Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 presents a compelling mid-range configuration for Outriders, a looter shooter from 2021. The measured data reveals a system that scales predictably across resolutions, with the RTX 5060 emerging as the primary performance arbiter at higher settings. The combination ranks 1106th out of 2913 tested configurations, placing it comfortably above the median for this title. This analysis examines the benchmark results, focusing on resolution scaling, settings optimization, and the distinct roles played by the CPU and GPU.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The performance trajectory from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, clearly demonstrating that the GPU becomes the dominant constraint as pixel count rises. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 143 FPS at 1920x1080 to 90 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 53 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 47 FPS, which is a 67% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 9700F has ample headroom to feed the RTX 5060 at 1080p. The jump from 143 FPS at 1080p High to 261 FPS at 1080p Low shows that when the GPU workload is reduced, the system can deliver very high frame rates. This implies the CPU is not a bottleneck at these settings, as the frame rate is able to nearly double when the graphical load is lightened. The 8-core, 16-thread processor is clearly capable of driving the GeForce RTX 5060 to its limits at this resolution.

However, the picture changes dramatically at 4K. At 3840x2160, the High preset yields just 47 FPS, and Ultra drops to 34 FPS. The gap between the Low and High presets at 4K is also significant, with Low achieving 86 FPS versus High's 47 FPS. This wide spread indicates that the RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and its compute throughput are being heavily taxed. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, while adequate for 1080p and 1440p, appears to be a limiting factor at 4K with higher detail settings.

The scaling between 1440p and 4K is particularly telling. At Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 120 FPS at 2560x1440 to 63 FPS at 3840x2160. This near-halving of performance suggests that the GPU is running out of resources, likely due to the combination of increased pixel count and memory pressure. The RTX 5060's 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB frame buffer are not sufficient for a smooth 4K experience in Outriders at higher presets.

For users targeting 4K, the data implies that the Low preset is the only viable option for playable frame rates, averaging 86 FPS. This is a significant compromise, as it negates the visual benefits of the resolution. The results indicate that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high refresh rate experiences. The CPU's performance, as measured by its Passmark single-thread score of 4691, appears more than capable of keeping up with the GPU's output at these resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows the sweet spot is 1920x1080. At this resolution, the combo achieves a minimum of 103 FPS on Ultra settings and reaches up to 261 FPS on Low, providing a wide range of high-refresh-rate options. At 2560x1440, performance is still strong with 90 FPS on High, but 4K at 47 FPS on High is less ideal for competitive play.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 perform relative to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 26331 places it near the AMD Radeon 860M (26401) and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26421), with deltaPct values of -0.3% for both. It is 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (26011), indicating similar raw compute performance in these tests.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700F a bottleneck for the RTX 5060 in this game?

A: Based on the resolution scaling, the CPU does not appear to be a bottleneck. The frame rate scales significantly when resolution is lowered (e.g., 143 FPS to 261 FPS between High and Low at 1080p), which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's high single-thread score of 4691 supports its ability to handle game logic efficiently.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Medium and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 120 FPS, with measured minimums of 102 FPS and maximums of 138 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 65 FPS. This represents a 55 FPS drop for the higher visual fidelity, which is a significant trade-off.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for these components?

A: The CPU has a launch MSRP of $289, and the GPU has a launch MSRP of 299 USD.

Q: How does the CPU rank against other processors in the database?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F has a percentile rank of 94, meaning it performs better than 94% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score of 69996 is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-14700K.

Settings Recommendations

For a balanced experience, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the most compelling option. The data shows an average of 120 FPS, with minimums staying above 100 FPS at 102. This provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience while maintaining a moderate level of visual quality. The jump from Medium to High at this resolution reduces the average to 90 FPS, a 30 FPS cost that may be too high for competitive players.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering 143 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the Medium preset's 190 FPS, but the visual fidelity gains are often worth the 47 FPS reduction. For players with 144Hz monitors, the High preset perfectly matches the refresh rate, while the Medium preset provides headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 1080p, at 103 FPS, is also viable for those who prioritize image quality over maximum frame rates.

For 4K, the settings are severely constrained. The Low preset at 86 FPS is the only option that provides a playable frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 63 FPS is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets at 47 FPS and 34 FPS respectively are not recommended for a smooth experience. The data suggests that users with a 4K display should either lower the resolution to 1440p or accept the visual compromises of the Low preset.

The Ultra preset is generally not recommended for this combo. At all resolutions, it produces the lowest frame rates, with a 34 FPS average at 4K. The visual difference between Ultra and High is often minimal in fast-paced action, making the significant performance hit unjustified. The measured data consistently shows that the Medium and High presets offer the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 261 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 190 FPS with a minimum of 162 and a maximum of 219 FPS. The High preset delivers 143 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 103 FPS. This resolution provides the most flexibility, with all presets offering playable frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but requires more careful settings selection. The Low preset averages 165 FPS, while Medium drops to 120 FPS (min 102, max 138). The High preset averages 90 FPS, and Ultra falls to 65 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 45 FPS, indicating a steep cost for the first tier of visual improvements.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset is the most playable at 86 FPS. The Medium preset averages 63 FPS (min 53, max 72), which is playable but not ideal. The High preset drops to 47 FPS, and Ultra falls to 34 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant compromises.

The Medium preset is the only one with full min/max data across all three resolutions. This data reveals the frame time consistency: at 1080p, the range is 162-219 (a 57 FPS spread), at 1440p it is 102-138 (a 36 FPS spread), and at 4K it is 53-72 (a 19 FPS spread). The narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests the GPU is consistently saturated, while at 1080p, the variance is likely due to CPU or driver overhead.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination ranks 1106th out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the 62nd percentile of all configurations, indicating it outperforms a majority of systems tested for this game. This ranking is respectable, given that the GPU has a percentile rank of 72 among all GPUs.

The ranking suggests that this combo is well-suited for the game's requirements. The CPU's high percentile rank of 94 combined with the GPU's above-average 72nd percentile creates a balanced pairing. The 1106th rank out of 2913 shows that while there are many faster systems, this combo is far from the bottom and provides a solid gaming experience.

The deltaPct values for the CPU's nearest rivals are all within 1% of each other, indicating that the processor's performance is tightly clustered with other high-end chips. This means the CPU choice is unlikely to be a differentiating factor in the game's performance. The GPU's rivals show slightly more variance, but the RTX 5060's performance is also competitive within its class.

This ranking implies that users with this combo will have a positive experience in Outriders at 1080p and 1440p. The system is clearly capable of handling the game's demands, though it is not a top-tier performer. The data suggests that upgrading either the CPU or GPU would yield marginal gains at the current resolution targets.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a Zen 5 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, boosting up to 5.50 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. In the context of Outriders, this configuration provides ample processing power for game logic, AI, and physics calculations. The CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 4691 and multithread score of 36470 indicate strong performance.

The CPU's memory support for DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth ensures fast data transfer to the GPU. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache likely helps with frequently accessed game data. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its high-end status, and its average benchmark score of 69996 is competitive with the Intel Core i7-14700KF.

In Outriders, the CPU's role is to maintain a steady stream of frames, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system can reach 261 FPS, suggesting the CPU is not a limiting factor. The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for this game, which does not appear to be heavily multithreaded based on the scaling data.

The CPU's boost clock of 5.50 GHz is particularly important for maintaining high frame rates. The measured FPS at 1080p High (143 FPS) indicates that the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output. The CPU's performance is well-matched to the RTX 5060, as there is no significant bottleneck observed in the data.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus. Its memory bandwidth is 448.0 GB/s, and it has a base clock of 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz. The GPU's performance in Outriders is directly tied to its memory capacity and bandwidth, especially at higher resolutions.

The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 20891 and percentile rank of 72 indicate it is a mid-range performer. Its average benchmark score of 26331 is competitive with the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550, showing that it is a solid 1080p and 1440p card. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at most settings, but the data shows it becomes a constraint at 4K.

The measured FPS data reveals the GPU's limits. At 4K High, the GPU can only manage 47 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 34 FPS. This suggests the 8 GB VRAM is being exhausted, causing performance to plummet. The GPU's 128-bit memory bus also limits its ability to handle the large textures and effects at 4K. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is simply not enough for the data throughput required at this resolution.

The GPU's role is to render the game's visuals, and its performance is the primary factor in determining frame rates at higher settings. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU can keep up at 1080p. The RTX 5060 is best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where it can deliver high frame rates, but it is not suitable for 4K gaming with this game at high presets.