Outriders

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake generation, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. In the context of Outriders, a looter shooter that relies on consistent physics and enemy AI calculations, this CPU configuration is the primary constraint on maximum frame rates. The data shows that the processor scores 1,674 points in Cinebench R23 single-core and 11,860 points in multi-core, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. When paired with the RTX 5090 D, the benchmark results indicate that at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 212 FPS, which is a solid figure, but the 4-core limitation becomes apparent when comparing the scaling from Low to Ultra settings at the same resolution, where the frame rate drops to 150 FPS.

The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support are adequate for feeding the GPU, but the thread count is the limiting factor. The 3DMark results show a score of 4,051 for 16 threads and 2,859 for 4 threads, indicating that the processor's multi-threading capabilities are modest. In Outriders, this means that while the CPU can handle the game's logic, it is not the component that drives the high frame rates; rather, it sets a ceiling that the GPU can easily hit. The benchmark scores for the i3-12100F show it is nearly identical to the Intel Core 3 N355, with a delta of 0%, and just 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500, suggesting that its performance profile is well-understood and consistent across various workloads.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship GPU with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its boost clock is 2407 MHz, and it features 21,760 shading units, 170 RT cores, and 680 tensor cores. In Outriders, the GPU's role is to render the high-resolution textures and particle effects that define the game's visual style. The benchmark data shows that at 4K Ultra settings, the system achieves 68 FPS, which is a playable frame rate, but the GPU is not fully utilized at lower resolutions. The RTX 5090 D scores in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 44,065, making it one of the most powerful cards available.

The GPU's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which is 1.6% behind in average benchmark score, while the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB is 2.1% behind. This performance headroom means that in Outriders, the RTX 5090 D is rarely the bottleneck, except at the highest settings and resolutions. The 32 GB VRAM is far more than the game requires, which prevents any texture swapping or stuttering issues. The data shows that at 1440p Ultra, the system hits 129 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it reaches 150 FPS, indicating that the GPU can push high frame rates even with the most demanding settings. The GPU's 575 W TDP and 1x 16-pin power connector are the only notable constraints, but they do not affect the measured performance in this game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of how the system scales from 1080p to 4K, and this scaling indicates where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 212 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 182 FPS; and at 4K Low, it falls to 147 FPS. This represents a 30.7% drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. For High settings, the drop is from 170 FPS at 1080p to 146 FPS at 1440p, and then to 94 FPS at 4K, which is a 44.7% reduction. The Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling, with 150 FPS at 1080p, 129 FPS at 1440p, and 68 FPS at 4K, a 54.7% decrease.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is relatively modest, with an average drop of about 15-20% across all settings, suggesting that the GPU has enough headroom to handle the increased pixel count. However, the jump from 1440p to 4K is much steeper, particularly at High and Ultra settings, where the frame rate drops by 35% and 47%, respectively. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting component, as the rendering workload increases exponentially with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as the frame rates are high but the GPU is not fully utilized. The data shows that the system is well-balanced at 1440p, where the frame rates are still high enough for smooth gameplay, but the GPU is working harder.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The system achieves an average of 162 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 137 FPS and a maximum of 186 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13,494, which is 0% different from the Intel Core 3 N355 and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-9500.

Q: What is the maximum frame rate recorded for this combo at 1080p?

A: The maximum frame rate at 1920x1080 is 217 FPS, which occurs with Medium settings.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system averages 68 FPS, and the steep drop from 1440p Ultra (129 FPS) indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77,712.

Q: Does the system maintain playable frame rates at all settings?

A: Yes, the lowest average frame rate recorded is 68 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while all other settings exceed 94 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 293rd out of 2,913 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the top 10% of all configurations. This ranking is notable because the CPU is a budget-oriented processor, while the GPU is a flagship model. The data shows that the combo's performance is heavily influenced by the GPU, which is why it ranks so highly despite the CPU's modest specifications. The average frame rates across all resolutions and settings are consistently high, with the lowest average being 68 FPS at 4K Ultra.

The ranking of 293 out of 2,913 suggests that there are only 292 combos that perform better in this game, which reflects the GPU's raw power. However, it is importantly the CPU does limit the maximum frame rates at lower resolutions. For example, at 1080p Low, the system hits 212 FPS, but a more powerful CPU paired with the same GPU might achieve higher frame rates. The delta between the CPU and its nearest rivals is minimal, with the Intel Core 5 120UL being 0.7% behind and the Intel Core i7-1250U being 1.1% behind, so the CPU is not a significant outlier. The combo's rank is a reflection of the GPU's dominance, and it shows that even a 4-core CPU can deliver a top-tier gaming experience when paired with the right GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Low preset provides the highest average frame rate at 212 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a better balance with 189 FPS and a minimum of 160 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 150 FPS, which is still very smooth, but the visual gains may not justify the 39 FPS difference from Low. For players with 1440p monitors, the High preset delivers 146 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays, while the Medium preset at 162 FPS offers even more headroom. The Ultra preset at 129 FPS is also playable, but the 33 FPS drop from Medium suggests diminishing returns.

At 4K, the High preset is the best choice, providing 94 FPS, which is smooth for a looter shooter. The Medium preset at 125 FPS is even better if the player prioritizes frame rate over visual fidelity, but the Low preset at 147 FPS is only slightly higher. The Ultra preset at 68 FPS is the only setting that dips below the 90 FPS threshold, and it is not recommended for competitive play. The data shows that the Medium preset offers the most consistent performance across all resolutions, with the smallest gap between minimum and maximum frame rates, making it the safest choice for a stable experience. For the best visual quality without sacrificing too much performance, the High preset is recommended, as it maintains over 94 FPS at all resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers the following average frame rates: Low settings produce 212 FPS, Medium settings produce 189 FPS with a minimum of 160 FPS and a maximum of 217 FPS, High settings produce 170 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 150 FPS. This shows a clear progression where each step up in settings reduces the frame rate by roughly 20-30 FPS. The Medium preset has the most detailed data, with a minimum of 160 FPS, which is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on 1080p monitors. The Low preset at 212 FPS is the maximum the CPU can push, and it is likely that the GPU is not fully utilized at this setting.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 182 FPS, Medium settings produce 162 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS and a maximum of 186 FPS, High settings produce 146 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 129 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings, with an average reduction of about 20%. The Medium preset at 162 FPS is the sweet spot for 1440p, as it provides a high enough frame rate for smooth gameplay while still maintaining visual quality. The Ultra preset at 129 FPS is the first setting to drop below 130 FPS, but it is still playable.

At 3840x2160, the system achieves the following average frame rates: Low settings produce 147 FPS, Medium settings produce 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS, High settings produce 94 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 68 FPS. This is where the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p. The Low preset at 147 FPS is surprisingly high, but the Medium preset at 125 FPS is more representative of a balanced experience. The High preset at 94 FPS is the recommended setting for 4K, as it provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset at 68 FPS is the only setting that falls below 90 FPS, and it shows that the RTX 5090 D is pushed to its limits at this resolution and quality level.