Outriders

The Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combination ranks 1247th out of 1693 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This rank reflects a pairing where the GPU’s age and the CPU’s modest core count interact to produce playable, but not exceptional, frame rates. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of handling the game at 1080p with high refresh rates, but one that struggles to maintain smooth performance at 4K Ultra settings, where the average frame rate dips below 30 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1247 out of 1693 tested combinations places it in the 26th percentile of all tested hardware pairings for Outriders. This is not a top-tier result, but it does not represent a bottom-of-the-barrel experience either. Benchmark results indicate that this pairing is positioned well behind the fastest systems, which are likely built around high-end CPUs and GPUs from the same era. The average benchmark score for the CPU is 13516, which puts it at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU’s average score of 24731 places it at the 68th percentile among all GPUs. These individual percentiles suggest that neither component is a severe bottleneck on its own, but their combined performance in this specific game results in a mid-pack ranking. The data implies that the system is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the measured frame rates are more competitive, rather than for pushing 4K resolutions with maximum settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture using a 7 nm process, with a die size of 251 mm² containing 10,300 million transistors. It operates with a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. Its memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. In Outriders, the GPU’s role is critical, as the game’s visual effects and texture streaming heavily tax the graphics processor. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for most settings at 1080p and 1440p, but the data shows a significant performance cliff at 4K Ultra, where the average frame rate falls to 28.9 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions and quality presets, as the frame rate drops precipitously when moving from Medium to Ultra settings at 4K. The GPU’s pixel rate of 121.9 GPixel/s and texture rate of 304.8 GTexel/s are moderate figures, which align with the observed mid-range performance in the benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling that highlights the GPU as the dominant bottleneck in this configuration. At 1080p High settings, the combo achieves an average of 112.3 FPS, which drops to 67.5 FPS at 1440p High and further to 39.5 FPS at 4K High. This represents a 40% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 1440p, and a 65% reduction from 1080p to 4K at the same settings. The scaling is even more pronounced at Ultra settings, where the frame rate falls from 80.2 FPS at 1080p to 49.5 FPS at 1440p and finally to 28.9 FPS at 4K. The fact that the frame rate nearly halves from 1080p to 4K at Low settings (from 201.3 FPS to 68.3 FPS) strongly suggests that the GPU’s computational resources are being saturated at higher resolutions. Conversely, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at 1080p Low, where the frame rate of 201.3 FPS approaches the limits of what a 4-core, 8-thread processor can sustain, as indicated by the CPU’s single-thread performance scores.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 201.3 FPS, which is a very high level of performance suitable for competitive play. Medium settings yield 147.7 FPS, High settings 112.3 FPS, and Ultra settings 80.2 FPS. The step from Medium to High represents a 24% performance drop, while the step from High to Ultra is a 29% drop, indicating that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU. At 2560x1440, the performance levels are more moderate. Low settings average 126.8 FPS, which remains smooth, but Medium settings drop to 92.7 FPS and High settings to 67.5 FPS. Ultra settings at 1440p produce an average of 49.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. At 3840x2160, the system struggles. Low settings average 68.3 FPS, which is acceptable, but Medium settings drop to 49.8 FPS and High settings to 39.5 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K produce a low 28.9 FPS average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a looter shooter where quick reactions are necessary. The data shows a consistent pattern: higher resolutions disproportionately impact frame rates, confirming the GPU as the limiting factor.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 92.7 FPS, while High settings at the same resolution drop to 67.5 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, 1440p Medium is the highest quality preset that comfortably exceeds this target.

Q: How does the CPU’s core count affect performance in Outriders?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the frame rate reaches 201.3 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor at lower resolutions, as the GPU is still able to push very high frame rates. However, the CPU’s multi-threaded benchmark scores, such as 5003 in Cinebench R20, indicate it is a mid-range part that could limit performance in CPU-intensive scenarios.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM on the RX 5700 XT sufficient for Outriders?

A: The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate is only 28.9 FPS, which is likely due to both VRAM capacity and raw GPU compute limits. At 1440p and 1080p, the VRAM appears sufficient, as the frame rates are much higher, indicating that the 8 GB capacity is not a major constraint at those resolutions.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial. Low settings average 201.3 FPS, while Ultra settings average 80.2 FPS. This represents a 60% reduction in frame rate, showing that the Ultra preset places a significant burden on the GPU.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest rivals in terms of component scores?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score of 13516 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13534, with a deltaPct of -0.1%. The GPU’s average score of 24731 is very close to the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile, which scores 24763, with a deltaPct of -0.1%. This indicates that the components are on par with these specific rivals in synthetic tests.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming at any settings?

A: At 4K Low settings, the average frame rate is 68.3 FPS, which is playable. However, at 4K High settings, the frame rate drops to 39.5 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 28.9 FPS. The data suggests that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the experience may not be consistently smooth in intense combat scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance is achieved at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, which yields an average of 92.7 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining decent visual fidelity. For players who prefer 1080p, High settings at 112.3 FPS offer an excellent experience, while Ultra at 80.2 FPS is also acceptable for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate. At 1440p, High settings at 67.5 FPS are playable, but the drop to Medium is recommended for a more consistent experience. At 4K, the data shows that only Low settings (68.3 FPS) are viable for smooth gameplay; Medium at 49.8 FPS may be acceptable for some, but High and Ultra are not recommended due to frame rates below 40 FPS. The largest performance gap occurs between Medium and Ultra at all resolutions, so avoiding the Ultra preset is the most effective way to maintain higher frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its L3 cache is 12 MB shared, which is modest by modern standards. In Outriders, the CPU’s role is secondary to the GPU, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling across resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 201.3 FPS, which is near the practical limit for this CPU, as its single-threaded benchmark scores (e.g., 1681 in Cinebench R23) are good but not exceptional. The CPU’s multi-threaded performance, as indicated by a Cinebench R23 score of 11912, is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at most settings, but the 4-core design may struggle in scenes with many enemies or complex physics calculations. The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration, as the frame rate drops are more closely correlated with resolution increases, which primarily affect the GPU. However, at very low settings and high frame rates, the CPU’s capabilities may become a limiting factor, preventing the system from reaching even higher FPS numbers.