Rust

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a strong 1080p and 1440p gaming experience in Rust, but the data shows a clear ceiling at 4K Ultra settings. This combination ranks 471st out of 1717 tested combos for the game, placing it in the top 27% of all systems tested. The benchmark results reveal a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate play at mainstream resolutions, yet one where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck when pushing maximum visual fidelity at 4K.

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

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Rocket Lake architecture with a 14 nm process node. Its base clock runs at 2.60 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.40 GHz, which is crucial for Rust’s simulation-heavy gameplay. The processor’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for the game’s world streaming and entity updates.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14372 and a single-core score of 2029. Its 3DMark scores scale from 1691 in the 2-thread test to 5652 at max threads, indicating that the processor’s performance scales well with additional threads, though the gains flatten beyond 8 threads. This behavior aligns with Rust’s engine, which typically utilizes multiple cores but does not scale perfectly with unlimited thread counts.

The processor’s percentile ranking versus all CPUs is 75, meaning it outperforms three-quarters of all processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, which scores an average of 17189 (a 0% delta), and the Intel Core i7-1260P at 17212 (-0.2%). This places the i5-11400F in a competitive mid-range position, capable of feeding the RTX 4070 without becoming a major limiting factor at lower resolutions.

At 1080p Low settings, the system produces 173.5 FPS, which is the highest recorded frame rate in the dataset. This suggests that the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output when graphical load is minimized. However, the gap between 1080p and 1440p results indicates that the CPU still plays a role in determining maximum frame rates. The processor’s 3DMark single-thread score of 868 and Passmark single-thread score of 2981 highlight its modest per-core performance, which is adequate but not exceptional for a game that relies heavily on single-threaded physics and AI calculations.

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 a 5 nm process node, featuring 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Rust’s texture streaming and asset loading at all tested settings. The GPU’s base clock is 1920 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, and it achieves a Passmark G3D score of 26927 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3854.

The GPU’s percentile ranking versus all GPUs is 81, placing it ahead of 81% of all graphics cards. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 with a score of 37507 (-0.6% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile at 38135 (-2.2%). Despite being a desktop part, the RTX 4070’s performance is closely matched by some mobile and older flagship cards, though its 12 GB VRAM capacity ensures it can handle Rust’s high-resolution textures without running out of memory.

The GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the system drops to 40.3 FPS, which is a 59% reduction from the 98.2 FPS achieved at 1080p Ultra. This steep decline is a clear indicator that the RTX 4070 is the limiting component at 4K, as the CPU’s load does not increase proportionally with resolution. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the GPU is underutilized, allowing the CPU to push frame rates to 173.5 FPS. The data suggests that the RTX 4070 provides excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, but its capabilities are stretched at 4K with high preset levels.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Rust?

A: The data shows 1440p High providing 87.9 FPS, which is a strong balance of visual quality and smoothness. At 1080p, the system achieves 126.3 FPS on High, while 4K High drops to 49.3 FPS, making 1440p the sweet spot for this pairing.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its closest rival in terms of performance?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37283, which is 0.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56’s score of 37507. It also trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile by 2.2%, which scores 38135.

Q: Is the i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 in Rust?

A: At 1080p Low, the system reaches 173.5 FPS, indicating the CPU can keep up with the GPU when graphical load is low. However, the modest single-thread score of 2029 in Cinebench R23 suggests the CPU may limit frame rates in CPU-intensive scenarios, though the data shows no clear bottleneck at mainstream settings.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings produce 154.1 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 69.3 FPS. This represents a 55% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Rust?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K Medium, the system achieves 63.5 FPS, which is playable. However, 4K High drops to 49.3 FPS, and 4K Ultra falls to 40.3 FPS, which may not be smooth enough for competitive play.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Rust?

A: This combo ranks 471st out of 1717 tested combinations, placing it in the top 27% of all systems. This indicates it performs well above average for the game.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this system handles Rust across different resolutions and presets.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers excellent performance across all settings. Low settings produce 173.5 FPS, Medium produces 147.9 FPS, High produces 126.3 FPS, and Ultra produces 98.2 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 43% performance drop, which is expected given the increased graphical load.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a more pronounced impact from settings. Low settings achieve 154.1 FPS, Medium drops to 104 FPS, High reaches 87.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 69.3 FPS. The transition from Low to Ultra at 1440p results in a 55% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the GPU is working harder at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system’s performance becomes more constrained. Low settings produce 92.4 FPS, Medium drops to 63.5 FPS, High falls to 49.3 FPS, and Ultra reaches only 40.3 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 56%, the largest percentage drop across all resolutions, suggesting the GPU is nearing its limits.

The data shows that the system is capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 4K only on Low settings, while 1440p allows for 60+ FPS on all presets, and 1080p maintains 90+ FPS even at Ultra settings.

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

The resolution scaling analysis reveals how the system’s performance degrades as pixel count increases. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings, the frame rate drops from 126.3 FPS to 87.9 FPS, a 30% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K at the same settings, the frame rate drops from 87.9 FPS to 49.3 FPS, a 44% reduction. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 61%.

This pattern indicates that the GPU becomes increasingly dominant as the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU’s workload remains relatively constant across resolutions, while the GPU must render significantly more pixels. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 173.5 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 92.4 FPS, a 47% reduction. This large drop at even the lowest settings confirms that the RTX 4070 is the primary bottleneck at 4K.

The scaling from Medium settings shows a similar trend: 147.9 FPS at 1080p, 104 FPS at 1440p, and 63.5 FPS at 4K. The incremental drops become larger as resolution increases, which is typical of a system where the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors. The RTX 4070’s 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the demand outstrips what the card can deliver, resulting in the steep performance cliff observed at Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience varies by resolution and desired frame rate target.

For 1080p gaming, High settings at 126.3 FPS provide an excellent balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. Ultra settings at 98.2 FPS are also viable for players who prioritize image quality over maximum frame rates, especially on 144Hz monitors. Medium settings at 147.9 FPS are ideal for competitive play where high refresh rates are critical.

For 1440p gaming, High settings at 87.9 FPS offer the best overall experience, providing smooth gameplay with good visual detail. Medium settings at 104 FPS are recommended for players with 100Hz+ monitors who want a slight performance boost. Ultra settings at 69.3 FPS are playable but may feel less smooth during intense firefights, while Low settings at 154.1 FPS are best for maximum frame rates in competitive scenarios.

For 4K gaming, Medium settings at 63.5 FPS provide the most balanced experience, offering decent visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates. Low settings at 92.4 FPS are recommended for players who prioritize smoothness over visuals, as they provide the only way to exceed 90 FPS at this resolution. High settings at 49.3 FPS and Ultra at 40.3 FPS are only suitable for single-player or casual play where frame rate is less critical.

Overall, the data suggests that High settings at 1440p provide the best combination of visual quality and performance for this system, delivering 87.9 FPS without requiring compromises in either area.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 471st out of 1717 tested combos for Rust, placing it in the top 27% of all systems tested. This ranking indicates that the system performs significantly better than average for this game, though it is not in the top tier of configurations.

The ranking relative to other combos suggests that this pairing is well-suited for Rust’s demands. The CPU’s 6-core/12-thread configuration and the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM capacity align well with the game’s requirements, providing a balanced system that avoids severe bottlenecks at most settings. The 75th percentile CPU ranking and 81st percentile GPU ranking indicate that both components are above average, but neither is exceptional, which explains the mid-pack overall position.

The system’s performance in Rust is likely aided by the CPU’s strong multicore scores, particularly the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14372, which helps with the game’s world simulation. The GPU’s 12 GB VRAM ensures that texture loading at high resolutions does not cause stuttering, as evidenced by the stable frame rates across all tested settings. The 471st ranking out of 1717 combos means there are 470 systems that perform better, but also over 1200 systems that perform worse, confirming that this is a solid mid-to-high-end configuration for Rust.