Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination in Outriders presents a study in contrast: a high-end modern CPU paired with a mid-range older GPU. The measured frame rates across the three primary resolutions reveal a system whose performance ceiling is firmly dictated by the graphics card, while the processor ensures that the floor never drops due to CPU limitations. The data indicates a hierarchy where resolution and settings scaling are almost entirely the domain of the GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a dramatic and expected performance drop, confirming the RTX 2070 SUPER as the primary bottleneck. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 122.5 FPS at 1920x1080 to 77.1 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 45.4 FPS. Pushing further to 3840x2160 yields just 41.2 FPS, which represents a 66.4% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep curve is a classic hallmark of GPU-bound rendering, where the demand on pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth scales exponentially with resolution.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all quality presets. At Low settings, the system achieves 227.7 FPS at 1080p, which is an exceptionally high headroom for competitive play. This drops to 143.6 FPS at 1440p and then to 73.2 FPS at 4K. The fact that even the Low preset cannot maintain a 60 FPS average at 4K underscores the GPU's limitations at that resolution. The gap between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings is 84.1 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 70.4 FPS, showing a fairly linear degradation in this instance.

However, the scaling from 1440p to 4K on higher presets is more punishing. At Ultra settings, the frame rate is 89.3 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 55.8 FPS at 1440p and then halving to 30.5 FPS at 4K. This suggests that the 8 GB of VRAM and the 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth are being saturated at 4K with high-quality textures and effects, causing a disproportionate penalty. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming is only viable on the Low preset, and even then, the 73.2 FPS average is not exceptionally smooth for a fast-paced looter shooter. For a consistently fluid experience, 1440p presents the practical upper bound for this hardware combination.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 7 7700 provides a robust foundation for Outriders, with its 8 cores and 16 threads ensuring that the game's logic, physics, and AI never become the limiting factor. Its Zen 4 architecture, operating on a 5 nm process, delivers strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 1049 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4136. This is crucial for games like Outriders, which often rely heavily on a single main thread for frame pacing and game state updates.

The processor's performance is further contextualized by its benchmark results. With a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, it sits comfortably ahead of the majority of processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, which scores virtually identically (delta of 0.1%), and the Intel Core i9-13905H, which is a mere 0.6% faster in average benchmark score. This indicates that the Ryzen 7 7700 is performing at the top tier of CPU capability, and in a game like Outriders, this headroom means the CPU is rarely, if ever, the source of frame rate stutters or drops.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows the CPU's independence from resolution. While the GPU workload increases significantly, the CPU's task remains relatively constant. The fact that we see such a large drop in frame rates with increased resolution is direct evidence that the CPU is not the bottleneck; if it were, the frame rates would remain largely flat regardless of resolution. The Ryzen 7 7700's high clock speeds, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and its 32 MB of shared L3 cache provide ample processing power for the game's demands, ensuring that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the sole component determining the final frame rate output.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the decisive component in this configuration. Its Turing architecture, built on a 12 nm process, provides a baseline of performance that is now considered mid-range. The GPU's benchmark data shows it ranks in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22206. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile, which is 2.3% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700, which is 2.5% slower. This places the RTX 2070 SUPER in a specific performance tier that directly correlates with the Outriders results.

With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, the GPU has a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This is a critical specification for Outriders at higher resolutions and settings. The performance collapse at 4K Ultra (30.5 FPS) compared to 4K Low (73.2 FPS) suggests that the combination of high-resolution textures and effects exceeds the comfortable capacity of the 8 GB VRAM buffer, forcing the system to use slower memory paging. This is a classic symptom of a GPU with sufficient raw compute power but limited memory capacity for modern game settings.

The GPU's clock speeds also factor into its performance. With a base clock of 1605 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, the card is running at a reasonable frequency, but its age shows in the overall frame rates. The 1080p Low result of 227.7 FPS demonstrates the GPU's capability when unburdened by high-resolution textures. However, the drop to 41.2 FPS at 4K High illustrates a 81.9% performance loss from the 1080p High result. This scaling is typical for a GPU where the shading units (2560) and texture units (160) are being overwhelmed by the sheer pixel count of 4K rendering.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the ideal balance of visual fidelity and performance for this system is found at 2560x1440 resolution with High settings, yielding an average of 77.1 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold for action-heavy gameplay while still offering a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings. The jump from Medium (105.9 FPS) to High (77.1 FPS) at 1440p costs 28.8 FPS, but the visual improvement in texture detail and shadow quality is generally considered worthwhile for the genre.

For players prioritizing competitive responsiveness over visuals, 1920x1080 with Medium settings is the optimal choice. The 168.1 FPS average at this preset is high enough to fully utilize a 144Hz monitor, and the increase in visual quality over Low settings is substantial. While Low settings at 1080p achieve an even higher 227.7 FPS, the graphical sacrifices are often too severe for the modest frame rate gain, especially when the Medium preset already provides a comfortable margin over 144 FPS.

At 4K resolution, the choices are less appealing. The Low preset is the only one that delivers a playable experience, with a 73.2 FPS average. However, the visual quality is poor, and the game will likely look dated. The Medium preset drops to 55.2 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and will introduce noticeable judder. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are effectively unplayable for a smooth experience, with averages of 41.2 FPS and 30.5 FPS respectively. Therefore, for the best overall experience that balances quality and speed, 1440p High is the recommended configuration.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Outriders?*

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 is the optimal resolution. It offers a substantial improvement in visual clarity over 1080p while maintaining high frame rates, with the High preset averaging 77.1 FPS. 4K resolution is only viable at Low settings (73.2 FPS) and requires significant visual compromises.

Q: How much of a performance drop should I expect when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The performance drop is severe. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 122.5 FPS at 1920x1080 to 41.2 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 66.4% decrease in performance, confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 sufficient for this game?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 7 7700 is more than sufficient. Its performance is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-13905H, are within 0.6% of its average score. The frame rate scaling is entirely dependent on the GPU, indicating the CPU is not a limiting factor.

Q: Can I play at 4K with this setup?

A: Yes, but only with significant compromises. At 4K with Low settings, the average frame rate is 73.2 FPS. At Medium settings, it drops to 55.2 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 41.2 FPS and 30.5 FPS respectively. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, you would need to use Low settings, which will noticeably reduce visual quality.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 143.6 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 55.8 FPS. This is a difference of 87.8 FPS, highlighting the significant GPU load increase from high-end graphical effects like shadows, reflections, and post-processing.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its direct competitors?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER's average benchmark score is 22206. It sits 2.3% below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile and 2.5% above the AMD Radeon RX 5700. Its performance is very closely matched with the NVIDIA RTX A400, which is 0.5% faster. This places it in a specific performance tier that directly corresponds to the frame rates observed in Outriders.