Outriders

The Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Outriders, but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with higher settings. Benchmark data for this pairing, ranked 1200th out of 2913 tested combos, indicates a system that excels in mid-range resolutions while falling short at the extreme end of the spectrum.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The processor includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory and connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance, scoring 19,784 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 9,979 in 3DMark max threads. Its single-thread capabilities are equally notable, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,850.5 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 1,043. This places the i7-12700K in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35,287. Its nearest rivals in the database are all within a fraction of a percent — the Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35,305 (-0.1%), the Core i7-12700KF scores 35,365 (-0.2%), the Core i7-13700T scores 35,403 (-0.3%), and the Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35,428 (-0.4%).

For Outriders, a looter shooter that relies on consistent frame pacing during combat, the CPU's 20 threads and high boost clock provide ample headroom. The game is not heavily CPU-bound at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the measured FPS scaling: at 1080p Low, the system reaches 247 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra it drops to 102 FPS. This indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as graphical settings increase, but the CPU's single-thread performance ensures that it does not bottleneck the RX 7700 at any tested configuration. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9,276 further confirms that the processor can handle heavy multi-tasking scenarios, though Outriders rarely taxes all cores simultaneously.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip, fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1900 MHz, a boost clock of 2459 MHz, and a game clock of 2041 MHz. Its memory runs at 2438 MHz (19.5 Gbps effective). The card includes 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, 96 ROPs, and 40 RT cores, with a pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s. It delivers 25.18 TFLOPS FP32 performance.

In the database, this GPU scores 20,974 in PassMark G3D and 28,865 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its PassMark G2D score is 1,206, and it achieves 10,963 in GPU compute tests. The RX 7700 sits in the 58th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 15,852. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15,862, -0.1%), the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16,014, -1%), the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15,679, +1.1%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16,129, -1.7%).

The 16 GB VRAM is a significant asset for Outriders, especially at higher resolutions where texture memory demands increase. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU's performance scales predictably with settings. At 4K, the RX 7700 delivers 86 FPS on Low, 62 FPS on Medium (with min/max of 53/72), 47 FPS on High, and only 34 FPS on Ultra. This pattern reveals that the GPU's 96 ROPs and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K Ultra, but the card remains highly capable at lower resolutions. At 1440p, the same settings yield 164 FPS (Low), 119 FPS (Medium, min/max 101/137), 89 FPS (High), and 65 FPS (Ultra). The 1080p results show even stronger performance: 247 FPS (Low), 189 FPS (Medium, min/max 161/217), 142 FPS (High), and 102 FPS (Ultra).

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1200th out of 2,913 tested combinations in Outriders. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all systems tested, roughly in the 59th percentile of combos. The ranking reflects a balanced pairing where neither component severely bottlenecks the other, but the overall performance ceiling is limited by the GPU's mid-range positioning.

The CPU's 84th percentile standing among all processors is notably higher than the GPU's 58th percentile among all graphics cards. This discrepancy suggests that the RX 7700 is the limiting factor in most scenarios. The benchmark data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 247 FPS, which is extraordinarily high and suggests the CPU can push far beyond what the GPU delivers at higher settings. Conversely, at 4K Ultra, the 34 FPS average indicates the GPU is overwhelmed, while the CPU likely has significant headroom remaining.

The combo's rank of 1200 out of 2,913 means there are 1,712 tested combinations that perform worse and 1,199 that perform better. This positions the system as a strong 1080p and 1440p performer, but not a top-tier 4K solution. The delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles (84 vs 58) is a clear indicator that users seeking higher frame rates at 4K would benefit more from a GPU upgrade than a CPU upgrade, as the processor has more relative performance to spare.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system performs exceptionally well across all settings. Low settings deliver an average of 247 FPS, Medium produces 189 FPS (with a minimum of 161 and maximum of 217), High reaches 142 FPS, and Ultra maintains 102 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the i7-12700K and RX 7700 combination shines, with even Ultra settings providing well above 100 FPS for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU beginning to feel the load. Low settings still deliver 164 FPS, Medium drops to 119 FPS (min/max 101/137), High achieves 89 FPS, and Ultra falls to 65 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that High settings are optimal for a 60+ FPS experience, while Ultra dips below the 70 FPS threshold that some players prefer for competitive shooters.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. Low settings produce 86 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 62 FPS (min/max 53/72), High falls to 47 FPS, and Ultra drops sharply to 34 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is particularly telling — a 34 FPS average is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay and indicates the GPU is saturated. The gap between Low (86 FPS) and Ultra (34 FPS) at 4K is a 152% difference, highlighting how sensitive the RX 7700 is to settings changes at this resolution.

The medium settings at each resolution provide the only min/max data points in the entire dataset. At 1080p Medium, the range is 161-217 FPS, a 56 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows slightly to 101-137 FPS, a 36 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range is 53-72 FPS, a 19 FPS spread. This narrowing range as resolution increases suggests that the GPU's workload becomes more consistent at higher resolutions, reducing frame time variance.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Outriders at 4K smoothly?

A: At 4K, the system achieves 86 FPS on Low settings and 62 FPS on Medium, but drops to 47 FPS on High and 34 FPS on Ultra. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, Low settings are required at 4K; Medium settings fall just short of 60 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU pairing?

A: The data shows 1080p is the strongest resolution, with all settings presets exceeding 100 FPS (102 FPS on Ultra). At 1440p, High settings deliver 89 FPS and Ultra delivers 65 FPS, making it viable for most users. The system is not recommended for 4K beyond Low or Medium settings.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 7700 has an average benchmark score of 15,852, placing it nearly identical to the Radeon R9 370X (15,862, -0.1%) and slightly behind the Radeon RX 9060 (16,014, -1%) and RTX 3060 Ti (16,129, -1.7%). It outperforms the Radeon Pro W5500 (15,679, +1.1%).

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this GPU in Outriders?

A: The CPU ranks in the 84th percentile while the GPU ranks in the 58th percentile, suggesting the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The 1080p Low result of 247 FPS, compared to 102 FPS at 1080p Ultra, indicates the GPU saturates long before the CPU reaches its limits.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p Ultra settings?

A: The measured 1440p Ultra average is 65 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold but may not be sufficient for high-refresh-rate monitors. For comparison, 1440p High delivers 89 FPS, which provides more headroom for consistent frame pacing.

Q: How does the combo rank overall among all tested systems?

A: This pairing ranks 1200th out of 2,913 tested combinations in Outriders. This places it in the upper-middle tier, with roughly 59% of tested systems performing better and 41% performing worse.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimizing the Outriders experience with this hardware combination.

For 1080p displays, Ultra settings are the clear choice. The system maintains 102 FPS on Ultra, which is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a smooth experience on standard 60 Hz monitors. Players with 144 Hz displays would still benefit from High settings at 142 FPS, which offers a 40 FPS improvement over Ultra while maintaining visual fidelity. Low settings at 247 FPS are only useful for competitive play where maximum frame rates matter more than visual quality.

For 1440p displays, High settings deliver the best balance of visual quality and performance at 89 FPS. This is comfortably above 60 FPS and approaches the 90 FPS mark that many gamers consider ideal for fast-paced shooters. Ultra settings at 65 FPS are playable but leave little margin for frame drops during intense combat sequences, as the minimum FPS data for Medium (101 FPS) shows the system can experience meaningful dips. The 1440p Low setting at 164 FPS is available for players who prioritize frame rate above all else.

For 4K displays, the recommendations are more restrictive. Low settings at 86 FPS provide a smooth experience and are the only preset that consistently exceeds 60 FPS. Medium settings at 62 FPS (with a minimum of 53 FPS) are borderline, and the frame drops below 60 FPS during demanding scenes could be noticeable. High settings at 47 FPS and Ultra at 34 FPS are not recommended for a playable experience, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold and approach the 30 FPS console-like territory.

The overall best experience per the measured rows is 1080p Ultra or 1440p High, depending on the display resolution. Both configurations provide frame rates above 89 FPS, which ensures smooth gameplay in Outriders' fast-paced combat scenarios. For users with 4K displays who cannot lower the resolution, 4K Low at 86 FPS is the only viable setting that maintains a consistently high frame rate.