q: Does the game scale better with resolution or settings?

A: The data shows a strong resolution effect. At 1080p, the drop from Low to Ultra is about 48% (144.8 to 75 FPS). At 1440p, the same drop is 56% (121.4 to 53.3 FPS). At 4K, the drop is 60% (70.2 to 28.1 FPS). The game is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the CPU still manages to hold above 60 FPS at 1080p Ultra.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the dominant factor, but the CPU still keeps pace. The Low preset averages 144.8 FPS, which is near the CPU's output ceiling for this title. Moving to Medium drops to 116.3 FPS, High to 100.1 FPS, and Ultra to 75 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 69.8 FPS, a 48% reduction, which shows the GPU's workload scaling with settings.

At 2560x1440, the GPU load increases. Low averages 121.4 FPS, Medium 77.8 FPS, High 65.9, and Ultra 53.3. The gap between Low and Ultra is now 68.1 FPS, a 56% reduction. The CPU is still feeding the GPU enough to maintain triple-digit FPS at Low, but the margin narrows.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. Low averages 70.2 FPS, Medium 44.5 FPS, High 41.5 FPS, and Ultra 28.1 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 42.1 FPS, a 60% reduction. The CPU's 47th percentile ranking appears sufficient here, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor at 4K. The i5-9400's 6 threads are adequate for the game's engine at these settings, but the RTX 5060's 8 GB memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth determine the final frame rate.

The recorded data indicates that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is still relevant. The 144.8 FPS at 1080p Low suggests the CPU can push well beyond the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, the GPU is fully saturated, and the CPU's performance is less relevant. Users targeting 4K should focus on GPU settings, while 1080p users can tune settings for higher frame rates without worrying about CPU limits.

4K The Verdict

The database shows this PC can run Rust above 60 FPS at all three tested resolutions, but only with specific settings. At 1920x1080, every preset clears the threshold. Ultra averages 75 FPS, High 100.1 FPS, Medium 116.3 FPS, and Low 144.8 FPS. At 2560x1440, High, Medium, and Low are playable, with High at 65.9 FPS being the best quality option. Ultra falls to 53.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, only Low is playable, averaging 70.2 FPS. Medium (44.5 FPS), High (41.5 FPS), and Ultra (28.1 FPS) all fall short. The verdict is clear: this PC is fully capable of smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with high framerates, and at 4K it can maintain 60 FPS only by sacrificing quality to Low. For a survival game like Rust, where reaction time is important, the 4K Low setting is still acceptable, but the 1440p High is the sweet spot for quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. Low averages 144.8 FPS, which is the maximum of all settings. Medium follows at 116.3 FPS, High at 100.1 FPS, and Ultra at 75 FPS. The minimum and maximum values are not recorded, so the average is the sole metric. The spread between Low and Ultra is 69.8 FPS.

At 2560x1440, Low drops to 121.4 FPS, Medium to 77.8 FPS, High to 65.9 FPS, and Ultra to 53.3 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 68.1 FPS. The High setting remains above 60 FPS, making it the highest playable preset.

At 3840x2160, Low is the only playable preset at 70.2 FPS. Medium drops to 44.5 FPS, High to 41.5 FPS, and Ultra to 28.1 FPS. The spread is 42.1 FPS, indicating the GPU's memory bandwidth and raw compute are the limiting factors. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is likely the reason why the medium and high settings at 4K do not scale well.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination is ranked 1887 out of 3723 tested combos in the database. This places it in the 50.7th percentile of all CPU-GPU pairs tested for Rust. The ranking is based on the measured average frame rates across all settings and resolutions. The GPU's 72nd percentile ranking is higher than the CPU's 47th, indicating the GPU is the stronger component. However, the combo's overall rank is lower than the GPU's percentile because the CPU's performance in Rust is not a bottleneck. The GPU is the primary driver of frame rates, and the CPU only limits in the most CPU-light scenarios.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 75 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it does not sacrifice frame rate. If a user prefers higher refresh rates, Low offers 144.8 FPS, but Ultra is the best quality per frame.

At 2560x1440, High is the best preset, averaging 65.9 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium runs at 77.8 FPS, and Low at 121.4 FPS, but High is the optimal balance of visual quality and speed. Ultra falls short at 53.3 FPS, so it is not recommended.

At 3840x2160, Low is the only playable preset at 70.2 FPS. Medium (44.5 FPS), High (41.5 FPS), and Ultra (28.1 FPS) are all below the 60 FPS threshold. Users with a 4K display must accept Low settings for smooth gameplay. The 8 GB VRAM and bandwidth are the limiting factors, as the data shows a steep drop when moving from Low to Medium at this resolution.