Rust

The Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 580 pairing represents a specific tier of performance in Rust, a survival game released in 2018. The CPU is a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake-S desktop processor with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its architecture relies on a 12 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory. The GPU is a Polaris 20 chip on the GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries, featuring 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. This combination is positioned in the lower tier of tested combos for Rust, ranking 1569 out of 1717 total combinations. The data indicates that the RX 580 is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU's single-thread capability becomes more relevant at lower resolutions where frame rates climb. The measured FPS data across resolutions and settings provides a clear picture of where this hardware stands.

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

The Core i3-12100F contributes to this pairing through its 4 physical cores and 8 threads, with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates a strong single-thread showing, scoring 893 in 3dmark_single_thread and 1681 in cinebench_r23_singlecore. Multi-threaded performance is more modest, with a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 11912 and a passmark_multithread score of 14015. The CPU's overall average benchmark score is 13516, placing it at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX with a deltaPct of -0.1%, the Intel Core i7-1250U at 0.4%, the Intel Core i3-10105 at 0.6%, and the Intel Core i7-7700K at 1.8% — all within a narrow band of performance.

In Rust, the CPU's role is most evident when the GPU is not saturated. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches 74.8 FPS, suggesting the CPU's 4.30 GHz boost clock is sufficient to push frame rates well above the GPU's typical output at higher settings. The 3dmark_8_threads score of 4026 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 4023 indicate that the CPU's thread count is adequate for the game's workload, though not exceptional. The CPU's single-thread score of 893 in 3dmark places it ahead of many older quad-core parts, which matters for Rust's simulation-heavy logic. However, at 3840x2160 Ultra, the frame rate drops to 15.9 FPS, showing that the RX 580's 6.175 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is overwhelmed, and the CPU's high clock speed cannot compensate. The CPU's 58 W TDP and 163 mm² die size suggest it runs efficiently, but the bottleneck analysis points to the GPU as the dominant constraint in this pairing, especially as resolution increases.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 74.8, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

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

A: It ranks 1569 out of 1717 total tested combos, placing it in the lower percentile of performance.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 at Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the average FPS is 52.2, while at 2560x1440 Medium, it drops to 32.4, representing a significant reduction.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 15.9 at Ultra to 31.5 at Low, indicating the GPU's 256.0 GB/s bandwidth and 6.175 TFLOPS are the primary constraints, not the CPU.

Q: What is the FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 30.1 at 2560x1440 with High settings, which is below the typical 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its multi-thread performance in this game's context?

A: The CPU's single-thread score of 1681 in cinebench_r23_singlecore is relatively strong, but the multi-thread score of 11912 suggests that Rust's workload does not scale perfectly with all 8 threads, making the 4.30 GHz boost clock more relevant for frame pacing at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1569 out of 1717 tested combinations places this hardware in the bottom 9% of all tested pairings for Rust. This ranking reflects the RX 580's age — it is marked as end-of-life production, and its percentile rank among all GPUs is 53. The GPU's average benchmark score of 13559 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 with a deltaPct of 0%, the GTX 950 at 0.1%, and the AMD Radeon Pro 455 at 1.1%. The CPU, by contrast, sits at the 72nd percentile, meaning the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card when compared against their respective pools of hardware.

This disparity in percentiles explains the combo's overall low rank. In Rust, the RX 580's 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus are sufficient for textures, but its 32 ROPs and 144 TMUs limit fill-rate heavy scenes. The CPU's 4 cores are not the bottleneck in most scenarios — the data shows that at 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 74.8 FPS, which is playable, but at 3840x2160 Low, it falls to 31.5 FPS. The rank indicates that most other tested combos, likely with newer GPUs, outperform this pairing. The deltaPct values for the CPU's rivals (ranging from -0.1% to 1.8%) and GPU's rivals (ranging from -1.1% to 1.1%) show that this hardware is clustered with older parts, and the low combo rank is expected given the GPU's end-of-life status and the CPU's budget positioning.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a comprehensive view of the combo's capabilities. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo delivers its best performance. Low settings yield 74.8 FPS average, which is smooth for a survival game. Medium settings drop to 52.2 FPS, High settings to 42.8 FPS, and Ultra settings to 30.3 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 22.6 FPS drop, indicating a significant GPU workload increase. From Medium to High, the drop is 9.4 FPS, and from High to Ultra, it is 12.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p is the first point where the game becomes marginal for competitive play.

At 2560x1440, the performance falls off substantially. Low settings average 48.6 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium drops to 32.4 FPS, High to 30.1 FPS, and Ultra to 25 FPS. The difference between Medium and High at 1440p is only 2.3 FPS, suggesting the GPU is becoming memory-bandwidth limited, as the 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is shared across more pixels. At 3840x2160, the combo struggles across the board. Low settings manage 31.5 FPS, Medium drops to 21.2 FPS, High to 17.3 FPS, and Ultra to 15.9 FPS. The 4K Low setting is barely playable, while anything above Medium is effectively a slideshow. The data shows a clear pattern: the RX 580's 42.88 GPixel/s pixel rate cannot handle the fill-rate demands of 4K, regardless of the CPU's 4.30 GHz boost clock.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is dramatic and reveals the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 74.8 at 1080p to 48.6 at 1440p, then to 31.5 at 4K. This represents a 35.0% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 35.2% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count — 1080p has roughly 2.07 million pixels, 1440p has 3.69 million, and 4K has 8.29 million. The RX 580's 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 193.0 GTexel/s texture rate are the limiting factors, as the CPU's performance does not degrade with resolution. The 3dmark_3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 1005 for the GPU confirms its low absolute throughput.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 52.2 FPS at 1080p drops to 32.4 FPS at 1440p (a 37.9% drop) and then to 21.2 FPS at 4K (a 34.6% drop). This consistent scaling across settings indicates that the bottleneck is purely GPU-bound, as the CPU's 12 MB shared L3 cache and 4.30 GHz boost clock are not resolution-dependent. The fact that 4K Low (31.5 FPS) is nearly identical to 1440p High (30.1 FPS) further supports this — the GPU is delivering roughly the same frame rate when the pixel count and settings are balanced, regardless of CPU load. The data suggests that for this combo, any resolution above 1080p requires a significant settings reduction to maintain playability, and the CPU has headroom that the GPU cannot utilize at higher pixel densities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and the user's frame rate preference. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 74.8 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 52.2 FPS is a compromise, offering better visual quality while staying above 50 FPS. High at 42.8 FPS and Ultra at 30.3 FPS are playable but not ideal for fast-paced encounters. For a balance of visual fidelity and performance at 1080p, Medium is the recommended preset, as it provides a 21.4% FPS increase over High while maintaining a reasonable frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the only preset that approaches playability is Low at 48.6 FPS. Medium at 32.4 FPS is below the 40 FPS threshold for comfortable play, and High at 30.1 FPS or Ultra at 25 FPS are not recommended for any competitive scenario. For 1440p users, the Low preset is the only viable option, and even then, the 48.6 FPS average may drop in busy scenes. At 3840x2160, no preset delivers acceptable performance — Low at 31.5 FPS is the highest, but it still falls short of the 40 FPS minimum for a playable experience. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with Medium settings providing the best experience per the measured rows, delivering 52.2 FPS while preserving some visual detail. Users with 1440p monitors should accept the Low preset or consider upgrading the GPU, as the RX 580's end-of-life status and 6.175 TFLOPS FP32 throughput are simply insufficient for higher resolutions in Rust.