Outriders

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a playable but heavily resolution-dependent experience in Outriders. The data shows a clear pattern: this combo is a 1080p and 1440p powerhouse, but 4K Ultra demands compromise. The average frame rates across the board indicate that the RTX 4070 is the primary driver of performance, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecks at most settings.

Across all tested resolutions, the scaling from Low to Ultra settings produces a predictable and steep performance penalty. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra cuts the average frame rate by more than half, while at 4K, the same settings shift results in a similarly dramatic drop. This behavior confirms that the GPU's rendering load is the limiting factor as resolution and graphical fidelity increase, a typical characteristic for a title like this looter shooter.

Resolution Scaling

The performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is substantial, highlighting the GPU-bound nature of Outriders at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 134 FPS at 1920x1080 to 84 FPS at 2560x1440, a 37% reduction, and then further drops to 44 FPS at 3840x2160, which is a 67% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve shows that the RTX 4070's compute and memory bandwidth are increasingly taxed as pixel count grows.

The scaling pattern becomes even more telling when examining the Low settings. Here, the combo achieves 215 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 155 FPS at 1440p and 81 FPS at 4K. The fact that 4K Low still produces a respectable 81 FPS indicates that the GPU is not entirely overwhelmed, but the 62% performance loss from 1080p to 4K suggests that even at the lowest graphical preset, the resolution demand is the dominant factor. The CPU is not the bottleneck in these scenarios; the data points to the GPU's fill rate and memory interface as the limiting components.

At Medium settings, the measured minimum and maximum frame rates provide additional insight. At 1080p, the average is 178 FPS with a minimum of 151 FPS and a maximum of 205 FPS. At 1440p, the average drops to 112 FPS with a range of 96 to 129 FPS. At 4K, the average is 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS. The narrowing of the frame rate range at higher resolutions suggests that the system is becoming more consistently GPU-limited, reducing the variance caused by CPU hiccups.

The Ultra preset reveals the most extreme scaling. Performance plummets from 97 FPS at 1080p to 61 FPS at 1440p and finally to 32 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is too demanding for smooth gameplay at that resolution. The data clearly shows that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience, users should target 1440p or lower, or reduce settings at 4K.

FAQ

*Q: Can this CPU and GPU combo handle Outriders at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but only with settings adjustments. The data shows an average of 44 FPS at High settings and 81 FPS at Low settings for 3840x2160. To achieve a smoother experience, Medium settings yield 59 FPS, which is playable, while Ultra settings drop to 32 FPS, which is not ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high refresh rate?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo excels, producing an average of 215 FPS on Low, 178 FPS on Medium, and 134 FPS on High settings. Even at Ultra, it maintains 97 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Low preset hits 155 FPS, and Medium reaches 112 FPS, making both resolutions viable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance?

A: The Ultra preset imposes a significant performance cost. At 1080p, it reduces the average frame rate from 134 FPS (High) to 97 FPS (Ultra). At 1440p, it drops from 84 FPS to 61 FPS. At 4K, the difference is stark, with Ultra at 32 FPS versus High at 44 FPS.

Q: Is there a large difference between Low and Medium settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, the jump is notable. The average frame rate at 2560x1440 on Low is 155 FPS, while on Medium it is 112 FPS. This 43 FPS difference suggests that Medium adds considerable visual fidelity at the cost of a significant portion of performance.

Q: Does the CPU limit performance at any settings?

A: The benchmark data does not show CPU limitations. The consistent frame rate scaling with resolution and settings points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H provides enough headroom to keep the RTX 4070 fed, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p.

Q: What is the performance range for Medium settings across resolutions?

A: The Medium preset shows a clear progression. At 1080p, the average is 178 FPS with a range of 151 to 205 FPS. At 1440p, the average is 112 FPS with a range of 96 to 129 FPS. At 4K, the average is 59 FPS with a range of 50 to 68 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the clear performance driver in this configuration. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 192-bit bus width, with a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, are well-suited for the textures and effects in Outriders. The benchmark results show that the GPU's capabilities are fully utilized, as frame rates scale predictably with the resolution and the graphical preset.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1920 MHz and a boost of 2475 MHz, are relatively high, contributing to its strong performance. The data shows that at 1080p on Low settings, the combo can push 215 FPS, indicating that the GPU is not being held back by the CPU. The RTX 4070's 5888 shading units and 64 ROPs handle the game's rendering demands efficiently, as seen in the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

At 4K Ultra, the GPU's limits become apparent. The 32 FPS average shows that the card struggles with the combined load of high resolution and maximum graphical fidelity. This is not a CPU issue; the RTX 4070's memory subsystem and compute units are simply saturated. The drop from 44 FPS on High to 32 FPS on Ultra at 4K highlights the significant cost of the Ultra preset's extra effects and shadows.

The GPU's performance relative to its peers is also noteworthy. The data places it with an average benchmark score of 37648, with a percentile rank of 81 against all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, has a score of 38135, a delta of -1.3%, meaning the RTX 4070 is slightly slower. This context shows that the GPU is a high-end mobile part, but not the absolute fastest, which aligns with its performance in Outriders.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1462 out of 2913 total combos for Outriders. This places it in the top half of all tested systems, indicating a solidly above-average gaming performance for this title. The rank reflects the balanced nature of the parts, where the CPU's 81st percentile standing and the GPU's 81st percentile standing combine to produce a strong, but not elite, gaming experience.

The CPU itself, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, has an average benchmark score of 29093, with a percentile rank of 81 against all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X with a score of 29123, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the Intel chip is virtually tied with that desktop processor in terms of average score. This suggests the mobile CPU has enough processing power to prevent it from being a weak link in the gaming chain.

The combo's rank of 1462 out of 2913 suggests that many other combinations of higher-end CPUs and GPUs can outperform it in this game. However, it also indicates that this pairing is more powerful than the majority of systems tested. The data shows that the RTX 4070, with its own 81st percentile rank and average score of 37648, is a capable partner for the CPU, ensuring that the system is well-balanced for a demanding title like Outriders.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point for this combo. At 1920x1080, it delivers an average of 178 FPS, which is more than enough for a high-refresh-rate display. Moving to 2560x1440, the Medium preset still yields a very playable 112 FPS, making it the sweet spot for users who want a sharper image without sacrificing smoothness.

If the priority is maximum frame rates, the Low preset is the clear choice. At 1440p, it achieves 155 FPS, and at 1080p, it reaches 215 FPS. This setting is ideal for competitive play or for users with 240Hz monitors. However, it will sacrifice visual fidelity, which may not be desirable for a game like Outriders that features detailed environments.

The High preset is a viable option for users with 1440p monitors who prefer better graphics over maximum frame rates. At 2560x1440, it produces an average of 84 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1080p, High settings yield 134 FPS, offering a good mix of quality and performance.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the only recommended option, as it provides an average of 59 FPS. The High preset at 4K drops to 44 FPS, which may be playable for some but is not ideal. The Ultra preset should be avoided at 4K, as the 32 FPS average will result in a stuttering and unresponsive experience. The data clearly shows that Medium settings at 4K are the limit for this combo.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its full potential. On Low settings, the average frame rate is 215 FPS. On Medium settings, the average is 178 FPS, with a minimum of 151 FPS and a maximum of 205 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 134 FPS. The Ultra preset, while still smooth, reduces the average to 97 FPS. This resolution offers the widest range of playable settings, from extreme high refresh rates to maximum visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's load. The Low preset averages 155 FPS. The Medium preset averages 112 FPS, with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS. The High preset averages 84 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS standard for smooth play. This resolution is a good middle ground for the hardware.

At 3840x2160, the limits of the combo are reached. The Low preset averages 81 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset averages 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS, making it the best option for a stable 4K experience. The High preset averages 44 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold. The Ultra preset averages 32 FPS, which is too low for a smooth experience in a fast-paced game. The data shows a clear hierarchy of settings and resolutions for this hardware combination.