Rust

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B390 in Rust delivers a combination that is heavily constrained by its graphics component. The data indicates a functional setup for lower resolutions and settings, but one that struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher graphical loads. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the role of each component, and the practical implications for playing Rust based solely on the provided benchmark data.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-12400 shows a balanced profile. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 15989, while the single-core score is 2257. Geekbench results show a multicore score of 8564 and a single-core score of 1848. The processor's Passmark multithread score is 18747, and its single-thread score is 3456. These figures place the CPU in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (deltaPct -0.1), Intel Core i7-1355U (deltaPct -0.3), AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (deltaPct -0.7), and Intel Core i3-14100F (deltaPct 0.9), indicating that the i5-12400 sits in a competitive mid-range position for general processing tasks.

For Rust, a survival game known for its demanding simulation and physics, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are relevant. At lower settings and resolutions, where the GPU is less burdened, the CPU's capability to handle game logic becomes more prominent. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves an average of 76 FPS, which is the highest measured result across all configurations. This suggests that the CPU is capable of driving the game to a reasonably high frame rate when the graphical load is minimized. However, as resolution and settings increase, the frame rate drops, indicating that the bottleneck shifts away from the CPU. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, as indicated by its Geekbench single-core score of 1848, likely helps in Rust's core game loop, but the overall system performance is capped by other factors.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its memory is designated as "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent."

The GPU's performance metrics are modest. Its pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with an FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 1482. This places the GPU in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rivals are notably older or lower-end parts: NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct 1.3), NVIDIA GeForce GT 800M (deltaPct 1.5), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (deltaPct 2.5), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (deltaPct 2.7). This indicates that the Arc B390's raw graphics performance is in the entry-level tier, comparable to decade-old discrete GPUs.

In Rust, the GPU's role is critical at higher settings and resolutions. The measured data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 76, but at 1080p Ultra, it falls to 33. At 4K, the situation is more severe, with Low averaging 31 FPS and Ultra dropping to an unplayable 13 FPS. This demonstrates that the Arc B390 is the primary limiting factor when graphical demand increases. The shared memory architecture and relatively low fill rates (60.00 GPixel/s) are insufficient for the pixel and texture workload of Rust at high settings, particularly at higher resolutions. The GPU's performance percentile of 9 versus the CPU's 72 clearly shows a massive imbalance in this combo.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2601 out of 2953 tested combos in Rust. This places it in the bottom 12% of all system configurations tested for this game. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's weak performance relative to the CPU. While the i5-12400 is a capable mid-range processor, the Arc B390's integrated graphics solution holds the entire system back.

This rank of 2601 out of 2953 suggests that the vast majority of other tested combinations, likely including those with discrete entry-level or mid-range GPUs, outperform this setup in Rust. The data implies that the combo is only suitable for the lowest graphical settings and resolutions. The significant gap between the CPU's 72nd percentile ranking and the GPU's 9th percentile ranking highlights a severe bottleneck, where the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU's ability to feed it frames. This is a classic case of an imbalanced pairing, where the overall gaming experience is dictated by the weakest link.

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

A detailed look at the measured FPS data reveals the performance envelope of this combo across different resolutions and settings.

1080p (1920x1080): The best-case scenario for this combo is at 1080p. At Low settings, it achieves an average of 76 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59 FPS. At High settings, the average falls to 43 FPS. The most demanding option, Ultra, yields an average of 33 FPS. This shows a playable range only at Low settings, with Medium being borderline and High/Ultra being suboptimal for smooth gameplay.

1440p (2560x1440): At this resolution, performance degrades significantly. Low settings produce an average of 53 FPS. Medium settings drop to an average of 35 FPS, with a range of 30 to 41 FPS. High settings average 30 FPS, while Ultra is only 23 FPS. The step from 1080p to 1440p costs a substantial number of frames, especially at lower settings. The 76 FPS at 1080p Low becomes 53 FPS at 1440p Low, a loss of 23 FPS.

4K (3840x2160): Performance at 4K is largely unplayable. Low settings average 31 FPS. Medium settings average 21 FPS, with a min of 18 and max of 24. High settings drop to 18 FPS, and Ultra is a mere 13 FPS. None of these frame rates are suitable for a smooth gaming experience, indicating that this combo is not viable for 4K gaming in Rust.

The data consistently shows that lowering settings has a more pronounced effect on frame rate than lowering resolution. For example, going from 4K Low (31 FPS) to 1080p Low (76 FPS) is a 145% improvement, whereas going from 4K Ultra (13 FPS) to 4K Low (31 FPS) is a 138% improvement. This suggests that the GPU is extremely sensitive to both parameters, but settings adjustments provide a more accessible lever for performance tuning.

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

The resolution scaling behavior provides strong evidence that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. From 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the average FPS drops from 76 to 53, a decrease of approximately 30%. From 1440p Low to 4K Low, the average drops from 53 to 31, a further decrease of about 42%. In total, moving from 1080p Low to 4K Low reduces performance from 76 FPS to 31 FPS, a drop of 59%.

This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The pixel count increases by 2.25x from 1080p to 1440p and by 4x from 1080p to 4K. The frame rate drops are roughly proportional to these increases, indicating that the graphics processor is working at its maximum capacity to fill pixels. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rate to remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU's workload would not change significantly. The steep decline in FPS with resolution confirms that the Arc B390's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

At higher settings, the trend is even more pronounced. From 1080p Ultra (33 FPS) to 4K Ultra (13 FPS), the drop is 61%. This reinforces the notion that the GPU is completely overwhelmed by the combined demands of high resolution and high graphical fidelity. The CPU, while not idle, is not the constraint; it is waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

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

Based on the measured data, the only viable configuration for a consistently playable experience is 1080p with Low settings, which yields an average of 76 FPS. This is the only preset that breaks the 60 FPS threshold, which is often considered the baseline for smooth gameplay. The 1440p Low preset is also an option, averaging 53 FPS, which might be acceptable for some players, but it is below the 60 FPS target.

For players prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, the 1080p Low preset is the recommended choice. It provides the highest headroom and ensures the game remains responsive. If a player has a 1440p monitor and insists on using it, they would have to accept the 53 FPS average at Low settings, which may be playable but not ideal.

All Medium, High, and Ultra presets at any resolution fail to provide a smooth experience. The 1080p Medium preset averages 51 FPS, which is borderline, but the frame time variance (min 44, max 59) could lead to noticeable stutters. The 1080p High (43 FPS) and Ultra (33 FPS) are too low for a game like Rust, where quick reactions are often necessary. The 4K presets, with averages ranging from 13 to 31 FPS, are entirely unsuitable for gameplay and should be avoided. In summary, the data suggests that players should stick to 1080p Low to get the best possible performance from this combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings to play Rust with this combo?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the best option, achieving an average of 76 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a frame rate above 60 FPS.

Q: Can this combo run Rust at 4K?

A: No, 4K performance is not playable. The highest average FPS at 4K is 31 (Low settings), with Ultra dropping to 13 FPS. All 4K presets are well below acceptable playability thresholds.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. It is nearly identical in performance to the AMD EPYC 7643 (deltaPct -0.1) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-1355U (deltaPct -0.3) and AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (deltaPct -0.7). It is marginally behind the Intel Core i3-14100F (deltaPct 0.9).

Q: How does the GPU performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. It is slightly faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct 1.3) and GeForce 800M (deltaPct 1.5), and more notably faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (deltaPct 2.5) and GeForce GT 710 (deltaPct 2.7). Despite this, its 9th percentile ranking indicates very low overall performance.

Q: What is the performance impact of moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 76 at 1080p to 53 at 1440p, a decrease of 23 FPS. At Medium settings, it drops from 51 to 35 FPS. This indicates a significant GPU load increase with resolution.

Q: Is this combo balanced for gaming?

A: No, the data indicates a major imbalance. The CPU is in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. This results in a system where the GPU is consistently the limiting factor, holding back the CPU's potential in gaming workloads like Rust.