Rust

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 presents a specific performance profile in Rust, a survival game known for its demanding simulation and rendering loads. The measured data indicates this combination is positioned firmly in the mid-range tier for this title, with a combo rank of 1364 out of 1717 tested configurations. This places the system in the lower half of the overall performance spectrum, but the individual component data reveals a more nuanced story about where the bottlenecks and strengths lie. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on resolution scaling, settings impact, and the distinct roles played by the CPU and GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 combination in Rust?

A: The combo ranks 1364th out of 1717 tested combinations in the database. This places the system in the lower percentile of all tested hardware pairings for this specific game, indicating that while it can run the game, it is not positioned among the higher-performing configurations.

Q: At which resolution does this system achieve the highest average frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate is observed at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, where the system delivers an average of 126.2 FPS. This is the only configuration in the measured data that exceeds the 120 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32508. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H, has a nearly identical average score of 32513, resulting in a delta of 0%. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 is also close, with a score of 32446, placing the i5-14400F 0.2% ahead.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth, and how does it relate to its performance class?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6600 features a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s, which is delivered over a 128-bit bus with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. This bandwidth is a key factor in the GPU's overall performance, particularly at higher resolutions where data throughput demands increase.

Q: Based on the data, what is the most significant performance drop when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The most severe drop is seen on the Ultra preset. The average frame rate falls from 57.0 FPS at 1920x1080 to 20.6 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 63.9% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is heavily stressed by the combination of the highest settings and 4K resolution.

Q: Does the CPU show a higher performance percentile than the GPU?

A: Yes, the CPU's performance percentile is significantly higher. The Intel Core i5-14400F scores in the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the AMD Radeon RX 6600 scores in the 69th percentile among all GPUs. This suggests the CPU is a relatively stronger component in this pairing.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is the primary renderer for Rust, and its specifications directly influence the frame rates at various settings. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1626 MHz and a boost clock of 2491 MHz, with a game clock of 2044 MHz. These clock speeds determine how quickly the 1792 shading units can process geometry and pixel data. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, connected via a 128-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. This memory subsystem is a crucial factor for texture streaming and asset loading in a game like Rust, which features large, persistent worlds.

The benchmark results show a clear correlation between GPU load and frame rate. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 126.2 FPS. This high frame rate suggests the GPU is not the primary limiting factor at this resolution and settings level, as the workload is relatively light. However, as settings are increased to Ultra at the same resolution, the frame rate drops to 57.0 FPS. This reduction of more than half indicates that the GPU is becoming increasingly saturated with the higher fidelity effects and geometry. The GPU's performance percentile of 69% places it in the mid-range tier, and the data confirms that it can handle competitive frame rates at 1080p with lower settings, but its limits are quickly reached as visual demands escalate.

The GPU's role becomes even more pronounced at higher resolutions. The shift from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 quadruples the pixel count, placing a massive burden on the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth. The GPU’s pixel rate is 159.4 GPixel/s, yet the demands of 4K are substantial. The measured data shows that at 4K with High settings, the frame rate drops to 31.9 FPS, which is below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay. This points to the RX 6600's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus being a limiting factor, as the GPU must constantly manage a large amount of texture data at this resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of how the system scales under increasing graphical load. The most significant drop occurs between 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. For example, at High settings, the frame rate falls from 69.7 FPS to 48.5 FPS, a reduction of 21.2 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 1440p, as the rendering resolution increase directly impacts performance.

The scaling from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 is even more punishing. At Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 61.0 FPS to 33.7 FPS. This steep decline suggests that the GPU is not only struggling with the pixel count but also with the memory bandwidth requirements of 4K. The frame rate at 4K Ultra, 20.6 FPS, is effectively unplayable, showing that this resolution is beyond the comfortable capabilities of the RX 6600.

The data also reveals how the CPU and GPU interplay changes with resolution. At 1080p Low, the frame rate is 126.2 FPS. This high number suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve high frame rates. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the CPU's influence on the final frame rate diminishes. This is a classic sign of a system where the CPU is relatively strong for its class, but the GPU's performance ceiling is reached sooner. The system is likely CPU-bound at 1080p with low settings, but becomes heavily GPU-bound at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a complete matrix of average frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers a spread of results. The Low preset achieves 126.2 FPS, which is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset. The Medium preset delivers 86.1 FPS, a significant drop from Low. High settings yield 69.7 FPS, while the Ultra preset brings the frame rate down to 57.0 FPS. This progression shows that each step up in quality has a measurable impact on performance at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates are more constrained. The Low preset still manages a respectable 85.1 FPS. Medium settings drop to 61.0 FPS, which is a playable level for many. The High preset produces 48.5 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 34.6 FPS. The performance at 1440p demonstrates that the GPU is being taxed more heavily, and the frame rates are less consistent across the preset range.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly overburdened. The Low preset is the only setting that achieves a playable frame rate, with an average of 53.2 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 33.7 FPS, and High settings produce 31.9 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst performer across all tested configurations, with a low average of 20.6 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this hardware combination, as even the Low preset struggles to maintain a high frame rate, and the higher presets fall well below the 60 FPS threshold.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers a strong balance, delivering 86.1 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the High preset's 69.7 FPS, and the visual difference between Medium and High is often less impactful in a game like Rust than the performance gain. For players with a 144Hz monitor, the Low preset at 126.2 FPS is the only option that comes close to saturating the refresh rate.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, with an average of 61.0 FPS. This provides a smooth experience for most players. The High preset at 48.5 FPS is playable but may feel less fluid during intense moments. For those prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 85.1 FPS is the best choice, as it provides a substantial performance buffer.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that the system is not suited for this resolution. The Low preset at 53.2 FPS is the only configuration that approaches playability. However, even this setting will have noticeable dips in performance during heavy scenes. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all deliver frame rates below 35 FPS, which is generally considered too low for a competitive or smooth experience. Therefore, the recommendation is to avoid 4K with this hardware, or to accept the visual compromises of the Low preset.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F plays a critical role in ensuring the GPU is fed with data, particularly at lower resolutions. This CPU features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The high boost clock is beneficial for single-threaded tasks, which are common in game logic and physics calculations. The CPU's performance in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test is 21914 points, and its single-core score is 3093 points. These scores indicate a strong processor for gaming workloads.

The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p and 4K is much more significant than the drop from Low to High settings at a single resolution. This is a clear indication that the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU’s performance percentile of 88% indicates it is a high-performing component, especially when compared to the GPU's 69th percentile.

The CPU's role is more evident in the 1080p Low setting result of 126.2 FPS. This high frame rate is only achievable if the CPU can process the game's simulation and issue draw calls quickly enough. The i5-14400F, with its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and high single-core performance, is able to do this. However, the overall combo rank of 1364 out of 1717 suggests that in the grand scheme of all tested systems, this CPU is not powerful enough to push the GPU to its absolute limits in all scenarios. The system's performance is likely constrained by the CPU in CPU-intensive moments, such as when many players or structures are on screen, even if the GPU is the primary limiter for pure rendering throughput.