Outriders

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. It operates at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts up to 5.60 GHz, with a 125W TDP. This CPU’s multi-threaded capability is substantial, as reflected in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,557 and Geekbench multi-core score of 19,287, while its single-thread performance is also strong, hitting 6,290 in Cinebench R23 single-core. In the context of Outriders, a looter shooter that relies on physics, AI, and particle effects, this processor provides a robust foundation. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 257.9 FPS, which is high enough that the CPU’s headroom is not the primary constraint; instead, the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase. The processor’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) help maintain consistent frame pacing, particularly in scenes with numerous enemies where draw calls spike. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700KF performs nearly identically to the Intel Core i7-14700K (0% deltaPct) and the AMD EPYC 9115 (0.3% deltaPct), while it is slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X by 0.4%. This indicates that for Outriders, the i7-14700KF’s core configuration is more than adequate, and its benchmark percentile of 96 versus all CPUs confirms it sits near the top of the performance spectrum, leaving the GPU to dictate the final frame rates.

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

The i7-14700KF’s 20 cores and 28 threads are a clear asset for Outriders, which is a game that benefits from having spare threads for background tasks like asset streaming and enemy AI. The boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensures that single-threaded tasks, such as game logic and physics calculations, are processed with minimal latency. In practice, this means that at lower resolutions and settings, where the GPU is less taxed, the CPU can push frame rates very high. The measured data supports this: at 1080p Low, the combo hits 257.9 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is not bottlenecking the render pipeline. However, the CPU’s performance is not uniform across all settings; the difference between 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra is 158.4 FPS, which indicates that the GPU workload scales significantly with settings, while the CPU maintains a steady output. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 4,491 and single-core score of 633 further illustrate that this chip can handle both bursty single-thread loads and sustained multi-thread loads. The processor’s 125W TDP is a reasonable power envelope for this performance class, though the data does not suggest any thermal throttling that would degrade Outriders performance. In summary, the i7-14700KF provides more than enough computational power for this game, and its role is to ensure that the GPU is fed with data without introducing frame time spikes.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 2280 MHz, boosting to 2497 MHz, with 3,840 shading units and 48 ROPs. For Outriders, the 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor, as the game’s textures and effects can consume memory quickly at higher settings. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 35.0 FPS, which is a 63.2 FPS decrease from 4K Low (83.9 FPS). This suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and capacity are strained at 4K Ultra, where high-resolution textures and post-processing effects demand more VRAM than the 8 GB can comfortably provide, leading to potential texture swapping and stutter. The RTX 5060’s PassMark G3D score of 20,891 places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (0% deltaPct) and the AMD Radeon RX 570 (-0.2% deltaPct), which shows it is competitive in raw compute but not class-leading. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 19.18 TFLOPS and texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as evidenced by the 1440p High average of 87.8 FPS. However, at 4K, the GPU’s 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB VRAM become limiting, making the RTX 5060 the primary bottleneck in this combo at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 737 out of 1,693 tested combos for Outriders. This places it in the top 43.5% of all configurations, which is a solid mid-tier position. The rank indicates that while this combo is not at the absolute top, it outperforms a majority of systems tested. The CPU’s high percentile (96 vs all CPUs) and the GPU’s mid-tier percentile (73 vs all GPUs) suggest that the combo’s overall ranking is dragged down by the GPU, which is the weaker component. For context, the CPU’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700K, performs within 0% of the i7-14700KF, meaning swapping between those two would not change the combo’s rank. The GPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, is also within 0% performance, so the combo’s rank is stable against similar hardware. This rank of 737 out of 1,693 implies that many other combos with faster GPUs or better-balanced pairings will achieve higher frame rates, particularly at 4K where the RTX 5060 struggles. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver playable to high frame rates, but it is not optimized for 4K Ultra settings.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 257.9 FPS on Low, 185.8 FPS on Medium, 138.6 FPS on High, and 99.5 FPS on Ultra. This shows a steady scaling from Low to Ultra, with the largest drop occurring between Low and Medium (72.1 FPS). At 2560x1440, the frame rates are 165.5 FPS on Low, 118.3 FPS on Medium, 87.8 FPS on High, and 62.2 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Medium is 47.2 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 25.6 FPS, indicating that the GPU’s workload increases more sharply at higher settings. At 3840x2160, the combo achieves 83.9 FPS on Low, 59.8 FPS on Medium, 48.2 FPS on High, and 35.0 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is 48.9 FPS, with the Ultra preset falling below the 60 FPS threshold, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay. Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: Low settings provide the highest frame rates, while Ultra settings tax the GPU heavily. The data reveals that at 1080p, even Ultra is playable at 99.5 FPS, but at 4K, only Low settings stay above 60 FPS. This breakdown is essential for understanding the combo’s capabilities and limitations.

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

The resolution scaling data shows how frame rates degrade as pixel count increases, which is a direct indicator of the GPU’s workload. From 1080p Low (257.9 FPS) to 4K Low (83.9 FPS), the frame rate drops by 174.0 FPS, a reduction of 67.5%. From 1080p Ultra (99.5 FPS) to 4K Ultra (35.0 FPS), the drop is 64.5 FPS, a reduction of 64.8%. This proportional drop across settings is a classic sign that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance remains constant regardless of resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain flat as resolution increases, but the data shows a steep decline, indicating that the RTX 5060’s rendering capabilities are being saturated. The 1440p to 4K transition is particularly telling: at High settings, the FPS drops from 87.8 to 48.2, a 45.1% reduction, which is larger than the drop from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings (138.6 to 87.8, a 36.6% reduction). This non-linear scaling confirms that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and processing power are insufficient for 4K, especially with higher settings. The conclusion is clear: for this combo, the RTX 5060 is the primary constraint, and the i7-14700KF has ample headroom to support higher frame rates if a more powerful GPU were paired with it.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this processor and GPU in Outriders?*

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves 99.5 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed. At 2560x1440 with High settings, it delivers 87.8 FPS, offering a good balance. For 4K, only Low settings (83.9 FPS) are playable, while Ultra drops to 35.0 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-14700KF compare to its closest CPU rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70,104, which is 0% different from the Intel Core i7-14700K (70,074) and the AMD EPYC 9115 (69,887, 0.3% deltaPct). It is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (70,420) and 1.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 (71,056, -1.3% deltaPct).

*Q: Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060’s 8 GB VRAM sufficient for 4K gaming in Outriders?*

A: Based on the measured FPS, at 4K Ultra the combo drops to 35.0 FPS, while 4K High achieves 48.2 FPS. This suggests the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are insufficient for high settings at 4K, as the frame rates fall below playable thresholds. At 4K Low, the 83.9 FPS indicates that lower memory usage is fine.

Q: What does the combo’s rank of 737 out of 1,693 tell us about its overall performance?

A: This rank places the combo in the top 43.5% of all tested systems for Outriders. It means that while the combo is not a top-tier performer, it outperforms more than half of the configurations, making it a viable mid-range option for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

Q: How much FPS is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the combo achieves 138.6 FPS at 1080p and 48.2 FPS at 4K, representing a loss of 90.4 FPS, or roughly 65% of the 1080p performance. This indicates that the GPU is heavily stressed at 4K.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this combo?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops significantly with increasing resolution and settings, while the CPU’s high benchmark scores (e.g., 44,557 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) suggest it has plenty of headroom. The GPU’s 73rd percentile versus the CPU’s 96th percentile further confirms this imbalance.