Outriders

The benchmark data for Outriders with the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti reveals a configuration that is decisively limited by its graphics card at higher resolutions, while showcasing a CPU capable of delivering extreme frame rates at 1080p. The measured results indicate a system that excels in high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming but struggles to maintain playable performance at 4K Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and clearly demonstrates that the RTX 3060 Ti is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 112.6 at 1920x1080 to 72.0 at 2560x1440, a reduction of approximately 36%. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 36.2 FPS, which is a 68% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep decline indicates that the GPU's rendering capabilities are being saturated as pixel count increases, leaving the CPU with significant headroom.

The scaling pattern across all settings confirms this analysis. At Low settings, the 1080p average of 205.2 FPS drops to 127.4 at 1440p and then to 69.0 at 4K. The fact that the 4K Low result (69.0 FPS) is still higher than the 1080p Ultra result (81.5 FPS) highlights how much of the performance ceiling is tied to the GPU's compute and memory throughput rather than any CPU limitation. The data shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens dramatically at higher resolutions: at 1080p, Ultra is 60% slower than Low (81.5 vs 205.2), but at 4K, Ultra is 60% slower than Low (27.3 vs 69.0). This widening gap is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario, where the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Outriders, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1178th out of 1693 combinations. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems, which is a surprisingly modest position given the individual components' performance profiles. The percentile ranking of 69 for the GPU and 88 for the CPU suggests that while both are above average individually, their combined performance in this particular game is held back by the GPU's inability to sustain high frame rates at demanding settings.

The combo's rank indicates that many other system configurations, likely those with more powerful graphics cards paired with similar or weaker CPUs, achieve better average FPS in Outriders. This is consistent with the resolution scaling analysis: since the GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p and 4K, any combo with a stronger GPU would outperform this one, regardless of the CPU's capabilities. The data suggests that the i5-14400F is more than adequate for this game, but the RTX 3060 Ti's 8 GB of VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to push high frame rates at higher resolutions, dragging the overall combo ranking down.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its benchmark scores are strong, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and a single-core score of 3093. These figures, along with a PassMark single-thread score of 3723, indicate that the CPU has ample processing power for game logic, physics, and draw call handling in Outriders.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution tested. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 205.2 FPS, a frame rate that would be challenging for many CPUs to feed to a GPU. The fact that the i5-14400F can sustain this level of performance without issue underscores its capability. The CPU's performance percentile of 88, placing it above 88% of all tested CPUs, reinforces this conclusion. In comparisons to its nearest rivals, the i5-14400F's average benchmark score of 32508 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-12800H (32513) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (32446), with delta percentages of 0% and 0.2% respectively. This indicates that the CPU's performance is highly competitive with other modern processors, and in Outriders, it is never the component holding back frame rates.

The L3 cache of 20 MB (shared) and dual-channel memory support are sufficient for this game's requirements. The CPU's boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures high single-threaded performance, which is crucial for the primary game thread. Benchmark results show that in synthetic tests, the CPU excels at both single-threaded (Geekbench 2333) and multi-threaded (Geekbench 11209) workloads, confirming its balanced capabilities. For Outriders, the CPU's role is to provide a stable foundation that allows the GPU to operate at its full potential, and the data shows it performs this role admirably.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable: Low settings yield an average of 205.2 FPS, Medium 150.9 FPS, High 112.6 FPS, and Ultra 81.5 FPS. These numbers indicate that for 1080p gaming, the user has a wide range of options, from ultra-smooth competitive play at Low to a very playable experience at Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops are noticeable but still playable. Low settings average 127.4 FPS, Medium 93.2 FPS, High 72.0 FPS, and Ultra 51.4 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result of 51.4 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay, but High settings at 72.0 FPS provide a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average 69.0 FPS, which is acceptable, but Medium drops to 51.1 FPS, High to 36.2 FPS, and Ultra to a mere 27.3 FPS. The 4K results clearly show that this combination is not suited for 4K gaming unless the user is willing to significantly lower settings.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: the difference between Low and Ultra settings at any given resolution is substantial. At 1080p, the gap is 123.7 FPS (205.2 vs 81.5), at 1440p it is 76.0 FPS (127.4 vs 51.4), and at 4K it is 41.7 FPS (69.0 vs 27.3). This indicates that the GPU's performance scales poorly with increasing graphical demands, which is typical for a mid-range card like the RTX 3060 Ti when pushed to its limits.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA104 chip, manufactured on an 8 nm process by Samsung. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has 4864 shading units, 152 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, with a boost clock of 1665 MHz. Its compute capabilities include 16.20 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, which is respectable for its class.

The GPU's benchmark scores show a PassMark G3D score of 20349, placing it at the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 25120 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon RX 6700M (25180) and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 (25235), with delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively. This indicates that the RTX 3060 Ti is a solid mid-range performer, but its 8 GB VRAM capacity and raw compute power are not sufficient for the most demanding scenarios in Outriders.

The data shows that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at 1440p and 4K resolutions. The steep decline in FPS as resolution increases is directly attributable to the GPU's rendering limits. The 4K Ultra result of 27.3 FPS is particularly telling, as it falls well below the playable threshold. Even at 4K Low, the 69.0 FPS average suggests that the GPU is working at near maximum capacity. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the sheer volume of data required for textures and frame buffers likely causes memory-related bottlenecks, contributing to the poor high-resolution performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60+ FPS at High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system averages 72.0 FPS, which is above 60. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average drops to 36.2 FPS, so 1440p is the highest resolution for smooth High-settings play.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 4K at Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the average FPS is 150.9, while at 3840x2160 Medium, it is 51.1. The 1080p result is roughly 3 times faster than the 4K result.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 205.2 FPS, showing the CPU can handle high frame rates. The severe FPS drop at 4K (e.g., 27.3 FPS at Ultra) is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings average 127.4 FPS, while Ultra settings average 51.4 FPS. Ultra is approximately 60% slower than Low at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested combos in Outriders?

A: This combo ranks 1178th out of 1693 tested combinations, placing it in the lower third of all systems.

Q: What is the 4K Ultra FPS, and is it playable?

A: The 4K Ultra average FPS is 27.3, which is below the generally accepted 30 FPS minimum for playable performance and would likely result in a poor experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend on the user's priority for visual quality versus frame rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset at 112.6 FPS is the recommended choice, as it offers a strong balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. Ultra at 81.5 FPS is also viable for users who prioritize graphics, but the frame rate drop is noticeable. For competitive play, Low at 205.2 FPS provides an extremely smooth experience, but with significantly reduced visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 72.0 FPS is the best overall experience, delivering good visuals while remaining well above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium at 93.2 FPS is also an excellent option for users who want a higher frame rate buffer, while Ultra at 51.4 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive. Low at 127.4 FPS is suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors but sacrifices much of the game's visual detail.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that this combo is not well-suited for 4K gaming. The Low preset at 69.0 FPS is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience, but it compromises heavily on visual quality. Medium at 51.1 FPS is borderline playable, but High at 36.2 FPS and Ultra at 27.3 FPS are not recommended for a satisfying experience. Users with a 4K display should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for better results, or accept significant visual compromises to maintain playable frame rates.