Outriders

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware in Outriders?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 with Low settings delivers the highest average frame rate at 110 FPS. The Medium preset at 1920x1080 also performs well with an 80 FPS average, making it a strong balance between visual quality and smoothness.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, placing it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. It is virtually tied with the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492, 0% delta) and sits only 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500, while the Intel Core 5 120UL trails by 0.7%.

Q: How does the RX 580's benchmark performance compare to the GTX 1660 SUPER?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 posts an average benchmark score of 12928, which is 0.4% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER's 12986. The RX 580 also sits at the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, with its closest rival being the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile at just 0.1% higher.

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect at 1440p with this combo?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields a 70 FPS average, while Medium drops to 51 FPS (with a minimum of 43 FPS). High settings produce 38 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 27 FPS, making Low the only preset at this resolution that consistently stays above 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data shows a steep FPS drop from 1080p to 4K; at 4K High, the average is only 20 FPS versus 60 FPS at 1080p High. This 67% performance reduction across resolution scaling strongly indicates that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU workload does not scale with resolution.

Q: Does the RX 580 support modern graphics APIs needed for Outriders?

A: Yes, the GPU supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. Benchmark scores for this GPU include a Passmark DirectX 12 score of 43 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 45173, confirming it has the API compatibility required for the game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake family, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, and it carries a shared 12 MB L3 cache. These specifications define how the CPU handles Outriders' game logic, enemy AI, and physics calculations. The single-thread performance is notable: Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1674 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3444. Such scores indicate strong per-core responsiveness, which is critical for maintaining consistent frame pacing in a looter shooter where combat encounters spawn numerous entities simultaneously.

In multi-threaded workloads, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and a Passmark multithread score of 14015. While the 4-core/8-thread configuration is not a high-core-count monster, it delivers enough parallel throughput to avoid holding back the GPU in most gaming scenarios. The 3DMark scores are informative: 8-thread score of 4026 versus max-thread score of 4023, showing that the CPU's performance scales nearly perfectly with all available threads. This near-linear scaling means that Outriders, which typically uses multiple threads for streaming and effects, can fully utilize the processor without leaving performance on the table.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 68th among all CPUs places it in the mid-to-upper tier of desktop processors. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 5 120UL, scores just 0.7% lower, while the Intel Core i5-9500 is only 0.3% behind. This cluster of scores around 13450-13594 indicates that the i3-12100F is competitive with older i5 parts and modern low-power chips. For Outriders specifically, the measured FPS at 1080p Low (110 FPS average) suggests the CPU is more than adequate for high-refresh-rate play at lower resolutions, since the GPU is unlikely to be fully saturated at that setting. The real constraint emerges at higher resolutions and settings, where the workload shifts to the graphics card.

The processor's memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5, alongside a dual-channel memory bus, provides flexibility but does not directly appear in the measured frame rates. The 58 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility are platform considerations that matter for system builders, but the benchmark data shows that the i3-12100F's computational power is sufficient to push Outriders to 110 FPS at 1080p Low without becoming the limiting factor. At 1440p Low, the 70 FPS average further confirms that the CPU maintains its end of the bargain, as the frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p (from 110 to 70 FPS) is disproportionate to the CPU's workload increase.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is a Polaris 20 GPU built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, featuring 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 1257 MHz with a boost clock of 1340 MHz, paired with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is particularly relevant for Outriders, which features detailed environments and particle effects that consume significant VRAM. The 8 GB capacity ensures that even at high resolutions, the GPU does not face memory starvation, allowing the measured frame rates to reflect pure compute and rasterization limits rather than memory capacity issues.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest by modern standards: 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s. These numbers translate into the measured FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the RX 580 averages 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS and maximum of 92 FPS, showing that the card can handle the game's medium preset comfortably. However, at 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 43 FPS, revealing the GPU's limitations when pushed to maximum settings. The benchmark scores align with this: a Passmark G3D score of 8813 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1005 place the GPU at the 53rd percentile of all GPUs.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RX 580 sits just 0.4% behind the GTX 1660 SUPER (score 12986) and 0.1% behind the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (score 12940). This tight grouping means that in Outriders, the RX 580's performance is essentially interchangeable with those cards, with differences of less than 1% in synthetic benchmarks. The GPU's DirectX 12 support (score 43 in Passmark) and Vulkan 1.3 compatibility are sufficient for the game's engine, though the older GCN 4.0 architecture may not extract maximum efficiency from newer rendering techniques.

The 185 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU are power considerations, but the performance data is what matters for gameplay. At 1440p Medium, the RX 580 manages a 51 FPS average with a minimum of 43 FPS, indicating that 1440p is playable but not optimal for smooth 60 FPS gameplay. The GPU's texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s and fill rate of 42.88 GPixel/s are the underlying hardware attributes that determine how quickly it can process the textured surfaces and post-processing effects prevalent in Outriders' sci-fi environments. The 8 GB VRAM at 256 GB/s bandwidth is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K data (20 FPS average at High) shows that the GPU's compute throughput becomes the decisive constraint at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RX 580 and i3-12100F combination delivers a wide range of frame rates depending on settings. Low settings produce an average of 110 FPS, which is the highest measured across all configurations. Medium settings yield an 80 FPS average with a minimum of 68 FPS and maximum of 92 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High settings drop the average to 60 FPS exactly, which is the threshold for smooth gameplay but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra settings reduce the average to 43 FPS, making this preset less suitable for fast-paced combat where frame drops could affect responsiveness.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down considerably. Low settings maintain a 70 FPS average, which is still playable but shows a 36% reduction from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 FPS and maximum of 58 FPS, meaning that the game will frequently dip below 60 FPS during intense moments. High settings drop to 38 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 27 FPS, both of which would result in a noticeably less fluid experience. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 43 FPS, highlighting the GPU's sensitivity to settings complexity at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal for most settings. Low settings average 36 FPS, which is the only 4K preset that approaches playability. Medium settings average 26 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and maximum of 30 FPS, indicating that the game is playable but far from smooth. High settings average 20 FPS, and Ultra drops to 14 FPS, both of which are below acceptable thresholds for an action-heavy looter shooter. The data shows that 4K is essentially out of reach for this hardware combo unless the player is willing to accept very low frame rates and reduced visual fidelity.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low settings provide roughly double the frame rate of Ultra settings. At 1080p, the jump from 43 to 110 FPS (a 156% increase) demonstrates that the GPU has significant headroom when graphical complexity is reduced. At 1440p, the jump from 27 to 70 FPS (a 159% increase) follows a similar trend. At 4K, the jump from 14 to 36 FPS (a 157% increase) maintains the same ratio, confirming that the GPU's performance scales predictably with settings changes regardless of resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear resolution scaling pattern that identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck. From 1080p to 1440p at High settings, the average FPS drops from 60 to 38, a 37% reduction. From 1440p to 4K at High settings, the average drops from 38 to 20, a 47% reduction. Combined, the 1080p to 4K transition at High settings results in a 67% FPS loss (from 60 to 20 FPS). This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, as the pixel count increases dramatically (1080p has 2.07 million pixels, 1440p has 3.69 million, 4K has 8.29 million) while the CPU workload remains relatively constant.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced in absolute terms. The 1080p Low average of 110 FPS drops to 70 FPS at 1440p (a 36% reduction) and then to 36 FPS at 4K (a 49% reduction from 1440p). The relative consistency of these percentages across settings—roughly 36-37% for the first step and 47-49% for the second—confirms that resolution scaling is the dominant factor. If the CPU were the limiting component, the FPS would remain more stable across resolutions because the CPU's workload is largely independent of pixel count. Instead, the RX 580's fixed compute throughput is spread across more pixels, leading to the observed declines.

The Medium settings data at each resolution provides additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the average is 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 51 FPS with a minimum of 43 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 26 FPS with a minimum of 23 FPS. The minimum FPS values show that the GPU's frame time consistency degrades as resolution increases; the spread between minimum and maximum at 1080p Medium is 24 FPS (68 to 92), at 1440p Medium it is 15 FPS (43 to 58), and at 4K Medium it is 7 FPS (23 to 30). This narrowing range indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU is running near its limits most of the time, leaving little room for variation.

The scaling behavior points to the RX 580 as the limiting component. The i3-12100F's strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1674) and multi-thread scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core of 11860) are more than sufficient for Outriders' CPU demands, as evidenced by the 110 FPS result at 1080p Low. As resolution increases, the CPU's role diminishes, and the GPU's 6.175 TFLOPS of compute power becomes the constraining factor. For players seeking higher frame rates at 1440p or 4K, the data suggests that a GPU upgrade would yield more significant gains than a CPU upgrade.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend on the player's resolution and performance priorities. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. The 80 FPS average with a 68 FPS minimum ensures that the game remains above the 60 FPS threshold even during demanding scenes, while the visual improvements over Low settings are substantial. The High preset at 1080p is also viable, with a 60 FPS average, but the lack of headroom means that any complex particle effects or enemy swarms could push the frame rate below 60 FPS, making Medium the safer recommendation for consistent gameplay.

For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the 1080p Low preset delivers an excellent 110 FPS average. This configuration maximizes the CPU's potential and provides the smoothest experience, which is beneficial for competitive play or for those sensitive to input lag. However, the visual fidelity at Low settings will be noticeably reduced, particularly in terms of shadows, textures, and post-processing effects. The sweet spot for most players will be 1080p Medium, as it provides a 80 FPS average that is well above the playability threshold while retaining enough graphical detail to appreciate Outriders' environment design.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only configuration that reliably exceeds 60 FPS, with a 70 FPS average. Medium settings at 1440p produce a 51 FPS average, which is playable but will exhibit occasional dips to 43 FPS during intense combat. For players with 1440p monitors who cannot tolerate frame rate fluctuations, Low settings are recommended. Those who prefer visual quality over smoothness may opt for Medium, accepting the sub-60 FPS performance. High and Ultra settings at 1440p should be avoided, as the 38 and 27 FPS averages respectively will result in a sluggish and unresponsive experience in a fast-paced looter shooter.

At 3840x2160, none of the settings provide an ideal experience. The Low preset's 36 FPS average is the only configurable option that approaches playability, but it still falls short of the 60 FPS standard. Medium settings at 4K average 26 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. Given these results, 4K gaming with this hardware is not recommended unless the player is willing to compromise heavily on frame rate. The data suggests that 1080p Medium or 1440p Low are the most practical choices, delivering frame rates that align with the hardware's capabilities while preserving enough visual detail for an immersive experience. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 256 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game's assets, but the compute throughput is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.