Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a balanced mid-range combo for playing Outriders, offering a wide range of performance depending on your resolution and quality targets. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of high-refresh 1080p play but will require careful settings management to remain playable at 4K. This analysis breaks down exactly what to expect from this pairing, based on measured frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, revealing a system that becomes heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 187 FPS at 1920x1080 to 115.7 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of roughly 38%, and then further down to 61.2 FPS at 3840x2160. This scaling pattern indicates that while the CPU has enough headroom to push high frame rates at lower resolutions, the RTX 2060 quickly becomes the limiting factor as pixel count increases.

The trend is consistent across all quality presets. At High settings, the average drops from 104.2 FPS at 1080p to 62.6 FPS at 1440p, and finally to a marginal 35.7 FPS at 4K. The jump from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing, with frame rates nearly halving in every preset. For instance, at Medium settings, the average goes from 87.9 FPS at 1440p to 45.4 FPS at 4K. This suggests that 4K is simply beyond the comfortable reach of this GPU for this title, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

The scaling also highlights the relationship between the components. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 187 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suggests the CPU is doing its job without bottlenecking the GPU. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate collapses to 24 FPS, a clear sign that the GPU is saturated and the CPU's potential is largely irrelevant at that resolution. The data points to a classic mid-range scenario: the combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but 4K should only be considered with Low settings for a playable experience, and even then, it barely clears 60 FPS.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 8000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture and the 4 nm process. It has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 20851 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2943 points in single-core, placing it in the 82nd percentile against all CPUs. This strong single-thread performance is a key factor in achieving those high frame rates at 1080p.

Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (0% delta), AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 (-0.1% delta), and AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (0.3% delta). The data shows the 8400F is essentially on par with these processors in average benchmark score, meaning it provides a solid foundation for gaming without being a standout performer. For Outriders, this CPU is more than adequate; the measured frame rates at 1080p, particularly the 187 FPS at Low settings, suggest that the CPU is not the primary constraint in most scenarios.

The 16 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth) contribute to its responsiveness. However, the benchmark results from the game indicate that the CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases. At 4K, even at Low settings, the average FPS is 61.2, which is far below what the CPU could theoretically support. This confirms that in this specific title, the CPU provides the necessary headroom to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at lower resolutions, but the overall performance ceiling is dictated by the graphics card.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It has a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, with 1920 shading units. Its average benchmark score places it in the 58th percentile against all GPUs. Notably, its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (0.5% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (-1.7% delta), showing it is competitively positioned within its class.

The GPU's role in Outriders is the dominant factor in performance scaling. The 6 GB VRAM is a potential limitation at higher resolutions and settings, but the measured data shows the bigger issue is raw compute power. The transition from 1080p to 1440p at High settings results in a 40% reduction in FPS, and the move to 4K at the same settings results in a further 43% reduction. This is a clear indication that the GPU's processing capabilities are being exhausted.

The RTX 2060's performance at 1080p is respectable, hitting 135.8 FPS at Medium and 104.2 FPS at High. However, at 4K, only the Low preset (61.2 FPS) approaches a playable 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 4K yields a mere 24 FPS, which is not a viable gaming experience. The data suggests that while the GPU has enough memory bandwidth and capacity for 1080p and 1440p gaming, its raw throughput is insufficient for 4K unless settings are drastically reduced. Its 160 W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this performance class.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Outriders, this pairing of the Ryzen 5 8400F and RTX 2060 ranks 1376th out of 1693 combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, which is consistent with its mid-range component selection. The rank reflects the absolute performance level, and while it is not a top-tier setup, it is not at the very bottom either.

This ranking is logical when considering the individual components. The CPU is in the 82nd percentile, which is decent, but the GPU is in the 58th percentile, which drags the overall combo down. The benchmark results show that the system is capable of high frame rates at 1080p, but it cannot compete with higher-end GPUs at higher resolutions. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver a smooth experience across most settings, and can handle 1440p with some compromises.

The ranking also suggests that there is a large number of systems that will outperform this one, particularly those with more powerful GPUs. However, for a user targeting 1080p, this combination provides a balanced experience without being a bottleneck. The fact that it ranks below the midpoint is not a condemnation but rather a reflection of its target market segment. It is a practical, no-frills pairing for mainstream gaming rather than an enthusiast setup.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the recommended approach is to prioritize resolution over settings. For the best overall experience, the 1920x1080 resolution with High settings offers a strong balance, delivering an average of 104.2 FPS. This provides a smooth and visually appealing experience that takes advantage of the CPU's strength without pushing the GPU to its limits. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Medium preset at 1080p (135.8 FPS) or even Low (187 FPS) are excellent choices to maximize frame rates.

If you prefer 1440p, the data suggests that Medium settings (87.9 FPS) are the sweet spot, providing a playable and responsive experience. High settings at 1440p (62.6 FPS) are also viable, but you will be closer to the edge of 60 FPS. Pushing to Ultra at 1440p (46.7 FPS) is not recommended if you prefer smooth gameplay, as it will introduce noticeable stutter.

For 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which yields an average of 61.2 FPS. This is just at the threshold of playability. Any higher preset at 4K results in frame rates below 60 FPS, with Ultra being an unplayable 24 FPS. Therefore, the recommendation is to stick to 1080p or 1440p with this combo. The Ultra preset, while visually demanding, provides a poor experience at all resolutions except perhaps as a showcase, and is not advised for regular play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured data for this combo in Outriders.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 187 FPS
• Medium: 135.8 FPS
• High: 104.2 FPS
• Ultra: 76.8 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 115.7 FPS
• Medium: 87.9 FPS
• High: 62.6 FPS
• Ultra: 46.7 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 61.2 FPS
• Medium: 45.4 FPS
• High: 35.7 FPS
• Ultra: 24 FPS

The data clearly shows a linear progression of performance loss as settings and resolution increase. The most significant drop occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K, where the frame rate is nearly halved across all presets. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 110 FPS, which highlights the GPU's sensitivity to graphical fidelity. The system is most comfortable at 1080p, where even the Ultra preset maintains a playable 76.8 FPS. At 1440p, only Low and Medium settings provide a consistently smooth experience. This breakdown confirms that the RTX 2060 is the definitive performance bottleneck at higher resolutions.