Outriders

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a strong, high-refresh-rate experience in Outriders, though the combination is clearly more GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The data shows a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p gaming, with the CPU providing ample headroom for the GPU to stretch its legs.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, running on a 10 nm process node. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz are key to its performance in Outriders, a game that benefits from strong single-thread performance for game logic and physics. The chip's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L2 cache of 1.25 MB help keep data fed to the cores, reducing latency in demanding scenes.

In this configuration, the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested setting. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 227.5 FPS, which is a frame rate that is often limited by the game engine or other system components rather than a single core. The CPU’s 88th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms its position as a high-end performer, with an average benchmark score of 32508. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H, scores nearly identically with a deltaPct of 0, indicating the i5-14400F is punching above its weight class in synthetic tests.

The processor’s 65W TDP and unlocked memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 make it a flexible platform, but the benchmark results are what matter here. The measured FPS scaling from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p shows a drop from 227.5 FPS to 133.8 FPS, a 41% reduction. This indicates that while the CPU can handle the lower-end settings with ease, the GPU is taking on more work as settings increase. The i5-14400F’s 16 threads ensure that background tasks and game threads are handled without stutter, and its 88th percentile score against all CPUs shows it is a top-tier gaming chip for this title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing. With 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, it provides 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth, which is crucial for high-resolution textures and effects in Outriders. The GPU’s 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores are backed by a boost clock of 1665 MHz, delivering 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 compute.

The GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking versus all GPUs places it in the upper echelon of graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 41224. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, is only 0.5% faster, showing that the 3080 Ti is almost as powerful as the flagship of its generation. This raw power translates directly into frame rates. At 1440p High settings, the system achieves 115.7 FPS, and at 4K High, it still manages 59.6 FPS, which is very close to the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

The GPU’s memory configuration is a significant asset. The 12 GB VRAM capacity and 912.4 GB/s bandwidth allow the card to handle Ultra settings at 1080p (133.8 FPS) and 1440p (82.8 FPS) without running into memory limits. The GPU is clearly the limiting factor when moving to 4K, as the frame rate drops to 44.8 FPS at Ultra settings, which is below the ideal playable threshold. The data suggests that for maximum visual fidelity at 4K, users would need to dial back to High settings to maintain a playable frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals the balance of this combo. At 1080p High, the system produces 180.8 FPS, which drops to 115.7 FPS at 1440p (a 36% decrease) and then to 59.6 FPS at 4K (a 67% decrease from 1080p). This pattern is classic GPU-bound scaling, where the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at all resolutions.

The most telling data point is the Low settings comparison. At 1080p Low, the system hits 227.5 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it still produces 197.2 FPS. However, at 4K Low, it drops to 111.2 FPS. This 51% drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings shows that even with minimal visual load, the RTX 3080 Ti’s rendering pipeline is the primary constraint. The CPU is not the bottleneck; if it were, we would see similar FPS at 1440p and 1080p.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The system goes from 133.8 FPS at 1080p to 82.8 FPS at 1440p, a 38% drop, and then to 44.8 FPS at 4K, a 67% drop from 1080p. This indicates that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions, making the RTX 3080 Ti the clear limiting component in this setup for 4K gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high refresh rate?

A: At 1440p High settings, the system achieves 115.7 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1080p, it can push over 180 FPS on High, making it excellent for competitive play.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K High settings, it averages 59.6 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 44.8 FPS, which may not be smooth enough for all players.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 Ti compare to the RTX 3090 in this context?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti’s average benchmark score is 41224, while the RTX 3090 scores 41441, a deltaPct of -0.5%. This means the 3080 Ti is effectively on par with the 3090, making it an excellent choice for gaming.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F a good match for the RTX 3080 Ti?

A: Yes, the data shows no CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 227.5 FPS, indicating the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output, even at lower settings where CPU load is relatively higher.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the system drops from 227.5 FPS on Low to 133.8 FPS on Ultra, a 41% reduction. This shows that the GPU is heavily taxed by the Ultra preset’s effects.

Q: How does this combo rank among other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 370th out of 1693 tested combos, placing it in the top 22% of all systems tested in Outriders.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 370th out of 1693 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the top 22% of all systems tested, which is a strong showing given the game’s demanding nature. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, where neither component is severely holding back the other.

The CPU’s 88th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking are both high, and their combination results in a system that is well above average. The i5-14400F’s performance is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-12800H, with a deltaPct of 0, meaning that the CPU is not a weak link. Similarly, the RTX 3080 Ti’s performance is within 0.5% of the RTX 3090, showing that it is a top-tier GPU.

This ranking is particularly impressive when considering the GPU’s 350W TDP and the system’s overall capability. The data shows that for Outriders, this combo is more than adequate for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and even 4K at High settings. The 370th rank out of 1693 combos suggests that there are few systems that can outperform this pairing in this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset is the recommended choice across all resolutions. At 1080p High, the system delivers 180.8 FPS, which is far above the refresh rate of most monitors. At 1440p High, it produces 115.7 FPS, which is excellent for 144Hz displays. At 4K High, it averages 59.6 FPS, which is just under the 60 FPS target but still playable.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for 4K gaming, as it drops to 44.8 FPS, which can feel sluggish. However, for 1080p and 1440p, Ultra is a viable option. At 1440p Ultra, the system still produces 82.8 FPS, which is smooth, and at 1080p Ultra, it reaches 133.8 FPS.

The Medium preset is a good fallback for 4K if High is too demanding, as it offers 78.9 FPS at that resolution. The Low preset is best reserved for competitive play at 1080p or 1440p, where the system can achieve 227.5 FPS and 197.2 FPS, respectively. Given the data, the High preset at 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a high frame rate without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 227.5 FPS on Low, 205.7 FPS on Medium, 180.8 FPS on High, and 133.8 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 41% drop, showing the GPU’s workload increases significantly with settings.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS is 197.2 on Low, 156 on Medium, 115.7 on High, and 82.8 on Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 58%, which is a more significant reduction than at 1080p, indicating the GPU is becoming more stressed.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 111.2 on Low, 78.9 on Medium, 59.6 on High, and 44.8 on Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 60%, and the Ultra preset’s 44.8 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the RTX 3080 Ti is the primary driver of performance, with the i5-14400F providing enough headroom to prevent a CPU bottleneck at any resolution or setting.