Outriders

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 pairing delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Outriders, but the data reveals a significant balance shift depending on resolution and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across 12 distinct configurations to clarify where this combo excels and where it hits its limits.

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

The Core i7-14700KF brings substantial processing headroom to Outriders, with 20 cores and 28 threads running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This 14th-generation Raptor Lake-R chip sits in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is far more capable than the typical processor used in benchmark databases. Its synthetic scores reinforce this: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557 and a single-core score of 6290, alongside a Geekbench multi-core result of 19287.

In Outriders, the CPU’s influence is most visible when the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 278 FPS. That figure is so far beyond display refresh rates that the CPU is clearly feeding frames without constraint. The architecture’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help maintain consistent frame delivery in a looter shooter where many enemies and effects populate the screen simultaneously. The processor’s 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier make it a flexible choice for builders who want headroom, though the data here does not test overclocking.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700KF sits in a narrow band. Its average benchmark score of 70104 is effectively identical to the Intel Core i7-14700K at 70074, a 0% delta. It trails the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X by 0.4% and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 by 1.3%, while beating the AMD EPYC 9115 by 0.3%. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, meaning the CPU is not the differentiator in this combo. The data suggests that at any resolution where the GPU is saturated, the i7-14700KF will not be the limiting factor.

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

The RTX 4070 is the decisive component in this pairing. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, it features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1920 MHz drive 5888 shading units and 46 RT cores. The GPU sits in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 26927 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854.

The measured frame rates show the RTX 4070’s behavior across settings. At 1440p High, the combo hits 118.3 FPS, which is smooth for a fast-paced shooter. At 4K High, it drops to 61.6 FPS, still playable but noticeably lower. The GPU’s bandwidth and 12 GB VRAM are sufficient for Outriders’ textures at 4K, but the Ultra preset exposes its limits. At 4K Ultra, the system falls to 42.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players target. This is not a VRAM capacity issue—12 GB is adequate—but rather a raw compute limitation at the highest settings and resolution.

The GPU’s nearest rivals show an interesting benchmark landscape. The RTX 4070’s average score of 37283 is 0.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, 1.9% behind the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A, and 2.2% behind the RTX 4080 Mobile, while leading the RX 5300M by 2.5%. These synthetic scores do not translate directly to Outriders, but they contextualize the GPU’s tier. The data indicates the RTX 4070 is a strong 1440p performer and a capable 4K card only at reduced settings.

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

The measured rows provide clear guidance for optimizing the experience. At 1080p, every preset exceeds 134 FPS, so the choice depends on visual fidelity versus headroom. Ultra delivers 134.3 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh monitors, while High offers 183.6 FPS and Medium 246.9 FPS. Low hits 278 FPS, but the visual compromise is rarely worth it at this resolution.

At 1440p, the sweet spot is High at 118.3 FPS. This keeps the frame rate above 100 while maintaining good visuals. Medium hits 152.1 FPS, which is even smoother but reduces quality. Ultra drops to 81.8 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. Low reaches 214.6 FPS, but again, the IQ penalty is steep. For most players on a 1440p display, High is the recommended preset—it balances the GPU’s workload without pushing into diminishing returns.

At 4K, the situation changes dramatically. High delivers 61.6 FPS, just above the 60 FPS target, making it the only preset that offers a stable console-like experience. Medium hits 80.7 FPS, which is surprisingly strong and arguably the best 4K option if you prefer smoothness over maxed details. Ultra falls to 42.4 FPS and Low climbs to 112.1 FPS. The data suggests that 4K Ultra is not viable with this combo, but 4K Medium or High provides a solid experience. Given the diminishing returns from High to Ultra at all resolutions, the recommendation is to use High at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium at 4K for the best balance of fidelity and frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the full database of tested combinations, this pairing ranks 216th out of 1693 combos for Outriders. That places it in the top 12.8% of all systems tested, which is a strong result for a mid-to-high-end desktop setup. The rank reflects the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings, weighted toward the GPU-heavy workloads that dominate this game.

The rank is notable because the i7-14700KF is clearly not the bottleneck, yet the combo does not crack the top 200. This suggests that the RTX 4070, while solid, is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. Combos ranking above this likely pair the same or stronger GPU with a comparable CPU, and the delta comes from GPU tier rather than CPU choice. The data indicates that this combination is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it performs admirably, but it does not have the headroom to compete with top-tier 4K setups. For a builder targeting 1080p or 1440p, this rank confirms the combo is a sensible choice; for 4K enthusiasts, it signals that a more powerful GPU would be necessary to climb the rankings.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals the GPU-bound nature of this combo. At High settings, the system drops from 183.6 FPS at 1080p to 118.3 FPS at 1440p, a 35.6% reduction, and then to 61.6 FPS at 4K, a 47.9% reduction from 1440p. The trend is consistent: each step up in resolution imposes a significant load, and the RTX 4070’s frame output halves as pixel count quadruples.

This scaling pattern indicates the CPU is not the limiting component. If the i7-14700KF were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain flat across resolutions, as the CPU workload does not change with pixel count. Instead, the steep drops—particularly the 4K High result of 61.6 FPS versus 1080p High’s 183.6 FPS—show that the GPU is saturated. The same pattern appears at Ultra, where 1080p yields 134.3 FPS, 1440p drops to 81.8 FPS, and 4K falls to 42.4 FPS.

The Low settings data further confirms this. At 1080p Low, the system hits 278 FPS, which is likely near the CPU’s practical limit for this engine. At 4K Low, it drops to 112.1 FPS, a 59.7% reduction, showing that even with minimal GPU load, the RTX 4070 cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K. This is expected for a 192-bit memory bus and 12 GB of VRAM, which are adequate but not overbuilt for 4K. The takeaway is clear: for this combo, 1440p is the optimal resolution, and 4K requires accepting Medium or High settings for playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Is the Core i7-14700KF holding back the RTX 4070 in Outriders?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 96th percentile, and the FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are steep and consistent, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 278 FPS, which shows the CPU can feed frames well beyond typical display refresh rates.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p with this combo?

A: The data shows High at 118.3 FPS is the best balance. Medium hits 152.1 FPS and Ultra drops to 81.8 FPS, so High offers smooth gameplay without the visual trade-off of Medium or the performance hit of Ultra.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but only at Medium or High settings. The measured 4K results are 80.7 FPS at Medium and 61.6 FPS at High, both playable. Ultra drops to 42.4 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Outriders?

A: It ranks 216th out of 1693 combos, placing it in the top 12.8% of all tested configurations. This is a strong result, driven by the i7-14700KF’s high CPU percentile and the RTX 4070’s solid mid-range GPU performance.

Q: Why does the FPS drop so much from 1080p to 4K?

A: The RTX 4070 is the limiting component. At High settings, FPS falls from 183.6 at 1080p to 61.6 at 4K, a 66.5% reduction. The CPU workload does not change with resolution, so the GPU’s rendering load is the cause.

Q: Is the RTX 4070’s 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Outriders?

A: Yes. The 12 GB GDDR6X memory with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is enough for the game’s textures at all resolutions, including 4K High. The performance drops at 4K Ultra are due to compute limits, not VRAM capacity.