Outriders

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. For a looter shooter like Outriders, this configuration provides substantial headroom for the CPU-bound aspects of the game, such as physics calculations and AI for the numerous enemies on screen. The processor’s performance percentile of 89 against all CPUs indicates that it sits comfortably in the upper tier of available processors. Its benchmark scores further contextualize its capability, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29241 and a single-core score of 4128. The single-core strength is particularly relevant for game logic, as it ensures that the main game thread is not a bottleneck. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache also helps feed the eight performance cores with data, reducing latency during frantic combat scenarios where the game must render dozens of loot drops and enemy status effects simultaneously.

The data shows that the Core i7-12700K is positioned competitively among its nearest rivals. Its average benchmark score of 35684 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, which scores 35802, a delta of just -0.3 percent. Similarly, the Intel Core i5-14500HX scores 35940, putting the i7-12700K at a -0.7 percent difference. The processor is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700T, which scores 35468, a 0.6 percent advantage, and the Intel Core i7-13800H, which scores 35416, an 0.8 percent lead. These tight margins suggest that while the i7-12700K is a strong performer, its raw processing power is in a very crowded field. In Outriders specifically, this means the CPU is unlikely to be the primary differentiator in frame rates when paired with a mid-range GPU like the RTX 2060 SUPER; instead, the processor ensures consistent frame pacing, avoiding stutters that can occur when the CPU struggles to keep up with the game’s streaming of new areas.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1167 out of a total of 1693 tested combos for Outriders. This places the pairing in the lower-to-middle portion of the ranking distribution. While the CPU is a high-end part, the GPU’s position drags the overall combo down, as the RTX 2060 SUPER holds only the 63rd percentile among all GPUs. The ranking suggests that for a game like Outriders, which is a demanding title, the system’s overall capability is constrained by the graphics card. The combo rank is not a measure of absolute failure but rather of relative performance against systems with more powerful GPUs. For instance, systems featuring higher-tier GPUs will naturally score higher in this ranking, leaving this combo with a mid-pack placement. The data indicates that this pairing is balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming but will struggle to compete with higher-end setups at 4K, particularly on higher settings.

The delta between the CPU’s high percentile and the combo’s mid-tier rank highlights the imbalance in this pairing. The RTX 2060 SUPER is a previous-generation card, and its performance ceiling is well below what the i7-12700K can feed it. In a CPU-light scenario, the combo would rank higher, but Outriders’ engine seems to scale with both components. The benchmark results show that the combo’s rank is heavily influenced by the GPU’s ability to process frames, which is a common bottleneck in modern gaming. Therefore, while the processor is ready for future upgrades, the current frame rates are directly tied to the graphics card’s limits. Users looking at this data should understand that the rank reflects a specific point in time and specific game settings, and that the CPU has significant untapped potential for more powerful GPUs.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 206.4 FPS, which drops to 131.1 FPS at 1440p and further to 65.7 FPS at 4K. This scaling indicates that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU is doing more of the heavy lifting, allowing the GPU to produce very high frame rates. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is a 36.5 percent reduction, which is significant but expected as the GPU begins to work harder on pixel rendering. Moving from 1440p to 4K at Low settings results in a 49.9 percent decrease, showing how the GPU becomes increasingly the limiting factor at higher pixel counts. The trend is consistent across all settings, but the magnitude of the drop varies. For High settings, the FPS goes from 114.9 at 1080p to 70.5 at 1440p (a 38.6 percent drop) and then to 36.3 at 4K (a 48.5 percent drop from 1440p).

This scaling behavior suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary limiting component at 4K resolutions. The frame rate at 4K High (36.3 FPS) is barely playable, while the 4K Ultra setting falls to 24.9 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience. The data shows that the system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can maintain high frame rates even on High settings. The CPU’s influence is most apparent at 1080p, where the frame rates exceed 200 FPS on Low settings, indicating that the i7-12700K is not holding the GPU back. As resolution increases, the gap between settings narrows proportionally, but the overall performance ceiling is dictated by the GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The 4K results clearly show that the graphics card runs out of compute and memory resources, leading to the steep drop-off in performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system’s performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers average frame rates of 206.4 FPS on Low, 152 on Medium, 114.9 on High, and 80.9 on Ultra. This shows a smooth progression of performance degradation as settings increase, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 125.5 FPS. The 1080p results are excellent for competitive play, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a playable 80.9 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates drop to 131.1 on Low, 92.7 on Medium, 70.5 on High, and 53.8 on Ultra. The Ultra setting at this resolution is still playable, but the 53.8 FPS average indicates some potential for frame drops during intense action sequences. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly a 40 percent reduction across all settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel workload.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more challenging. The system achieves 65.7 FPS on Low, 50.5 FPS on Medium, 36.3 FPS on High, and 24.9 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Low setting is the only one that approaches a smooth experience, while Medium is borderline. The High and Ultra settings are not recommended for a good experience, as the frame rates dip below 40 FPS. The data shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is overwhelmed by the 4K resolution, particularly on higher settings, where the 8 GB VRAM may also be a limiting factor. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 40.8 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p, but the relative impact is larger due to the lower baseline. Overall, the breakdown shows that this combo is best used at 1440p, where it offers a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with the High preset providing a solid 70.5 FPS average.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is based on the Turing architecture and features a TU106 chip with 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. It has a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, which are modest by modern standards but adequate for its target resolution. The card is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K results in the measured FPS data suggest that the memory capacity and bandwidth are stretched thin. The GPU’s benchmark scores show a Passmark G3D score of 16462, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, which scores 19706 (a 0.3 percent difference), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, which scores 19680 (a 0.5 percent difference).

The GPU’s role in Outriders is critical, as the game’s visual effects, such as particle effects from abilities and detailed environments, rely heavily on the graphics card. The data shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER can handle the game at 1080p with ease, but its performance degrades significantly at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra setting, which likely includes heavy use of textures and post-processing, brings the card to its knees at 24.9 FPS. The GPU’s 175 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a mid-range card, and its production status is end-of-life, meaning it is an older part. The measured FPS data reflects this, as the card’s performance is not sufficient for high-end 4K gaming. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is a key bottleneck at 4K, where the card must move vast amounts of texture data. For this game, the GPU is the clear limiting factor in the combo, and its performance dictates that users should stick to 1440p or lower for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 80.9 FPS, which is playable and offers the best visual quality. However, for users with high refresh rate monitors, the High preset at 114.9 FPS provides a better balance, sacrificing some visual fidelity for a smoother experience. The Low preset at 206.4 FPS is only necessary for competitive play where maximum frame rates are prioritized over visuals. At 2560x1440, the High preset is the clear recommendation, providing an average of 70.5 FPS that is smooth and visually appealing. The Medium preset at 92.7 FPS is also viable for users who want a higher frame rate buffer, but the visual difference between Medium and High is typically less noticeable in a fast-paced game. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 53.8 FPS, which is still playable but may suffer from occasional dips in heavy combat.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that only the Low preset (65.7 FPS) is recommended for a decent experience. The Medium preset at 50.5 FPS is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets at 36.3 and 24.9 FPS respectively are not suitable for smooth gameplay. The 4K Low preset may look significantly worse than 1440p High, so users with 4K displays should consider running the game at 1440p with High settings instead. This would provide a much better visual experience and frame rate. The measured rows show that the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p High, offering a 70.5 FPS average that balances image quality and performance. The data indicates that the GPU’s limitations at 4K make it impractical to use that resolution with any settings other than Low, and even then, the frame rate is lower than what is achievable at 1440p High. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is to play at 2560x1440 with the High preset, ensuring a stable and visually pleasing experience in Outriders.