Rust

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER presents an interesting combination for Rust, a survival title that is known to stress both processor and graphics subsystems. The CPU is a 16-core, 24-thread Raptor Lake part with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the GPU is a Turing-based card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. The measured data in the database covers four settings presets across three resolutions, providing a clear picture of where this combo lands in terms of playability.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database groups the Intel Core i7-13700K with several processors that deliver nearly identical average benchmark scores. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, which is only 0.2% higher than the i7-13700K’s average benchmark score of 46881. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 sits at 47022, a 0.3% difference. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 both score 46654 and 46653, respectively, placing them 0.5% behind. In practical terms, swapping the i7-13700K for any of these four parts would yield nearly indistinguishable performance in Rust, with differences well within run-to-run variance. The CPU’s percentile ranking against all processors is 89, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of installed hardware.

For the graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile at 18159 (0.4% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 at 18189 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 460 at 18373 (1.5% higher), and the Intel Arc A770M at 18383 (1.6% higher). These deltas are small, so users coming from any of these GPUs would observe similar frame rates in Rust. The RTX 2060 SUPER’s 8 GB of VRAM and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth are the defining characteristics for this game, and the rivals listed operate in the same performance envelope.

When combining the CPU and GPU, the system’s overall position is dominated by the GPU’s more modest standing relative to the CPU’s top-tier placement. The CPU will rarely be the bottleneck in Rust, as its multi-threaded scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core at 30745, PassMark multi-thread at 45887) are far above what the GPU can feed in most scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Rust at 1920x1080 resolution?

A: Yes. The database shows playable settings at 1080p include High, Low, and Medium presets. The High preset achieves an average of 78 FPS, Medium reaches 92 FPS, and Low hits 138 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, which falls just below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: The best playable setting at 1440p is Medium, with an average of 64 FPS. Low also clears the threshold at 95 FPS. High averages 54 FPS and Ultra averages 41 FPS, both below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is 4K resolution (3840x2160) playable with this combo?

A: No. The verdict data lists no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average FPS at 4K is 56 FPS on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 38 FPS, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 24 FPS.

Q: What is the frame time consistency at 1080p Medium?

A: The measured data for 1080p Medium shows an average of 92 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. This indicates a relatively tight range, suggesting stable performance without severe drops.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654, and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46653. The differences range from -0.3% to +0.5%, so all five processors are effectively tied.

Q: What is the GPU’s standing relative to other graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18159, which is 0.4% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373 (1.5% higher), and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18383 (1.6% higher).

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU and GPU combination at 2640 out of 3723 tested combos for Rust. That places it in the lower third of all systems tested, which is consistent with the GPU’s 62nd percentile standing. The CPU alone would rank much higher, but the RTX 2060 SUPER holds the combo back in a game that is heavily dependent on graphics throughput at higher resolutions.

In the context of the 3723 combos, being at position 2640 means there are 1083 systems that perform worse and 2640 systems that perform better. This is not a top-tier configuration, but it is far from the bottom. The data shows that at 1080p, the system can deliver smooth frame rates on most presets, which is the resolution most players will target. The ranking reflects that Rust is demanding enough that a mid-range GPU from the Turing generation cannot push high refresh rates at higher resolutions.

The gap between the CPU’s performance class and the GPU’s performance class is notable. The i7-13700K is in the 89th percentile for processors, while the RTX 2060 SUPER is in the 62nd percentile for GPUs. This imbalance means the system is more likely to be GPU-limited in Rust, especially as resolution increases. The measured frame rates support this, as the drop from 1080p to 1440p to 4K is steep at every preset.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, this PC can run Rust, but the experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution and preset. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS average. At 1920x1080, the system clears this bar on High (78 FPS), Low (138 FPS), and Medium (92 FPS) presets. The Ultra preset falls just short at 59 FPS, so it is not considered playable by the database’s standard.

At 2560x1440, the playable settings are Low (95 FPS) and Medium (64 FPS). High drops to 54 FPS and Ultra to 41 FPS, both below the threshold. At 3840x2160, no settings are playable. The best result at 4K is Low with 56 FPS, which is still below 60 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra average 38, 32, and 24 FPS, respectively.

The verdict is clear: for a smooth 60 FPS experience, users should stick to 1080p with High settings or 1440p with Medium settings. Pushing to 4K requires accepting frame rates in the 24 to 56 FPS range, which may be tolerable for slower-paced survival gameplay but does not meet the playable standard. The system is a capable 1080p machine for Rust, with some headroom at 1440p on medium presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database provides exact average frame rates for each resolution and preset combination. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 138 FPS average, which is the highest recorded for this combo. Medium produces 92 FPS average, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. High achieves 78 FPS average, and Ultra drops to 59 FPS average, just one frame short of the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 95 FPS. Medium averages 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. High averages 54 FPS, and Ultra averages 41 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p is the only one in this resolution that maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, though the minimum of 54 FPS indicates occasional dips below the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 56 FPS. Medium averages 38 FPS, with a minimum of 32 FPS and a maximum of 43 FPS. High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 24 FPS. None of these meet the 60 FPS playable standard, and even the Low preset’s average is below the target. The minimum frame rates at 4K Medium show that the system can dip to 32 FPS, which would be noticeable in fast-moving scenes.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution costs a significant portion of frame rate. From 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the average drops from 138 to 95 FPS, a 31% reduction. From 1440p Low to 4K Low, the average drops from 95 to 56 FPS, another 41% reduction. The same scaling applies to Medium, High, and Ultra presets, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiter as pixel count increases.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 78 FPS. This leaves some headroom above the 60 FPS threshold, so users could potentially enable additional graphics options without dropping below playable levels, though the database only records these four presets. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS is not recommended if the goal is to maintain 60 FPS, as it falls just below the line.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Medium, averaging 64 FPS. This is a narrow margin above the 60 FPS threshold, and the recorded minimum of 54 FPS suggests that some scenes will run below 60 FPS. Users who prefer a more consistent experience might opt for Low at 95 FPS, but Medium is the highest preset that meets the average threshold.

At 3840x2160, there is no best setting because no preset reaches 60 FPS. The closest is Low at 56 FPS, but it still falls short. For users who must play at 4K, the choice is between Low at 56 FPS, Medium at 38 FPS, High at 32 FPS, and Ultra at 24 FPS. None of these are playable by the database’s definition, so the recommendation is to lower the resolution.

The recommended configurations are therefore 1080p High for the best visual quality at a playable frame rate, and 1440p Medium for users who want a higher resolution with a playable average. Both options keep the system above the 60 FPS line on average, though 1440p Medium has a lower minimum frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the CPU and GPU split their workload in Rust. At 1920x1080, the CPU has more influence because the GPU is not as heavily taxed. The difference between Low and Ultra presets at 1080p is 79 FPS (from 138 to 59 FPS), which is a 57% reduction. This is driven by the GPU, but the CPU’s high single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread score of 4333, Cinebench R23 single-core of 2116) ensures that the processor can feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

At 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more dominant. The difference between Low and Ultra is 54 FPS (from 95 to 41 FPS), a 57% reduction as well, but the absolute numbers are lower. The CPU’s role diminishes because the GPU is now rendering more pixels, and the frame rate is increasingly limited by the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is almost entirely the bottleneck. The difference between Low and Ultra is 32 FPS (from 56 to 24 FPS), a 57% reduction consistent with the other resolutions, but the frame rates are so low that even the CPU’s strongest performance cannot compensate. The i7-13700K’s 16 cores and 24 threads are more than sufficient for Rust’s simulation and world logic, as evidenced by the CPU’s 89th percentile ranking, but the GPU simply does not have enough raw throughput to maintain 60 FPS at 4K.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this. At Low settings, the CPU is still a factor: 138 FPS at 1080p drops to 95 FPS at 1440p, a 31% reduction, and then to 56 FPS at 4K, a 41% reduction from 1440p. At Ultra settings, the reductions are similar in percentage terms, but the absolute values are lower. The conclusion is that for this game and this combo, the GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU is sufficient at all resolutions. Users with this configuration should focus on GPU settings to improve frame rates, as the CPU has ample headroom.