Rust

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a playable yet heavily scaling experience in Rust, with the data showing that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution climbs. At 1080p, the combination produces high frame rates, but the transition to 1440p and 4K reveals a steep performance curve that aligns with the GPU’s mid-range standing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the graphics card is the limiting factor at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 152 FPS, but this drops to 104 FPS at 1440p and further to 62 FPS at 4K. This represents a 31.6% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 59.2% reduction from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the RTX 2070 SUPER’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated as pixel count increases.

The pattern is similar across all settings presets. At Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 102 at 1080p to 70 at 1440p and 41 at 4K. At High settings, the drop is from 86 to 59 to 35. At Ultra, the numbers are 65, 45, and 27 respectively. The scaling factor between 1440p and 4K is notably larger than between 1080p and 1440p, suggesting that the 4K resolution pushes the GPU beyond its comfortable operating range, especially at higher quality presets.

This scaling behavior indicates that the CPU, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, is not the primary constraint in this title. The i5-13400F’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22604 and a single-core score of 3191, suggest ample headroom for the game’s logic and physics. The data implies that the RTX 2070 SUPER, which sits at the 65th percentile among all GPUs, is the component that determines the frame rate ceiling as resolution increases.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the most fluid experience, with average FPS ranging from 65 at Ultra to 152 at Low. At 1440p, the combo remains playable, with averages between 45 and 104, but 4K is only viable at Low settings, where it hits 62 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER perform relative to its closest rivals?

A: According to the benchmark data, the RTX 2070 SUPER has an average score of 20282, which is 1% lower than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M and 1.2% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile. This places it in a tight competitive band with those mobile and workstation parts.

Q: Does the i5-13400F bottleneck the GPU in Rust?

A: No, the data does not suggest a CPU bottleneck. The processor’s strong multi-threaded scores, including a Passmark multithread score of 25032, indicate it can feed the GPU adequately. The FPS scaling pattern across resolutions points to the GPU as the limiting factor.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra results in a 57.2% performance drop, from 152 FPS to 65 FPS. This is a significant trade-off, but the 65 FPS average at Ultra remains playable for most users.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Rust at high resolutions?

A: The data suggests that 8 GB is adequate but not generous. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 27, which is likely impacted by both compute load and memory capacity. At 1440p and 1080p, the VRAM appears sufficient, as the performance scaling is more linear with pixel count.

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

A: The combo is ranked 2160 out of 3723 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This ranking reflects the GPU’s 65th percentile standing, which is below the mid-range mark.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the decisive factor in this combo’s Rust performance, and its specifications explain the observed frame rates. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1605 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, with 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for most scenes but can become strained at 4K with high-quality textures.

The GPU’s compute capabilities, measured at 9.062 TFLOPS for FP32, are moderate by modern standards. This is reflected in its Passmark G3D score of 18169 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1651. These numbers place the RTX 2070 SUPER at the 65th percentile among all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming well but struggles at 4K.

The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is a notable consideration for Rust, which is known for large open-world environments. At 1080p, the data shows no obvious VRAM-related stuttering, as the minimum FPS at Medium settings is 87. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 60, and at 4K Medium, it drops to 35. The tighter minimums at higher resolutions suggest that memory bandwidth and capacity are coming into play, particularly at 4K Ultra where the average FPS falls to 27.

The GPU’s clock speeds are also relevant. The 1770 MHz boost clock is modest, and the card’s power limit of 215 W suggests it can maintain these clocks under load. However, the data indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter at 1440p and 4K, as the FPS drops are proportionally larger than what would be expected from CPU limitations alone.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the combo delivers a wide range of performance depending on the preset. Low settings produce an average of 152 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth for a survival game. Medium settings yield 102 FPS, with a minimum of 87 and a maximum of 117. High settings reduce the average to 86 FPS, and Ultra brings it down to 65 FPS. This spread shows that the CPU-GPU combination has substantial headroom at 1080p, allowing users to prioritize visual quality without sacrificing playability.

Moving to 1440p, the performance drops become more pronounced. Low settings still deliver a strong 104 FPS average, but Medium falls to 70 FPS (minimum 60, maximum 81). High settings average 59 FPS, which is at the edge of smoothness for many players, and Ultra drops to 45 FPS. The data suggests that 1440p is the practical ceiling for high-refresh-rate monitors, as only the Low preset exceeds 100 FPS.

At 4K, the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 62 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. Medium averages 41 FPS (minimum 35, maximum 48), High drops to 35 FPS, and Ultra falls to 27 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is only viable with the Low preset, and even then, the experience is marginal. The lack of minimum FPS data for most 4K rows suggests that the performance is relatively consistent, but the averages are too low for competitive play.

The data also shows that the scaling between settings is not uniform. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 87 FPS, while at 4K, the same settings gap is only 35 FPS. This indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that changing quality settings has a diminished impact on frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested CPU-GPU combinations for Rust, this setup ranks 2160 out of 3723, placing it in the 42nd percentile of all tested combos. This ranking is consistent with the individual component standings: the i5-13400F is at the 77th percentile among CPUs, while the RTX 2070 SUPER is at the 65th percentile among GPUs. The combo’s lower overall rank suggests that Rust is more demanding on the GPU than the CPU, and the mid-range graphics card drags the combined score down.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, which has a nearly identical average score of 25284, and the Intel Core 5 120, which is 0.3% faster. The i5-13400F’s average score of 25292 puts it in a tight pack with these alternatives, indicating that the processor is not a differentiator in this configuration. On the GPU side, the RTX 2070 SUPER is 1% slower than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M and 1.2% slower than the RTX 3070 Mobile, showing that it is competitive with those parts but not a leader.

Given this ranking, the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates across all settings. At 1440p, it is a capable performer for medium-to-high presets, but users seeking 100+ FPS will need to lower settings. The 4K performance is below the threshold for smooth gameplay except at Low settings, which makes it a poor choice for 4K monitors.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s display resolution and performance priorities. For 1080p displays, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 102 FPS and a minimum of 87 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with room for dips during intense combat or large base raids. Users with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or above) may prefer Low settings, which average 152 FPS, though the visual trade-off is significant.

For 1440p displays, the Medium preset is again the sweet spot, averaging 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. This is sufficient for most players, though those sensitive to frame pacing may want to drop to Low for the 104 FPS average. The High preset at 59 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 45 FPS is likely too choppy for fast-paced encounters.

At 4K, the only viable option is Low settings, which average 62 FPS. The Medium preset at 41 FPS is not recommended for serious gameplay, and High (35 FPS) and Ultra (27 FPS) are unplayable. Users with 4K displays should accept lower visual fidelity or consider upgrading the GPU.

Overall, the data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with Medium settings, where it delivers a consistent and enjoyable experience. The 65 FPS at 1080p Ultra is also acceptable for those prioritizing image quality over raw frame rate. The key takeaway is that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the limiting factor, and users should tailor their settings to match its capabilities rather than pushing resolutions beyond its comfort zone.