Outriders

# Outriders with Intel Core i5-14600K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080

The benchmark data for Outriders with the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 reveals a system that scales predictably across resolutions, with the GPU becoming the primary constraint at 4K while the CPU comfortably feeds the pipeline at lower resolutions. The combo ranks 143rd out of 3,710 tested combinations, placing it in the top 4% of all systems evaluated for this title. The measured frames per second range from 58 FPS at 4K Ultra to 263 FPS at 1080p Low, showing a wide performance envelope that depends heavily on both resolution and quality preset.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent with a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At High settings, the system delivers 211 FPS at 1080p, 154 FPS at 1440p, and 81 FPS at 4K. That represents a 27% reduction moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47% reduction moving from 1440p to 4K. The cumulative drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 62%, which is substantial but not unexpected for a modern GPU pushing nearly four times the pixel count.

The Low preset shows a similar pattern but with higher absolute numbers: 263 FPS at 1080p, 226 FPS at 1440p, and 148 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 14%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 35%. Interestingly, the percentage loss at Low settings is smaller at each step compared to High settings, suggesting that at Low the system has more headroom and the scaling is less punishing. The gap between Low and High at 1080p is 52 FPS, but at 4K that gap narrows to 67 FPS (148 vs 81), indicating that resolution scaling matters more when the GPU is already saturated.

Ultra settings tell a different story entirely. At 4K Ultra, the system drops to 58 FPS, which is a 72% reduction from the 4K Low figure of 148 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra at 4K costs 23 FPS, while at 1080p the same settings jump costs 34 FPS. This suggests Ultra settings impose a disproportionately heavy load at 4K, likely due to additional effects or shading work that scales with pixel count. The data implies that at 4K, the RTX 5080 is the limiting component, as the frame rate collapses under Ultra settings despite the CPU's strong multi-core capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the dominant factor in this system's Outriders performance, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 960.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is well-suited for a game like Outriders, which can be texture-heavy at High and Ultra presets. The 16 GB capacity ensures that even at 4K Ultra, the game is unlikely to exceed the available VRAM, allowing the measured FPS to reflect pure rendering performance rather than memory swapping.

Clock speeds play a notable role in the observed scaling. The GPU's base clock is 2295 MHz with a boost clock of 2617 MHz. The boost behavior is critical here, as the RTX 5080 can sustain higher clocks under lighter loads. At 1080p Low, the system hits 263 FPS, which likely allows the GPU to maintain maximum boost clocks for extended periods. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 58 FPS, and while the GPU is still boosting, the workload is far more demanding, and the efficiency curve flattens. The 56.28 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is substantial, but the data shows that even this level of compute is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra in Outriders.

The GPU's pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s are relevant to how the game renders. Outriders uses a mix of particle effects and environmental textures, and the measured FPS at Medium settings (108 FPS at 4K, 201 FPS at 1440p) suggests the GPU can handle moderate settings without significant bottlenecks. The 112 ROPs are adequate for the 256-bit memory bus, and the 336 TMUs ensure texture-heavy scenes don't cause stutters, as evidenced by the min FPS of 91 at 4K Medium, which is close to the average of 108.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K provides a strong foundation for this combo, though its role shifts depending on resolution. With 14 cores and 20 threads across a mix of performance and efficiency cores, the CPU has ample parallel processing power for Outriders' game logic and physics. The base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz are both high, and the 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency during gameplay.

At 1080p, the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck. The system reaches 263 FPS at Low settings and 211 FPS at High settings, which are high enough that the CPU's single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2064) is more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The Geekbench single-core score of 2491 reinforces this. Even at 1440p, the CPU keeps up easily, with 226 FPS at Low and 154 FPS at High. The data suggests the CPU could handle even higher frame rates if the GPU were not the limiting factor.

At 4K, the CPU's role diminishes further. The frame rates at 4K (81 FPS High, 108 FPS Medium) are well below what the CPU can deliver, confirming that the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU's multi-core performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491) is more than adequate for Outriders, which is not known for being heavily threaded. The PassMark multi-thread score of 38,682 places the CPU in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general workloads. However, for this specific game, the CPU's 14 cores are underutilized, as Outriders likely scales to fewer threads.

The CPU's memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, with dual-channel configuration, provides flexibility but doesn't directly impact the measured FPS. The 125W TDP is moderate, and the fact that the CPU is multiplier-unlocked means enthusiasts could push clocks higher, though the data shows this is unnecessary for Outriders at standard settings. The CPU's integrated UHD Graphics 770 is irrelevant for gaming since the RTX 5080 handles all rendering, but it does indicate the CPU is designed for systems without discrete GPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. The Low preset yields 263 FPS average, while Medium produces 234 FPS with a minimum of 199 FPS and maximum of 269 FPS. High settings drop to 211 FPS, and Ultra brings the average down to 177 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 86 FPS, which is significant and suggests that Ultra settings impose a meaningful visual cost that may not be justified for competitive play.

At 1440p, the frame rates remain high but show a clear step down. Low settings deliver 226 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings produce 201 FPS average with a minimum of 171 FPS and maximum of 231 FPS, showing good consistency. High settings drop to 154 FPS, and Ultra falls to 111 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 115 FPS, larger than at 1080p, indicating that resolution amplifies the cost of higher settings.

At 4K, the system struggles at the highest presets but remains playable at lower ones. Low settings produce 148 FPS, which is surprisingly strong for 4K, suggesting the RTX 5080 can handle Outriders at 4K if settings are reduced. Medium settings yield 108 FPS with a minimum of 91 FPS and maximum of 124 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. High settings drop to 81 FPS, and Ultra falls to 58 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience. The 90 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is the largest of any resolution, reinforcing that the GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

FAQ

Q: Is this system capable of running Outriders at 4K with high refresh rates?

A: The data shows 81 FPS at 4K High and 148 FPS at 4K Low. For 60 Hz displays, 4K High is viable, but for 144 Hz displays, you would need to use Low settings or drop to 1440p, where High yields 154 FPS.

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

A: At 1440p, the system delivers 154 FPS at High and 201 FPS at Medium, making it the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming without sacrificing visual quality. 1080p offers higher frame rates, but 1440p provides a better balance of fidelity and speed.

Q: How does the RTX 5080's memory configuration affect Outriders?

A: With 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus providing 960.0 GB/s bandwidth, the GPU has ample capacity and bandwidth for Outriders' textures. The min FPS of 91 at 4K Medium suggests no memory-related stuttering, even at high resolutions.

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in this game?

A: No. The CPU's single-core score of 2064 in Cinebench R23 and multi-core score of 24491 are more than sufficient. At 1080p, the system hits 263 FPS, and at 4K the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as frame rates drop to 81 FPS High while the CPU has headroom.

Q: What settings should I use for a competitive advantage?

A: At 1080p Low, the system reaches 263 FPS, which minimizes input latency. At 1440p Low, it still achieves 226 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 29 FPS, while High costs another 23 FPS, so Low or Medium is recommended for competitive play.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 143rd out of 3,710 tested combinations, placing it in the top 4% of all systems for Outriders. This indicates it outperforms 96% of tested combos, though there are 142 systems with higher performance.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience at 1080p, Medium settings at 234 FPS offer an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. The min FPS of 199 ensures smooth gameplay even in intense firefights. If you prioritize maximum frame rates, Low at 263 FPS is the choice, but the visual trade-off is noticeable. Ultra at 177 FPS is playable but the 86 FPS gap from Low suggests you're paying a significant performance cost for marginal visual improvements.

At 1440p, Medium at 201 FPS is the recommended preset for most users, as it provides high frame rates with good image quality. High at 154 FPS is still excellent for 144 Hz monitors, and the 47 FPS difference between Medium and High is justified by better textures and effects. Ultra at 111 FPS is viable for 60 Hz displays but falls short of 144 Hz requirements, so only choose Ultra if you have a 60 Hz monitor or are willing to accept lower frame rates.

At 4K, the recommendations depend heavily on your display's refresh rate. For 60 Hz displays, High at 81 FPS is the best choice, as it offers solid visual quality with a playable frame rate. Medium at 108 FPS is even better for smoother motion, and the min FPS of 91 ensures no major dips. Low at 148 FPS is overkill for 60 Hz but would enable 120 Hz operation on capable displays. Ultra at 58 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and should be avoided unless you have a variable refresh rate display and can tolerate occasional dips.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 ranks 143rd out of 3,710 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the top 4% of all systems. This is a strong showing, particularly considering the CPU is a mid-range desktop processor rather than a flagship. The CPU's 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs (average benchmark score of 48,618) and the GPU's 87th percentile ranking among all GPUs (average benchmark score of 56,083) indicate both components are above average, and their combination in this game is particularly effective.

The nearest CPU rivals show the i5-14600K is competitive with enterprise and workstation chips. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H has an average score of 48,698, just 0.2% higher, while the AMD EPYC 4345P is 0.3% lower at 48,470. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is 0.7% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% higher. These tiny deltas indicate the i5-14600K sits in a tightly contested performance band. For the GPU, the AMD Radeon 8060S is 0.6% higher, the Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 0.7% higher, and the Radeon Pro W5700X is 2.3% higher, while the Radeon RX 9070 GRE is 2.2% lower. The RTX 5080's position among these rivals suggests it is well-matched with similarly performing GPUs.

The rank of 143 out of 3,710 means there are 142 combos that perform better in Outriders, likely featuring higher-end CPUs or GPUs. However, given that the RTX 5080 is near the top of the GPU hierarchy and the i5-14600K is a strong mid-range CPU, this combo represents a well-balanced system that excels in this looter shooter without the need for flagship components. The measured data shows the system delivers high frame rates across most settings and resolutions, making it a solid choice for Outriders enthusiasts.