Outriders

The data for Outriders pairs a 12-core AMD Ryzen 9 9900X with an Intel Arc B390 GPU, a combination that yields a very specific performance profile. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings reveal a system where the processor is far more capable than the graphics solution, creating a bottleneck that defines the entire experience.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). With a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, this CPU is designed for high-throughput workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip posts a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32172 and a single-core score of 2253, alongside a Geekbench multicore score of 22174 and single-core score of 3010. These numbers place the processor in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier performance potential.

However, the measured FPS in Outriders tells a different story. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 115 FPS, but this is the absolute ceiling for this combo. In Outriders, a looter shooter with fast-paced combat and numerous on-screen effects, the CPU’s high core count and clock speeds are more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The data suggests that the Ryzen 9 9900X is not the limiting factor here; even at lower resolutions where CPU overhead typically increases, the frame rates are moderate rather than exceptional. The processor’s performance headroom is evident in its 3DMark 16-thread score of 12552, but the game’s engine likely does not scale perfectly with 24 threads, meaning the CPU’s power is largely untapped in this pairing. The bottleneck is clearly elsewhere, which becomes more apparent as resolution increases.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings presets at each resolution. At 1080p, the jump from Low (115 FPS) to Medium (83 FPS) is a 32 FPS drop, but the visual improvement is substantial. High settings yield 63 FPS, which is still playable, while Ultra drops to 45 FPS. The sweet spot at 1080p is Medium, offering 83 FPS with an average minimum of 71 FPS and maximum of 96 FPS, providing a smooth experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. Pushing to High sacrifices 20 FPS for marginal gains, which may not be worth it.

At 1440p, the pattern shifts. Low settings produce 72 FPS, Medium drops to 53 FPS, High to 40 FPS, and Ultra to 29 FPS. Here, Medium is again the recommended preset, as it maintains a playable frame rate above 50 FPS, while High falls below the 60 FPS threshold that many players prefer. For 4K, the situation is dire. Low settings yield 38 FPS, Medium 28 FPS, High 21 FPS, and Ultra 15 FPS. None of these are ideal for a fast-paced shooter, but Low is the only preset that approaches playability, albeit barely. The data indicates that for the best balance of visual quality and performance, Medium at 1080p or 1440p is the optimal choice, while 4K users must accept Low settings for any semblance of fluidity.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions is revealing. At Medium settings, the system delivers 83 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 28 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 66% drop from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, at High settings, the numbers are 63 FPS at 1080p, 40 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound system, where the graphics card cannot keep up with the increasing pixel count.

The Intel Arc B390, an integrated graphics solution with a 3 nm process and Xe3-LPG architecture, is clearly the limiting component. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 and GT 520MX, which are entry-level parts from years ago. The GPU’s system-shared memory and system-dependent bandwidth mean that as resolution increases, the demand on the shared memory subsystem grows, further exacerbating the performance drop. The CPU’s role in this scaling is minimal; the Ryzen 9 9900X can easily handle the increased draw calls and physics calculations at higher resolutions, but the GPU simply cannot render frames fast enough. The data strongly implies that the Arc B390 is the bottleneck, and no amount of CPU headroom can compensate for its limited graphics throughput.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Outriders, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2582 out of 2913 combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, a poor showing that reflects the GPU’s limitations rather than the CPU’s capabilities. The CPU itself ranks in the 92nd percentile, but the combo rank is dragged down by the GPU’s 9th percentile standing.

The data shows a stark contrast between the processor’s potential and the actual in-game results. The Ryzen 9 9900X’s nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks include the Intel Core i9-14900 (with a deltaPct of -1.1) and the AMD EPYC 9015 (deltaPct of -0.1), indicating the CPU is competitive with high-end desktop and server parts. However, the Arc B390’s nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct of 1.3) and GeForce 800M (deltaPct of 1.5), which are ancient, low-power mobile GPUs. This pairing is fundamentally imbalanced, and the combo rank reflects that. For a game like Outriders, which demands consistent frame rates for responsive combat, this rank suggests the system will struggle, particularly at higher settings and resolutions. The data indicates that users should temper expectations; this is not a combination designed for high-refresh-rate or high-fidelity gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this CPU and GPU combo in Outriders?

A: Based on the measured FPS, Medium settings at 1080p provides the best experience, delivering an average of 83 FPS with a minimum of 71 FPS. At 1440p, Medium settings yield 53 FPS, which is also the recommended preset for that resolution.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X scores 32172 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2253 in single-core. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900, has a deltaPct of -1.1, meaning the 9900X is slightly ahead, while the AMD EPYC 9015 is nearly identical with a deltaPct of -0.1.

Q: Why does the FPS drop so significantly from 1080p to 4K?

A: The FPS drop is due to the Intel Arc B390's limited graphics processing power. At Medium settings, FPS falls from 83 at 1080p to 28 at 4K, a 66% reduction. This steep decline indicates the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU has ample headroom.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 a capable GPU for this game?

A: The data suggests it is not. The GPU scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 9th percentile, with rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. In practical terms, it only achieves 115 FPS at 1080p Low and 45 FPS at 1080p Ultra.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 2582 out of 2913 tested combos for Outriders, placing it in the bottom 11%. While the CPU is in the 92nd percentile, the GPU's 9th percentile performance drags the overall rank down significantly.

Q: What is the CPU's memory bandwidth, and does it matter here?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. While this is ample for the CPU, the GPU uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, which means the GPU's performance is tied to the same memory subsystem, potentially causing contention.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo's performance across all tested configurations.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 115 FPS
• Medium: Average 83 FPS, minimum 71 FPS, maximum 96 FPS
• High: Average 63 FPS
• Ultra: Average 45 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 72 FPS
• Medium: Average 53 FPS, minimum 45 FPS, maximum 61 FPS
• High: Average 40 FPS
• Ultra: Average 29 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 38 FPS
• Medium: Average 28 FPS, minimum 23 FPS, maximum 32 FPS
• High: Average 21 FPS
• Ultra: Average 15 FPS

The data reveals a consistent pattern: each settings tier costs roughly 20-30 FPS, and each resolution step up halves or nearly halves the frame rate. At 1080p, the system can achieve playable frame rates on Medium and High, but at 4K, even Low settings fall below the 40 FPS mark. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows that frame pacing is relatively stable, with the 4K minimum of 23 FPS being only 5 FPS below the average, indicating a consistent, albeit low, performance level.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU’s boost clock is 2500 MHz, with a base clock of 300 MHz. Its memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM; instead, it relies on the system's DDR5 memory, and its bandwidth is system-dependent. The GPU’s theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS FP16, but these numbers do not translate into playable performance in Outriders at higher settings.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1482 places the B390 in the 9th percentile, with its nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M. This is a clear indicator of its low-end positioning. In Outriders, the GPU’s limitations are stark. At 1080p Ultra, it manages only 45 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 15 FPS. The system-shared memory is a critical factor; as resolution increases, the demand on the shared memory bandwidth grows, and the GPU struggles to keep up. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are insufficient for rendering the detailed environments and particle effects of a looter shooter at high resolutions. The data clearly shows that the Arc B390 is the primary constraint, and its performance characteristics are more suited to esports titles or older games than a demanding 2021 release like Outriders.