Outriders

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake-R architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a TDP of 125 W. The CPU has a 24 MB shared L3 cache, along with 2 MB L2 cache per core and 80 KB L1 cache per core. This processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700.

In Outriders, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics calculations, and game logic. The benchmark data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 260 FPS average, which is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. This suggests that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU has enough headroom to push frame rates far beyond typical display refresh rates. The 14 cores and 20 threads provide substantial multi-threaded capacity, which is reflected in the CPU's benchmark scores: Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,544 and single-core score of 4,594, plus Geekbench multi-core of 17,085 and single-core of 2,445.

The CPU's percentile ranking versus all CPUs is 90, meaning it outperforms 90% of processors in the database. Its average benchmark score is 49,394. Comparing to nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49,228, which is 0.3% lower; the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49,196, 0.4% lower; the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48,995, 0.8% lower; and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 49,796, which is 0.8% higher. This puts the i5-14600KF in a tight competitive cluster, within 1% of its nearest rivals.

For Outriders specifically, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (boost clock of 5.30 GHz) likely helps maintain high minimum frame rates during intense combat sequences. The game is a looter shooter with numerous enemies, particle effects, and destructible environments, all of which can stress the CPU. The benchmark results at 1080p show that even at Ultra settings, the combo achieves 102 FPS average, which indicates the CPU is not bottlenecking at that resolution. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 34 FPS, which is likely GPU-limited given the massive pixel count.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is based on the Navi 32 chip with RDNA 3.0 architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. It has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 624.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU has 2,560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units, with 40 ray tracing cores. Its base clock is 1,900 MHz, boost clock is 2,459 MHz, and game clock is 2,041 MHz. Memory runs at 2,438 MHz (19.5 Gbps effective). The GPU delivers 25.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and has a pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s with a texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s.

In Outriders, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM is particularly relevant because the game features detailed environments and high-resolution textures. At 4K resolution, VRAM usage can be substantial, and the 16 GB capacity ensures headroom for texture streaming and high-detail assets. The GPU's percentile ranking versus all GPUs is 58, with an average benchmark score of 15,852. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 370X scoring 15,862 (0.1% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 9060 scoring 16,014 (1% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 scoring 15,679 (1.1% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scoring 16,129 (1.7% higher).

The benchmark data for Outriders shows the GPU's scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 260 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 86 FPS — a 67% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU has sufficient headroom. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s is crucial for maintaining texture throughput at 4K, where the data demands are much higher. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,865 and Passmark G3D score of 20,974 provide additional context for the GPU's raw performance capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Outriders?

A: The highest average FPS is 260, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49,394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900's score of 49,228.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks in the 58th percentile, meaning it outperforms 58% of all GPUs in the database.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo achieve its lowest average FPS?

A: The lowest average FPS is 34, recorded at 3840x2160 (4K) resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: How much VRAM does the AMD Radeon RX 7700 have, and what is its memory bandwidth?

A: The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit bus width, providing 624.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Outriders?

A: The combo ranks 1,140 out of 2,913 tested combinations, placing it in the top 39% of all combos.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1,140 out of 2,913 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the 61st percentile (ranking higher than 61% of all combos). This is a mid-tier ranking overall, but the context matters: the database includes many combinations with higher-end GPUs and CPUs. The CPU's strong performance (90th percentile) is somewhat offset by the GPU's more modest ranking (58th percentile), meaning the GPU likely holds back the combo's overall position.

The benchmark scores illustrate this imbalance. The CPU's average score of 49,394 is competitive with much more expensive processors, while the GPU's average score of 15,852 is closer to mid-range territory. In Outriders, this dynamic manifests as a system that can deliver high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p but struggles at 4K Ultra. The combo's rank suggests that for players targeting 1080p or 1440p gaming, this pairing is well-balanced, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck.

When considering the combo's placement, it's useful to note that the CPU's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, has nearly identical performance (0.3% difference), which means swapping the CPU for that model would yield virtually identical results in Outriders. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon R9 370X, is within 0.1%, though that comparison is based on overall synthetic benchmarks rather than game-specific performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the combo scales across three resolutions: 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 260 at 1080p to 164 at 1440p (a 37% reduction) and then to 86 at 4K (a 48% reduction from 1440p, or 67% from 1080p). This steep scaling at Low settings suggests the GPU is becoming increasingly constrained as resolution rises, even with minimal graphical demands.

At High settings, the progression is from 142 FPS at 1080p to 89 FPS at 1440p (a 37% drop) and then to 47 FPS at 4K (a 47% drop from 1440p, or 67% from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings indicates that resolution scaling is relatively uniform, with the GPU's workload scaling predictably with pixel count. The 4K High result of 47 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider smooth, while the 1440p High result of 89 FPS is comfortably above it.

The Medium settings show a similar pattern: 189 FPS at 1080p, 119 FPS at 1440p (37% drop), and 62 FPS at 4K (48% drop from 1440p, 67% from 1080p). The Ultra settings are the most demanding, with 102 FPS at 1080p, 65 FPS at 1440p (36% drop), and 34 FPS at 4K (48% drop from 1440p, 67% from 1080p). The consistent ~67% reduction from 1080p to 4K across all settings strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions — the CPU's performance headroom cannot compensate for the GPU's inability to render four times the pixels.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average FPS across settings:

• Low: 260 FPS
• Medium: 189 FPS (minimum 161, maximum 217)
• High: 142 FPS
• Ultra: 102 FPS

The spread from Low to Ultra is 158 FPS, with each step up in settings costing roughly 40-60 FPS. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 161 FPS, which is still well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on gaming monitors.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 164 FPS
• Medium: 119 FPS (minimum 101, maximum 137)
• High: 89 FPS
• Ultra: 65 FPS

The 1440p results show a tighter spread of 99 FPS from Low to Ultra. The Medium setting's minimum of 101 FPS is still above 100 FPS, which is good for competitive play. The Ultra setting at 65 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold, making it playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 86 FPS
• Medium: 62 FPS (minimum 53, maximum 72)
• High: 47 FPS
• Ultra: 34 FPS

The 4K results demonstrate the GPU's limitations clearly. Even at Low settings, the combo only reaches 86 FPS, and at Ultra, it drops to 34 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. The Medium setting's minimum of 53 FPS shows that frame pacing can dip below playable levels during intense moments. Only the Low setting at 4K maintains an average above 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, all settings are viable: Ultra delivers 102 FPS average, which is smooth for 60 Hz displays and acceptable for 100 Hz displays. High at 142 FPS is excellent for 144 Hz monitors, while Medium at 189 FPS and Low at 260 FPS are suited for competitive play on high-refresh-rate panels.

For 1440p, the recommendation shifts. Ultra delivers 65 FPS average, which is playable but may dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes (the data shows no minimum for Ultra, but Medium's minimum of 101 FPS suggests headroom). High at 89 FPS is a solid choice for 60-90 Hz displays, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance. Medium at 119 FPS is the best choice for 120 Hz displays, providing a comfortable margin above the refresh rate. Low at 164 FPS is suitable for 165 Hz monitors or competitive play.

For 4K displays, the options are more constrained. Low at 86 FPS is the only setting that consistently exceeds 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for smooth gameplay. Medium at 62 FPS is borderline, with a minimum of 53 FPS that could cause noticeable stuttering during heavy action. High at 47 FPS and Ultra at 34 FPS are below the 60 FPS threshold and would likely result in a suboptimal experience. Players with 4K 60 Hz displays should use Low settings for the best experience, while those with 1440p 120 Hz displays should opt for Medium settings to maximize visual quality while maintaining smooth frame rates.