Rust

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a wide spread of frame rates in Rust, with results heavily dependent on the resolution and the preset applied. At 1920x1080, the combo produces an average of 225.2 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 125.3 FPS on High and 96.3 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution yields 152.2 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 152.4 FPS on Low, 101.4 FPS on Medium, 91.1 FPS on High, and 65 FPS on Ultra. At 3840x2160, the performance envelope tightens considerably: the Low preset averages 91.3 FPS, Medium falls to 59.3 FPS, High manages 50.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 37.5 FPS. Across all measured configurations, the data shows no minimum or maximum frame time entries, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS figures.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for Rust, measured across three resolutions and four quality presets, reveals a consistent pattern of scaling. At 1920x1080, the gap between Low and Ultra is substantial: 225.2 FPS versus 96.3 FPS, a difference of 128.9 FPS. The High preset at 125.3 FPS sits closer to Ultra than to Medium, which records 152.2 FPS. This suggests that the transition from High to Ultra is less costly than from Medium to High at this resolution, though both steps remain significant.

At 2560x1440, the same preset order produces 152.4 FPS (Low), 101.4 FPS (Medium), 91.1 FPS (High), and 65 FPS (Ultra). The drop from Low to Medium is 51 FPS, while the drop from Medium to High is only 10.3 FPS. The final step, High to Ultra, costs 26.1 FPS. This non-linear scaling indicates that the Medium preset is a sweet spot in terms of frame rate retention, while Ultra imposes a notable penalty.

The 3840x2160 results show the sharpest performance declines. Low averages 91.3 FPS, which is playable, but Medium falls to 59.3 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold. High drops further to 50.4 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 37.5 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 32 FPS, and the step from High to Ultra costs 12.9 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K resolution is only feasible with the Low preset for this hardware combination.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset consistently delivers the highest frame rates, with the 1920x1080 result of 225.2 FPS being the peak measurement in the dataset. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160, at 37.5 FPS, is the lowest average recorded. The data shows no min or max FPS entries, meaning the average figures are the sole indicators of performance stability.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU combination holds rank 891 out of 3723 tested combos for Rust. This places it in the top 24% of all configurations, as 891 divided by 3723 equals approximately 0.239. The rank reflects the average performance across all settings and resolutions, not just the peak frame rates. Given that the combo achieves playable frame rates at 1440p Ultra and 1080p Ultra, the ranking is consistent with a high-end but not top-tier position.

The percentile data for the individual components supports this placement. The Intel Core i7-14700K sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong processing power. The RTX 3080 Ti is at the 83rd percentile among all GPUs. The combination of a 94th-percentile CPU with an 83rd-percentile GPU yields a rank that is lower than either component's individual percentile, suggesting that Rust's performance is not purely CPU-bound or GPU-bound at every resolution. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p, the CPU likely dominates, while at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor.

Compared to other combos in the database, this setup is solidly mid-pack among high-end configurations. The rank of 891 means there are 890 combinations that deliver higher average FPS in Rust, but also 2832 combinations that deliver lower performance. The data does not provide specific rival combo scores, only the component-level nearest rivals, so a direct comparison at the system level is not possible from this pack.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Rust at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 96.3, and at 1440p Ultra, it is 65. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average drops to 37.5 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 4K gaming with this hardware?

A: The Low preset is the only playable option at 3840x2160, delivering an average of 91.3 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 59.3 FPS, just under the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 Ti compare to its nearest rival in raw compute?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41187. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, scores 40870, which is 0.8% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, which is 2% lower than the RTX 3080 Ti.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K significantly faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X?

A: No. The i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355, while the Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, meaning the AMD chip is 0.2% faster. The difference is negligible in practical terms.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 91.1. This is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold and provides a smooth experience.

Q: Does the combo rank change between resolutions?

A: The combo rank of 891 is a single value for the entire game, not per resolution. The measured FPS data shows that the relative performance varies by resolution, but the database does not provide separate ranks for each.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear and data-driven. At 1920x1080, this combination can run Rust on all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — with average frame rates above 60 FPS. The best setting is Ultra, which delivers 96.3 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets also clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 65 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS, at 91.3 FPS; Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below, with 59.3, 50.4, and 37.5 FPS respectively.

The data shows that this system is fully capable of running Rust at 1080p and 1440p with maximum quality settings, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS playable threshold. For 4K gaming, the user must compromise on visual fidelity, choosing the Low preset to maintain playability. The Ultra preset at 4K is not viable for smooth gameplay, as the average FPS of 37.5 is well below the threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals how the CPU and GPU each contribute to Rust's performance. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high across all presets, ranging from 96.3 to 225.2 FPS. The jump from Low to Ultra at this resolution costs 128.9 FPS, indicating that the GPU is handling the increased graphical load without being bottlenecked by the CPU. The i7-14700K, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, provides ample headroom for the RTX 3080 Ti to reach these frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong, but the gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 87.4 FPS (152.4 to 65). This suggests that the GPU is starting to become more of a limiting factor, as the higher resolution demands more pixel throughput. The CPU still has enough capacity to feed the GPU, but the overall performance is increasingly GPU-bound.

At 3840x2160, the CPU's role diminishes further. The Low preset averages 91.3 FPS, which is still high, but the Ultra preset drops to 37.5 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 53.8 FPS, which is less than at 1080p or 1440p. This indicates that the GPU is the dominant constraint at 4K, as the pixel count overwhelms the RTX 3080 Ti's capabilities. The CPU, by contrast, has plenty of headroom, as evidenced by the high Low-preset frame rate.

The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is more important, as the GPU can render frames quickly but relies on the CPU to keep up with game logic and draw calls. At 1440p, the balance shifts slightly toward the GPU, and at 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The i7-14700K's strong single-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2160, supports the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is as follows. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best, with an average of 96.3 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also qualifies, averaging 65 FPS. This is the recommended setting for 1440p, as it offers the full visual experience without dropping below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that clears 60 FPS, with an average of 91.3 FPS. The Medium preset at 59.3 FPS is technically below the threshold, so it cannot be recommended for a strict 60 FPS target. The data shows no other presets at 4K that meet the criterion. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals at 4K, the Low preset is the clear choice, while those who prefer higher quality would need to accept a lower average FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU, several alternatives would behave similarly in Rust. The Intel Core i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 9115, scores 69288, which is 0.1% lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, 0.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, 0.7% higher. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, 0.9% higher. These CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Rust, as the differences in average benchmark scores are within 1%.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41187. The AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870, which is 0.8% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, 2% lower. The NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707, 1.2% higher, and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 scores 41897, 1.7% higher. In Rust, these GPUs would produce frame rates within a few FPS of the RTX 3080 Ti, given the relatively small score differences.

The data suggests that swapping the i7-14700K for a Ryzen 9 7950X or a Ryzen 7 9700F would not meaningfully change the measured FPS in Rust. Similarly, replacing the RTX 3080 Ti with a Radeon Pro 5300 or an RTX 5070 would result in very similar performance. These alternatives would maintain the same playability profile: strong at 1080p and 1440p Ultra, but limited to Low settings at 4K.