Outriders

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its closest rival in overall CPU performance?

A: The i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47,282, which places it essentially level with the Intel Core i7-13700KF (47,334, delta -0.1%). It also sits within a narrow band of the AMD EPYC 4364P (47,131, delta 0.3%) and the Intel Core i9-12900F (47,081, delta 0.4%). The data indicates that for general CPU tasks, these processors are interchangeable in performance.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile and how does it compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT sits in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 38,358 is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (38,349, delta 0%). It also shows a negligible 0.3% lead over the NVIDIA CMP 70HX (38,225) and a 0.6% lead over the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38,135).

Q: What kind of frame rates can be expected at 4K with the Ultra preset?

A: The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, this combination of the i7-13700K and RX 7900 XT produces an average of 47 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the baseline for smooth gameplay in a fast-paced looter shooter.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor when playing at 1080p?

A: Benchmark results indicate that at 1920x1080, the CPU plays a larger role in determining performance. The frame rates range from 142.5 FPS on Ultra to 267.6 FPS on Low. This wide spread, with a significant jump when graphics load decreases, suggests the system is capable of high output but that the CPU's processing power is the primary constraint at this resolution.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has a launch MSRP of $409. The GPU's launch MSRP is 899 USD.

Q: How many cores and threads does the i7-13700K have?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has 16 cores and 24 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and the Navi 31 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. Its role in Outriders becomes clear when examining the measured FPS data. The GPU's memory configuration includes 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 320-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 800.0 GB/s. This substantial memory pool and bandwidth are critical for handling high-resolution textures and the detailed environments typical of a looter shooter at 4K.

The card's clock speeds show a base of 1387 MHz, a game clock of 2025 MHz, and a boost clock of 2394 MHz. The difference between game and boost clock indicates thermal and power headroom for the card to increase performance under load. With 84 ray accelerators, the GPU is prepared for DirectX 12 Ultimate workloads, which is relevant for the game's visual effects.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are substantial. It has 5376 shading units, 336 texture mapping units, and 192 ROPs. This translates to a pixel rate of 459.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 804.4 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 51.48 TFLOPS, which is a strong indicator of raw shader processing power. In the context of Outriders, this GPU is clearly designed to push high frame rates at 1440p and provide a playable experience at 4K.

The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves 123.9 FPS average. This suggests the GPU has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors at this resolution. However, the most demanding setting, 4K Ultra, drops to 47 FPS, indicating that even this powerful GPU is challenged by the game's maximum visual fidelity at the highest resolution. The percentile ranking of 82nd places it among the top tier of available graphics cards, and its average benchmark score of 38,358 shows it is a performer that can handle modern titles.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the shifting balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly CPU-limited. The difference between Low (267.6 FPS) and Ultra (142.5 FPS) is significant, but even at Ultra, the frame rate is far above what most displays can show. The CPU, with its 16 cores and 24 threads, has the processing power to drive these high frame rates, and the GPU is not being fully utilized.

Moving to 2560x1440, the load begins to shift. The frame rates on Low (229.1 FPS) and Medium (163.6 FPS) are still very high, but the gap between Low and Ultra (90.4 FPS) widens. This indicates that the GPU is starting to become a more significant factor, though the CPU still has enough power to keep frame rates well above playable thresholds.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The frame rate drops to 120.4 FPS on Low, which is a substantial decrease from the 267.6 FPS seen at 1080p Low. This shows that the GPU's rendering workload is scaling heavily with resolution. The drop from Medium (88.5 FPS) to High (66.1 FPS) and then to Ultra (47 FPS) demonstrates a steep performance curve as the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are pushed to their limits. The data indicates that at 4K, the RX 7900 XT is working at its maximum capacity, and the CPU's role is diminished.

The scaling pattern suggests that for players targeting 1080p or 1440p, the i7-13700K provides enough headroom for the GPU to operate at its full potential. For 4K gaming, the performance is determined almost entirely by the GPU's capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across twelve configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 267.6 FPS, Medium produces 238.9 FPS, High produces 197.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 142.5 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 47% reduction in performance, indicating that the game's higher presets apply significant load to the system.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are still robust but show more variation. Low settings average 229.1 FPS, Medium averages 163.6 FPS, High averages 123.9 FPS, and Ultra averages 90.4 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is now 61%, reflecting the increased resolution's impact on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens considerably. Low settings yield an average of 120.4 FPS, which is still a very playable frame rate. Medium drops to 88.5 FPS, High falls to 66.1 FPS, and Ultra plunges to 47 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 61%, but the absolute frame rates at the higher settings are what matter for gameplay.

The data indicates that the combination is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p on all settings. At 1440p, the High preset offers a strong balance for smooth gameplay. At 4K, the Low preset is the only one that consistently exceeds 120 FPS, while Medium and High provide playable but not high-refresh-rate experiences. The Ultra preset at 4K is best reserved for slower-paced exploration rather than intense combat.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K plays a critical role in this combination, particularly at lower resolutions. With 16 cores and 24 threads, it has substantial multi-threaded capability. Its benchmark results confirm this, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 39,000 and a Geekbench multicore score of 17,731. These results place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs.

The processor's single-thread performance is equally important for gaming. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 5,505, and its Geekbench single-core score is 2,850. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2,262 and 4-thread score of 4,469 indicate that the processor has strong low-thread-count performance, which is often what games rely on for their main game logic and physics threads.

In Outriders, the CPU's role is most apparent at 1080p. The frame rates at this resolution, ranging from 142.5 FPS on Ultra to 267.6 FPS on Low, are high enough that the CPU must feed the GPU with data at a rapid pace. The Passmark multithread score of 45,887 and the Passmark single-thread score of 4,333 show that the CPU has the headroom to handle this task without becoming a bottleneck.

The CPU's cache hierarchy is also notable. It has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 80 KB of L1 cache per core. This large cache helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for game performance, especially in titles that rely on frequent data access like Outriders.

The data suggests that the i7-13700K is more than capable of keeping up with the RX 7900 XT in this game. The CPU's average benchmark score of 47,282 is nearly identical to its closest rivals, confirming that this processor is a top-tier choice for gaming workloads.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimizing the Outriders experience with this hardware. For players with a 1080p monitor, the Ultra preset at 142.5 FPS is an excellent choice. This frame rate is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that many high-end monitors offer, meaning the system can fully utilize the display's capabilities without any noticeable compromise in visual quality.

For 1440p, the High preset at 123.9 FPS is the recommended starting point. It offers a strong balance between visual fidelity and performance, easily driving a 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor. The Ultra preset at 90.4 FPS is also a viable option, especially for players who prioritize image quality over maximum frame rates. The Medium preset at 163.6 FPS is ideal for competitive play where higher frame rates are preferred.

At 4K, the recommendation depends on the player's priorities. The Medium preset at 88.5 FPS provides a smooth and visually appealing experience, making it the sweet spot for most players. The High preset at 66.1 FPS is also playable, offering better visual detail while maintaining a frame rate that is close to the 60 FPS target. The Low preset at 120.4 FPS is the choice for players who want the highest possible frame rates at 4K, which is useful for fast-paced combat scenarios.

The Ultra preset at 4K, with its 47 FPS average, is not recommended for general gameplay. This frame rate is below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel sluggish during intense firefights. It could be used for taking screenshots or admiring the game's visuals in quiet areas, but it is not ideal for actual play. The data shows that the optimal experience at 4K lies in the Medium or High presets, which provide a good balance of visual quality and performance.