Rust

This PC configuration, pairing the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, is exceptionally well-suited for running Rust at high frame rates across all tested resolutions. The data shows that this combo ranks in the top percentile of all tested combinations, delivering playable performance even at 4K with high settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 sits in a performance class with several other processors that produce nearly identical average benchmark scores. The closest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which scores 46030 compared to the Ultra 5 235's 46062, a delta of just 0.1%. The Intel Core i9-13900HX is also statistically tied, scoring 46098, representing a -0.1% difference. Two AMD EPYC server processors, the 4364P and the 7303, also fall within a 0.2% margin of the Ultra 5 235's average benchmark score. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver indistinguishable CPU-bound performance in Rust, meaning the choice between them would not meaningfully alter frame rates.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4090's nearest rivals are less conventional. The Intel Arc Pro A60 matches the 4090's average score of 60347 almost exactly, with a 0% delta. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% behind, while the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is actually 2.5% ahead in average benchmark score. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 trails by 2.9%. These are professional workstation graphics cards, which occupy a different market segment than the consumer-focused RTX 4090, but the benchmark data indicates that in raw compute terms they produce similar aggregate scores. For gaming specifically, the architectural advantages of the RTX 4090, including its dedicated ray tracing cores and tensor cores, would likely manifest differently than these aggregate scores suggest, but the data available does not break down gaming-specific comparisons further.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Core Ultra 5 235 and RTX 4090 achieves a rank of 76 out of 3,723 tested combos in Rust. This places the pairing in the top 2% of all configurations tested for this game. The percentile rankings for the individual components support this strong showing: the CPU sits in the 89th percentile against all processors tested, while the GPU ranks in the 88th percentile against all graphics cards. Such high individual component percentiles, when combined, produce a system that is clearly capable of running Rust at maximum settings with substantial headroom.

The high combo rank is reflected in the actual measured frame rates. At 1080p, this system never drops below 137 FPS even at Ultra settings, which is more than double the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data indicates that this is not a borderline configuration but one that excels across every resolution and preset combination tested. Even the most demanding scenario in the dataset, 4K Ultra, maintains an average of 56 FPS, which is the only tested configuration that falls below the playable threshold.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Rust at 4K with maximum settings?

A: At 3840x2160 Ultra settings, the system produces an average of 56 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. However, at 4K High settings, it achieves 73 FPS average, and at 4K Medium it reaches 87 FPS, both comfortably above the playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1440p for this configuration?

A: At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Ultra, which delivers an average of 94 FPS. All four tested presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) at this resolution clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Low reaching 219 FPS and High achieving 124 FPS.

Q: How does the system perform at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the system delivers outstanding performance. The Ultra preset averages 137 FPS, High averages 180 FPS, Medium averages 214 FPS, and Low averages 265 FPS. All presets are far above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which resolution provides the highest frame rate advantage?

A: The scaling from 1440p to 1080p is substantial. At Ultra settings, the system moves from 94 FPS at 1440p to 137 FPS at 1080p, a gain of 43 FPS. The Low preset shows even larger gains, jumping from 219 FPS to 265 FPS when moving from 1440p to 1080p.

Q: Is there any preset that fails to reach 60 FPS at 4K?

A: Yes, only the Ultra preset at 3840x2160 fails to reach the playable threshold, averaging 56 FPS. The High, Medium, and Low presets at 4K all exceed 60 FPS, with averages of 73, 87, and 129 FPS respectively.

Q: Does the system maintain consistent frame times at higher settings?

A: The data includes minimum and maximum FPS readings for Medium settings. At 4K Medium, the system ranges from 74 to 100 FPS with a 87 FPS average. At 1440p Medium, the range is 125 to 169 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it spans 182 to 246 FPS. These ranges suggest reasonably stable performance without extreme frame time spikes.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Rust, and the benchmark results indicate it does so with exceptional capability. According to the verdict data, at 3840x2160 the system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at High, Low, and Medium settings, with the best playable preset being High at an average of 73 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four tested presets exceed 60 FPS, allowing the Ultra preset to be used with a 94 FPS average. At 1920x1080, every preset also clears 60 FPS, with Ultra running at 137 FPS.

The only configuration that fails to reach 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, which averages 56 FPS. For users prioritizing 4K gaming, dropping from Ultra to High settings yields a 17 FPS improvement, jumping from 56 to 73 FPS average. This is a modest visual sacrifice that results in a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. At 1440p and below, there are no compromises needed; the system runs Rust at maximum settings with substantial headroom.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU demands shifts across resolutions in Rust. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 265 FPS at Low settings, which drops to 137 FPS at Ultra. This 128 FPS spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p indicates that graphics settings have a massive impact on frame rate at this resolution. The GPU is the primary limiting factor even at 1080p, as the CPU is capable of feeding frames faster than the RTX 4090 can render at Ultra settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 219 FPS, while Ultra drops to 94 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 125 FPS, nearly identical to the 1080p spread. This consistency suggests that the GPU remains the dominant bottleneck across both 1080p and 1440p. The RTX 4090's rendering workload scales almost linearly with resolution, while the CPU's contribution remains constant, allowing the GPU to be the determining factor.

At 3840x2160, the pattern continues. Low settings yield 129 FPS, and Ultra drops to 56 FPS, a 73 FPS spread. The absolute numbers are lower at 4K because the GPU is working harder at every preset, but the relative ordering remains the same. The data indicates that Rust is heavily GPU-bound with this configuration across all resolutions. The Core Ultra 5 235's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 2085 Cinebench R23 single-core score, ensures the CPU is not the limiting factor even at 1080p Low where frame rates reach 265 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is High, which delivers an average of 73 FPS. The Medium preset produces 87 FPS, and Low reaches 129 FPS, but High represents the optimal balance of visual quality and performance at this resolution. Ultra at 4K falls below the threshold at 56 FPS, so it should be avoided.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 94 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold with a 34 FPS margin. The High preset at 124 FPS and Medium at 147 FPS offer even higher frame rates, but they do not provide additional visual quality benefits over Ultra.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset again provides the best experience, with an average of 137 FPS. This is more than double the playable threshold and represents the maximum visual quality setting available. The frame rates at 1080p are so high across all presets that there is no reason to sacrifice visual quality; even Ultra maintains a 77 FPS margin above the 60 FPS playable threshold. For competitive play, the Low preset at 265 FPS would be preferred, but for general gameplay, Ultra provides an excellent balance.