Outriders

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 produces a highly resolution-dependent experience in Outriders. The measured frame rates show a clear and consistent pattern: performance scales dramatically as resolution drops, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting factor in this configuration. At 4K with High settings, the combo averages 32 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Dropping to 1440p High more than doubles that figure to 64.6 FPS, and at 1080p High the average reaches 103.1 FPS. This steep climb—roughly a threefold increase from 4K to 1080p—is characteristic of a system where the graphics card is saturated at higher pixel counts, while the processor has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

The scaling pattern becomes even more telling when examining the Low settings preset. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 61.3, which is nearly double the High preset result at the same resolution. At 1440p Low, the average jumps to 120.1 FPS, and at 1080p Low it reaches 187.5 FPS. These numbers suggest that even at 4K, the RTX 2060 can deliver playable frame rates when graphical load is minimized, but the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is substantial: 61.3 FPS versus 26 FPS. The data points to a GPU-bound scenario across all tested settings, with the CPU rarely becoming the bottleneck. The 12-core, 20-thread i7-12700KF with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz is well-equipped to handle the game's logic, but the RTX 2060’s 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width limit its ability to push high frame rates at demanding resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K reveals a clear GPU-bound profile. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 103.1 FPS, but moving to 1440p High drops that to 64.6 FPS—a reduction of roughly 37%. The jump from 1440p to 4K High is even steeper, falling to 32 FPS, which is a further 50% decline. This halving of performance at each major resolution step is a textbook sign that the RTX 2060 is operating at its limits, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K while the FPS does not scale proportionally.

At Low settings, the pattern is similar but with higher absolute numbers. 1080p Low averages 187.5 FPS, 1440p Low averages 120.1 FPS, and 4K Low averages 61.3 FPS. The 4K Low result is notable because it is only slightly below the 1440p High result of 64.6 FPS, indicating that reducing graphical fidelity at 4K can yield frame rates comparable to a lower resolution with higher fidelity. The Ultra preset shows the steepest drop-off: 73.2 FPS at 1080p, 45.6 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. These numbers suggest that Ultra settings are not viable at 4K for this combo, and even at 1440p, the 45.6 FPS average is marginal for a responsive experience.

The data implies that the limiting component is the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the processor's workload does not increase with pixel count. Instead, the consistent decline with each resolution step confirms that the RTX 2060's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the constraining factors. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 1043 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4091, is more than sufficient to keep up with the GPU's output at every tested resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz provide strong single-thread performance, which is critical for games like Outriders that rely on a few primary threads for game logic and rendering commands. The CPU's benchmark results support this: it scores 1043 in 3dmark_single_thread and 1718 in Cinebench R20 single-core, placing it in the 89th percentile among all CPUs.

In the context of this game, the CPU appears to have significant headroom. At 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the combo reaches 187.5 FPS, suggesting the CPU can handle high frame rates without becoming a constraint. The multi-threaded performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28979 and a Geekbench multicore score of 13596. However, these figures do not translate into a proportional FPS advantage because the game's frame rate is capped by the GPU's rendering capability. The nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks—such as the Intel Core i5-14400 with a deltaPct of 0.1% and the Intel Core i7-13800H with a deltaPct of -0.2%—show that the i7-12700KF is competitively positioned, but these differences are negligible in gaming scenarios where the GPU is the bottleneck.

The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample bandwidth for game assets, but the data does not indicate any cache-related stuttering or frame pacing issues. The measured average FPS figures are consistent across repeated runs, suggesting stable performance. For Outriders specifically, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations, and given the consistent FPS scaling with resolution, it is clear the processor is not the limiting factor in this combo.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the decisive component in this pairing. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is modest by modern standards but adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The GPU's base clock is 1365 MHz, boosting to 1680 MHz, and it houses 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is 6.451 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is relevant for Outriders' use of modern rendering features.

The benchmark data shows the RTX 2060 sits in the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16074. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600S with a deltaPct of 0.5% and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M with a deltaPct of -1.7%, indicating it is competitively placed in its performance class. However, in Outriders, the GPU's limitations become apparent at higher resolutions. The 6 GB VRAM is likely a constraint at 4K Ultra, where textures and effects demand more memory than the card can efficiently handle, leading to the 26 FPS average. Even at 4K High, the 32 FPS average suggests the GPU is struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate.

The RTX 2060's memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) and 192-bit bus width are the key specifications that determine its fill rate. At 1080p, the card can deliver 103.1 FPS on High settings, which is a solid result. At 1440p, the 64.6 FPS average on High is playable but not ideal for competitive play. The GPU's performance is further evidenced by its Passmark G3D score of 14111 and 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1242, which align with its mid-range positioning. The data strongly suggests that to improve frame rates in Outriders at 1440p or 4K, the GPU would need to be upgraded, as the CPU is not the bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Outriders, this configuration ranks 1374 out of 1693 total combinations. This places it in the lower-mid range of all tested systems, indicating that while it is functional, it does not deliver top-tier performance. The rank is influenced by both the CPU and GPU, but given the GPU-bound nature of the game, the RTX 2060's position in the 58th percentile likely drags the overall combo down relative to systems with more powerful graphics cards.

The CPU's high percentile rank (89th) does not compensate for the GPU's limitations in this specific game. In the overall combo ranking, this suggests that many other tested systems feature GPUs that are better suited to Outriders' demands, particularly at higher resolutions. The combo's rank of 1374 out of 1693 means it outperforms approximately 19% of tested combinations, which is a sobering statistic for a system with a strong processor. The data indicates that users with this combo should target 1080p or 1440p gaming, as the 4K results are below acceptable thresholds for smooth gameplay.

The ranking also reflects the balance between components. A system with a weaker CPU but a stronger GPU would likely rank higher in this game, as the GPU is the primary driver of FPS. The i7-12700KF's strong benchmark scores (e.g., Passmark multithread of 34092) do not translate into better Outriders performance because the game does not heavily utilize the CPU's full multi-threading capability. This is a classic case of a CPU that is overqualified for the GPU it is paired with, resulting in a combo that is less efficient than its individual components would suggest.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset delivers 103.1 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 73.2 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant 29% performance hit for marginal visual gains. The Medium preset at 135.6 FPS is a viable alternative for users who prioritize frame rate over fidelity, while Low at 187.5 FPS is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 1440p, the High preset averages 64.6 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, but the Medium preset at 87.3 FPS offers a better experience if visual details can be slightly reduced. The Ultra preset at 45.6 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider smooth. The Low preset at 120.1 FPS is the best choice for 1440p if frame rate is the primary concern, though it sacrifices significant visual fidelity.

For 4K, the data shows that only the Low preset (61.3 FPS) is playable, while Medium (47.5 FPS), High (32 FPS), and Ultra (26 FPS) all fall short of smooth gameplay. Given the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM, 4K Ultra is likely to cause memory bottlenecks, as evidenced by the 26 FPS average. The recommendation is to play at 1080p High for the best overall experience, or 1440p Medium if a higher resolution is preferred. The 4K resolution should be avoided except at Low settings, and even then, the 61.3 FPS average is marginal.

FAQ

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

A: The 1080p High preset delivers 103.1 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1440p, the Medium preset (87.3 FPS) is also a strong option, while 4K is only playable at Low settings (61.3 FPS).

Q: Why does the frame rate drop so significantly from 1080p to 4K?

A: The RTX 2060 is the limiting component, as its 6 GB VRAM and 192-bit bus width cannot handle the increased pixel count at higher resolutions. The FPS drops from 103.1 at 1080p High to 32 at 4K High, a 69% reduction.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF bottlenecking the RTX 2060?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not the bottleneck. The CPU's high single-thread performance (3dmark single-thread score of 1043) allows it to keep up with the GPU at all resolutions, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling with resolution changes.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Outriders?

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 61.3 FPS. At Medium (47.5 FPS), High (32 FPS), and Ultra (26 FPS), the frame rates are too low for a smooth experience.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1374 out of 1693 total combos, placing it in the lower-mid range. This is primarily due to the GPU's 58th percentile performance, which limits the system's overall capability in this GPU-bound game.

Q: What settings should I use for a consistent 60+ FPS experience?

A: For 60+ FPS, use 1080p High (103.1 FPS), 1440p Medium (87.3 FPS), or 4K Low (61.3 FPS). The 1440p High preset at 64.6 FPS also meets this threshold, but just barely.