Outriders

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread Alder Lake-S part with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. It carries 20 MB of shared L3 cache, with 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 80 KB of L1 per core. The architecture is split between performance and efficiency cores, though the factor pack does not break down the core mix—only the totals matter for this analysis. With a TDP of 125 W, this is a power-conscious desktop chip that still delivers high single-thread and multi-thread throughput.

Benchmark data places this CPU in the 84th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 27,827. Its nearest rivals are telling: the Intel Core i9-10900K scores 27,829 (0% delta), the Core i5-12600K scores 27,851 (-0.1%), the Core Ultra 5 125H scores 27,872 (-0.2%), and the Core i7-13700H scores 27,716 (+0.4%). The i5-12600KF effectively trades blows with these chips, sitting within a 0.4% band of all four rivals. This suggests that for Outriders, the CPU's compute headroom is more than adequate, since the game's frame rates are likely to be dictated by the GPU rather than the processor.

The CPU's multi-threaded scores are robust: Cinebench R23 multi-core hits 23,444, while the single-core score is 3,309. Geekbench multi-core lands at 12,373, and single-core at 2,529. PassMark multi-thread shows 27,575, with single-thread at 3,925. These numbers indicate a processor that can handle heavy background tasks while gaming without bottlenecking the frame pipeline. For a looter shooter like Outriders, where enemy counts and particle effects can spike CPU load, the 10 cores provide a safety buffer—though the measured FPS data will show whether that buffer is ever actually needed.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the specific configuration of Outriders, this Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 384th out of 1,693 tested combos. That places it in the top 22.7% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing but not elite. The rank reflects the entire system's performance in this game, not just the CPU or GPU individually. Given that the RTX 3080 is a high-end Ampere card, the ranking suggests that the CPU is not holding the system back—otherwise, the combo would sit lower in the distribution.

The GPU's own percentile is 80th among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 35,787. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro Duo (35,860, -0.2%), the AMD Radeon 880M (35,646, +0.4%), the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (36,101, -0.9%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile (35,435, +1%). The RTX 3080 sits within a 1% band of these rivals, indicating that the GPU is neither a standout nor a laggard in synthetic tests. In Outriders specifically, the combo rank of 384/1693 implies that many other combinations—likely with faster CPUs or newer GPUs—can outpace it, but it still beats the vast majority of tested systems.

What does this rank mean for a player? The data shows that this combo delivers high frame rates at most settings, but at 4K Ultra, the system drops to 41.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. This suggests that the combo is well-balanced for 1440p and 1080p gaming but struggles at the most demanding 4K preset. The rank of 384 is a composite measure, and the resolution-specific data will reveal where the system shines and where it falls short.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 242.5 FPS, which drops to 202.2 FPS at 1440p Low (a 16.6% decrease), and then to 104.9 FPS at 4K Low (a 48.1% decrease from 1440p). This steep drop from 1440p to 4K indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

For High settings, the pattern is similar: 176.7 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p (a 36.6% drop), and 60.4 FPS at 4K (a 46.1% drop from 1440p). The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 124.8 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p (a 34.3% drop), and 41.3 FPS at 4K (a 49.6% drop from 1440p). The consistent ~50% drop from 1440p to 4K across all settings strongly implies that the RTX 3080's 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and its 320-bit bus are being saturated at 4K, especially with higher quality presets.

At 1080p, the CPU still matters. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p only costs 117.7 FPS (from 242.5 to 124.8), which is a 48.5% reduction. This indicates that even at 1080p, the GPU is doing significant work, but the CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads are enough to keep frame rates high. The real takeaway is that resolution scaling is GPU-bound: the RTX 3080's compute and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors at 4K, while the i5-12600KF provides ample headroom at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce 242.5 FPS, Medium drops to 213 FPS, High comes in at 176.7 FPS, and Ultra falls to 124.8 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 117.7 FPS, which shows that each settings tier has a meaningful impact on performance. Even at Ultra, the frame rate exceeds 120 FPS, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the numbers are still strong but show the GPU working harder. Low settings yield 202.2 FPS, Medium hits 149.1 FPS, High reaches 112 FPS, and Ultra drops to 82 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 120.2 FPS, slightly larger than at 1080p. The 82 FPS at Ultra is playable but not silky smooth for competitive play, while High at 112 FPS offers a better balance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly stressed. Low settings manage 104.9 FPS, Medium falls to 78.9 FPS, High drops to 60.4 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 41.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 63.6 FPS, which is smaller in absolute terms but represents a 60.6% reduction in performance. The 60.4 FPS at High is right at the edge of smoothness, while Ultra is below the 60 FPS threshold for most displays.

These numbers show a system that is exceptionally capable at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra preset is the only configuration that falls below playable thresholds. The min and max FPS fields are null in the data, so only average frame rates are available for analysis.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, manufactured on Samsung's 8 nm process. It has 8,704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, 96 ROPs, 68 RT cores, and 272 tensor cores. The GPU runs at a base clock of 1440 MHz and boosts to 1710 MHz, with memory clocked at 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The 10 GB of GDDR6X memory sits on a 320-bit bus, providing 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is crucial for Outriders, a game that can be texture-heavy at high resolutions.

The GPU's pixel rate is 164.2 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 465.1 GTexel/s. It delivers 29.77 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is substantial for a 2020-era card. The RTX 3080's percentile rank is 80th among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35,787. Its nearest rivals show the card is competitive: the AMD Radeon Pro Duo scores 35,860 (-0.2%), the AMD Radeon 880M scores 35,646 (+0.4%), the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE scores 36,101 (-0.9%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile scores 35,435 (+1%). This places the RTX 3080 within a 1% band of its closest competitors in synthetic tests.

In Outriders, the GPU's role becomes clear when examining the 4K results. The 41.3 FPS at Ultra suggests that the 10 GB VRAM buffer is likely being exhausted, causing the GPU to struggle with the highest quality textures. At 4K High, the 60.4 FPS is a marginal result, while 4K Low at 104.9 FPS shows that reducing settings alleviates the memory pressure. The card's 760.3 GB/s bandwidth is high, but Outriders' 4K Ultra preset appears to demand more than the 10 GB can efficiently handle. The 320-bit bus width is also a factor, as it limits the amount of data that can be moved per clock cycle.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at High settings delivers 112 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed. At 1920x1080, High settings hit 176.7 FPS, but the 1440p result offers a better balance of clarity and performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra in Outriders?

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 41.3, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. High settings at 4K produce 60.4 FPS, making that the highest playable preset at this resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3080's average benchmark score is 35,787. The AMD Radeon Pro Duo scores 35,860 (-0.2%), the AMD Radeon 880M scores 35,646 (+0.4%), the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE scores 36,101 (-0.9%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile scores 35,435 (+1%). All are within a 1% band.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF a bottleneck for the RTX 3080 in this game?

A: Given that the combo ranks 384th out of 1,693 tested combos and the CPU sits in the 84th percentile, the data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor. The resolution scaling shows GPU-bound behavior, especially at 4K.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 Medium is 213, which is well above the refresh rate of most gaming monitors. This is a strong preset for high-refresh-rate play.

Q: How much does the FPS drop from 1440p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 High, the average FPS is 112. At 3840x2160 High, it drops to 60.4, a decrease of 51.6 FPS or approximately 46.1%. This indicates the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience. At 3840x2160, the only preset that maintains 60 FPS or above is Low, which delivers 104.9 FPS. Medium drops to 78.9 FPS, High falls to 60.4 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 41.3 FPS. For a 4K display, High settings at 60.4 FPS is the best visual quality that stays playable, but players seeking smoother motion should drop to Medium or Low. The 4K Ultra preset is not recommended, as the frame rate falls below 45 FPS, which can feel stuttery in a fast-paced looter shooter.

At 2560x1440, the system has more headroom. Ultra settings produce 82 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. High settings at 112 FPS offer a strong balance of visual fidelity and smoothness, making it the best overall preset for most players. Medium at 149.1 FPS is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors, while Low at 202.2 FPS is overkill unless chasing maximum frame rates. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot at 1440p, as it delivers 112 FPS while retaining most visual features.

At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, but the choice depends on the display's refresh rate. Ultra at 124.8 FPS is ideal for 120 Hz monitors, while High at 176.7 FPS suits 144 Hz displays. Medium at 213 FPS and Low at 242.5 FPS are best for 240 Hz panels, though the visual trade-offs may not be worth it for a game like Outriders. The recommendation is to use High settings at 1080p for the best balance, or Ultra if the monitor is capped at 120 Hz.

The overall best experience across all resolutions is 2560x1440 High, which delivers 112 FPS with strong visual quality. This preset avoids the CPU-bound territory of 1080p and the GPU-stressing 4K Ultra, hitting a performance sweet spot that leverages both the i5-12600KF's processing power and the RTX 3080's bandwidth. For players with 4K displays, High settings are the maximum recommended, while 1080p users can push to Ultra without dropping below 120 FPS.