Outriders

# Outriders with Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a highly capable Outriders experience across all tested resolutions, with the data showing a clear shift from GPU-bound at 4K to CPU-bound at 1080p. The combo ranks 341st out of 2913 tested configurations, placing it in the top 12% of all tested combos, and the measured frame rates indicate that this pairing is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming while remaining fully playable at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable but steep resolution scaling curve. At 1080p Low settings, the combo produces 298 FPS average, which drops to 213 FPS at 1440p Low and 112 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 62% drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, indicating that the RTX 4070 becomes the limiting factor as pixel count increases, while the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has ample headroom at lower resolutions.

At High settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The 1080p High result of 184 FPS falls to 116 FPS at 1440p High (a 37% reduction) and then to 61 FPS at 4K High (a 67% reduction from 1080p). The 4K High result of 61 FPS sits just above the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that this setting is borderline for smooth gameplay at 4K, while 1440p High offers a comfortable margin above 100 FPS.

The Medium settings tier shows the most complete data, with minimum and maximum FPS recorded at every resolution. At 1080p Medium, the average is 246 FPS with a minimum of 209 FPS and maximum of 283 FPS. Moving to 1440p Medium, the average drops to 155 FPS with a minimum of 132 FPS, while 4K Medium produces an average of 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS and maximum of 93 FPS. The minimum FPS values at 4K Medium stay above 60, indicating that even during demanding scenes, the combination maintains playable frame rates.

Ultra settings present the most demanding scenario. The 1080p Ultra average of 133 FPS drops to 84 FPS at 1440p Ultra, and further to 44 FPS at 4K Ultra. The 4K Ultra result falls below the 60 FPS playability threshold, making this setting combination unsuitable for smooth 4K gameplay. However, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra shows only a 37% reduction, suggesting that the CPU-GPU balance remains reasonable in this range.

The overall pattern indicates that at 1080p, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with its 24 cores and 24 threads is capable of pushing the RTX 4070 to very high frame rates, with Low settings exceeding 298 FPS. The RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth becomes the primary constraint at 4K, where even Medium settings yield only 81 FPS average.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core. The processor's benchmark results demonstrate substantial multi-threaded capability, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303.

In Outriders, a looter shooter that typically benefits from strong single-thread performance for game logic and physics, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus's single-core capabilities are particularly relevant. The Cinebench R20 single-core score of 3067 and PassMark single-thread score of 4823 indicate strong per-core performance, which helps maintain high frame rates at 1080p where the GPU is less stressed.

The processor's passmark multithread score of 60860 and its 96th percentile ranking versus all CPUs suggest that it ranks among the top processors overall. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in average benchmark score, and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX. This places it in a leadership position among tested CPUs, though the differences are small.

At 1080p Low settings, the 298 FPS average indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with frames at very high rates. The gap between 1080p Low (298 FPS) and 1440p Low (213 FPS) demonstrates that the RTX 4070 begins to become the bottleneck as resolution increases, while the CPU still has headroom. The fact that 1080p Ultra produces 133 FPS — a 55% drop from 1080p Low — shows that GPU load is the dominant factor even at 1080p when settings are increased.

The processor's 125 W TDP and support for DDR5 memory with 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide adequate memory throughput for Outriders' asset streaming. With 24 threads available, the CPU can handle background tasks and game engine threads without becoming a limiting factor, even at lower resolutions where frame rates exceed 200 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Outriders?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Medium settings, the average FPS is 81 with a minimum of 69, which is playable. At 4K High, the average drops to 61 FPS, which is borderline. 4K Ultra is not recommended as it produces only 44 FPS average.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors?

A: At 1440p, the combo delivers excellent results. Low settings yield 213 FPS, Medium produces 155 FPS, and High achieves 116 FPS. Even Ultra settings at 1440p produce 84 FPS, making 1440p the sweet spot for this combination.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 341st out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the top 12% of all tested configurations. The GPU ranks in the 81st percentile versus all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 96th percentile versus all CPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 298 FPS, suggesting the combination is well-balanced. The CPU's strong single-core performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7303) allows it to feed the GPU effectively at high frame rates.

Q: What settings should be avoided for consistent frame rates?

A: The 4K Ultra setting should be avoided, as it produces only 44 FPS average. Additionally, 4K High at 61 FPS may dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes, making 4K Medium or 1440p Ultra safer choices for consistent performance.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 4070's average benchmark score of 37648 is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P4, 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, and 1.3% higher than the AMD Radeon PRO W6400. It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile by 1.3%.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings average 298 FPS, while Medium settings average 246 FPS with a minimum of 209 FPS and maximum of 283 FPS. High settings produce 184 FPS average, and Ultra settings yield 133 FPS average. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 165 FPS, showing the significant impact of graphics settings on performance at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected reduction. Low settings average 213 FPS, Medium settings average 155 FPS with a minimum of 132 FPS and maximum of 178 FPS. High settings produce 116 FPS average, and Ultra settings yield 84 FPS average. The 1440p results demonstrate that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, with even Ultra settings staying above 80 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4070's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth become the primary constraints. Low settings average 112 FPS, Medium settings average 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS and maximum of 93 FPS. High settings produce 61 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 44 FPS average. The 4K results show a clear tiering: Medium is the highest playable setting tier, while High barely reaches 60 FPS and Ultra falls well below.

The Medium settings tier is the only one with complete min/max data across all resolutions, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 209 FPS is 85% of the average, while at 1440p Medium, the minimum of 132 FPS is 85% of the average. At 4K Medium, the minimum of 69 FPS is also 85% of the average, suggesting consistent frame pacing across resolutions at this settings tier.

Comparing settings tiers at each resolution, the data shows diminishing returns from Low to Ultra. At 1080p, Ultra is 55% slower than Low (298 to 133 FPS). At 1440p, Ultra is 61% slower than Low (213 to 84 FPS). At 4K, Ultra is 61% slower than Low (112 to 44 FPS). This consistency in scaling suggests that the GPU's compute and memory resources are the primary factor limiting performance as settings increase.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 341st out of 2913 tested combinations in Outriders, placing it in the top 11.7% of all tested configurations. This rank reflects the strong pairing of the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 4070 in this specific game title.

The CPU component of this combo ranks exceptionally well, sitting in the 96th percentile versus all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 84003 places it just 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, 1.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4584PX, and 1.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9135. It trails the AMD EPYC 7F72 by 1.3%. This tight clustering at the top of the CPU performance spectrum confirms that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is among the fastest processors available, though the differences from its nearest rivals are marginal.

The GPU component ranks in the 81st percentile versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its nearest rivals are clustered extremely closely: the NVIDIA Tesla P4 is 0.1% behind, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 0.4% behind, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% behind. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% ahead. This clustering suggests that the RTX 4070 sits at a performance tier where small differences separate competitors.

The rank of 341 out of 2913 is notable because it places this combo in the top tier of tested configurations, despite the RTX 4070 being an end-of-life product. The CPU's strong performance — particularly its 24 cores, 24 threads, and 5.80 GHz boost clock — likely contributes to the combo's high ranking in Outriders, a game that can benefit from strong multi-threaded performance during intense combat scenarios with many enemies and effects.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 4K displays, Medium settings provide the best balance, delivering 81 FPS average with a minimum of 69 FPS. This keeps frame rates comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold while providing better visual quality than Low settings (112 FPS). High settings at 4K should be avoided, as the 61 FPS average leaves no headroom for demanding scenes and may result in noticeable frame drops.

For 1440p displays, Ultra settings are recommended for the best visual experience, as the 84 FPS average is well above playable thresholds. If higher frame rates are preferred for competitive play, High settings at 116 FPS offer a significant boost. Medium settings at 155 FPS are the best choice for high-refresh-rate monitors, while Low settings at 213 FPS cater to 240 Hz displays.

For 1080p displays, all settings tiers are playable, with even Ultra producing 133 FPS. High settings at 184 FPS provide an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. Medium settings at 246 FPS are ideal for 240 Hz monitors, and Low settings at 298 FPS are suitable for extreme refresh rates. The data suggests that at 1080p, the combo has sufficient headroom to prioritize visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

The Medium settings tier stands out as the most consistent across all resolutions, with minimum FPS values that are 85% of the average at every resolution tested. This consistency makes Medium the safest choice for users who prioritize frame time stability over maximum visual fidelity. The Ultra settings tier, while offering the best visuals, shows the largest performance penalty at 4K (44 FPS), making it unsuitable for that resolution.

The measured data indicates that this combo is best utilized at 1440p, where it can deliver high frame rates at all settings tiers while maintaining smooth gameplay. For users with 4K displays, Medium settings offer the best playable experience, while 1080p users can enjoy maximum settings with frame rates exceeding 130 FPS.