Rust

Rust’s performance on the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination shows a clear pattern: the game becomes progressively more demanding as resolution increases, but the scaling between settings tiers is not uniform. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo delivers 225 FPS average. Moving to Medium drops that to 151 FPS, a reduction of 74 FPS. High settings at the same resolution produce 127 FPS, while Ultra falls to 97 FPS. This means that from Low to Ultra at 1080p, the average frame rate declines by 128 FPS, or roughly 57%. The gap between Low and Medium (74 FPS) is larger than the gap between Medium and High (24 FPS), suggesting that the first step up from Low carries the heaviest performance penalty. At 2560x1440, the same settings ladder yields 155 FPS on Low, 104 FPS on Medium, 88 FPS on High, and 67 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Medium here is 51 FPS, while Medium to High costs 16 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 21 FPS. At 3840x2160, Low produces 91 FPS, Medium 61 FPS, High 52 FPS, and Ultra 39 FPS. The reduction from Low to Medium is 30 FPS, Medium to High is 9 FPS, and High to Ultra is 13 FPS.

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

The data shows that resolution scaling has a pronounced effect on this combo. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Low settings reduces the average FPS from 225 to 155, a drop of 70 FPS. Continuing to 3840x2160 at Low yields 91 FPS, another 64 FPS reduction. Across the full resolution range at Low settings, the frame rate falls by 134 FPS, or roughly 60%. At Medium settings, the progression is 151 FPS at 1080p, 104 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Medium is 90 FPS. High settings show 127 FPS at 1080p, 88 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K, a total decline of 75 FPS. Ultra settings start at 97 FPS at 1080p, drop to 67 FPS at 1440p, and end at 39 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 58 FPS.

The pattern reveals that the RTX 4070 is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. When the pixel count increases, the GPU must process more fragments, and the average FPS drops accordingly. At 1080p, the CPU has more headroom to feed frames, but at 4K, the GPU’s workload dominates. For example, at 1080p Low, the combo hits 225 FPS, which is well above typical display refresh rates. At 4K Low, it still manages 91 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it falls to 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many users target. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at each settings tier shows a consistent drop: Low goes from 155 to 91 (down 64 FPS), Medium from 104 to 61 (down 43 FPS), High from 88 to 52 (down 36 FPS), and Ultra from 67 to 39 (down 28 FPS). These absolute reductions shrink as settings increase, but the percentage loss remains significant.

The data also indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 225 FPS, which is a high frame rate that requires strong single-thread performance. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz and 12 cores, but Rust’s engine typically scales with fewer threads. The fact that the FPS jumps from 97 FPS at 1080p Ultra to 225 FPS at 1080p Low suggests that the GPU workload is the bottleneck, because lowering settings reduces the pixel shading load, allowing the CPU to push more frames. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain similar across settings at a fixed resolution. Instead, the FPS varies widely, confirming the GPU is the main constraint under these configurations.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The CPU’s cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. This large L3 cache is relevant for Rust, which often benefits from high memory bandwidth and low latency. The CPU supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, which is sufficient for feeding the GPU at high frame rates.

Benchmark data for the CPU shows strong multi-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, the 9900X3D scores 47737 in multicore and 6739 in singlecore. The singlecore score is particularly important for Rust, as the game’s simulation and entity updates often rely on a few threads. In Geekbench, the CPU scores 22884 multicore and 3041 singlecore. The 3DMark results show a progression from 1269 in single-thread to 13795 in max threads, indicating that the CPU scales well with additional threads. However, Rust’s measured FPS does not fully utilize all 12 cores. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 225 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 97 FPS. This gap is due to GPU load, not CPU limitations. The CPU’s single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 6739 Cinebench R23 singlecore score, is high enough to avoid bottlenecking at these settings.

The CPU’s percentile vs all CPUs is 91, meaning it outperforms 91% of tested CPUs in the benchmark database. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF with a delta of -0.6%, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K with +1.3%, the Intel Xeon 6505P with +2.0%, and the Intel Core i7-14700F with +2.1%. These small deltas suggest that the 9900X3D is competitive with those processors, but the differences are minor. In Rust, the CPU’s role is to maintain a stable frame time, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU can render faster. The fact that the combo reaches 225 FPS at 1080p Low indicates that the CPU can handle the game’s logic at high speeds, but the GPU becomes the ceiling as settings increase.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Rust?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 225, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 39, which is the lowest measured value across all configurations.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Medium settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 155 FPS, while Medium settings produce 104 FPS, a difference of 51 FPS.

Q: Does the combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K with any settings?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 91, which is above 60. At Medium settings, it drops to 61 FPS, which is just above 60. High and Ultra settings fall below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance relate to Rust?

A: The CPU has a Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 6739, which is high. In Rust, this helps maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions, as seen with 225 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher settings.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combos in Rust?

A: The combo ranks 591 out of 2953 tested combos, placing it in the top 20% of all combinations.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 591 out of 2953 tested combos in Rust. This puts it in the upper quintile of all combinations, meaning it outperforms roughly 80% of the tested setups. The rank is based on the measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings, with the combo’s best result being 225 FPS at 1080p Low. The high rank is driven by the CPU’s strong single-thread performance, which allows the GPU to reach its maximum output at lower resolutions. However, the rank also reflects the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo falls to 39 FPS, which is below the average for top-tier combos. The data shows that the combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can maintain high frame rates, but it struggles to keep 60 FPS at 4K with High or Ultra settings.

Compared to the CPU’s nearest rivals, the 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54762, which is slightly below the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF’s 55093 (delta -0.6%) and above the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K’s 54053 (delta +1.3%). The GPU’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (delta +0.1%), AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (delta +0.4%), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (delta -1.3%). These rival comparisons are based on synthetic benchmarks, not Rust-specific FPS, but they indicate that the components are roughly in line with their peers. The combo’s rank of 591 suggests that the pairing is effective, but there is room for improvement if the GPU were upgraded to handle 4K Ultra settings more comfortably.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings tiers produce playable frame rates. Low settings deliver 225 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but Medium settings at 151 FPS still provide a smooth experience. High settings at 127 FPS are also viable, and Ultra at 97 FPS remains above 60 FPS. For most users at 1080p, High settings offer a good balance between visual quality and performance, as the 127 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 155 FPS, Medium 104 FPS, High 88 FPS, and Ultra 67 FPS. The Ultra setting is still above 60 FPS, so it is playable, but High at 88 FPS leaves more headroom for frame time spikes. Medium at 104 FPS is a safer choice for maintaining higher frame rates. At 3840x2160, only Low (91 FPS) and Medium (61 FPS) exceed 60 FPS. High (52 FPS) and Ultra (39 FPS) fall below that threshold, which may result in a less smooth experience. For 4K, Low or Medium settings are recommended, with Medium providing better visual fidelity at 61 FPS.

The data shows that the Medium preset at each resolution provides a consistent frame rate that is above 60 FPS for 1080p and 1440p, and just above 60 FPS for 4K. The Medium preset’s min and max FPS values are also available: at 1080p Medium, min is 128 and max is 174; at 1440p Medium, min is 88 and max is 120; at 4K Medium, min is 52 and max is 71. These ranges indicate that frame times are stable, with the min FPS at 1440p Medium (88) still being above 60. For users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, High settings at 1080p (127 FPS) or 1440p (88 FPS) are acceptable, but Ultra at 1440p (67 FPS) and 4K (39 FPS) may introduce noticeable dips. The recommendation is to use Medium settings for 4K, High settings for 1440p, and either High or Ultra for 1080p, depending on preference.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data is organized by resolution and settings tier. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves the following average FPS values: Low 225, Medium 151, High 127, Ultra 97. The Medium setting also has a min FPS of 128 and a max FPS of 174. At 2560x1440, the average FPS values are: Low 155, Medium 104, High 88, Ultra 67. The Medium setting has a min FPS of 88 and a max FPS of 120. At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are: Low 91, Medium 61, High 52, Ultra 39. The Medium setting has a min FPS of 52 and a max FPS of 71.

The data reveals that the highest average FPS across all configurations is 225 at 1080p Low, while the lowest is 39 at 4K Ultra. The medium settings at each resolution provide a balanced view: 151 FPS at 1080p, 104 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. The min and max FPS for Medium settings show that the combo maintains a stable frame rate, with the widest range at 1080p (128 to 174) and the narrowest at 4K (52 to 71). This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is more heavily loaded, leading to lower frame rates but also less variance. At 1080p, the CPU can push higher frame rates, but there is more variation, likely due to scene complexity. The High and Ultra settings do not have min/max FPS values in the data, so only the averages are available. The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent decline, with the largest absolute drop occurring at 1080p (from 225 to 97, a difference of 128 FPS) and the smallest at 4K (from 91 to 39, a difference of 52 FPS). This indicates that the GPU becomes the bottleneck more quickly at higher resolutions, limiting the impact of settings changes.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD104 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process. It has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1920 MHz, with a boost clock of 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units. The GPU also includes 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores. The memory clock is 1313 MHz, which translates to 21 Gbps effective. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 29.15 TFLOPS, and its texture rate is 455.4 GTexel/s.

In Rust, the GPU’s role is to render the game world, including lighting, shadows, and textures. The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game at all tested settings, as Rust’s textures are not excessively demanding. The memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s helps maintain frame rates at higher resolutions, where the GPU must access more texture data. The boost clock of 2475 MHz allows the GPU to reach high frame rates at 1080p Low, as evidenced by the 225 FPS result. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU’s computational limits become apparent, as the average FPS drops to 39. The GPU’s percentile vs all GPUs is 81, meaning it outperforms 81% of tested GPUs, but its average benchmark score of 37648 is close to several rivals. The nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (delta +0.1%), AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (delta +0.4%), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (delta -1.3%). These small deltas suggest that the RTX 4070 is competitive with those GPUs in synthetic benchmarks, but in Rust, the measured FPS shows that it is not sufficient for 4K Ultra.

The GPU’s memory configuration is also relevant. The 12 GB VRAM is adequate for Rust at 4K, as the game does not require more than that at the tested settings. The 192-bit bus width and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth provide enough throughput to feed the GPU’s shading units, but at 4K, the pixel workload increases significantly. The data shows that from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings, the FPS drops from 67 to 39, a 42% reduction. This is consistent with the GPU being the limiting factor, as the CPU’s performance remains constant across resolutions. The GPU’s boost clock of 2475 MHz is high, but the 4K Ultra workload requires more than raw clock speed; it demands more shading units and memory bandwidth. With 5888 shading units, the RTX 4070 is a mid-range GPU, and the measured FPS at 4K Ultra reflects that. For users aiming for 60 FPS at 4K, the combo requires lowering settings to Medium, which yields 61 FPS, or Low, which yields 91 FPS.