Rust

# Rust with Intel Core i5-12400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

This combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1222nd out of 1717 tested combos in Rust, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. The ranking reflects a pairing that delivers playable but not exceptional frame rates, with the data showing a system that can handle 1080p well but struggles at higher resolutions. Benchmark results indicate that this combo sits in a position where neither component is a standout, yet together they produce a balanced experience for a demanding survival title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1222 out of 1717 tested combinations places this system in the 29th percentile of all tested hardware pairings for Rust. This is a modest standing, suggesting that many other configurations achieve higher average frame rates in this game. The ranking implies that while this system is capable of running Rust, it is not optimized for maximum performance in this title.

The CPU's overall percentile versus all CPUs is 77, which is strong, while the GPU's percentile versus all GPUs is 69, which is respectable but lower. This discrepancy hints that the GPU is the more limiting factor in this pairing for Rust. The CPU's average benchmark score of 19221 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K, which scores 19210, a delta of just 0.1%. This means the i5-12400F performs essentially on par with an older high-end i7. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS is 0.7% behind, while the AMD EPYC 7773X is 1.3% ahead. These tiny deltas show the CPU is well within a competitive cluster.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3060 Ti's average benchmark score of 25120 is notably close to the AMD Radeon RX 6700M, which scores 25180, a delta of -0.2%. The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is 0.5% ahead at 25235, and the AMD Radeon 890M is also 0.5% ahead at 25246. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP is 0.7% ahead at 25287. These marginal differences indicate the RTX 3060 Ti is in a tightly contested performance band, with no clear winner among these rivals.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA104 chip fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process. It contains 17,400 million transistors on a die size of 392 mm². The GPU operates at a base clock of 1410 MHz and boosts to 1665 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz or 14 Gbps effective. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

The GPU has 4864 shading units, 152 texture mapping units, and 80 raster operation pipelines. It also includes 38 RT cores and 152 tensor cores, which are relevant for ray tracing and DLSS features, though Rust does not heavily utilize these. The pixel rate is 133.2 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 253.1 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 16.20 TFLOPS, matching the FP16 performance at 16.20 TFLOPS (1:1).

In Rust, the GPU's role is critical at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 25.1, which is barely playable. At 1080p with Low settings, the GPU pushes 140.3 FPS, showing its capacity at lower loads. The GPU's benchmark scores, including a Passmark G3D score of 20349 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 109075, indicate a mid-range performer that is adequate for 1080p gaming but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 12th-generation processor from the Alder Lake family, using the Alder Lake-S architecture on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU's TDP is 65 W, and it fits the Intel Socket 1700. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Its benchmark scores show strong single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 16518, and the single-core score is 2332. The Geekbench multicore score is 9138, with a single-core score of 2221. Passmark results show a multithread score of 19433 and a single-thread score of 3481.

In Rust, the CPU's role is significant because the game is known to be CPU-intensive, especially with many entities and players on a server. The i5-12400F's 6 cores and 12 threads provide adequate processing power for the game's logic. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 140.3, which is the highest in the dataset, suggesting that at lower graphical settings, the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. However, as resolution increases to 4K, the FPS drops significantly, indicating that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows the highest average FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings at 140.3 FPS. At 2560x1440, the best average is 94.2 FPS on Low, and at 3840x2160, the best is 58.9 FPS on Low. For smooth gameplay, 1080p is the most comfortable resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19221, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-8700K's 19210. It is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U and 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, but 1.3% behind the AMD EPYC 7773X.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the bottleneck in Rust?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, FPS drops to 25.1, while at 1080p Low, it reaches 140.3. The GPU's average benchmark score percentile is 69, lower than the CPU's 77, supporting that the RTX 3060 Ti is the weaker link.

Q: What settings provide the best balance of quality and performance?

A: Medium settings at 1080p yield an average of 91.7 FPS, which is a good balance. At 1440p, Medium gives 63.7 FPS, which is acceptable. For 4K, Low settings at 58.9 FPS are the only playable option.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti's average benchmark score is 25120, which is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700M's 25180. It is 0.5% behind both the AMD Radeon RX 6600 and the AMD Radeon 890M, and 0.7% behind the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings average 94.2 FPS, while Ultra settings average 39.7 FPS. This is a difference of 54.5 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for higher graphical fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a clear pattern of FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 140.3 on Low to 57.5 on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the range shifts to 94.2 on Low down to 39.7 on Ultra. At 4K, the range tightens to 58.9 on Low and 25.1 on Ultra.

The drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial. For Low settings, the FPS goes from 140.3 to 58.9, a reduction of 58%. For Ultra settings, the drop is from 57.5 to 25.1, a reduction of 56%. This consistent percentage drop across settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter as resolution increases, since the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's pixel-pushing demands grow.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is more involved in maintaining frame rates, given the high FPS numbers. At 4K, the GPU is clearly saturated, as evidenced by the sub-60 FPS on all settings. This suggests that for this combo, 1080p is the sweet spot for high refresh rate play, while 1440p is viable for moderate settings, and 4K should be avoided for competitive play.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the best experience depends on the user's resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual quality. At 1080p, Medium settings provide 91.7 FPS, which is smooth and visually acceptable. High settings at 77.5 FPS are also viable for those seeking better visuals without a major FPS hit. Ultra settings at 57.5 FPS are playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action.

At 1440p, Medium settings at 63.7 FPS offer a balanced experience, while High at 55.1 FPS is slightly less smooth. Low at 94.2 FPS is the best for competitive play, but the visual quality suffers. Ultra at 39.7 FPS is not recommended for anything but slow exploration.

At 4K, the only playable option is Low at 58.9 FPS. Medium at 37 FPS and High at 32.8 FPS are borderline, while Ultra at 25.1 FPS is not recommended. For the best overall experience, 1080p with Medium or High settings appears optimal, providing a balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 1440p, Medium is the recommended choice for most players, while 4K should be reserved for users who prioritize resolution over frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average FPS varies significantly by setting. Low settings deliver 140.3 FPS, which is the highest across all resolutions and settings. Medium settings produce 91.7 FPS, High settings achieve 77.5 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 57.5 FPS. This shows a clear degradation from Low to Ultra, with a 82.8 FPS difference between the extremes.

At 2560x1440, the FPS values are lower across the board. Low settings average 94.2 FPS, Medium settings average 63.7 FPS, High settings average 55.1 FPS, and Ultra settings average 39.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 54.5 FPS, indicating that resolution scaling has a compounding effect on performance.

At 3840x2160, the FPS numbers are the lowest in the dataset. Low settings average 58.9 FPS, which is the only setting that breaks the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 37 FPS, High settings average 32.8 FPS, and Ultra settings average 25.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 33.8 FPS, showing that even at 4K, the settings choice has a measurable impact.

The data shows that the RTX 3060 Ti can handle Rust at 1080p with high frame rates, but the GPU's limitations become apparent at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance remains consistent, as evidenced by the strong benchmark scores, but the combination's overall rank of 1222 out of 1717 suggests that for Rust specifically, this is not a top-tier configuration.