Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an extreme pairing of a 6-core budget-conscious CPU with one of the fastest consumer GPUs ever made. In Outriders, a title known for its fast-paced cover-based combat and particle-heavy effects, this combination produces some striking scaling behavior. This analysis breaks down how the system behaves across resolutions and settings, what the frame rates mean, and where the bottleneck lies.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is significant but not uniform across all settings, revealing a system that shifts from CPU-bound to GPU-bound as resolution climbs. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 227 FPS at 1080p to 195 FPS at 1440p, a 14.1% decrease, and then to 157 FPS at 4K, another 19.5% drop. This suggests that even at Low settings, the RTX 4090 is doing substantial work, though the CPU still has headroom at lower resolutions.

At High settings, the scaling is more aggressive. The system delivers 182 FPS at 1080p, drops to 156 FPS at 1440p (a 14.3% decrease), and then falls to 86 FPS at 4K, a 44.9% plunge from the 1440p result. This steep cliff at 4K High indicates the GPU is becoming the primary limiter, as the increased shading and texture work at 4K overwhelms even the 4090's massive compute resources. The 4K High result of 86 FPS is still very playable, but the dramatic drop from 1440p shows the resolution ceiling for this preset.

Medium settings follow a similar pattern. At 1080p, the average is 202 FPS; at 1440p, it's 173 FPS (a 14.4% drop); and at 4K, it falls to 115 FPS (a 33.5% drop from 1440p). The 4K Medium result of 115 FPS is notably higher than 4K High's 86 FPS, showing that the Medium preset is a far more balanced choice for 4K. The min FPS at 4K Medium is 97, which keeps frame pacing stable even during heavy combat sequences.

Ultra settings present the most extreme scaling. At 1080p, the system hits 161 FPS, which drops to 119 FPS at 1440p (a 26.1% decrease) and then to 62 FPS at 4K (a 47.9% drop). The 4K Ultra result of 62 FPS is the only sub-60 average in the entire dataset, and it's borderline for a fast-paced looter shooter. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p on Ultra is steeper than on other presets, suggesting that Ultra settings add geometry and post-processing effects that tax the GPU more heavily at higher resolutions.

The key takeaway from resolution scaling is that at 1080p, the CPU is often the limiting factor. The gap between 1080p Low (227 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (161 FPS) is 66 FPS, which indicates that the Ryzen 5 7400F's 6 cores and 12 threads can drive high frame rates but that the GPU is not fully saturated at lower resolutions. As resolution increases, the balance shifts decisively toward the GPU, with 4K results showing typical GPU-bound behavior where settings have a much larger impact on performance.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 2,913 tested CPU and GPU combinations in Outriders, this specific pairing ranks 228th. That places it in the top 7.8% of all tested combos, which is impressive but not at the absolute top. The ranking suggests that while the RTX 4090 is a top-tier GPU, the Ryzen 5 7400F holds the combo back from the higher echelons of the leaderboard. For context, the CPU's average benchmark score is 32,750, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU's average score of 60,347 puts it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. The combo rank being lower than either component's individual percentile indicates a measurable bottleneck.

The nearest CPU rivals show just how close this processor is to its peers. The Intel Core i5-14600T scores 32,707, a delta of 0.1% from the 7400F. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H scores 32,697 (0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H scores 32,812 (-0.2% delta). These sub-1% differences mean the 7400F sits in a very tight performance band, and swapping to any of these rivals would produce nearly identical gaming results. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 scores 32,662 (0.3% delta), again within noise. The CPU's percentile of 83 reflects this mid-to-high tier positioning.

On the GPU side, the nearest rivals tell a different story. The Intel Arc Pro A60 scores 60,326, essentially identical to the 4090's 60,347 (0% delta). The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140 (0.3% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896 (-2.5% delta). These are workstation-class GPUs that happen to have similar average scores, but they are not gaming equivalents. The RTX 4090's 88th percentile ranking reflects its position as a halo product, but the combo's 228th place out of 2,913 shows that pairing it with a mid-range CPU in a CPU-light game like Outriders yields a rank that is high but not top-tier.

The data indicates that the 7400F is capable of feeding the 4090 enough data at lower resolutions to achieve very high frame rates, but the combo's overall rank is constrained by the CPU's single-thread and multi-thread capabilities. In a game like Outriders that scales well with GPU power, the 4090's dominance is somewhat muted by the CPU's 6-core/12-thread configuration.

FAQ

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 7400F bottlenecking the RTX 4090 in Outriders?

A: The data suggests yes at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 227 FPS, but the gap between Low and Ultra is only 66 FPS (227 vs 161), which is smaller than the typical GPU-bound scaling. At 4K, the bottleneck shifts to the GPU, as evidenced by the 62 FPS Ultra result versus 157 FPS Low, a 95 FPS spread that indicates heavy GPU load.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Outriders?

A: 1440p appears to be the sweet spot. At High settings, it delivers 156 FPS, which is nearly as high as 1080p's 182 FPS but with significantly better image quality. At 4K, the High preset drops to 86 FPS, which is playable but not as smooth. The 1440p Medium result of 173 FPS with a minimum of 147 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual fidelity and frame pacing.

Q: How does the 7400F compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600T is 0.1% faster, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is 0.2% faster, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 is 0.3% faster in average benchmark score. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is 0.2% slower. These differences are negligible, meaning the 7400F performs essentially identically to its direct competitors.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra?

A: Yes, but barely. The measured average is 62 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. However, with no minimum FPS data provided for that preset, there is a risk of occasional dips below 60 FPS during intense combat. The 4K Medium preset, with an average of 115 FPS and a minimum of 97 FPS, is a much safer choice for consistent 60+ FPS.

Q: What does the combo rank of 228 out of 2,913 mean?

A: It means this pairing is in the top 7.8% of all tested combinations in Outriders. While the RTX 4090 is in the 88th percentile of all GPUs and the CPU is in the 83rd percentile, the combo's rank is lower than both, indicating that the CPU limits the GPU's full potential in this specific game.

Q: Is the 7400F a good match for the RTX 4090 given its 6-core/12-thread design?

A: For Outriders, the data shows it's adequate but not ideal. The 1080p results show high frame rates, but the combo's rank (228th) suggests that a higher-core-count CPU would likely push the combo higher in the rankings. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads with a 4.70 GHz boost clock are sufficient for this game, but the bottleneck appears at lower resolutions where CPU overhead matters more.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 227 FPS, which is the highest result in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 202 FPS, with a minimum of 171 FPS and a maximum of 232 FPS. High settings average 182 FPS, and Ultra settings average 161 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 66 FPS, which is the smallest across all resolutions, indicating that the CPU is limiting performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but begin to show GPU influence. Low settings average 195 FPS, Medium averages 173 FPS with a minimum of 147 FPS and a maximum of 199 FPS, High averages 156 FPS, and Ultra averages 119 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 76 FPS, slightly larger than at 1080p. The 1440p Medium result of 173 FPS is particularly notable, as it offers a high refresh rate experience with a respectable minimum of 147 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. Low settings average 157 FPS, Medium averages 115 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 132 FPS, High averages 86 FPS, and Ultra averages 62 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 95 FPS, the largest across all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is heavily loaded. The 4K Medium result of 115 FPS is the most balanced 4K option, while 4K Ultra at 62 FPS is the only preset that approaches the 60 FPS threshold.

The Medium settings rows are the only ones that include minimum and maximum FPS data, which provides insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 171 FPS and maximum of 232 FPS show a 61 FPS range, indicating stable performance. At 1440p Medium, the range is 52 FPS (147 to 199), and at 4K Medium, the range is 35 FPS (97 to 132). The narrowing range at higher resolutions is typical of GPU-bound scenarios, where consistent frame times are easier to maintain.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset is the best choice for most scenarios. At 1080p, Medium delivers 202 FPS, which is 25 FPS higher than High and only 25 FPS lower than Low, while providing noticeably better visual quality. At 1440p, Medium's 173 FPS average with a 147 FPS minimum is ideal for high refresh rate monitors, offering a smooth experience without the visual compromise of Low settings.

At 4K, Medium is clearly the recommended preset. The 115 FPS average with a 97 FPS minimum is the only 4K option that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS while maintaining a stable frame rate. High at 4K drops to 86 FPS, which is still playable but lacks the headroom of Medium. Ultra at 4K, at 62 FPS, is too close to the 60 FPS line for comfortable gaming, especially in a fast-paced looter shooter where frame drops during combat can be detrimental.

For competitive play at high refresh rates, Low settings at 1080p provides the maximum frame rate of 227 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant. The 1440p Medium setting offers a better balance, with 173 FPS that exceeds the refresh rate of most 144Hz monitors. For 4K gaming, Medium is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience, with the 115 FPS average leaving enough headroom for demanding scenes.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution. At 1080p, it drops to 161 FPS, which is 41 FPS lower than Medium. At 4K, it falls to 62 FPS, which is below the 115 FPS of Medium. The visual improvements from Medium to Ultra do not justify the performance cost, particularly when the RTX 4090 has enough power to run Medium at far higher frame rates. The data clearly shows that Medium offers the best performance-per-frame-rate ratio across all resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It operates at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65W TDP. The CPU has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. In Outriders, this configuration is sufficient to drive high frame rates, but the 6-core design creates a measurable bottleneck at lower resolutions.

The CPU's benchmark scores provide context for its gaming performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 21,765 multi-core and 3,072 single-core. The single-core score of 3,072 is critical for gaming, as many games rely heavily on single-thread performance. The PassMark single-thread score of 3,689 indicates strong per-core performance, which explains why the combo can achieve 227 FPS at 1080p Low.

However, the multi-thread performance tells a different story. The PassMark multi-thread score of 25,645 is respectable for a 6-core chip, but it's not exceptional. In Outriders, which can utilize multiple cores for physics and AI, the 6-core/12-thread configuration may become a limiting factor when the GPU is not fully saturated. The combo's rank of 228 out of 2,913 suggests that CPUs with more cores would likely produce higher rankings.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5 support is adequate for feeding the RTX 4090's 1.01 TB/s of GPU memory bandwidth, but the CPU's PCIe Gen 5 support (24 lanes) ensures that the GPU has a high-bandwidth connection. The 5nm process node and 6,570 million transistors indicate a modern design, but the 71 mm² die size is small compared to the GPU's 609 mm² die, reflecting the different roles each component plays.

The nearest CPU rivals, with deltas under 0.3%, confirm that the 7400F is not a performance outlier. It sits in a cluster of processors with nearly identical average scores, meaning that in Outriders, the choice between the 7400F and its direct competitors would have no measurable impact on frame rates. The CPU's 83rd percentile ranking across all CPUs places it solidly in the mid-to-high tier, but the RTX 4090's 88th percentile ranking is slightly higher, indicating that the GPU has more headroom than the CPU can fully utilize.

In practical terms, the 7400F is a capable pairing for the RTX 4090 in Outriders, but the system's performance is ultimately constrained by the CPU at lower resolutions. At 4K, the GPU takes over as the primary limiter, and the CPU's role diminishes. For users who prioritize 4K gaming, this combo works well; for those targeting 1080p or 1440p at maximum frame rates, a higher-core-count CPU would be a better match. The data shows a system that is well-balanced at 4K but CPU-limited at lower resolutions.