Outriders

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor from the Core 12th Gen series, built on the Alder Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node. It operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a thermal design power of 65 W. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates a balanced profile: its 3DMark single-thread score is 909, while the 16-thread score reaches 5895, and the max-thread score is 5912, indicating that scaling beyond 16 threads yields minimal gains. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16518 and single-core score of 2332 further contextualize its compute capability. The CPU achieves an average benchmark score of 19221, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in aggregate performance include the Intel Core i7-8700K (deltaPct 0.1), Intel Core i5-1335U (deltaPct 0.3), AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (deltaPct -0.7), and AMD EPYC 7773X (deltaPct 1.3). For a game like Outriders, a looter shooter that typically demands sustained multi-core throughput for enemy AI and particle effects, the 6-core/12-thread configuration with a 4.40 GHz boost clock provides a solid foundation. The data indicates that the CPU is not likely to be the primary bottleneck in most gaming scenarios, as its single-thread performance (Geekbench single-core 2221) is robust, and its multi-threaded scores (PassMark multithread 19433) suggest it can feed a modern GPU adequately.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process, featuring 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster operation units, along with 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. It is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The card’s FP32 compute throughput is rated at 15.11 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 118.1 GPixel/s. In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4060 achieves a PassMark G3D score of 19545 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302, with an average benchmark score of 23181, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (deltaPct -0.6), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (deltaPct -0.7), Intel Arc B580 (deltaPct 0.7), and AMD Radeon 760M (deltaPct 0.8). For Outriders, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor; at higher resolutions and settings, the game’s texture and geometry demands can pressure the memory buffer. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with resolution: at 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 94.9 at Ultra to 217.8 at Low, while at 3840x2160, it drops to 32.3 at Ultra and 82.9 at Low. This pattern indicates that the RTX 4060 is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K with Ultra settings, the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are stretched.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 886 out of 1693 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the 52.3rd percentile of all configurations, meaning it performs slightly above the median but is far from the top-tier setups. The rank reflects a balance where the CPU’s strong multi-threaded capabilities (Cinebench R23 multicore 16518) complement the GPU’s mid-range performance (PassMark G3D 19545). Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing is positioned in the middle of the pack; it does not exhibit the extreme frame rates seen with high-end GPUs, nor does it suffer the severe bottlenecks of low-end CPUs. The data shows that the combo’s performance is constrained more by the GPU at 4K resolutions, where the average FPS at Ultra (32.3) is less than half of what is achieved at 1080p Ultra (94.9). Conversely, at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU’s 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock are sufficient to keep the GPU adequately fed, as evidenced by the 217.8 FPS at 1080p Low. The rank of 886 suggests that while this is a capable mid-range setup, users with higher refresh-rate 4K displays or those seeking maximum visual fidelity will find it lacking in the most demanding scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the RTX 4060 delivers strong results across all settings. The average FPS at Low settings is 217.8, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. Moving to Medium, the average FPS drops to 175, still comfortably above the 144 Hz refresh rate threshold for most monitors. At High settings, the game runs at an average of 134.8 FPS, which is smooth for fast-paced combat. However, at Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 94.9, which remains playable but represents a significant 30% reduction from High settings. This pattern suggests that the Ultra preset introduces graphics features that disproportionately tax the GPU, such as increased shadow quality and post-processing effects.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the performance scales down as expected. The Low preset yields an average of 156.8 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings produce 114.9 FPS, and High settings average 87.1 FPS, which is near the 90 FPS mark that many gamers consider the minimum for competitive play. At Ultra, the average FPS drops to 62.6, which is just above the 60 FPS baseline for console-like smoothness but leaves little headroom for dips during intense firefights. The transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a 34% performance hit at Ultra (from 94.9 to 62.6), indicating that the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are being stressed by the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the RTX 4060 struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 82.9 FPS, which is surprisingly playable, but this is likely due to reduced texture quality and draw distances. Medium settings drop to 57.4 FPS, High settings fall to 44 FPS, and Ultra averages only 32.3 FPS. The data shows a clear linear degradation from Low to Ultra, with a 61% reduction in performance from Low to Ultra (82.9 to 32.3). The 4K results indicate that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming at High or Ultra presets, as the frame rates fall well below the 60 FPS target. The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s appears to be a limiting factor, as the 128-bit bus and 8 GB capacity are insufficient for the high-resolution textures required at 4K.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, where average FPS ranges from 94.9 at Ultra to 217.8 at Low. At 2560x1440, the High preset still achieves 87.1 FPS, but 3840x2160 only reaches 44 FPS at High, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 32.3, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset at 4K achieves 82.9 FPS, but the Ultra preset is not recommended for this resolution.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4060?

A: The CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, are sufficient for the GPU at 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by the high frame rates at Low settings (217.8 FPS at 1080p). The bottleneck shifts to the GPU at higher resolutions and settings.

Q: What is the difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings average 114.9 FPS, while High settings average 87.1 FPS, a difference of 27.8 FPS. The performance gap indicates that High settings introduce more demanding visual effects that reduce frame rates by 24%.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score of 19221 is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-8700K, while the GPU’s average score of 23181 is 0.7% higher than the Intel Arc B580. The combo ranks 886 out of 1693, indicating a mid-range position.

Q: What is the most balanced preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The High preset at 1920x1080 delivers an average of 134.8 FPS, which is a good balance between visual quality and performance, as it is 42% faster than Ultra (94.9 FPS) while maintaining a high level of detail.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience with the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the measured data suggests prioritizing 1920x1080 resolution with the High preset. This configuration yields an average of 134.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS baseline and provides smooth gameplay for a looter shooter that relies on rapid target acquisition. The High preset offers a substantial 42% performance increase over Ultra (94.9 FPS) while retaining most of the visual fidelity. For users with 1440p monitors, the High preset at 87.1 FPS is the recommended choice, as it remains above the 60 FPS threshold, though Medium at 114.9 FPS provides more headroom for demanding scenes. At 4K, the data indicates that only the Low preset (82.9 FPS) is viable for playable frame rates; High (44 FPS) and Ultra (32.3 FPS) are not recommended due to sub-60 FPS averages. Ultimately, the settings should be tuned based on the display’s refresh rate: for 144 Hz monitors at 1080p, the Medium preset (175 FPS) is optimal, while for 60 Hz displays, the High preset at 1440p offers the best visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.