Outriders

Opening

Outriders is a looter shooter from 2021 that scales heavily with both CPU and GPU depending on resolution. This analysis covers the Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B570, using measured FPS data at three resolutions and four quality presets. The i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake Refresh chip with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost of 4.70 GHz; the Arc B570 is a Battlemage-generation GPU with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, running at 2500 MHz. The data shows a combo that is strongly GPU-bound at 4K, increasingly CPU-leaning at 1080p, and best tuned to Medium settings for a balanced experience. This pairing ranks 2329 out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the lower-mid tier of configurations, which the FPS numbers reflect.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly defines where the bottleneck lives. At Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 128 at 1080p to 81 at 1440p, then to 42 at 4K. That is a 67% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which indicates the Arc B570 is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The GPU's 10 GB VRAM and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K the rendering load outpaces the card's 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. The data confirms this: at 4K Ultra, the combo only manages 23 FPS, which is barely playable for a shooter. At 1080p Ultra, the average rises to 70 FPS, showing that the GPU still has headroom when pixel count drops.

The scaling pattern also reveals the CPU's role at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 176 FPS, which is more than double the 4K High result of 32 FPS. This large jump suggests that at 1080p Low, the CPU and GPU are both working efficiently, but the GPU is no longer saturated. The i5-14400F's boost clock of 4.70 GHz and 20 MB of shared L3 cache help feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the data shows that even at 1080p, the Arc B570 cannot fully stretch its legs beyond Low settings without dropping to 96 FPS at High. The performance gap between Low and High at 1080p is 80 FPS, while at 4K the same settings gap is only 26 FPS, further confirming that pixel count dominates the GPU's workload.

At 1440p, the scaling is more moderate: Low settings yield 111 FPS, Medium drops to 81 FPS, and High falls to 61 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for the Arc B570, as it balances the CPU's capability with the GPU's memory bandwidth. The 4K results, however, are uniformly low: even at Low settings, the average is only 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target most players desire. The data suggests that 4K is not viable for this combo beyond Low settings, and even then, the 58 FPS average is marginal. The limiting component at 4K is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads are more than adequate for the game's logic at any resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F provides a solid foundation for Outriders, but its role shifts depending on the resolution. With 10 cores (including performance and efficiency cores) and 16 threads, the CPU handles the game's multi-threaded looter-shooter mechanics well. The base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost of 4.70 GHz ensure that single-threaded tasks like game logic and physics are processed quickly. In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 21645 in multi-core and 3055 in single-core, which places it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. This means it has ample headroom for Outriders, which is not a heavily CPU-bound title at higher resolutions.

At 1080p, the CPU's influence becomes more apparent. The jump from 70 FPS at Ultra to 176 FPS at Low shows that when the GPU is less stressed, the CPU can push more frames. The passmark single-thread score of 3701 and multi-thread score of 25470 indicate strong per-core performance, which helps maintain high FPS at lower resolutions. However, the data does not show the CPU becoming a bottleneck at 1080p, as even the highest FPS of 176 is well below the CPU's theoretical limits. The i5-14400F's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% faster) and Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% faster), showing that this chip is competitive with older flagship parts. In Outriders, the CPU's 20 MB of L3 cache helps with asset streaming, but the game's performance is still largely GPU-limited.

At 4K, the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor. The FPS difference between Medium (42 FPS) and Low (58 FPS) at 4K is mostly due to GPU workload, not CPU speed. The CPU's 65 W TDP and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) are adequate for this pairing, but the Arc B570's 150 W TDP and PCIe 4.0 x8 interface mean the GPU is the constraining element. The data implies that if you were to pair this CPU with a stronger GPU, you would see significant FPS gains at 1080p, but with the Arc B570, the CPU is never the primary bottleneck in Outriders. The CPU's 16 threads handle the game's background tasks smoothly, but the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (23 FPS) is a GPU limitation, not a CPU one.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the star of the show in this pairing, but also the main constraint. With 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 160-bit bus, it offers 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is respectable for a mid-range card. The GPU's 2304 shading units and 144 TMUs deliver 360.0 GTexel/s of texture rate, and its 80 ROPs provide 200.0 GPixel/s of pixel fill rate. In 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12), the GPU scores 2649, and its passmark G3D score is 14195, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% faster), which gives context for its performance tier. The Arc B570's 18 RT cores support ray tracing, but Outriders does not heavily rely on it, so rasterization performance is what matters here.

The GPU's 2500 MHz boost clock is relatively high for a mid-range card, and its 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is solid for 1080p and 1440p gaming. However, the 4K results show the card's limits: 32 FPS at High and 23 FPS at Ultra. The 10 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K with High textures, memory bandwidth may be strained, contributing to the low FPS. The GPU's 19.6 billion transistors on a 5 nm TSMC process node give it efficiency, but the 150 W TDP and 272 mm² die size indicate it is not built for 4K gaming. The data shows that the Arc B570 excels at 1080p and 1440p Medium settings, where it delivers 128 and 81 FPS respectively, but falls short at 4K.

The GPU's memory configuration is a key factor in Outriders. The 10 GB VRAM is enough for most games at 1080p, but at 4K, texture-heavy scenes can exceed this, causing stutters or reduced FPS. The measured FPS at 4K Medium (42 FPS) with a minimum of 36 FPS shows that the GPU is working hard, but the pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s is simply not enough for 4K at high quality. The GPU's passmark DirectX 12 score of 72 is notably lower than its DirectX 11 score of 118, which may affect Outriders' DX12 performance, but the game's engine is not fully DX12-exclusive. Overall, the Arc B570 is a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but not a 4K solution, and the data confirms this with a 70 FPS average at 1080p Ultra versus 23 FPS at 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Outriders, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2329 out of 2913 total configurations. This places it in the 20th percentile of all combos, meaning roughly 80% of tested systems perform better. The rank reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions and the combo's overall inability to deliver high FPS at 4K. However, the rank is not a blanket condemnation; at 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 128 FPS, which is above the average for many systems. The low rank is driven by the 4K results, where even Low settings only hit 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for a smooth experience.

The combo's rank is consistent with the GPU's percentile of 65, but the CPU's percentile of 83 is higher, suggesting that the GPU is holding back the system. In Outriders, the CPU could support a faster GPU, but the Arc B570 limits the overall score. The nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks (RTX 3070 Mobile and Intel Arc A750) are within 0.1% of the B570's score, so this combo's performance is representative of that tier. The rank of 2329 means that for a looter shooter like Outriders, this system is playable but not competitive with high-end rigs. Players using this combo should expect to stick to 1080p or 1440p with Medium settings for the best experience, as the data shows that Ultra settings at 1440p (44 FPS) are borderline.

The combo's rank also highlights the importance of settings optimization. At 1080p High, the combo hits 96 FPS, which is a good experience, but at 4K High, it drops to 32 FPS, which is unplayable. The rank of 2329 is an average across all settings and resolutions, so it understates the combo's capability at 1080p. For context, the CPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores (e.g., AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U) are not typically paired with this GPU, so the rank is specific to this configuration. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can compete with mid-range systems, but it falls behind at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. At 1080p, Medium settings offer the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 128 FPS and a minimum of 109 FPS. This is smooth and well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended preset for most players. High settings at 1080p still deliver 96 FPS, which is acceptable, but the drop from Medium to High is 32 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is starting to struggle with the higher visual fidelity. Ultra at 1080p drops to 70 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a shooter where fast reactions matter. Low at 1080p yields 176 FPS, but the visual compromise is likely not worth the extra FPS for most players.

At 1440p, Medium settings are again the best choice, with an average of 81 FPS and a minimum of 69 FPS. This is the only preset at 1440p that consistently stays above 60 FPS. High settings at 1440p drop to 61 FPS, which is borderline, and Ultra falls to 44 FPS, which is not recommended. Low at 1440p hits 111 FPS, but the visual quality is poor. For players with 1440p monitors, Medium is the clear winner, as it provides a playable experience without sacrificing too much detail. At 4K, no preset is ideal. Medium settings yield 42 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, and Low only reaches 58 FPS, which is marginal. Ultra at 4K is unplayable at 23 FPS. For 4K, the data suggests that this combo is not suitable, and players should either lower the resolution to 1440p or accept the frame rate hit.

The measured data also shows that the minimum FPS values are only available for Medium settings, with 109 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 36 FPS at 4K. This indicates that Medium settings have the most consistent frame pacing, which is important for a looter shooter where combat can be chaotic. The maximum FPS values for Medium are 148 at 1080p, 93 at 1440p, and 49 at 4K, showing that there is some variability, but the averages are stable. Overall, the recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p for the best experience. If a player prioritizes FPS over visuals, Low settings at 1440p (111 FPS) is a viable alternative, but the visual downgrade is significant. Ultra settings are only recommended at 1080p if the player can tolerate 70 FPS, but it is not the optimal choice.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 176 at Low to 70 at Ultra. Specifically, Low settings yield 176 FPS, Medium yields 128 FPS with a minimum of 109 and maximum of 148, High yields 96 FPS, and Ultra yields 70 FPS. This shows a clear linear decline as settings increase, with the largest drop between Medium and High (32 FPS). At 2560x1440, the averages are 111 FPS at Low, 81 FPS at Medium (min 69, max 93), 61 FPS at High, and 44 FPS at Ultra. The drop from Medium to High is 20 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 17 FPS, indicating that the GPU is becoming more strained at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance falls off sharply. Low settings average 58 FPS, Medium drops to 42 FPS (min 36, max 49), High falls to 32 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 23 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium at 4K is 16 FPS, and between Medium and High is 10 FPS, showing that the GPU is nearing its limits. The data shows that at 4K, even Low settings do not reach 60 FPS, confirming that this combo is not designed for 4K gaming. The minimum and maximum FPS data for Medium settings across all resolutions shows that the frame pacing is consistent, with the spread between min and max being 39 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 13 FPS at 4K. This indicates that as resolution increases, the variance decreases, but the average FPS also drops.

For players looking for specific targets, the 1080p Medium preset (128 FPS) is the only configuration that comfortably exceeds 120 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The 1440p Medium preset (81 FPS) is the best for 1440p displays, while the 4K Low preset (58 FPS) is the only 4K option that is remotely playable. The data also shows that the Ultra preset at any resolution is not worth the FPS loss: at 1080p, Ultra sacrifices 58 FPS compared to Medium, and at 1440p, it sacrifices 37 FPS. The measured FPS values are consistent with the GPU's performance percentile, confirming that the Arc B570 is a mid-range card that excels at 1080p and handles 1440p with Medium settings, but struggles at 4K. For this combo, the practical takeaway is to prioritize Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p, as the data shows this delivers the most balanced experience.