Outriders

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 produces a functional but heavily GPU-bound experience in Outriders. The CPU’s 12 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz, provide ample headroom for the game’s logic and physics. However, the benchmark results show that the RTX 2060 becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. The measured frames per second (FPS) reveal a clear pattern: the combo delivers playable performance at 1080p across most settings, but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K, particularly on Ultra presets. This analysis breaks down the specific numbers from the data, interprets them against the combo’s ranking, and provides guidance on optimal settings.

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 operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is critical for gaming workloads that often favor single-thread performance. In Outriders, a looter shooter with dense enemy encounters and particle effects, the CPU’s job is to handle game logic, AI pathfinding, and draw call submissions. The benchmark scores for the CPU reflect its strong multi-threaded and single-threaded capabilities: it scores 9,276 in 3DMark 16-thread tests and 1,043 in 3DMark single-thread tests. Cinebench R23 results further underscore its performance, with a multicore score of 19,784 and a single-core score of 1,850.5.

In the context of Outriders, the CPU’s 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for streaming in game assets during fast-paced movement. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 189 FPS, which is nearly three times the 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS. This wide gap indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU is not the bottleneck—the GPU is. The CPU’s 3DMark 8-thread score of 7,202 and max-thread score of 9,979 suggest it can handle the game’s multi-threaded tasks without issue, even when the GPU is pushed to its limits. Compared to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-13600T, the i7-12700K scores 0.1% lower in average benchmark score (35,287 vs. 35,305), which is a negligible difference in real-world gaming. The CPU’s 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it outperforms the vast majority of processors, but in Outriders, the frame rates are dictated more by the GPU’s capabilities than by the CPU’s headroom.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2,881 out of 3,710 tested combinations in Outriders. This places it in the lower third of all tested configurations, which is a direct consequence of the GPU’s mid-range positioning. The RTX 2060, with its 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs, drags the overall combo down despite the CPU’s strong 84th percentile performance. The delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles highlights a significant imbalance: the i7-12700K is a high-end processor, while the RTX 2060 is a mainstream graphics card. In a game like Outriders, which relies heavily on GPU rendering for its visual effects and lighting, this imbalance manifests as lower frame rates at higher resolutions.

The combo’s rank of 2,881 out of 3,710 means that roughly 22% of tested combos perform worse, while 78% perform better. This is not a surprising outcome given the GPU’s specs: 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, a 192-bit bus, and 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. In comparison, the GPU’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, which scores nearly identically (15,283 vs. 15,290 average), and the AMD Radeon 680M, which is 0.1% slower. The RTX 2060’s average benchmark score of 15,290 shows it is a capable 1080p card, but Outriders’ demanding settings at 1440p and 4K expose its limitations. The CPU’s high performance does not compensate for the GPU’s bottleneck, resulting in a combo that is best suited for lower resolutions or reduced graphical settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K bottlenecking the RTX 2060 in Outriders?

A: No. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 189 FPS, which indicates the CPU is not limiting performance. The bottleneck shifts to the GPU at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra result dropping to 24 FPS.

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1080p is the most suitable resolution. At 1080p High, the combo averages 103 FPS, which is smooth for a looter shooter. At 1440p High, the average drops to 65 FPS, which is still playable but less consistent.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with different settings?

A: At 4K, the results are mixed. Low settings yield 62 FPS, Medium yields 45 FPS (with a minimum of 38 FPS), High yields 34 FPS, and Ultra yields 24 FPS. Only Low settings at 4K provide a consistently playable frame rate.

Q: Is the RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM sufficient for Outriders?

A: The data suggests it is adequate for lower settings but strained at higher ones. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 24, which is likely due to both VRAM capacity and compute limitations. At 1440p Medium, the combo maintains 87 FPS, indicating the VRAM is not a critical issue at that resolution.

Q: How does this combo compare to other GPUs in the same performance tier?

A: The RTX 2060’s average benchmark score is 15,290, which is virtually identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (15,283) and 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon 680M (15,270). This places it in a tight performance band, but the RTX 2060 offers modern features like DirectX 12 Ultimate support.

Q: What is the CPU’s impact on high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p?

A: The CPU’s strong single-thread performance (1,043 in 3DMark single-thread) allows the combo to reach 189 FPS at 1080p Low. This indicates the i7-12700K can support high frame rates, but the GPU’s limits prevent it from exceeding that threshold in Outriders.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 189 FPS, Medium produces 137 FPS with a minimum of 117 FPS and maximum of 158 FPS, High produces 103 FPS, and Ultra produces 74 FPS. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot, with even Ultra settings maintaining a playable frame rate above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings yield 119 FPS, which is still smooth, but Medium drops to 87 FPS (minimum 74 FPS, maximum 99 FPS), High drops to 65 FPS, and Ultra falls to 47 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the RTX 2060 is starting to struggle with the increased pixel count and graphical demands.

At 3840x2160, the combo’s limitations become apparent. Low settings produce 62 FPS, which is just on the edge of playability, but Medium drops to 45 FPS (minimum 38 FPS, maximum 52 FPS), High drops to 34 FPS, and Ultra falls to 24 FPS. The 4K results highlight a steep performance cliff, where even Medium settings cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, and the frame rates drop proportionally.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on TSMC’s 12 nm process, featuring 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it is equipped with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores are present for ray tracing and AI features, but Outriders does not heavily utilize these, so the game’s performance is primarily dictated by the GPU’s raw rasterization power and memory bandwidth.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reflect its mid-range positioning: it scores 14,111 in PassMark G3D and 6,451 TFLOPS in FP32 compute. The 6 GB VRAM is a critical factor at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the GPU likely exceeds its VRAM capacity, leading to the 24 FPS average. The 336.0 GB/s bandwidth is also insufficient for 4K textures, causing stuttering and reduced frame rates. The RTX 2060’s 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it below the median, and its nearest rivals—the GTX 580, Radeon 680M, and RTX 3050 OEM—all score within 0.8% of each other, confirming it is in a crowded performance tier. In Outriders, the GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p and above, as evidenced by the FPS drops from 1080p to 4K.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset offers the best balance, delivering 103 FPS average. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a visually rich experience without sacrificing performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 74 FPS, which is still playable, but the 29 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the visual improvement, especially if the user prioritizes smoothness.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, with an average of 87 FPS and a minimum of 74 FPS. This ensures a consistent experience above 60 FPS. The High preset at 1440p drops to 65 FPS, which is borderline, and Ultra falls to 47 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold. For users with 1440p monitors, Medium settings provide the best combination of visual fidelity and performance.

At 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 62 FPS. However, even this result is marginal, and users may experience dips. The Medium preset at 4K averages 45 FPS, which is not smooth for a fast-paced game like Outriders. Given the data, the best overall experience for this combo is 1080p with High settings, as it delivers a high frame rate without compromising on visual quality. If a user is willing to accept lower graphical fidelity, 1440p Medium is also a strong choice, but 4K should be avoided unless the user is comfortable with Low settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a stark performance curve that highlights the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 189 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Low reduces the average to 119 FPS, a 37% decrease. At 4K Low, the average is 62 FPS, which is a 67% decrease from 1080p Low. This trend is consistent across all settings, indicating that the GPU’s rendering capabilities are the limiting factor.

For the High preset, the FPS drops from 103 at 1080p to 65 at 1440p (a 37% decrease) and then to 34 at 4K (a 67% decrease from 1080p). The Ultra preset shows an even more dramatic drop: 74 FPS at 1080p, 47 FPS at 1440p (a 36% decrease), and 24 FPS at 4K (a 68% decrease). The consistent percentage drops across settings suggest that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are saturated as resolution increases. The RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K workloads, causing the frame rate to plummet.

The CPU’s performance does not scale with resolution, which is expected—its workload remains constant regardless of pixel count. However, the fact that the FPS drops are so steep from 1080p to 4K confirms that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo can reach high frame rates (189 FPS at Low), but at 4K, it struggles to maintain 60 FPS even at Low settings. This indicates that users with this combo should prioritize lower resolutions or reduce settings to achieve a smooth experience, as the GPU cannot handle the demands of higher resolutions in Outriders.