Rust

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F brings a 10-core, 16-thread configuration based on the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz can reach 4.70 GHz under boost, which matters for Rust's simulation-heavy gameplay. Rust is known for its server-side entity updates and physics calculations, which can stress single-thread performance, and the 4.70 GHz boost clock provides headroom for those spikes. The CPU's L3 cache is 20 MB shared, which helps when the game streams in terrain and building data.

In terms of raw compute, the i5-14400F scores 21,914 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,093 in single-core. Its Geekbench scores are 11,209 multi-core and 2,333 single-core. PassMark multi-thread performance lands at 25,783, with a single-thread score of 3,723. The CPU sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong overall capability. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-14400F is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-12800H (deltaPct 0) and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (deltaPct 0.2), while slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 250 and Intel Core i7-13705H (both deltaPct -0.2). This clustering suggests that, for CPU-bound scenarios, this chip is competitive with those mid-range mobile and desktop parts.

The 65 W TDP and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 memory support mean the CPU can feed data to the GPU without a significant bottleneck in most scenarios. However, in Rust, the data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p Low, the average FPS reaches 96.9, which is nearly double the 4K Low result of 40.2. This gap indicates that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU is capable of pushing high frame rates, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads are sufficient for Rust's multithreaded aspects, but the game's reliance on a few heavily loaded threads means the 4.70 GHz boost is often more critical than the core count.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is built on the Ampere architecture with the GA107 chip, fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process. It packs 2,048 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, with 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. The base clock is 1,545 MHz, boosting to 1,740 MHz, while memory runs at 1,500 MHz (12 Gbps effective). The 4 GB GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The 4 GB VRAM is a critical constraint in Rust, a game that can consume significant memory for textures and asset streaming. The measured FPS data shows how this limitation manifests. At 1080p High, the average is 58.1 FPS, but at 1440p High, it drops to 40.2 FPS, and at 4K High, it falls to 21.8 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 30.9% reduction, while 1440p to 4K is a 45.8% reduction. This steep decline suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and capacity are being saturated.

The RTX 3050's pixel rate is 55.68 GPixel/s and texture rate is 111.4 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 7.127 TFLOPS. These specs indicate a capable entry-level card, but the 4 GB memory is undersized for Rust's higher settings at larger resolutions. The GPU sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, which is exactly the median — a sign that it is neither a high-end nor a low-end part. The card's 90 W TDP and PCIe 4.0 x8 interface are modest, but the memory size is the standout limitation.

At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 96.9 shows that the GPU can handle Rust when the load is light. But at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 17 FPS, which is unplayable. The data implies that the 4 GB VRAM is the primary bottleneck at high settings and high resolutions, as the GPU's compute capabilities are likely sufficient for medium settings at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB combination ranks 1,542 out of 1,717 tested combos in Rust. This places it in the bottom 10.2% of all tested configurations, which is a striking result given the CPU's strong performance. The i5-14400F is a top-tier CPU, but the RTX 3050 4 GB is a mid-range GPU at best. The data indicates that the GPU is dragging the combo down significantly.

This ranking suggests that, in Rust, the GPU is the dominant factor in determining overall performance. The CPU's 88th percentile standing is effectively neutralized by the GPU's 50th percentile position. The combo rank of 1,542 implies that most other tested combos, even those with weaker CPUs, outperform this pairing because they have more capable GPUs.

The deltaPct values from the CPU's nearest rivals show that the i5-14400F is competitive with other mid-range CPUs, but this does not translate to a good combo rank. The data implies that Rust is heavily GPU-bound at the settings and resolutions measured. The 4 GB VRAM is simply insufficient for the game's demands at higher quality presets, which explains why this combo falls so low in the rankings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Rust?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 96.9 FPS, which is the highest measured value across all resolutions and settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 17, which is the lowest measured value and indicates the GPU is severely overburdened at this resolution and preset.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a strong performer relative to other processors.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, which is the median performance level.

Q: How does the i5-14400F compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H?

A: The i5-14400F and Intel Core i7-12800H have a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are statistically tied in average benchmark score.

Q: What is the combo's rank in Rust relative to all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 1,542 out of 1,717 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 10.2% of all configurations tested.

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

The measured data shows a clear pattern of FPS degradation as resolution increases, with the most dramatic drops occurring at higher settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 96.9 at 1080p, to 68.3 at 1440p, to 40.2 at 4K. This represents a 29.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 41.1% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is relatively consistent, suggesting that the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are being taxed equally.

At Medium settings, the averages are 66.3 (1080p), 44.3 (1440p), and 28.1 (4K). The percentage drops are 33.2% and 36.6% respectively. At High settings, the averages are 58.1 (1080p), 40.2 (1440p), and 21.8 (4K), with drops of 30.8% and 45.8%. At Ultra settings, the averages are 39.6 (1080p), 31.8 (1440p), and 17 (4K), with drops of 19.7% and 46.5%.

The pattern is telling. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 57.3 FPS (96.9 vs 39.6), which shows that settings have a significant impact. At 4K, the gap narrows to 23.2 FPS (40.2 vs 17), indicating that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor regardless of settings. The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU has more influence on FPS, but as resolution rises, the GPU's 4 GB VRAM and 192.0 GB/s bandwidth become the bottleneck. The 4K results, which hover between 17 and 40.2 FPS, suggest that this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming in Rust, regardless of settings.

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

For a playable experience, the data points to 1080p as the only resolution where this combo delivers consistently smooth frame rates. At 1080p Low, the average of 96.9 FPS is excellent, providing a responsive experience. At 1080p Medium, the average of 66.3 FPS is still solid, offering a balance between visual quality and performance. At 1080p High, the average of 58.1 FPS is playable but begins to show strain. At 1080p Ultra, the average of 39.6 FPS is borderline, as Rust's competitive nature benefits from higher frame rates.

At 1440p, the results are less favorable. Low settings yield 68.3 FPS, which is acceptable, but Medium (44.3 FPS) and High (40.2 FPS) are marginal, and Ultra (31.8 FPS) is likely too choppy for smooth gameplay. At 4K, even Low settings (40.2 FPS) are below the 60 FPS threshold, and all other settings are unplayable.

The best experience per the measured rows is at 1080p Medium, which delivers 66.3 FPS. This preset provides a noticeable improvement over Low settings while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the playability threshold. For players who prioritize smoothness, 1080p Low at 96.9 FPS is the safest choice. The data suggests that 1080p is the intended resolution for this combo, and that Medium settings strike the optimal balance between visual fidelity and performance.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its best results. Low settings produce an average of 96.9 FPS, Medium produces 66.3 FPS, High produces 58.1 FPS, and Ultra produces 39.6 FPS. This resolution is the only one where any setting reaches 60 FPS or above, with Low and Medium both exceeding that threshold.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low settings yield 68.3 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that remains above 60 FPS. Medium produces 44.3 FPS, High produces 40.2 FPS, and Ultra produces 31.8 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is most severe at High settings, where the average falls from 58.1 to 40.2 FPS, a 30.8% reduction.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles across all settings. Low produces 40.2 FPS, Medium produces 28.1 FPS, High produces 21.8 FPS, and Ultra produces 17 FPS. None of these results are playable for a competitive game like Rust, and the data indicates that this GPU is not viable for 4K gaming in this title.

The full breakdown shows a consistent hierarchy: Low > Medium > High > Ultra at every resolution. The differences between settings are most pronounced at 1080p, where Low beats Ultra by 57.3 FPS. At 4K, the difference narrows to 23.2 FPS, indicating that the GPU's limitations compress the performance range at higher resolutions. The measured data confirms that the RTX 3050 4 GB is the binding constraint, and that the i5-14400F's capabilities are largely untapped beyond 1080p.