Outriders

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the Intel Arc B580 delivers a performance profile in Outriders that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics settings, with the data revealing a clear transition from a CPU-bound scenario at 1080p to a strictly GPU-bound one at 4K. The measured frame rates across the board indicate that this combination is capable of providing smooth gameplay at 1440p, but the 4K results show a significant struggle to maintain playable framerates at higher presets. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the bottlenecks and optimal configurations for this specific hardware pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling of average FPS from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 provides a clear picture of where the performance limit lies for this system. At the Low settings preset, the system achieves an average of 200 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 126 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 66 FPS at 4K. This represents a 37% reduction in performance from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 48% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The substantial drop at 4K, even on Low settings, indicates that the Arc B580's raw rendering throughput is the limiting factor at that resolution.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced when examining the High preset. At 1080p, the system posts a solid 109 FPS average. Moving to 1440p, this falls to 69 FPS, a 37% decrease. The jump to 4K is more severe, with the average plummeting to 36 FPS, a 48% drop from the 1440p result. This non-linear decline suggests that while the CPU can feed the GPU adequately at lower resolutions, the pixel count at 4K overwhelms the graphics card, making it the definitive bottleneck. The data shows that the gap between 1080p and 1440p performance is consistent across settings, but the 4K cliff is much steeper.

This behavior is classic for a mid-range GPU. At 1080p, the frame rate is often high enough that the CPU's ability to prepare frames becomes a more significant factor. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and shader processing become the dominant constraint. The 4K results, which show a maximum average of 66 FPS on Low settings, confirm that the Arc B580 is not suited for 4K gaming in this title. The difference between 1440p and 4K is substantial across all presets, strongly suggesting that users seeking high refresh rates should target 1440p or lower.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the clear performance limiter at 4K resolution in Outriders. The GPU's specifications, including its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gameplay, but the data shows they are insufficient for the demands of 4K. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 across all settings—from 66 FPS on Low down to 26 FPS on Ultra—demonstrates that the GPU's compute and memory subsystems are saturated by the higher pixel workload.

The GPU's clock speeds are also a factor. With a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, the Arc B580's performance in this game scales predictably with the workload. The benchmark results show a consistent performance tier; the GPU's Passmark G3D score of 15748 places it at the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 3080. However, in Outriders, the B580's performance seems more aligned with the former, as the 4K Ultra result of 26 FPS is not a playable experience.

The 12 GB VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor in these tests, as the performance drop from Medium to High and Ultra at 4K is more likely attributable to the increased shader complexity and fill rate demands rather than memory capacity exhaustion. The data indicates that the GPU's architecture is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The measured FPS at 1440p High (69 FPS) and 4K Low (66 FPS) are nearly identical, which is an interesting data point showing that the GPU is working at its absolute limit in both scenarios, just on different types of workloads.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Outriders with this CPU and GPU combo for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 is the optimal resolution. At the High preset, the system achieves an average of 69 FPS, and at Medium it reaches 92 FPS. The 4K resolution results in sub-60 FPS averages on all presets except Low, which achieves 66 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B580 perform against its closest competitors in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B580's average benchmark score is 23021, placing it at the 68th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, has an average score of 23061, which is a 0.2% difference. It also benchmarks close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22895, a 0.6% difference.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 a bottleneck for the Arc B580 at 1080p?

A: The data suggests that the CPU is less of a bottleneck at 1080p. The system reaches an average of 200 FPS on Low settings and 109 FPS on High settings, which indicates the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at these resolutions. However, the CPU's performance is still relevant, as its multi-threaded score is 38706 in Passmark, which is 90% percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What kind of frame rates can be expected on the Ultra preset?

A: The Ultra preset is very demanding. At 1920x1080, the system averages 79 FPS. At 2560x1440, this drops to 50 FPS, and at 3840x2160, the average falls to 26 FPS, which is not a playable experience.

Q: How does the combo rank among other tested combinations in Outriders?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and Intel Arc B580 ranks 2145 out of 2913 tested combos for this game. This places it in the lower 27th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it can handle the game, many other combinations deliver higher performance.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and High presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 126 FPS, while the High preset averages 69 FPS. This is a 45% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the higher quality preset, showing the significant cost of the visual improvements in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested hardware combinations for Outriders, the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and the Intel Arc B580 secures a rank of 2145 out of 2913 total combinations. This position, in the lower 27% of all results, indicates that while this system is functional, it is far from the top tier of performance for this title. The ranking suggests that the Arc B580 is the component holding this combo back, as its overall GPU percentile is 68, while the CPU has a much higher percentile of 90.

The CPU's high percentile is corroborated by its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores an average of 48995, with its closest competitor being the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which scores 49196, a difference of only -0.4%. This shows that the processor is a high-performing part. In contrast, the GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, has a score that is 0.2% different, but the B580's overall performance ceiling in Outriders is what drags the combo ranking down.

The rank implies that in Outriders, there are 768 other combinations that deliver better performance. This doesn't mean the system is inadequate for all scenarios, as the 1440p results show good playability. However, for users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors or those expecting 4K capability, this combo would rank poorly. The data clearly shows this is a mid-range system that ranks accordingly when pitted against the entire spectrum of possible hardware pairings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system shows strong performance, with an average of 200 FPS on Low settings. The Medium preset yields an average of 145 FPS with a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 167 FPS. High settings produce an average of 109 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 79 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is well within the capability of this hardware, even on the highest quality settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains respectable. The Low preset averages 126 FPS. The Medium preset averages 92 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS. The High preset achieves an average of 69 FPS, which is right at the edge of smooth 60 FPS gameplay. The Ultra preset is more demanding, dropping the average to 50 FPS. This resolution provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, though the Ultra preset will require some compromises for a consistent 60 FPS experience.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, which is the only playable option at this resolution. The Medium preset drops to an average of 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS. The High preset averages 36 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages a mere 26 FPS. These 4K results confirm that this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming in Outriders, as even the lowest settings can't consistently maintain 60 FPS, and higher presets become increasingly unplayable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate. For a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual quality, as the average of 79 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. For those with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the most balanced option, yielding an average of 92 FPS while maintaining a minimum of 78 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience.

For users prioritizing a consistent 60 FPS at 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice, with an average of 69 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution, with an average of 50 FPS, is not ideal for competitive play or consistent smoothness. At 3840x2160, the only viable option for a playable frame rate is the Low preset, which averages 66 FPS. The Medium preset, with its 48 FPS average and 41 FPS minimum, will result in noticeable stuttering and is not recommended.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best performance-per-visual-quality ratio across all resolutions. At 1080p, it provides a high 145 FPS average. At 1440p, it is the only preset that combines a high average (92 FPS) with a minimum above 60 FPS. While the High preset is also viable at 1440p, the Medium preset's higher minimum frame rate provides a more stable experience. For those who cannot compromise on visual fidelity, the High preset at 1440p is a good compromise, but the Ultra preset should be avoided at this resolution unless a lower frame rate is acceptable.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 plays a supporting role in this configuration, and the benchmark data indicates it is more than capable of keeping up with the Arc B580 in Outriders. With 14 cores and 14 threads, and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, the CPU provides ample processing power. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 38706 and single-thread score of 4394 place it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a high-end processor. The nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core i5-14600K, have average scores within 0.5% and 0.8% of the Ultra 5 245, respectively.

The CPU's performance is not the limiting factor in this game, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p. The 200 FPS average on Low settings shows that the CPU can process game logic and prepare frames fast enough to feed the GPU. Even at 1080p High, the 109 FPS average suggests the CPU has more headroom. The bottleneck shifts to the GPU as the resolution increases, which is a typical scenario for a balanced system. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support contribute to its strong performance.

The data suggests that the Core Ultra 5 245 is a robust partner for the Arc B580 in this title. It provides enough performance to ensure that the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates at higher resolutions. The CPU's high percentile ranking compared to the GPU's lower ranking reinforces the conclusion that the graphics card is the component limiting this system's overall rank in Outriders. The processor is not a bottleneck and is well-suited to handle the demands of this looter shooter genre.