Outriders

# Outriders CPU/GPU Performance Analysis: Intel Core i5-9400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

This combo pairs a six-core Intel Core i5-9400 from the Coffee Lake generation with NVIDIA's flagship-class GeForce RTX 3080, built on the Ampere architecture. The pairing ranks 2598th out of 3710 tested combinations in Outriders, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. The CPU's modest benchmark scores—it sits at the 47th percentile among all tested processors—suggest it may hold back the GPU in certain scenarios, but the measured frame rates across resolutions tell a more nuanced story.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 brings six physical cores and six threads to the table, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This is a locked processor—no unlocked multiplier—so overclocking headroom is absent. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 platform, draws 65 W TDP, and is built on Intel's 14 nm process node. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-9400 posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935. Its Geekbench multi-core result is 5141, with a single-core score of 1389. The average benchmark score across all tests is 2254, which places it near the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, delta -0.4%). It edges out the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248, delta 0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, delta 0.4%) by a hair.

For Outriders, a looter shooter with dense enemy encounters and effects-heavy combat, the CPU's six threads are adequate but not generous. At 1080p, where the GPU can push very high frame rates, the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more critical. The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 128 FPS average—a strong result that suggests the i5-9400 can keep up with the RTX 3080 at lower graphical loads. However, the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is only 37 FPS (128 vs. 91), which is narrower than at higher resolutions, hinting that CPU limits may start to emerge when frame rates climb past 120 FPS.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the headline component here, featuring the GA102 chip on Samsung's 8 nm process. It packs 8704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, alongside 68 ray tracing cores and 272 tensor cores. The memory subsystem consists of 10 GB of GDDR6X on a 320-bit bus, delivering 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Clock speeds are 1440 MHz base and 1710 MHz boost, with memory running at 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6, and connects via PCIe 4.0 x16.

In synthetic GPU tests, the RTX 3080 scores 25086 in Passmark G3D and 4407 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its OpenCL score in Geekbench is 152423, with Vulkan at 33620. The average benchmark score is 23172, placing it at the 68th percentile among all GPUs. Interestingly, its nearest rivals in the database are not high-end cards—the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, delta -0.3%), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250, delta -0.3%), AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, delta -0.4%), and AMD Radeon R9 M290X (23276, delta -0.4%)—all within 0.4% of its average score. This suggests the GPU's average benchmark score is pulled down by some tests, but its gaming performance in Outriders is clearly strong.

The RTX 3080's 10 GB VRAM is ample for Outriders at all tested settings. The measured data shows no signs of VRAM-related stuttering or frame drops, even at 3840x2160 Ultra where the average FPS drops to 42. The GPU's raw compute power—29.77 TFLOPS FP32—combined with high memory bandwidth allows it to handle the game's particle effects and texture streaming without issue. At 1440p and 1080p, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor, with frame rates scaling predictably with resolution changes.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data covers four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) at three resolutions. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields only 42 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS threshold most players consider playable. High at 4K brings this up to 58 FPS—close but still not smooth. Medium at 4K achieves 78 FPS with a minimum of 66 FPS and maximum of 89 FPS, making it the sweet spot for 4K play. Low at 4K reaches 88 FPS, but the visual quality trade-off is substantial.

At 2560x1440, all presets are playable. Ultra hits 78 FPS average, High reaches 88 FPS, Medium delivers 98 FPS (min 83, max 112), and Low tops out at 110 FPS. The jump from Ultra to High is 10 FPS, and from High to Medium is another 10 FPS, making Medium the best balance of visual fidelity and performance at 1440p.

At 1920x1080, even Ultra achieves 91 FPS average. High hits 102 FPS, Medium reaches 114 FPS (min 97, max 131), and Low peaks at 128 FPS. Given that the RTX 3080 can push well past 100 FPS at 1080p on High settings, players with high-refresh monitors could opt for High or Ultra, while those prioritizing maximum smoothness should choose Medium.

The data clearly indicates that Medium is the recommended preset across all resolutions for this combo. It provides the largest jump in FPS over High at 4K (20 FPS improvement) while maintaining respectable minimums. At 1440p and 1080p, Medium offers frame rates that are 10-12 FPS higher than High, with minimums that stay above 83 FPS and 97 FPS respectively.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 2598th out of 3710 tested combinations in Outriders, placing it in the 30th percentile of all combos. This ranking reflects the CPU's limitations rather than the GPU's capabilities—the RTX 3080 is a high-end card, but the i5-9400's six threads and modest single-core performance drag the overall combo down relative to pairings with more powerful processors.

The CPU's position at the 47th percentile among all processors, combined with the GPU's 68th percentile standing, creates an imbalanced pairing. In Outriders, this imbalance manifests most clearly at 1080p where the CPU can become a bottleneck at higher frame rates. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 37 FPS (128 vs. 91), while at 4K the same delta is 46 FPS (88 vs. 42). At 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor, so the CPU's weakness is masked. At 1080p, the CPU's limitations cap performance well below what the RTX 3080 could theoretically deliver.

Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing sits in the lower half despite featuring a high-end GPU. The ranking suggests that in Outriders, the CPU choice matters significantly—a stronger processor would likely push this GPU to much higher frame rates, especially at 1080p and 1440p.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of 60 FPS at 4K in Outriders?

A: At 3840x2160, only the Low preset (88 FPS) and Medium preset (78 FPS) exceed 60 FPS average. High preset averages 58 FPS, which is just below the threshold, while Ultra averages 42 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this pairing?

A: At 2560x1440, all presets deliver at least 78 FPS, with Medium averaging 98 FPS. This resolution offers the best balance of visual quality and smoothness, as 4K requires dropping to Medium or lower for playable frame rates.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its closest rivals in CPU benchmarks?

A: The i5-9400's average benchmark score of 2254 is within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, delta -0.2%), Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, delta -0.4%), Intel Core i7-10710U (2248, delta 0.3%), and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, delta 0.4%). These differences are negligible.

Q: Does the RTX 3080's 10 GB VRAM cause any issues in Outriders?

A: The measured FPS data shows no VRAM-related performance drops at any resolution or preset. The game runs smoothly across all settings, indicating 10 GB is sufficient for Outriders.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 102 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh monitors.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems in Outriders?

A: It ranks 2598th out of 3710 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This ranking reflects the CPU's relative weakness compared to the GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

3840x2160 (4K):

• Ultra: 42 FPS average
• High: 58 FPS average
• Medium: 78 FPS average (minimum 66, maximum 89)
• Low: 88 FPS average

At 4K, the RTX 3080's raw power is tested most severely. The Ultra preset dips to 42 FPS, which is borderline unplayable for fast-paced combat. High improves to 58 FPS but still misses the 60 FPS mark. Medium at 78 FPS with a minimum of 66 FPS is the clear recommendation for 4K play. Low at 88 FPS shows the GPU's ceiling at this resolution, though visual quality suffers significantly.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Ultra: 78 FPS average
• High: 88 FPS average
• Medium: 98 FPS average (minimum 83, maximum 112)
• Low: 110 FPS average

1440p is where this combo shines. Even Ultra maintains 78 FPS, which is playable for most users. High at 88 FPS provides a comfortable margin, while Medium at 98 FPS with a minimum of 83 FPS offers smooth performance with good visuals. Low at 110 FPS is available for competitive play, though the visual downgrade is noticeable.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Ultra: 91 FPS average
• High: 102 FPS average
• Medium: 114 FPS average (minimum 97, maximum 131)
• Low: 128 FPS average

At 1080p, all presets deliver playable frame rates, with even Ultra exceeding 90 FPS. Medium at 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS is ideal for high-refresh 1080p monitors. Low at 128 FPS approaches the CPU's practical limit, as the i5-9400 begins to bottleneck the RTX 3080 at these frame rates. The relatively small gap between Low and Ultra (37 FPS) suggests the CPU is capping performance at the top end, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential.