Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 lands at rank 1355 out of 1693 tested combos for Outriders. That puts this build in the bottom 20 percent of the database, which is a direct reflection of the GPU being the limiting factor. The CPU is a top-tier part, but it is paired with a mid-range graphics card that was already several generations old when this looter shooter launched. The data shows a system that is perfectly playable at 1080p, but one that struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions with demanding settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1355 out of 1693 is a clear indicator that this configuration is not optimized for Outriders. With a percentile ranking of only 58 for the GPU and 93 for the CPU, the discrepancy is obvious. The processor is performing in the top 7 percent of all CPUs, while the graphics card sits just above the median. In practical terms, this means the Ryzen 9 7900X is rarely the bottleneck; it is the RTX 2060 that dictates the frame rates you see. The CPU's average benchmark score of 50556 places it nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, which scores 50598, a delta of only -0.1 percent. This means the 7900X is effectively tied with that chip in raw compute. The 12 cores and 24 threads of the 7900X are more than sufficient for a game like Outriders, which is not heavily threaded. The result is that the system's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's performance ceiling, not the processor's capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the defining component in this combo. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is a critical factor in Outriders, as the game can be memory-hungry at higher settings. The GPU's boost clock is 1680 MHz, and it is built on the 12 nm Turing architecture. The data shows that while the GPU has a PassMark G3D score of 14111, its performance in DirectX 12 is notably weaker, scoring only 53 in that specific PassMark test. This suggests the card is not particularly well-suited for modern API overhead. Compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 2060 is essentially on par with the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, which scores 15996, a delta of 0.5 percent. It is also just 1.7 percent behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700, both scoring 16351. The practical takeaway is that the RTX 2060 is a competent 1080p card, but its 6 GB VRAM and older architecture become a liability when you push resolution or settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 103.4 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at High drops that to 65.1 FPS, a reduction of about 37 percent. At 3840x2160, the average falls to 36.3 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. This scaling pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior. The CPU is not the issue; the RTX 2060 simply does not have the raw fill rate or memory bandwidth to handle the increased pixel count. The gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (188.7 FPS) and Ultra (74.5 FPS) is 114.2 FPS. At 4K, that difference shrinks to 38 FPS (63.3 FPS on Low vs 25.3 FPS on Ultra). This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is so overwhelmed that even lowering settings has diminishing returns, as the bottleneck shifts from pixel shading to memory and compute limits.

Settings Recommendations

For a smooth experience, the data points to 1080p as the sweet spot for this combo. At that resolution, Medium settings deliver 133.9 FPS, which is excellent for a fast-paced looter shooter. High settings at 1080p are also viable, with 103.4 FPS providing a good balance of visual fidelity and performance. Ultra settings at 1080p are playable at 74.5 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra costs nearly 30 FPS for what is typically a marginal visual improvement in this genre. At 1440p, the data suggests dropping to Medium settings to maintain a playable frame rate. The 84.7 FPS average on Medium is acceptable, while High drops to 65.1 FPS. Avoid 4K entirely unless you are willing to play on Low settings, where the 63.3 FPS average is just about playable, but the visual downgrade is significant. The best experience per the measured rows is 1080p on High settings, offering a high frame rate without sacrificing too much visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080:

• Low: 188.7 FPS average. This is the maximum performance the combo can achieve, showing the CPU's ability to feed frames without limitation.
• Medium: 133.9 FPS average. A substantial drop from Low, but still very smooth.
• High: 103.4 FPS average. The recommended setting for a balance of quality and speed.
• Ultra: 74.5 FPS average. The most demanding setting at this resolution, still playable but with a noticeable frame rate penalty.

2560x1440:

• Low: 120.3 FPS average. The only setting at 1440p that feels truly responsive.
• Medium: 84.7 FPS average. A reasonable target for 1440p gaming, though not as fluid as 1080p.
• High: 65.1 FPS average. Borderline for a shooter; you will feel the frame pacing.
• Ultra: 48.2 FPS average. This is a significant drop, making the game feel sluggish.

3840x2160:

• Low: 63.3 FPS average. The only way to get a decent frame rate at 4K, but it looks noticeably worse than Medium.
• Medium: 43.9 FPS average. Not smooth enough for a game that requires fast reactions.
• High: 36.3 FPS average. This is in the "cinematic" territory, which is not ideal for gameplay.
• Ultra: 25.3 FPS average. Unplayable by any standard for a looter shooter.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo good for 1080p gaming?

A: Yes, the data shows it is well-suited for 1080p. High settings yield 103.4 FPS, and Medium settings yield 133.9 FPS, both of which are smooth for Outriders.

Q: Can this system handle 1440p?

A: It can, but with compromises. At 1440p, you will need to use Medium settings (84.7 FPS) or Low settings (120.3 FPS) to maintain a good frame rate. High settings drop to 65.1 FPS, which is less ideal for a fast-paced game.

Q: What about 4K gaming?

A: 4K is not recommended. The best result is 63.3 FPS on Low settings, but the visual fidelity is poor. All other settings are below 44 FPS, which is not suitable for a shooter.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its rivals?

A: The Ryzen 9 7900X has an average benchmark score of 50556. It is essentially tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (50598, delta -0.1 percent) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT (50738, delta -0.4 percent). It is just 0.8 percent behind the Intel Core i9-13980HX (50944).

Q: How does the GPU compare to its rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074. It is 0.5 percent ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996) and 1.8 percent ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15786). It is 1.7 percent behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700, which both score 16351.

Q: What is the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU is in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 58th percentile. The resolution scaling data confirms this, as frame rates drop sharply with increased resolution, which is characteristic of GPU limitation.