Outriders

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 lands in the 1705th position out of 2913 tested combos for Outriders. That places this configuration in the upper-middle portion of the database, meaning it clears the majority of systems tested but sits well behind the top-tier rigs. The rank reflects a balanced pairing where neither component is drastically holding the other back, though the data shows the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution climbs. This is a combo that delivers smooth 1080p gameplay and playable 1440p, but 4K requires significant settings compromises.

How This Combo Ranks

The 1705th rank out of 2913 combos puts this system at roughly the 58th percentile of all tested configurations for Outriders. This is a solid result for a mobile CPU paired with a mainstream desktop GPU, but it clearly indicates that this is not an enthusiast-tier setup. The ranking is driven by the combination's ability to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions, while the 4K results drag the overall standing down. When considering the CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all processors and the GPU's 61st percentile among all graphics cards, the combo rank suggests the GPU is the limiting factor in more demanding scenarios.

The delta between the combo's rank and the CPU's strong percentile shows that Outriders is not heavily CPU-bound at typical gaming resolutions. The CPU has plenty of headroom in its 16 cores and 22 threads, but the RTX 4060's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become constraints at higher settings and resolutions. The measured FPS data confirms this: at 1080p Low, the system pushes 218 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to just 28 FPS. That massive scaling cliff is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, not a CPU bottleneck.

Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing performs admirably for its class. The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 and Intel Core 7 250H, both of which have nearly identical average benchmark scores with deltas of -0.1% and -0.2% respectively. The GPU's nearest rivals are older or integrated parts like the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and Radeon 780M, which show the RTX 4060 is just barely ahead of the integrated graphics in the CPU's own class. This indicates the combo's rank is more dependent on the GPU than the CPU, as the processor could easily keep up with stronger graphics cards.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor from the Core Ultra Series 1, based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which provides strong single-thread performance for game logic and physics calculations. The CPU's L3 cache is 24 MB shared, which is ample for feeding the GPU with draw calls and game state data in a looter shooter like Outriders. The 7 nm process node and 45 W TDP indicate this is a power-efficient part designed for laptops, yet its benchmark scores are respectable.

In Outriders, the CPU's role is to handle the game's AI, enemy spawns, and the numerous particle effects from abilities. The data shows the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution tested. At 1080p Low, the system hits 218 FPS, which is well beyond what most displays can show and indicates the CPU can feed the GPU faster than it can render. Even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is clearly struggling at 28 FPS, the CPU is not the limiting factor; the frame rate drop is entirely attributable to the GPU's rendering load.

The CPU's benchmark scores support its capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17984.5 and single-core score of 1810.5 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The Geekbench multicore score of 11657 and single-core score of 1794 further confirm its strength. The PassMark multithread score of 29376 and single-thread score of 3697 show the processor can handle both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads effectively. For Outriders, which is not known to be exceptionally CPU-demanding, this processor provides more than enough headroom.

The nearest rival CPUs in the database — the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, Intel Core 7 250H, and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 — all have average benchmark scores within 0.4% of the Core Ultra 9 185H. This means that swapping the CPU for any of these would yield virtually identical frame rates in Outriders, confirming that the CPU choice has minimal impact on this game's performance. The CPU's 22 threads are more than sufficient for the game's threading model, and the high boost clock ensures snappy response in action-heavy moments.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is an Ada Lovelace architecture GPU with 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It has 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores, though Outriders does not heavily utilize either. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is modest for modern titles. The base clock is 1830 MHz with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and the FP32 performance is rated at 15.11 TFLOPS. The GPU's 5 nm process node from TSMC keeps power draw at 115 W, and it uses a 12-pin power connector with a suggested 300 W PSU.

In Outriders, the RTX 4060 is the decisive component for frame rates. The GPU's 61st percentile ranking among all graphics cards is much lower than the CPU's 85th percentile, indicating that this is the weak link in the combo. At 1080p, the GPU can push high frame rates: 218 FPS at Low, 159 FPS at Medium, 119 FPS at High, and 86 FPS at Ultra. These numbers show the GPU handles the game well at this resolution, though the jump from High to Ultra costs 33 FPS, suggesting that Ultra settings are particularly demanding on the GPU's resources.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a significant factor at higher resolutions. At 1440p, the frame rates drop to 138 FPS at Low, 100 FPS at Medium, 75 FPS at High, and 54 FPS at Ultra. The 4K results are much worse: 72 FPS at Low, 52 FPS at Medium, 39 FPS at High, and 28 FPS at Ultra. The steep drop from 1440p to 4K at every settings level indicates the GPU is running out of both VRAM and bandwidth. The 128-bit memory bus and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are simply insufficient for 4K textures and high pixel counts.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database are surprising: the AMD Radeon HD 7790, Radeon 780M, and Radeon Pro 560. These are either much older or integrated graphics solutions, and the RTX 4060 has a delta of -0.2% to +0.7% against them. This is because the average benchmark scores are similar, though the RTX 4060's architectural advantages in modern APIs like DirectX 12 Ultimate give it an edge in actual games. The PassMark G3D score of 19545 and DirectX 12 score of 76 confirm the GPU is capable, but the 4K results show its limitations.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Outriders at 4K smoothly?

A: Only at Low settings, where it achieves 72 FPS average. At Medium, it drops to 52 FPS, and at High it falls to 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At Ultra, it produces just 28 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 1080p is clearly the sweet spot. At High settings, it delivers 119 FPS, and even Ultra settings maintain 86 FPS. At 1440p, High settings yield 75 FPS, which is playable but not as fluid.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest competitors?

A: The Core Ultra 9 185H has an average benchmark score of 35670, which is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845. This means there is no meaningful performance difference in games.

Q: Is the GPU the bottleneck at 4K?

A: Yes. The frame rate drops from 72 FPS at Low to 28 FPS at Ultra, a 61% reduction, while the CPU has plenty of headroom. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K Ultra settings.

Q: What settings should I use for competitive play?

A: For maximum frame rates, use 1080p Low settings, which produce 218 FPS. If you need better visuals, 1080p Medium at 159 FPS is a strong compromise between speed and image quality.

Q: How does the GPU compare to integrated graphics in the same class?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639, which is only 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU. However, in actual gaming workloads, the dedicated GPU's dedicated VRAM and higher power limit provide a significant advantage.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At Low settings, the system achieves 218 FPS at 1080p, 138 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. That is a 67% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 48% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with a GPU that is struggling to fill pixels at higher resolutions. At Medium settings, the FPS goes from 159 at 1080p to 100 at 1440p to 52 at 4K, showing a similar pattern of degradation.

The High settings data further confirms this trend: 119 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 39 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 48% reduction, which is steep but expected given the 2.25x pixel count increase. At Ultra settings, the numbers are 86 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p, and 28 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is unplayable for most users, and even 1440p Ultra is borderline.

The resolution scaling pattern strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates to stay more consistent across resolutions, particularly at lower settings where the CPU has to feed more frames. Instead, the FPS drops proportionally with pixel count, which is the hallmark of a GPU-limited workload. The CPU's strong benchmark scores and 85th percentile ranking support this interpretation; it has the headroom to handle higher resolutions without a significant performance penalty.

Furthermore, the min and max FPS data at Medium settings shows tighter ranges at lower resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the range is 135 to 183 FPS, a 48 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, it narrows to 85 to 115 FPS, a 30 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, it is 45 to 60 FPS, a 15 FPS spread. This tightening of frame time variance at higher resolutions is typical of a GPU that is consistently saturated, whereas a CPU bottleneck would show more erratic frame pacing.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combo, 1080p with Medium settings provides the optimal balance of visual quality and performance. The measured 159 FPS average at 1080p Medium is well above the 60 FPS threshold and leaves plenty of headroom for dips in heavy combat. The min FPS of 135 at this setting ensures that even the most intense moments stay smooth. If you prefer higher visual fidelity, 1080p High at 119 FPS is also an excellent choice, offering a 25% visual upgrade over Medium for a 25% reduction in frame rate.

At 1440p, the recommended settings are Medium or High. Medium delivers 100 FPS with a min of 85 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. High drops to 75 FPS, which is still playable but may feel less fluid in fast-paced encounters. Avoid Ultra at 1440p, as the 54 FPS average is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay, especially in a looter shooter where precision matters during gunfights.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests sticking to Low settings for a playable 72 FPS. Medium at 4K yields 52 FPS, which is borderline, and High at 39 FPS is not recommended. Ultra at 4K produces an unplayable 28 FPS. If you must play at 4K, Low settings are the only viable option, and even then, the visual downgrade may not be worth the resolution increase over 1440p Medium.

The settings scaling shows that the RTX 4060 has a clear performance ceiling. Moving from Low to Ultra at any resolution incurs a significant FPS penalty, but the drop is most severe at 4K where the GPU runs out of both VRAM and bandwidth. For the majority of users, 1080p Medium or High will provide the most satisfying experience, as it leverages the CPU's strength while staying within the GPU's comfort zone. The data does not support using Ultra settings at any resolution unless you prioritize absolute visual fidelity over smooth gameplay, and even then, the 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is a slideshow.