Outriders

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 delivers a highly capable Outriders experience, but the data reveals a clear performance hierarchy: the combination excels at 1080p and 1440p, where frame rates are consistently high, while 4K Ultra settings push the GPU to its limits, resulting in a playable but demanding 34 FPS average. Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary scaling factor as resolution increases, with the CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads providing ample headroom at lower resolutions. This combo ranks 1284th out of 2913 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the database, and the measured FPS across all settings and resolutions shows a system that favors high refresh rate gaming at 1440p over 4K maxed-out visuals.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, which points directly to the GPU as the limiting component at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 214 FPS at 1920x1080 to 164 FPS at 2560x1440, then to 86 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 59.8% reduction from 1080p to 4K, a clear sign that the RX 7700’s rendering workload scales almost linearly with pixel count. The same pattern holds for High settings: 142 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K—a 66.9% drop between the lowest and highest resolutions. These numbers indicate that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are the bottlenecks once resolution climbs, rather than the CPU.

At Medium settings, the measured data includes min and max FPS values, which offer additional insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the average is 189 FPS with a minimum of 161 and a maximum of 217. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 119 FPS, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 137. At 4K Medium, the average is 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72. The consistent gap between min and max FPS—roughly 56 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K—suggests that the GPU’s frame time variance increases at higher resolutions, but the overall experience remains stable without severe hitches.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with only 34 FPS at 4K, 65 FPS at 1440p, and 102 FPS at 1080p. The jump from Ultra to High at 4K is notable: 34 to 47 FPS, a 38.2% improvement. This indicates that Ultra settings include effects that are particularly taxing on the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory subsystem. At 1080p, the difference between Ultra and High is 28.3% (102 vs. 142 FPS), which is less severe but still significant. The data strongly suggests that for 4K gaming, users should avoid Ultra and consider High or Medium, while 1080p and 1440p can handle higher presets with ease.

The scaling patterns also reveal that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any resolution tested. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 214 FPS, which is well above what most displays can show, and even at 4K Ultra, the 34 FPS is likely GPU-bound rather than CPU-bound, given the i5-12400’s strong single-thread performance. The i5-12400’s benchmark scores support this: a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2257 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1848 indicate robust per-thread performance, while the multi-core scores (15989 in Cinebench R23, 8564 in Geekbench) ensure the CPU can feed the GPU without stalling.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 offers the best balance of performance and visual quality. At High settings, the average FPS is 89, which is smooth for most players, while Medium pushes it to 119 FPS. At 1080p, High reaches 142 FPS, but the visual upgrade to 1440p is worth the modest FPS reduction. 4K is playable only at Medium (62 FPS) or Low (86 FPS), but Ultra drops to 34 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 7700 perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 34, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This suggests that the GPU is heavily taxed by the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical effects. Users seeking 4K should select Medium (62 FPS) or High (47 FPS) instead.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck for the RX 7700 in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested resolution. At 1080p Low, the system hits 214 FPS, and the FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with GPU limitations. The i5-12400’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 provide sufficient headroom for the game’s physics and AI tasks.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings deliver an average of 164 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 65 FPS. That is a 60.4% reduction in frame rate. Medium sits at 119 FPS, and High at 89 FPS, showing a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and performance.

Q: Does the combo’s rank of 1284 out of 2913 indicate good performance?

A: The rank places this combo in the 44th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it outperforms more than half of the systems in the database. This is a solid mid-to-upper tier result, consistent with the measured FPS that show high refresh rate capability at 1080p and 1440p.

Q: What settings should be used for competitive play?

A: For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p provide the highest average FPS at 214, with 1440p Low at 164 FPS also viable. These settings reduce visual effects but maximize frame rate, which is critical for fast-paced looter shooters. Medium settings at 1080p (189 FPS) offer a good middle ground.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core provide ample data locality for game workloads. In Outriders, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, enemy AI, and physics, which typically scale with core count and single-thread speed. The i5-12400’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 indicate strong performance in both multithreaded and single-threaded tasks, making it well-suited for a looter shooter that may spawn numerous enemies and effects.

The benchmark data shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this combo. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 214 FPS, which is likely near the engine’s maximum frame rate or the GPU’s limit at that setting. The fact that FPS scales down as resolution increases—from 214 to 164 to 86 FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K at Low—confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively constant across resolutions, which is not the case.

Looking at the i5-12400’s nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database provides context. The AMD EPYC 7643 scores 18697, which is 0.1% higher than the i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 18683, while the Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811 (0.7% higher). The Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% lower. These differences are negligible, meaning the i5-12400’s performance is on par with a mix of server, mobile, and desktop processors. For gaming, the i5-12400’s single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 2257) is what matters most, and it is sufficient to drive the RX 7700 to high frame rates.

The CPU’s 65W TDP and 10nm process node also indicate efficient power delivery, which is beneficial for sustained gaming sessions. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and with dual-channel memory bus, it can feed the GPU with data without causing memory bandwidth bottlenecks. In Outriders, where large environments and particle effects are common, the CPU’s cache hierarchy and clock speeds ensure that frame times remain consistent, as evidenced by the min FPS values at Medium settings (161 FPS at 1080p, 101 FPS at 1440p, 53 FPS at 4K), which are not drastically lower than averages.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s display and performance goals. For 1080p displays, High settings at 142 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides smooth gameplay with good visual quality. Medium settings at 189 FPS are also excellent for high refresh rate monitors, while Low at 214 FPS is only necessary for competitive play where frame rate is paramount. Ultra at 102 FPS is playable but the visual gain over High is minimal, and the 28.3% FPS drop does not justify it for most users.

For 1440p, Medium settings at 119 FPS offer the best experience, balancing sharp visuals with high frame rates. High at 89 FPS is also a strong option for those who prioritize image quality, as it remains above 60 FPS. Low at 164 FPS is ideal for competitive play, while Ultra at 65 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold but may feel less smooth during intense combat scenes. The data shows that 1440p Medium is the sweet spot, as it delivers more than double the frame rate of 4K Ultra while maintaining high visual fidelity.

For 4K displays, the situation is more constrained. Medium settings at 62 FPS is the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for smooth gameplay. High at 47 FPS is playable but may suffer from occasional dips, while Low at 86 FPS is the best option for frame rate purists but sacrifices visual quality. Ultra at 34 FPS is not recommended, as it falls well below the playable threshold and the visual improvements are not worth the performance penalty.

The measured data also provides min FPS values for Medium settings, which are useful for understanding worst-case scenarios. At 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 161, ensuring no major hitches. At 1440p Medium, the min FPS is 101, which is still smooth. At 4K Medium, the min FPS is 53, which is below 60 but not severely disruptive. For users who experience frame drops in heavy combat, dropping from Medium to Low at 4K would provide a substantial safety margin (86 FPS average).

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination ranks 1284th out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the 44th percentile. This means it outperforms 56% of all other combinations in the database, which is a respectable result for a mid-range CPU paired with a recent GPU. The rank reflects the measured FPS data, which shows strong performance at 1080p and 1440p but weaker results at 4K Ultra. The combo’s position in the upper-middle tier is consistent with the GPU’s percentile ranking of 58% among all GPUs.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database offer context for its performance. The AMD Radeon R9 370X has an average score of 15862, which is 0.1% lower than the RX 7700’s 15852 average, indicating equivalent performance in synthetic tests. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014 (1.0% higher), while the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 scores 15679 (1.1% lower). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16129, which is 1.7% higher. These small deltas suggest that the RX 7700 is closely matched with these GPUs, and in Outriders, the measured FPS reflects this competitive positioning.

The CPU’s rank among all processors is 72nd percentile, which is higher than the combo’s overall rank. This indicates that the GPU is the more limiting factor in this pairing, as the CPU has headroom to support faster GPUs. The i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 18683 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697), which is a server-class processor, highlighting the i5-12400’s strong value in gaming workloads. The combo’s rank of 1284, while not top-tier, is well above the median, and the measured FPS confirms that this system can handle Outriders at high settings across most resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 214 FPS, which is the maximum measured in this dataset and indicates the GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution. Medium settings average 189 FPS, with a minimum of 161 and a maximum of 217 FPS, showing excellent frame consistency. High settings average 142 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 102 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 52.3%, but even the lowest value at 1080p (102 FPS) is well above the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution ideal for high refresh rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but scales down as expected. Low settings average 164 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings average 119 FPS, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 137 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. High settings average 89 FPS, which is above 60 FPS but requires a variable refresh rate monitor for optimal smoothness. Ultra settings average 65 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but the min FPS is not recorded, so users may experience occasional dips. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 60.4%, reflecting the GPU’s increased workload at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 86 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72 FPS, indicating that frame times can spike during intense action. High settings average 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in noticeable stuttering. Ultra settings average 34 FPS, which is the lowest measured value and is not recommended for smooth gameplay. The drop from 1080p Low (214 FPS) to 4K Low (86 FPS) is 59.8%, and the drop from 1080p Ultra (102 FPS) to 4K Ultra (34 FPS) is 66.7%, highlighting the GPU’s exponential workload increase with resolution.

The data also shows that Medium settings are the only preset at 4K that stays near 60 FPS, with an average of 62 FPS. For users who insist on 4K, Medium is the recommended setting, as it provides a balance between visual quality and performance. Low settings at 4K (86 FPS) offer a higher frame rate but reduce visual fidelity significantly, while High and Ultra settings are too demanding. The measured FPS values across all resolutions and settings provide a comprehensive picture of this combo’s capabilities, confirming that it is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring careful setting adjustments.