Outriders

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a highly unusual combination for Outriders, a looter shooter that typically rewards balanced hardware. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics solution, with the CPU’s substantial compute resources largely underutilized in this title. This analysis walks through the performance characteristics, scaling behavior, and practical implications of this pairing, using only the measured frame rates and benchmark scores provided.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression across resolutions is stark and tells a clear story about where the bottleneck resides. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average FPS drops from 57 to 36, a decline of approximately 37%. Scaling further to 3840x2160 at High settings yields only 19 FPS average, representing a 67% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This pattern indicates that the rendering pipeline is saturated well before the CPU’s capabilities become a limiting factor.

At Low settings, the same resolution scaling shows a different magnitude. The 1080p result is 104 FPS average, dropping to 65 FPS at 1440p and then to 34 FPS at 4K. The relative drop from 1080p to 4K is about 67%, which is nearly identical to the High setting’s percentage loss. This consistency across settings suggests that the resolution scaling penalty is uniform and driven by the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth constraints, not by settings-specific effects.

The Medium preset provides the only complete data set with min and max FPS values. At 1080p, the range is 64 to 87 FPS with an average of 75. At 1440p, that range narrows to 40 to 55 FPS with an average of 48. At 4K, the range compresses further to 21 to 29 FPS with an average of 25. The narrowing of the min-max spread as resolution increases is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario; at lower resolutions, frame time variance is higher because the CPU occasionally catches up, while at higher resolutions, the GPU is consistently the limiting factor, smoothing out the variance.

The Ultra preset is particularly punishing. At 1080p, it averages 41 FPS. At 1440p, that falls to 26 FPS. At 4K, the average is just 13 FPS. The gap between Ultra and High is substantial at every resolution, indicating that the Ultra preset introduces rendering features that disproportionately tax this GPU. The data strongly suggests that this combo is GPU-limited in all tested configurations; the CPU has ample headroom, but the Arc B370 cannot feed the display pipeline fast enough, especially as pixel count increases.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its benchmark scores reflect a strong mid-range performer. In Cinebench R23, it scores 23391 points multi-core and 3302 points single-core. In Geekbench, it achieves 12137 multi-core and 2157 single-core. The 3DMark results show scaling from 1995 in the 2-thread test to 7952 in the max-thread test, indicating good multi-threaded scaling.

For Outriders, the CPU’s role is largely to maintain a stable frame pacing floor. Given that the GPU produces a maximum average of 104 FPS at 1080p Low settings, the CPU is never stressed to its limits. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 7956 and the PassMark multi-thread score of 27575 suggest that this processor can handle far more demanding workloads than what this game presents. The single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3302, is more than adequate for typical game logic and draw call submission.

The CPU’s position relative to its nearest rivals reinforces its capability. It sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-10900K in average benchmark score, and within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D. This means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i5-12600KF would perform nearly identically to those higher-tier parts. However, in this specific game and with this GPU, the CPU’s performance is effectively irrelevant to the final frame rate. The measured FPS values are entirely dictated by the GPU’s output, and the CPU is never the limiting component.

The 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support are adequate for gaming, but again, these features have no measurable impact here because the GPU is the bottleneck. The data shows that even at 1080p Low settings, where the CPU would have the most room to matter, the 104 FPS average is well below what this CPU could deliver with a more powerful GPU. In essence, the CPU is a capable partner that is waiting for a stronger graphics card to unlock its full potential in this title.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear limiting component in this pairing. Its specifications are modest for a discrete GPU: 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. The base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is listed as “System Shared,” meaning it relies on shared system memory rather than dedicated VRAM, which severely impacts performance at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU’s benchmark results are sobering. It scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%). This means the Arc B370 performs at a level comparable to graphics cards from over a decade ago, which explains the low frame rates observed in Outriders.

The GPU’s FP32 compute is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. These figures are low by modern standards, and the 25 W TDP suggests this is an integrated-class solution rather than a full discrete GPU. The “System Shared” memory bandwidth, described as “System Dependent,” is a critical weakness. As resolution increases, the demand for memory bandwidth grows, and this shared configuration cannot keep pace, leading to the severe FPS drops observed.

The GPU’s percentile ranking of 5 means that 95% of all GPUs tested perform better. This is a fundamental limitation that no CPU can compensate for. In Outriders, the GPU’s role is to render the game world, and its inability to do so efficiently at 1440p and 4K is the primary reason for the poor performance. At 1080p Low, it manages 104 FPS average, which is playable, but any increase in settings or resolution quickly overwhelms it. The 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 figure, while not directly a gaming metric, indicates the raw compute ceiling, and the measured results show that ceiling is quickly reached.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the playable settings are highly dependent on the target resolution and acceptable frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the only configuration that comes close is 1080p Low, which averages 104 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides headroom for occasional dips. The 1080p Medium preset averages 75 FPS, with a measured range of 64 to 87 FPS, which also maintains playable frame rates, though the minimum of 64 FPS leaves less margin.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset averages 65 FPS, which is playable but close to the edge, with no min FPS data to confirm stability. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 48 FPS, with a range of 40 to 55 FPS, which may be acceptable for some players but falls below the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 1440p averages only 36 FPS, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, no preset achieves playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 34 FPS, Medium averages 25 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 13 FPS. These are all below 30 FPS, which is generally considered the minimum for playability, and even the Low preset’s 34 FPS is marginal. The data suggests that 4K is not a viable option for this combo in Outriders.

The best experience, per the measured rows, is 1080p Medium. It offers a 75 FPS average with a narrow range of 64 to 87 FPS, providing both smoothness and better visual quality than Low. The step from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 29 FPS (from 104 to 75), but the visual improvement likely justifies it. The step from Medium to High at 1080p costs another 18 FPS (from 75 to 57), which is a significant drop for diminishing returns. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 41 FPS, which is too low for consistent play. Therefore, for a balance of visual fidelity and performance, 1080p Medium is the recommended configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank in Outriders is 2679 out of 2913 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested. This ranking reflects the GPU’s severe limitations rather than any deficiency in the CPU. The i5-12600KF is a strong processor, as evidenced by its 79th percentile ranking among all CPUs and its close benchmark scores to rivals like the Intel Core i9-10900K (delta -0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (delta -0.3%).

The GPU, however, is in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. This massive disparity between CPU and GPU capability is the defining characteristic of this combo. The rank of 2679 indicates that most other tested combinations, even those with weaker CPUs, outperform this system because they are paired with more capable graphics cards.

In practical terms, this combo is CPU-heavy and GPU-light. The CPU could easily drive a much more powerful GPU, but the Arc B370 holds the entire system back. The data shows that the CPU’s benchmark scores are comparable to parts that typically pair with high-end GPUs, yet the measured FPS in Outriders is on par with systems from a decade ago. This rank is a clear warning that the GPU is the primary constraint and that upgrading the graphics card would yield dramatic improvements, while upgrading the CPU would have negligible impact on this game’s performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured FPS data for Outriders with this combo, organized by resolution and settings.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset averages 13 FPS. The High preset averages 19 FPS. The Medium preset averages 25 FPS, with a min of 21 and a max of 29. The Low preset averages 34 FPS. None of these configurations reach 60 FPS, and only Low exceeds 30 FPS, making 4K effectively unplayable for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. The High preset averages 36 FPS. The Medium preset averages 48 FPS, with a min of 40 and a max of 55. The Low preset averages 65 FPS. The Low preset is the only option that approaches 60 FPS, and Medium is borderline acceptable for players willing to tolerate frame rates in the 40-55 range.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS. The High preset averages 57 FPS. The Medium preset averages 75 FPS, with a min of 64 and a max of 87. The Low preset averages 104 FPS. This resolution offers the only playable configurations, with Medium and Low both exceeding 60 FPS averages. High is close to 60 FPS but falls short, and Ultra is below 45 FPS.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: each increase in resolution from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 35-40% of the frame rate, and each increase from 1440p to 4K costs another 45-50%. The settings scaling is also consistent, with Low to Medium providing a 25-30% boost, Medium to High a 20-25% drop, and High to Ultra a 25-30% drop. These percentages are uniform across resolutions, confirming that the GPU is the sole limiting factor.

FAQ

*Q: Is this combo capable of running Outriders at 60 FPS?*

A: Only at 1080p with Low or Medium settings. The Low preset averages 104 FPS, and Medium averages 75 FPS. At 1440p, only Low reaches 65 FPS, which is close but not consistently above 60. At 4K, no preset achieves 60 FPS.

Q: Why is the performance so poor at 4K?

A: The GPU has a 5th percentile ranking and uses “System Shared” memory, which is “System Dependent” in bandwidth. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages only 34 FPS, and Ultra drops to 13 FPS, indicating the GPU cannot handle the pixel throughput.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF scores within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-10900K, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and AMD Ryzen 7 6800U in average benchmark score, with deltas of -0.3% to 0.3%. Its performance is on par with those parts, but the GPU limits the in-game results.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo?

A: The 1080p Medium preset is the best balance, averaging 75 FPS with a range of 64 to 87 FPS. It provides a 29 FPS improvement over High and a 34 FPS improvement over Ultra, while still being 29 FPS slower than Low but with better visual quality.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested systems?

A: It ranks 2679 out of 2913 combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of tested systems. This low rank is driven by the GPU’s 5th percentile performance, not the CPU, which ranks in the 79th percentile.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: No. The CPU is never the limiting factor. The GPU produces a maximum of 104 FPS at 1080p Low, and the CPU’s benchmark scores (e.g., Cinebench R23 multi-core of 23391) indicate it could handle far higher frame rates. The GPU is the sole bottleneck.