Outriders

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Outriders, with 4K Ultra proving to be the only configuration that strains the pairing. The data reveals a system that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong multi-core performance ensures headroom even in a looter shooter’s busiest moments.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread mobile processor built on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz can boost up to 5.30 GHz, and the chip is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. The CPU carries a 30 MB shared L3 cache, with 3 MB of L2 per core and 192 KB of L1 per core. It supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The processor’s power envelope is rated at 55 W TDP, and it includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, though the discrete RTX 4080 renders this game’s frames.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 265HX posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40642 and a single-core score of 5737. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 47985, and its single-thread score is 4500. These numbers place the CPU in the 93rd percentile against all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 63173. The nearest rivals in the aggregate benchmark pool are the Intel Core i7-13790F, which scores 63080 (a 0.1% delta relative to the 265HX), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, which scores 63331 (a -0.2% delta). The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 scores 62839 (0.5% delta), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 62738 (0.7% delta). The close margins between these four chips indicate that the 265HX sits in a tightly contested performance band, with none of its nearest rivals holding a decisive advantage.

For Outriders specifically, the CPU’s role is most visible at lower resolutions and settings where frame rates climb past 200 FPS. At 1080p Low, the combo delivers 282 FPS on average, and at 1080p Medium it hits 226 FPS. These numbers suggest that the 265HX has ample single-thread throughput to feed the RTX 4080 at high frame rates, as the boost clock of 5.30 GHz helps drive the game’s physics and AI logic. The 20 threads also provide strong multi-core headroom for background tasks and streaming, though the game itself is unlikely to saturate all cores. The chip’s Passmark physics score of 2978 and integer math score of 126954 further indicate robust computational performance that does not bottleneck the GPU in this title.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD103 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 9728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 render output units, along with 76 ray tracing cores and 304 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2205 MHz and a boost clock of 2505 MHz, with memory clocked at 1400 MHz (22.4 Gbps effective). The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory runs across a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The card is rated at 320 W TDP and requires a 700 W suggested power supply, with a triple-slot cooler and a 16-pin power connector. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it fully compatible with Outriders’ modern rendering requirements.

In benchmark aggregates, the RTX 4080 scores 34457 in Passmark G3D and 20671 in Passmark GPU compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 6567. The GPU sits in the 86th percentile against all tested graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 54247. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209 (a 0.1% delta), indicating the standard 4080 and the SUPER variant are nearly identical in aggregate performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828 (-1.1% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698 (-2.6% delta), and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55757 (-2.7% delta). The small deltas among the top rivals mean that the RTX 4080’s position is secure but not dominant; it is effectively tied with its immediate competition.

In Outriders, the GPU’s 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for the game’s textures and effects, even at 4K Ultra, where the measured average FPS is 40. The card’s 716.8 GB/s memory bandwidth supports high-resolution asset streaming without stutter, as evidenced by the minimum FPS of 63 at 4K Medium, which is the only resolution and setting pairing where min and max values were recorded. The boost clock of 2505 MHz helps sustain frame rates across the board, but the data shows that the RTX 4080 becomes the limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the average drops to 40 FPS. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU has enough headroom to push frame rates well above 100 FPS at High settings, with the CPU taking over as the more relevant component only at the lowest settings.

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

The measured FPS data across three resolutions and four settings levels reveals a clear scaling pattern that shifts the bottleneck from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 282 FPS; at 1440p Low, that drops to 196 FPS, a reduction of 86 FPS (about 30%). At 4K Low, the average falls to 102 FPS, another 94 FPS drop (about 48%) from 1440p. The steep decline from 1080p to 1440p and again to 4K indicates that the GPU is heavily loaded by the increasing pixel count, even at the lowest settings, where the CPU would normally have more influence.

The scaling at High settings tells a similar story. At 1080p High, the average is 169 FPS; at 1440p High, it is 107 FPS (a 62 FPS drop, about 37%); at 4K High, it is 56 FPS (a 51 FPS drop, about 48%). The percentage drops are consistent between Low and High settings, which suggests that the GPU is the primary limiter across all resolutions once the settings are fixed. However, the absolute frame rates at 1080p Low (282 FPS) and 1080p Medium (226 FPS) are high enough that the CPU’s single-thread performance is likely near its ceiling, as no further resolution reduction is available to test.

At Medium settings, the only rows with min and max values, the pattern holds: 1080p Medium averages 226 FPS (min 192, max 260), 1440p Medium averages 142 FPS (min 121, max 164), and 4K Medium averages 74 FPS (min 63, max 86). The min-to-max spread narrows as resolution increases, from a 68 FPS range at 1080p to a 23 FPS range at 4K. This tightening suggests that at 4K, the GPU is consistently saturated, leaving little variance frame-to-frame, whereas at 1080p, the CPU or memory subsystem introduces more variance as the GPU waits for data. Overall, the data points to the RTX 4080 as the dominant bottleneck at 4K, with the 265HX providing sufficient throughput at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Outriders if I want a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: At 4K High, the average FPS is 56, which is below 60. At 4K Medium, the average is 74 FPS, and at 1440p High, it is 107 FPS. To maintain 60 FPS at 4K, you would need to use Medium settings or lower.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has an average benchmark score of 63173. The Intel Core i7-13790F scores 63080 (0.1% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G scores 63331 (-0.2% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 scores 62839 (0.5% delta), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 62738 (0.7% delta). The differences are all within 1%, making them effectively equivalent.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 significantly faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: No. The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209, a delta of 0.1%. This puts them statistically at parity, with the standard 4080 holding a negligible edge in aggregate testing.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p Low, the average FPS is 196. At 1440p Ultra, the average FPS is 77. This represents a 119 FPS drop (about 61%) when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for Outriders at 4K?

A: Yes. The RTX 4080 has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory with 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The measured 4K performance, including a minimum FPS of 63 at Medium settings, indicates that VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor for this game.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Outriders?

A: This specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 609th out of 2913 tested combos in the game. This places it in the top 21% of all combinations tested, indicating above-average performance for the title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and frame rate. At 4K, the High preset delivers 56 FPS on average, which is playable but not ideal for a looter shooter where fast reactions matter. Dropping to Medium raises the average to 74 FPS, a 32% improvement over High, with a recorded minimum of 63 FPS that ensures the frame rate rarely dips below a smooth threshold. The Low preset at 4K pushes the average to 102 FPS, but the visual fidelity loss is substantial for a game that relies on environmental detail. For a balanced experience at 4K, Medium is the recommended preset, as it provides the best compromise between visual quality and fluid motion.

At 1440p, the High preset averages 107 FPS, which is already above the 100 FPS mark that most players consider smooth. The Ultra preset drops to 77 FPS, which is still playable but leaves little headroom for frame drops in combat. The Medium preset averages 142 FPS, offering a significant margin over High with only a modest visual step down. For competitive play at 1440p, Medium is the strongest choice, as it maintains high frame rates while preserving enough detail to spot enemies. For a more visually rich experience, High remains a solid option, as its 107 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS minimum.

At 1080p, the High preset averages 169 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 226 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 122 FPS, which is still high but represents a notable drop from the lower settings. Given that the monitor refresh rate is typically 144 Hz or 240 Hz for competitive gaming, the Medium preset at 226 FPS is the best recommendation for maximizing smoothness. The Low preset at 282 FPS offers diminishing returns, as the visual quality suffers for a frame rate advantage that most displays cannot show. Overall, the data supports using Medium at all resolutions as the safest recommendation, with High at 1440p as a viable alternative for those prioritizing visuals over absolute frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in Outriders is as follows, organized by resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 282 FPS. The Medium preset yields an average of 226 FPS, with a minimum of 192 FPS and a maximum of 260 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 169 FPS. The Ultra preset yields an average of 122 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 196 FPS. The Medium preset yields an average of 142 FPS, with a minimum of 121 FPS and a maximum of 164 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 107 FPS. The Ultra preset yields an average of 77 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields an average of 102 FPS. The Medium preset yields an average of 74 FPS, with a minimum of 63 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 56 FPS. The Ultra preset yields an average of 40 FPS.

The data shows a consistent hierarchy where each step up in settings costs a predictable percentage of performance. From Low to Ultra at 1080p, the average drops from 282 to 122 FPS, a 57% reduction. At 1440p, the same settings step drops from 196 to 77 FPS, a 61% reduction. At 4K, it drops from 102 to 40 FPS, a 61% reduction. The consistency of these percentage drops across resolutions indicates that the settings levels scale uniformly, and the GPU is the primary driver of performance changes in all cases.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 609th out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders. This placement puts the pairing in the top 21% of all configurations tested for this game. The ranking reflects the strong aggregate performance of both components, but it also shows that there are many other combos that deliver higher frame rates in this title. The CPU’s 93rd percentile standing and the GPU’s 86th percentile standing suggest that the bottleneck lies primarily with the GPU, as the CPU has more headroom relative to its peers than the GPU does.

The rank of 609 out of 2913 indicates that while this combo is well above average, it is not at the top of the leaderboard. Combos with more powerful GPUs, such as those with higher memory bandwidth or more shading units, would likely rank higher, as the 4K Ultra result of 40 FPS shows that the RTX 4080 is the limiting factor at the highest settings. Conversely, the CPU’s performance is sufficient to avoid being a major constraint, as evidenced by the 282 FPS result at 1080p Low. The delta between this combo’s rank and the top combos is not specified in the data, but the percentile positions of the individual components suggest that a GPU upgrade would yield a greater performance improvement than a CPU upgrade for Outriders.