Outriders

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti delivers a highly playable Outriders experience across most settings, but the data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combination produces high frame rates that suggest a balanced load, while at 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant limiting factor, causing performance to scale predictably with graphical fidelity. The measured results place this configuration in the 52nd percentile of all tested combos for this title, indicating a solidly mid-pack performance profile that should satisfy most players targeting high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The performance trajectory from 1080p to 4K illustrates a classic GPU-bound scenario, where the frame rate drop is steep and consistent with the increase in pixel count. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 139 FPS at 1920x1080 to 88 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 51 FPS, and then further to 46 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 66.9% drop from 1080p to 4K, a figure that strongly indicates the graphics card is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU with draw calls.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced when comparing Low settings across resolutions. The 1080p Low preset achieves 184 FPS, while 1440p Low drops to 158 FPS, and 4K Low still manages 84 FPS. The relatively smaller absolute difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings (26 FPS) compared to the jump from 1440p to 4K (74 FPS) suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU begins to play a more significant role, preventing the frame rate from scaling purely with pixel count. This is typical for a 6-core, 12-thread processor like the i5-11400F, which provides enough throughput for high refresh rates but cannot fully saturate the GPU at very low resolutions.

The Medium preset data, which includes minimum and maximum frame rates, further clarifies the bottleneck behavior. At 4K Medium, the average is 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS, while at 1440p Medium, the average rises to 117 FPS with a minimum of 99 FPS. The 1080p Medium result shows an average of 163 FPS with a minimum of 139 FPS. The frame time consistency improves as resolution decreases, suggesting that the GPU is less strained at lower pixel counts, allowing for smoother frame pacing. The 4K Ultra preset, averaging just 33 FPS, confirms that the RTX 3060 Ti is not suited for maximum settings at this resolution, as the rendering load overwhelms the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and its 448.0 GB/s bandwidth.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame field places this specific CPU-GPU pairing at rank 1931 out of 3710 tested combinations, which translates to roughly the 52nd percentile. This mid-pack ranking is a nuanced result, as it indicates that while the i5-11400F and RTX 3060 Ti are individually capable components, their combined performance in Outriders does not place them among the top-tier configurations. The rank suggests that many other pairings, likely featuring higher-end CPUs or GPUs, achieve better average frame rates across the tested settings.

When interpreting this rank, it is essential to consider the context of the entire test pool. A rank of 1931 out of 3710 means that 52% of all tested combos perform better, while 48% perform worse. This places the pairing in the upper half of the distribution, but with significant room for improvement. The data indicates that the RTX 3060 Ti, which holds a 59th percentile ranking among all GPUs, is the stronger component in this pairing, while the i5-11400F, with a 71st percentile ranking among all CPUs, is comparatively more capable in synthetic benchmarks.

The practical implication of this rank is that users should not expect top-tier performance in Outriders, but rather a solid, dependable experience. The combination is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates, but it will struggle at 4K with higher settings. The rank also suggests that if a user were to upgrade either component, the GPU would likely be the first choice for improving 4K performance, while the CPU would be the limiting factor at very high frame rates in lighter scenes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This configuration provides a strong foundation for gaming, as most modern titles, including Outriders, are optimized for multi-threaded workloads. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for feeding the GPU without introducing significant stutter.

In Outriders, the CPU's role is particularly evident at lower resolutions and settings, where the GPU is not fully utilized. The 1080p Low preset result of 184 FPS demonstrates that the i5-11400F can push frame rates well above 144 Hz, indicating that the processor is not a bottleneck in this scenario. However, the difference between 1080p Low (184 FPS) and 1440p Low (158 FPS) is only 26 FPS, which is less than the proportional increase in pixel count, suggesting that the CPU is beginning to limit performance at 1080p in less demanding scenes.

The benchmark scores for the i5-11400F support its gaming capabilities. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14,340 and single-core score of 2,024 indicate strong per-thread performance, which is crucial for games that rely on a few heavily loaded threads. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5,619 and max-thread score of 5,652 show good scaling across all cores, while the single-thread score of 868 confirms that the CPU's boost clock of 4.40 GHz delivers excellent responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks.

The i5-11400F's position in the CPU market is competitive, with an average benchmark score of 17,177 placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7H12 (0.3% faster), Intel Core i5-12450H (0.4% slower), and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G (0.6% slower), indicating that the i5-11400F sits in a tightly contested performance bracket. For Outriders, this means the CPU provides enough headroom to avoid being the primary bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, where the GPU is clearly the limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the highest average frame rate is achieved with the Low preset at 184 FPS, followed by Medium at 163 FPS, High at 139 FPS, and Ultra at 100 FPS. The Medium preset provides a minimum of 139 FPS and a maximum of 188 FPS, showing a wide range that indicates good scalability. The Ultra preset, while lower at 100 FPS, still delivers a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS threshold. These results show that at 1080p, the RTX 3060 Ti is more than capable of handling Outriders at any settings, with the CPU providing sufficient support.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates drop significantly across all presets. Low settings produce 158 FPS, Medium 117 FPS (with a minimum of 99 FPS and maximum of 134 FPS), High 88 FPS, and Ultra 63 FPS. The 1440p Medium preset remains highly playable, with the minimum frame rate still above 90 FPS, while High settings offer a comfortable 88 FPS average. The Ultra preset, at 63 FPS, is right at the edge of 60 FPS, making it a viable option for users who prefer maximum quality over raw frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. Low settings yield 84 FPS, which is still playable, while Medium drops to 61 FPS (with a minimum of 52 FPS and maximum of 70 FPS). High settings fall to 46 FPS, and Ultra drops to 33 FPS, making these presets less suitable for a smooth experience. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, and users will need to compromise on settings to maintain a consistent frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 61 FPS, is the highest quality option that can sustain playable performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the clear performance driver in this pairing, particularly at higher resolutions. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus and a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, the GPU has ample resources for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K results show that its memory capacity and compute power are stretched thin. The GPU's boost clock of 1665 MHz and 4,864 shading units provide a solid foundation for rasterization, while its 38 RT cores and 152 tensor cores enable advanced features that Outriders may utilize.

The GPU's benchmark scores reinforce its mid-range positioning. The PassMark G3D score of 20,349 places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16,129. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (0.7% faster) and AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (1.4% slower), indicating that the RTX 3060 Ti is competitive within its performance class. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,626 suggests good DirectX 12 performance, which is relevant for Outriders' modern rendering pipeline.

The GPU's role in Outriders is most apparent in the 4K results, where the frame rate drops precipitously with increasing settings. The jump from 84 FPS at Low to 33 FPS at Ultra at 4K represents a 60.7% reduction, highlighting the GPU's sensitivity to pixel count and graphical complexity. At 1080p, the GPU is less stressed, and the frame rates are high enough that the CPU's performance becomes more relevant. The data indicates that the RTX 3060 Ti is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Outriders, where it can deliver high frame rates without requiring significant settings compromises.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For users with a 1080p display, the High preset at 139 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, while the Medium preset at 163 FPS provides a smoother experience with only a minor visual downgrade. The Ultra preset at 100 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize image quality, as it still delivers a high frame rate.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 117 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a high frame rate with a minimum of 99 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The High preset at 88 FPS is also acceptable, but the lower minimum frame rate may lead to occasional dips below 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 63 FPS is playable but sits close to the 60 FPS threshold, making it a less safe option for consistent performance.

For 4K users, the Medium preset at 61 FPS is the only viable option for a playable experience, as it maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Low preset at 84 FPS offers a higher frame rate but at a significant visual cost, while High and Ultra presets at 46 FPS and 33 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo requires a willingness to compromise on settings, with Medium being the sweet spot for frame rate and visual quality.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Outriders with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides an average of 117 FPS, making it the sweet spot for balancing visual quality and performance. At 1920x1080, High settings achieve 139 FPS, while 3840x2160 is limited to Medium at 61 FPS for playable performance.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Outriders?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The 4K Medium preset averages 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold, while Low settings achieve 84 FPS. High and Ultra presets fall to 46 FPS and 33 FPS, respectively, which are not smooth enough for most players.

Q: How does the i5-11400F compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17,177, which is 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7H12 (17,120) and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i5-12450H (17,239). It also outperforms the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G by 0.6% (17,278).

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile and how does it affect Outriders?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti holds the 59th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16,129. In Outriders, this translates to strong 1080p and 1440p performance, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K, especially at higher settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Outriders at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the CPU begins to play a more significant role, as evidenced by the smaller frame rate difference between Low (184 FPS) and Medium (163 FPS) presets. The GPU still has headroom, but the i5-11400F's single-thread performance limits the maximum achievable frame rate in less demanding scenes.

Q: What is the frame rate variance in the Medium preset across resolutions?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average is 163 FPS with a minimum of 139 FPS and maximum of 188 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 117 FPS with a range of 99 FPS to 134 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 61 FPS with a range of 52 FPS to 70 FPS, showing tighter frame pacing at lower resolutions.