Outriders

# Outriders — Intel Core i5-10400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Outriders. Across the measured settings, this combination produces average frame rates ranging from 24 FPS at 4K Ultra to 157 FPS at 1080p Low. The data indicates a system that is clearly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, with the CPU showing sufficient headroom to maintain high frame rates at 1080p. This combo ranks 2957th out of 3710 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database, though the measured results show it is capable of smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with appropriate settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial across all settings, confirming that the RTX 2060 is the primary limiting component in this configuration. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 103 at 1080p to 65 at 1440p, a 37% reduction, and then further to 34 at 4K — a 67% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is being pushed well beyond its comfortable operating range at higher pixel counts.

The scaling pattern at Medium settings shows similar behavior: 137 FPS at 1080p drops to 87 FPS at 1440p and then to 45 FPS at 4K. The 4K Medium result of 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS, indicates that even medium-quality settings cannot sustain a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K resolution. The gap between 1440p and 4K is particularly wide — roughly 42 FPS at Medium settings — suggesting that the GPU's memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s and 6 GB VRAM capacity are insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in Outriders.

At Low settings, the resolution scaling is less punishing but still significant. The 1080p Low result of 157 FPS drops to 119 FPS at 1440p, and then to 62 FPS at 4K. This indicates that even at the lowest quality preset, the RTX 2060 cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K, though it comes close. The fact that 4K Low (62 FPS) outperforms 4K High (34 FPS) by 28 FPS highlights how much of the GPU's resources are consumed by higher-quality rendering features at this resolution.

The Ultra preset results tell a similar story with even more extreme scaling: 74 FPS at 1080p, 47 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is barely interactive, demonstrating that this combination is not suited for maximum-quality 4K gaming in Outriders. The data suggests that the RTX 2060's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit memory bus become progressively more constrained as resolution increases, with the 4K results showing the GPU operating at its limits.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides a solid foundation for this gaming configuration, with 6 cores and 12 threads running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The CPU's benchmark performance is respectable, scoring 10283 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1451 in single-core, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs tested. This level of performance ensures that the CPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions where the GPU can deliver high frame rates.

The 3DMark thread scaling results show the CPU's multi-threading capabilities: 1350 in the 2-thread test, 2560 in 4-thread, 3929 in 8-thread, and 4735 in max-threads. This scaling pattern indicates that the CPU gains meaningful performance from additional threads up to 8, after which the gains diminish — a typical profile for a 6-core/12-thread part. In Outriders, which relies on a combination of physics, AI, and rendering tasks, this level of multi-threading support is sufficient to keep up with the RTX 2060's output at 1080p.

At 1080p Low, where the GPU produces 157 FPS, the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more relevant. The PassMark single-thread score of 2541 and Geekbench single-core score of 1420 suggest that the i5-10400F can handle the game's primary thread without becoming a limiting factor. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache provides adequate data locality for game workloads, and the dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth supplies enough throughput for the CPU to feed the GPU efficiently.

The CPU's role becomes less critical at higher resolutions, as the GPU's rendering workload increases and frame rates drop. At 4K Ultra (24 FPS) and 4K High (34 FPS), the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck — the GPU is operating far below its potential due to resolution constraints. The benchmark results indicate that this CPU-GPU pairing is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, with the CPU providing enough headroom to avoid limiting frame rates in most scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Outriders?

A: Based on the measured data, 1080p is the optimal resolution. At Medium settings, the combo delivers 137 FPS average (117 min, 158 max), and at High settings it achieves 103 FPS. The 1440p results are also playable, with 87 FPS at Medium and 65 FPS at High, but 4K performance drops significantly across all settings.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in overall GPU performance?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290, which is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (15283, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon 680M (15270, 0.1% delta). It is slightly ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, 0.6% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (15171, 0.8% delta). This places the GPU in the 58th percentile of all GPUs tested.

Q: Can this system run Outriders at 4K?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At Low settings, the average FPS is 62, which is playable. Medium settings yield 45 FPS (38 min, 52 max), while High and Ultra produce 34 FPS and 24 FPS respectively. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, only the Low preset comes close, and it still falls slightly short of the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests no significant bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 157 FPS, and at Medium it achieves 137 FPS. The CPU's single-thread performance (PassMark 2541, Cinebench R23 single-core 1451) and multi-thread scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core 10283) indicate sufficient headroom. The CPU ranks in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals show very small performance deltas (0.2% to 0.6%).

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested configurations?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination ranks 2957th out of 3710 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the lower portion of the database, reflecting the GPU's mid-range positioning and the demanding nature of the game at higher resolutions.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance scale?

A: The 3DMark thread scaling results show 1350 for 2 threads, 2560 for 4 threads, 3929 for 8 threads, and 4735 for max threads. This represents a 3.5x improvement from 2 to 8 threads, with the max-thread score (4735) being only slightly higher than the 8-thread score (3929), indicating diminishing returns beyond 8 threads.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce an average of 157 FPS, representing the highest frame rate in the entire measured set. Medium settings achieve 137 FPS with a minimum of 117 and maximum of 158, providing a smooth experience with minimal frame drops. High settings yield 103 FPS, which remains well above the 60 FPS threshold for responsive gameplay. Ultra settings drop to 74 FPS, still playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains respectable but shows the GPU's increasing workload. Low settings deliver 119 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play. Medium settings produce 87 FPS (74 min, 99 max), offering a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. High settings drop to 65 FPS, slightly above the 60 FPS target. Ultra settings fall to 47 FPS, which may be acceptable for some players but falls below the ideal smoothness threshold.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060's limitations become apparent. Low settings achieve 62 FPS, barely hitting the 60 FPS mark. Medium settings produce 45 FPS (38 min, 52 max), with the minimum dipping below 40 FPS. High settings drop to 34 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 24 FPS. The 4K results across all settings show that this resolution is only viable with the lowest quality preset, and even then, the frame rate is borderline.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: the gap between Low and Medium settings is relatively small (20 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, 17 FPS at 4K), while the gap between High and Ultra is more pronounced (29 FPS at 1080p, 18 FPS at 1440p, 10 FPS at 4K). This suggests that the Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly demanding on the GPU's resources.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2957 out of 3710 combinations places this system in the bottom 20% of all tested configurations for Outriders. This ranking reflects the RTX 2060's position in the GPU hierarchy — it sits in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290 that is virtually identical to the GTX 580 (15283) and Radeon 680M (15270). The CPU, in contrast, is moderately stronger, ranking in the 68th percentile with an average benchmark score of 14185.

The delta between the CPU's and GPU's percentile rankings (68 vs. 58) suggests a slight CPU advantage in this pairing. However, the game's measured performance indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The combo's low overall rank is driven primarily by the GPU's inability to handle 4K rendering, where even Low settings struggle to maintain 60 FPS.

Compared to the GPU's nearest rivals, the RTX 2060's performance is tightly clustered — all four rivals fall within a 0.8% delta of its average score. This indicates that the GPU is operating at a performance level that is highly competitive with its immediate peers, but none of these cards would be considered high-end by current standards. The combo rank in Outriders reflects this mid-range positioning, with the system capable of solid 1080p and acceptable 1440p performance but not suited for 4K gaming.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience at 1080p, Medium settings provide the optimal balance between visual quality and performance. The 137 FPS average (117 min, 158 max) offers a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target, ensuring smooth gameplay even during intense combat sequences. High settings at 103 FPS are also viable, providing improved visual fidelity while maintaining excellent frame rates. Ultra settings at 74 FPS remain playable but offer diminishing returns in terms of visual improvement relative to the frame rate cost.

At 1440p, Medium settings deliver the best experience with 87 FPS (74 min, 99 max). This combination provides good visual quality with frame rates that stay above 60 FPS in most scenarios. High settings at 65 FPS are acceptable for players who prioritize visual quality, but the lower minimum frame rates may cause occasional stutters. Low settings at 119 FPS are the choice for competitive play, while Ultra at 47 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

For 4K gaming, Low settings at 62 FPS are the only viable option, and even this is marginal. Medium settings at 45 FPS (38 min, 52 max) may be tolerable for slower-paced exploration but will likely feel choppy during combat. High and Ultra settings (34 FPS and 24 FPS respectively) are not recommended for any serious gameplay. Players with 4K displays should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a significantly better experience.

The data suggests that Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p provide the best overall experience for this combo. The minimum frame rates at these settings (117 FPS at 1080p, 74 FPS at 1440p) are well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating consistent performance without significant drops. The gap between Medium and High settings varies by resolution but is generally smaller than the gap between High and Ultra, making Medium the sweet spot for value in terms of frame rate per quality increment.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the defining component in this system's Outriders performance. Built on the Turing architecture with 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, the GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and boost clock of 1680 MHz. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves to be a critical factor in the game's resolution scaling behavior.

The GPU's benchmark results show a PassMark G3D score of 14111 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1242, placing it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. The directX 11 score of 110 and directX 12 score of 53 indicate that the GPU handles both API versions competently, though the lower DX12 score suggests that the newer API's features may be more taxing on the hardware. The Vulkan score of 65846 and OpenCL score of 65014 show strong compute performance, which benefits games that utilize asynchronous compute.

The GPU's memory configuration is a limiting factor at 4K resolution. The 6 GB VRAM capacity and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates when rendering at 3840x2160, as evidenced by the steep performance drop between 1440p and 4K. At 4K High, the average FPS of 34 represents a 48% reduction from the 1440p High result of 65 FPS, while the 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS shows the GPU struggling with maximum quality settings.

The RTX 2060's 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores are present in the hardware but are not directly measured in the Outriders FPS data. The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s provide the raw computational throughput needed for the game's rendering tasks. The pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s becomes a bottleneck at higher resolutions, where the number of pixels to be processed increases dramatically.

The GPU's TDP of 160 W and suggested PSU of 450 W indicate that this is a power-efficient card for its performance class. The launch MSRP of 349 USD positions it as a mid-range offering, and the measured performance in Outriders aligns with that positioning. The GPU's nearest rivals — the GTX 580, Radeon 680M, RTX 3050 OEM, and Radeon RX 7600 — all show average scores within 0.8% of the RTX 2060, confirming that this card's performance is consistent with its immediate competitive set.