Outriders

The Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 570 combination is a pairing of a 6-core, 6-thread Coffee Lake processor with a Polaris-based GPU that has been a staple of budget-oriented builds. In Outriders, the measured frame rates across resolutions reveal a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics card, particularly as pixel count increases. The data shows a clear hierarchy where the GPU’s 4 GB of VRAM and 224.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth become the primary limiting factors, while the CPU’s 6 cores and 4.10 GHz boost clock provide a stable foundation that rarely holds the system back. This analysis breaks down how each component contributes to the performance picture, where this combo ranks among all tested configurations, and what settings offer the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo in Outriders shows a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, confirming that the AMD Radeon RX 570 is the dominant bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average frame rate is 54 FPS, which drops to 34 FPS at 2560x1440—a 37% reduction—and further plummets to 18 FPS at 3840x2160, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior, where the rendering load on the rasterizer and memory interface grows faster than the CPU’s ability to feed the pipeline.

The Low preset data reinforces this trend. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 99 FPS, which is a 45 FPS jump over High settings at the same resolution. Moving to 1440p Low yields 63 FPS, and 4K Low drops to 33 FPS. The fact that even at Low settings the 4K resolution only manages 33 FPS—barely above the 30 FPS threshold—indicates that the RX 570’s raw throughput, with 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 32 ROPs, is insufficient for 4K rendering in this title regardless of quality level.

The Medium preset provides the only complete FPS range data in the pack. At 1080p Medium, the average is 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 and maximum of 83 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 and maximum of 53 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 24 FPS with a minimum of 20 and maximum of 27 FPS. This shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step roughly halves the frame rate, which is a strong indicator that the GPU’s memory bandwidth (224.0 GB/s) and pixel fill rate (39.81 GPixel/s) are being saturated.

What this scaling tells us is that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, has enough headroom to push higher frame rates at 1080p, but the RX 570’s 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus simply cannot sustain the fill rates demanded by 1440p and 4K. For practical purposes, this combo is a 1080p solution; anything above that requires a significant reduction in settings to stay playable.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 brings 6 cores and 6 threads based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. In Outriders, which is a looter shooter that relies on consistent frame pacing during combat, this processor’s single-core performance is adequate for the task. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 935 and multi-core score of 6629 place this CPU at the 47th percentile among all tested CPUs, indicating it is a mid-range part by today’s standards.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-9400 is effectively tied in average benchmark score. It is 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (score 2259), 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-10710U (score 2248), and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (score 2246). This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i5-9400 will perform nearly identically to these alternatives, but the data from Outriders shows that CPU-bound scenarios are rare with this GPU.

The 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for feeding the RX 570 at 1080p. At 1080p Low, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU can push the frame rate to 99 FPS, which is close to the practical limit for a 6-thread part in this genre. However, the lack of hyperthreading—only 6 threads total—means that in heavy multi-tasking scenarios or with background applications, the system could stutter, but the measured FPS data does not show evidence of this bottleneck.

The CPU’s role is best described as a neutral facilitator. It neither boosts performance nor drags it down significantly. The 47th percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicates that while it is not a top-tier part, it has enough single-thread headroom to keep up with the GPU’s output at 1080p. At higher resolutions, the CPU’s influence diminishes further, as the GPU’s frame time becomes the dominant factor.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the star of this analysis, but for all the wrong reasons in this context. With 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, a 256-bit bus, and a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s, this GPU was designed for 1080p gaming at its release. The chip, Polaris 20, operates at a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1244 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). The 2048 shading units and 128 TMUs provide a texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show a percentile ranking of 74 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28766. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (score 28874, delta 0.4% faster), AMD Radeon R9 M295X (score 28580, delta 0.7% slower), AMD Radeon RX 470 (score 28996, delta 0.8% faster), and NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 (score 28421, delta 1.2% slower). This places the RX 570 in a strange position: it is competitive with much newer and more expensive parts in synthetic benchmarks, but in Outriders, its 4 GB VRAM is the critical weakness.

At 1080p High, the GPU delivers 54 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. The 4 GB VRAM is likely being filled by textures at High settings, leading to potential stuttering, though the minimum FPS data is not provided for this preset. At 1080p Ultra, the frame rate drops to 39 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 13 FPS, which is unplayable. The GPU’s 32 ROPs are simply insufficient for high-resolution, high-detail rendering.

The GPU’s role is the primary limiter. The data shows that the RX 570 cannot handle 1440p or 4K in Outriders at any settings, with the best 1440p result being 63 FPS at Low and the best 4K result being 33 FPS at Low. This is a 1080p-only card for this title, and even at 1080p, users must choose between High settings at 54 FPS or Medium settings at 72 FPS for a smoother experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 + AMD Radeon RX 570 combination ranks 3533 out of 3710 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU’s limitations, as the CPU’s performance is mid-pack. The combo rank of 3533 means that 177 other tested combinations performed worse, which is a small number considering the vast array of hardware available.

This ranking is not surprising given the GPU’s 74th percentile standing. While the RX 570 is not the worst GPU, its age and 4 GB VRAM capacity make it ill-suited for a modern looter shooter like Outriders, which was released in 2021. The CPU’s 47th percentile ranking is also below average, but the combination of a weaker CPU and GPU places this system firmly in the lower echelon of tested hardware.

For context, the nearest rival GPUs in synthetic benchmarks—the RX 6800M and RX 470—are within 0.4% and 0.8% of the RX 570’s average score, respectively. However, in real-world gaming, the RX 470 would likely perform nearly identically to the RX 570, meaning this combo’s rank would not improve with a different Polaris-era GPU. The ranking is what it is: a budget 1080p setup that struggles beyond that resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Outriders at 1080p with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, at 1080p Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, which is playable. At 1080p High, the average drops to 54 FPS, which is still playable but less smooth. At 1080p Low, the average is 99 FPS, which is very smooth.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The frame rate drops dramatically from 1080p to 4K (from 54 FPS to 18 FPS at High settings), indicating the RX 570’s 4 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are saturated. The CPU’s 6 cores and 4.10 GHz boost clock are sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p.

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

A: The best resolution is 1920x1080. At this resolution, the combo can achieve 54 FPS at High settings or 72 FPS at Medium settings. At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop to 34 FPS at High and 46 FPS at Medium, which is borderline playable but not ideal.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 3533 out of 3710 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations. This low ranking is due to the GPU’s limitations, as the CPU is mid-pack at the 47th percentile.

Q: Is the RX 570’s 4 GB VRAM enough for Outriders?

A: The 4 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p Medium settings, but at High or Ultra settings, the frame rates drop to 54 FPS and 39 FPS respectively, suggesting the VRAM is being stressed. At 1440p and 4K, the VRAM is clearly insufficient, with frame rates dropping to 34 FPS and 18 FPS at High settings.

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

A: At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is significant. Low settings achieve 99 FPS, while Ultra settings achieve only 39 FPS. This is a 60 FPS drop, indicating that Ultra settings heavily tax the GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo in Outriders depend on the user’s priority for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For a smooth and responsive experience, the 1080p Medium preset is the clear winner. It delivers an average of 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS, providing a consistent frame pacing that is essential for a looter shooter where combat can become chaotic. The Medium preset balances the GPU’s load, keeping the 4 GB VRAM within its limits while still offering acceptable visuals.

For users who prefer higher visual quality, 1080p High is a viable option with an average of 54 FPS. This is playable, but the lack of minimum FPS data means there is a risk of stutter during intense scenes. The 1080p Low preset at 99 FPS is ideal for competitive play or for users with high-refresh-rate monitors, but the visual downgrade is significant.

Avoid 1440p and 4K settings for this combo. At 1440p Medium, the average is 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS, which is borderline. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 24 FPS, and at 4K Low, it is 33 FPS, both of which are too low for a playable experience in a fast-paced shooter.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 39 FPS, at 1440p Ultra it is 25 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it is 13 FPS. The performance cost of Ultra settings is too high for this hardware, and the visual improvement over High is minimal in most cases.

In summary, set the resolution to 1920x1080 and choose the Medium preset for the best balance of frame rate and quality. If you need higher FPS, drop to Low. If you can tolerate lower frame rates, High is acceptable, but Medium is the sweet spot for this Intel Core i5-9400 + AMD Radeon RX 570 combination in Outriders.