Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 presents a study in contrast for Outriders, a looter shooter that scales dramatically with graphical fidelity. The CPU, an 8-core, 16-thread Vermeer part with a 96 MB shared L3 cache, is clearly not the limiting factor in most scenarios. Instead, the data reveals a system where the RTX 2060’s 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus are the primary arbiters of performance, particularly as resolution climbs.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frames per second show a predictable but steep decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the transition from 1080p to 1440p yields a drop from 103.5 FPS to 66.4 FPS, a reduction of roughly 36%. Pushing further to 4K at High settings sees the average plummet to 33.1 FPS, which is only about half of the 1440p figure and just under a third of the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is the hallmark of a GPU-bound system. The RTX 2060, with its 1920 shading units and 48 ROPs, is being overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution underscores this further. At 1080p, the spread is enormous: Low produces 186.1 FPS, while Ultra drops to 71.5 FPS. This 114.6 FPS gap narrows to 40.4 FPS at 4K (62.8 FPS on Low versus 22.4 FPS on Ultra). The compression of the frame rate range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU’s pixel throughput, not the CPU’s instruction handling, is the bottleneck.

The data suggests that 1440p is the practical ceiling for this combination if a smooth experience is the goal. At High settings, 66.4 FPS is playable, but the 49 FPS at Ultra shows the strain. The 4K results, with a maximum of 62.8 FPS on Low, are not viable for consistent action, as the 33.1 FPS average on High falls below the threshold for a responsive looter shooter. The CPU’s 3.40 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost clocks are more than sufficient to feed the GPU at these resolutions, as evidenced by the massive frame rates at 1080p Low, where the CPU’s 16 threads and high single-core performance (a 3dmark single-thread score of 884) are allowed to stretch their legs.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Outriders at 4K comfortably?

A: No. The data shows the best 4K result is 62.8 FPS on Low settings. On High settings, the average drops to 33.1 FPS, and on Ultra it falls to 22.4 FPS. These figures are too low for a smooth experience in a fast-paced looter shooter.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The sweet spot is 2560x1440. At High settings, the system produces 66.4 FPS. Dropping to Medium yields 87.3 FPS, which is a strong balance between visual quality and performance. 1080p is also excellent, with 103.5 FPS at High and 138.3 FPS at Medium.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D holding back the RTX 2060 in this game?

A: The benchmark data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 186.1 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. The performance drop at higher resolutions is consistent with the GPU being the limiting factor. A weaker CPU would likely show lower frame rates in the 1080p Low scenario.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in this context?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, scores 15996, which is a 0.5% difference. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700 both score 16351, putting them 1.7% ahead. These are marginal differences, indicating the RTX 2060 is competitively positioned in its class.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. Low settings produce 186.1 FPS, while Ultra produces 71.5 FPS. This represents a 114.6 FPS drop for the maximum visual fidelity. The gap narrows at higher resolutions as the GPU becomes the limiting factor.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D a high-end processor?

A: The data shows it is a strong performer. It ranks in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26574. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 24063, and its single-core score is 3397, which are both high figures.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a Zen 3 part built on a 7 nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its most distinctive feature is the 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is significantly larger than typical designs and helps in games that benefit from large data pools. In Outriders, this cache likely helps maintain consistent frame pacing, evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low where the CPU has more headroom.

The CPU’s benchmark scores are strong. Its Cinebench R20 multicore score is 10106, and its single-core score is 1426. More telling for gaming is its Passmark multithread score of 28309 and its 3dmark 8-thread score of 5906. These numbers indicate a processor that can handle high thread counts without breaking a sweat. The system’s ability to hit 186.1 FPS at 1080p Low with this GPU reflects the CPU’s capability to process game logic and draw calls quickly.

The 5800X3D’s position in the market is solid. It sits at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 26574. Its nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 8024P (26555, 0.1% difference) and Intel Core i9-11900K (26546, 0.1% difference). The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is slightly ahead at 26617, a -0.2% delta. These are all extremely close scores, suggesting that the 5800X3D is at the top of its performance tier. For Outriders, the CPU is not the bottleneck; the RTX 2060 is. The data shows that the CPU can push frame rates far beyond what the GPU can deliver at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and RTX 2060 ranks 1362 out of 1693 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the bottom 20% of all configurations tested. This rank is heavily influenced by the GPU’s performance ceiling. While the CPU is a top-tier part, the RTX 2060 is a mid-range card, and the pairing’s overall score reflects the slower component.

This rank does not tell the whole story. The system is capable of excellent performance at 1080p, where it achieves 103.5 FPS on High and 138.3 FPS on Medium. The bottleneck only becomes apparent at 1440p and beyond, where the GPU’s memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s and 6 GB capacity are insufficient for the higher resolution textures. The 4K results, with a 33.1 FPS average on High, are below the playable threshold for most users.

In the context of all combos, this pairing is a mid-tier performer. The CPU is in the 83rd percentile, but the GPU is in the 58th percentile. The combination’s rank of 1362 suggests that most other systems tested have a more balanced pairing of CPU and GPU power, or a stronger GPU overall. The data indicates that this is a system designed for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming, not for 4K. If the goal is to play Outriders at 4K, the RTX 2060 is the clear weak link.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this hardware is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This yields an average of 138.3 FPS, which is smooth and responsive for the fast-paced combat of a looter shooter. The jump to High settings brings the frame rate down to 103.5 FPS, which is still very playable and offers a significant visual upgrade. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, Low settings at 1080p produce 186.1 FPS, but this comes at a considerable visual cost.

At 2560x1440, the system can still deliver a good experience. Medium settings produce 87.3 FPS, which is a solid target for a 60Hz or 144Hz monitor. High settings drop to 66.4 FPS, which is acceptable for slower-paced moments but may feel less responsive in intense firefights. Ultra settings at 1440p, with a 49 FPS average, are not recommended.

The 4K resolution is not viable for this combo. Even on Low settings, the average is 62.8 FPS, which is marginal. High settings at 33.1 FPS and Ultra at 22.4 FPS are unplayable. The recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely with this hardware. The best experience is to play at 1080p with High or Medium settings, or to step down to 1440p with Medium settings. The data shows that the RTX 2060’s 6 GB frame buffer is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, so keeping the resolution at 1080p or 1440p is key to maintaining a smooth frame rate.