Outriders

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a robust 1080p and 1440p experience in Outriders, with the data indicating that the CPU is the primary performance driver at lower resolutions, while the GPU takes over as the bottleneck at 4K. Benchmark results show a clear delineation between the two components, with the combo ranking in the 87th percentile among all tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 184 frames per second, indicating a very smooth experience well above standard display refresh rates.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested CPU and GPU combinations?

A: The combo ranks 465th out of 3710 total tested combinations, placing it in the top 12.5% of all configurations in the database for this game.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 213 on Low settings to 84 on Ultra settings, a decrease of 129 frames per second or roughly 60%.

Q: What is the L3 cache size for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K?

A: The processor features a 30 MB shared L3 cache, along with a 3 MB L2 cache per core and a 192 KB L1 cache per core.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the CPU in this combo?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz and a base clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the RTX 4070?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 features a 192-bit memory bus with a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, utilizing 12 GB of GDDR6X memory.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. Its configuration includes a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. In Outriders, the CPU’s influence is most apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU is not fully saturated. The data shows that at 1080p, the jump from Low to High settings yields a relatively modest FPS decrease compared to the jump from High to Ultra, suggesting the CPU is capable of feeding frames rapidly. The processor’s strong multi-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35850, ensures that the game’s background tasks and physics calculations are handled without bottlenecking.

The CPU’s single-thread performance is also relevant for a looter shooter where many actions are tied to a single primary game thread. A Geekbench single-core score of 2713 indicates that the processor can handle the core game logic efficiently. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache is another factor that helps reduce latency when the game needs to quickly access frequently used data. At 4K resolution, the CPU’s role diminishes as the GPU becomes the limiting factor, but at 1080p and 1440p, the 265K provides ample headroom, allowing the RTX 4070 to operate at its full potential. The processor’s 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs reinforces its position as a high-end part that is well-matched for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 achieves a rank of 465 out of 3710 tested combos for Outriders. This places the pairing in the 87.5th percentile, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of other CPU and GPU combinations in the database. This high ranking is a result of both components being well above average in their respective fields. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 70879 places it in the 94th percentile of all processors, while the GPU’s average score of 37648 places it in the 81st percentile of all graphics cards.

The synergy between these two parts is evident. The CPU is powerful enough to avoid holding back the GPU, and the GPU is strong enough to produce high frame rates at the most common gaming resolutions. While the combo does not reach the very top of the rankings, it sits comfortably in the upper echelon of performance. This suggests that for a game like Outriders, which is not extremely demanding on either component, this pairing offers a balanced and high-performing experience without the need for flagship hardware. The rank indicates that users with this setup will have a system that is significantly faster than the median tested configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo excels in all settings. Low settings produce an average of 304 FPS, Medium yields 246 FPS, High delivers 184 FPS, and Ultra still maintains a high 133 FPS. This shows that even at the highest quality settings, the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors without issue. The Medium preset at 1080p shows a minimum FPS of 209 and a maximum of 283, indicating good frame pacing.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong. Low settings average 213 FPS, Medium averages 155 FPS, High averages 116 FPS, and Ultra drops to 84 FPS. The Medium preset here shows a minimum of 132 FPS and a maximum of 178 FPS, which is still very smooth for most users. The step from High to Ultra at this resolution represents a significant performance cost, suggesting that the visual gains from Ultra may not be worth the frame rate hit for competitive play. At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings average 112 FPS, Medium averages 81 FPS, High averages 61 FPS, and Ultra drops to 44 FPS.

The data reveals that the RTX 4070 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Outriders, where it can easily maintain high frame rates. At 4K, the card is still capable of playable performance on Medium and High settings, but Ultra settings will cause the frame rate to dip below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum FPS of 69 and a maximum of 93, which is a playable range, but the Ultra preset’s 44 FPS average is less ideal for a smooth experience.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD104 chip. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. In Outriders, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly important as resolution scales up. At 1080p, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as the CPU can feed it frames faster than it can render them. This is why frame rates are exceptionally high at this resolution.

However, at 1440p and especially 4K, the GPU’s rendering workload increases, and it becomes the limiting factor. The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the textures and assets in Outriders at 4K, as evidenced by the fact that the game runs without issues on High settings. The GPU’s 5888 shading units and 46 ray tracing cores contribute to its overall performance. The data indicates that the RTX 4070 is a strong performer for this title, capable of delivering a solid 60 FPS experience at 4K on High settings, which is a notable achievement for a mid-range to high-end card. The GPU’s 81st percentile ranking among all graphics cards reflects its capability, but the CPU’s higher percentile ranking suggests that the processor has more headroom than the graphics card in this pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user’s target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p users with a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the High preset is the recommended choice. It provides an average of 184 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most monitors, and it offers a substantial visual improvement over Medium without the steep performance cost of Ultra. For those with a 360Hz display, the Low preset at 304 FPS would be the only way to fully utilize the monitor’s potential.

At 1440p, the High preset is again the sweet spot. The 116 FPS average is excellent for a 144Hz monitor, and the visual quality is high. The Ultra preset at 84 FPS is still playable and could be used on a 120Hz display, but the 32 FPS drop from High to Ultra is significant for the marginal visual gains. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the most balanced choice, offering an 81 FPS average. High settings at 61 FPS are also viable for a 60Hz display, but the Medium preset provides a better frame time buffer. The Ultra preset at 44 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the standard playability threshold of 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p, the average FPS across all settings is very high, with the Low preset reaching 304 FPS. When moving to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 30-40% depending on the preset. For example, High settings go from 184 FPS at 1080p to 116 FPS at 1440p, a 37% decrease. This is a typical scaling factor for a GPU-bound scenario, but the absolute numbers remain high.

The largest drop occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K. High settings decrease from 116 FPS to 61 FPS, a 47% reduction. This significant drop indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor at 4K. At 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter, as the GPU has enough headroom to render frames faster than the CPU can process them. The data suggests that the system is balanced at 1440p, where both components are working in tandem. At 4K, the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of VRAM and 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth are sufficient, but the raw compute power of the AD104 chip is not enough to maintain the same frame rates as at lower resolutions. This scaling behavior points to a system that is well-suited for 1440p gaming, providing a high-quality experience without being overly constrained by either component.