Outriders

The benchmark data for Outriders with the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 shows a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions, with the GPU becoming the dominant constraint as pixel count increases. The measured results provide a complete picture of how this mobile chipset pairing behaves in a looter shooter that demands both quick reflexes and sustained frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K reveals a predictable and steep decline that is characteristic of a GPU-bound title at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces 134 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops the average to 84 FPS, a reduction of 50 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 44 FPS. This scaling pattern is consistent with the RTX 4070 being the primary limiting factor; the CPU has enough headroom at lower resolutions to feed the GPU, but as resolution increases, the rendering workload expands faster than the GPU can compensate.

The Low settings row highlights the same trend with even more dramatic numbers. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 215 FPS average, which is an excellent result for competitive play. At 1440p Low, it drops to 155 FPS, and at 4K Low, it still manages 81 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K for Low settings is roughly 62%, which is substantial but still leaves the game playable at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory: 178 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K, with the 4K result including a measured min of 50 FPS and max of 68 FPS.

Ultra settings present the most demanding scenario. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 97 FPS, which is respectable for a maxed-out preset. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 61 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 32 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra at each resolution is notable: at 1080p, Ultra is 37 FPS slower than High; at 1440p, the gap is 23 FPS; at 4K, it is 12 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces effects that disproportionately tax the GPU, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU is less of a bottleneck.

The data indicates that the limiting component is almost entirely the GPU across all tested configurations. The CPU, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, is unlikely to be a constraint at 4K, where the GPU is clearly saturated. At 1080p Low, the 215 FPS average suggests that even the fastest CPU would not push much higher without a more powerful GPU. The scaling behavior is linear enough to confirm that resolution is the primary variable affecting performance, with no unexpected cliffs or plateaus that would indicate a CPU limitation.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is a mobile-class GPU built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. Its chip, AD104, contains 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². The GPU operates at a base clock of 1920 MHz and boosts to 2475 MHz. Memory is 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The memory clock is 1313 MHz, with an effective data rate of 21 Gbps.

These specifications translate into a pixel rate of 158.4 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 455.4 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 29.15 TFLOPS, matching the FP16 rate at a 1:1 ratio. With 5888 shading units, 184 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, the GPU is well-equipped for modern rendering workloads. It also includes 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores, which are relevant for ray tracing and DLSS features, though the measured FPS data does not specify whether these features were enabled.

In the context of Outriders, the GPU's VRAM capacity of 12 GB is more than sufficient for the tested resolutions and settings. The game is not particularly VRAM-hungry at 1080p or 1440p, and even at 4K Ultra, 12 GB should be adequate. The bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s helps maintain texture streaming performance, which is critical for a looter shooter with dense environments and many on-screen effects.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (1.3% behind), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (1.3% ahead). This indicates that the RTX 4070 sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier, though it is not the fastest mobile GPU available.

The GPU's role in Outriders is clearly the dominant factor in frame rate outcomes. The measured FPS at 4K High (44 FPS) and 4K Ultra (32 FPS) are below the 60 FPS threshold that many players target, suggesting that the GPU cannot handle the game at maximum settings at that resolution. At 1440p, the GPU delivers playable results across all settings, with Ultra at 61 FPS being the only preset that dips below 84 FPS. At 1080p, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, as even Low settings produce 215 FPS, which is far above what the CPU could realistically deliver in a CPU-bound scenario.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1462 out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the 50th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it is exactly average in the database. The rank is based on measured data, not synthetic estimates, which adds credibility to the result.

This ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual components' percentiles. The CPU sits in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, and the GPU sits in the 81st percentile among all GPUs. However, the combination ranking suggests that the pairing does not boost the overall experience beyond the median. This could be due to the game's specific optimization, the mobile nature of both components, or the fact that other combos in the database include desktop parts that outperform mobile equivalents.

The nearest CPU rivals for the Ultra 7 165H include the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (0.3% ahead), the AMD EPYC 4244P (0.4% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (0.4% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (0.5% behind). These deltas are small, indicating that the CPU's performance is well-matched with its immediate competitors. For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (1.3% behind), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (1.3% ahead). Again, the deltas are modest, suggesting that the RTX 4070 is a solid mid-tier option.

The combo rank of 1462 out of 2913 suggests that there are many combinations that perform better, but also many that perform worse. For a mobile setup, this is a reasonable result, as mobile parts inherently have thermal and power constraints that limit their performance compared to desktop equivalents. The rank does not indicate a poor pairing, but rather an average one within the context of all tested hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 215 FPS, Medium averages 178 FPS with a min of 151 and max of 205, High averages 134 FPS, and Ultra averages 97 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with reported min and max values, which show a range of 54 FPS, indicating some frame time variance but generally smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 155 FPS, Medium at 112 FPS with a min of 96 and max of 129, High at 84 FPS, and Ultra at 61 FPS. The Medium preset again shows a range of 33 FPS, which is tighter than at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is working harder but still maintaining consistent frame pacing. High at 84 FPS is playable, but Ultra at 61 FPS is borderline for a 60 Hz display, as any minor drop would be noticeable.

At 3840x2160, the results are: Low at 81 FPS, Medium at 59 FPS with a min of 50 and max of 68, High at 44 FPS, and Ultra at 32 FPS. The Medium preset has a range of 18 FPS, which is the smallest of all Medium presets, indicating that the GPU is heavily loaded and any variance is compressed. High and Ultra are below the 60 FPS target, making them unsuitable for smooth 4K gameplay.

The data shows that at 1080p, all settings are above 60 FPS, with Low and Medium well above 144 Hz refresh rates. At 1440p, Low and Medium are above 100 FPS, High is above 60 FPS, and Ultra is just above 60 FPS. At 4K, only Low exceeds 60 FPS, and Medium is just under it at 59 FPS. This breakdown gives a clear picture of what settings are viable at each resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable at 1080p with this combo?

A: The highest average FPS at 1920x1080 is 215 FPS, achieved with Low settings. The next highest is Medium at 178 FPS, followed by High at 134 FPS and Ultra at 97 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: At 3840x2160, only Low settings produce an average FPS above 60, at 81 FPS. Medium averages 59 FPS, which is borderline, while High and Ultra average 44 FPS and 32 FPS respectively. For consistent 60+ FPS gameplay at 4K, Low settings are required.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 84 FPS, while Ultra averages 61 FPS. This represents a 23 FPS drop, or roughly a 27% reduction in performance, for the additional visual fidelity of the Ultra preset.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of the GPU compared to all other GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37648. This indicates it performs better than 81% of tested GPUs.

Q: Does the CPU show any signs of bottlenecking in the measured FPS data?

A: The data does not indicate CPU bottlenecking. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 215 FPS, which is high enough that any CPU limitation would likely be apparent. The consistent scaling across resolutions suggests the GPU is the primary constraint throughout.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS for Medium settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 151 and the maximum is 205, with an average of 178 FPS. The range of 54 FPS indicates some variance, but the average remains high.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p 144 Hz display, High settings at 134 FPS average is the best balance of visual quality and performance. Ultra at 97 FPS is also viable for a 144 Hz monitor, but the 37 FPS drop from High may not justify the visual improvement. Medium at 178 FPS is excessive for most displays and unnecessarily reduces quality.

At 1440p, High settings at 84 FPS are recommended for a 60 Hz display, as they provide solid visual fidelity while staying well above the refresh rate. Ultra at 61 FPS is also acceptable for a 60 Hz monitor, but any frame drops could cause stuttering. Medium at 112 FPS is ideal for a 144 Hz display, offering high frame rates without sacrificing too much quality. Low at 155 FPS is only necessary for competitive play where every frame counts.

At 4K, the options are limited. Medium at 59 FPS is the highest quality preset that approaches 60 FPS, but it is not guaranteed to stay above it, as the min is 50 FPS. Low at 81 FPS is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K gaming on a 60 Hz display. High at 44 FPS and Ultra at 32 FPS are not recommended for smooth gameplay, as they fall well below the threshold.

For a balanced experience across all resolutions, the Medium preset offers the most consistent performance. At 1080p, it delivers 178 FPS; at 1440p, 112 FPS; and at 4K, 59 FPS. This preset is the only one that remains above 60 FPS at both 1080p and 1440p while staying close to 60 FPS at 4K. Players who prioritize frame rates over visual fidelity should choose Low, while those with lower refresh rate displays can afford to use High or Ultra at 1080p and 1440p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a mobile processor from the Core Ultra Series 1, built on the Meteor Lake architecture using a 7 nm process. It has 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The TDP is 28 W, which is typical for a mobile chip. The cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

In the context of Outriders, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and AI, while the GPU handles rendering. The measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested resolution or setting. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 215 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate that a weaker CPU would likely cap performance. The fact that the FPS scales smoothly with resolution suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor throughout.

The CPU's benchmark scores place it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 34083. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (0.3% ahead), the AMD EPYC 4244P (0.4% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (0.4% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (0.5% behind). These small deltas indicate that the CPU performs similarly to its direct competitors.

The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 22 threads are more than adequate for a looter shooter like Outriders, which does not require extreme multi-threading. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures strong single-thread performance, which is important for games that rely on a few primary threads. The integrated graphics, Arc Xe-LPG 128EU, are not relevant for this discrete GPU configuration, but they do not interfere with performance.

The data suggests that the CPU is a well-matched partner for the RTX 4070 in this game. It provides enough processing power to keep the GPU fed at all settings, and its performance characteristics align with the demands of Outriders. The combo rank of 1462 out of 2913 reflects the average nature of this pairing, but the CPU itself is not the cause of any performance shortfall.