Rust

Rust, a survival game known for its demanding simulation and rendering load, presents a fascinating case study when paired with an Intel Core i5-9400 and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D. The benchmark data reveals a significant performance bottleneck, with the CPU struggling to keep pace with the GPU's immense power. This analysis explores the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, the role of each component, and what the data implies for players seeking an optimal experience.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It sits in the 47th percentile of all CPUs according to benchmark aggregates, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and the Intel Core i3-10305, which score nearly identically, with delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.4% respectively. This places the i5-9400 in a specific performance tier, but one that is clearly overshadowed by the GPU it is paired with in this test.

The data shows a stark pattern: even at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 142. This is a high frame rate, but it is not the multi-hundred FPS figure one might expect from an RTX 5090 D if it were fully utilized. The CPU's six threads are likely the limiting factor. Rust's simulation, which includes player builds, resource gathering, and server-side entity interactions, is heavily dependent on single-thread performance. While the i5-9400's 4.10 GHz boost is decent, its 6-thread limit constrains its ability to feed the GPU with draw calls and game state updates. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6629 and single-core score of 935 illustrate a processor that, while competent, is not in the same league as modern high-end CPUs.

The implications are clear. The i5-9400 is the primary bottleneck in this combination. The GPU is often waiting for the CPU to deliver instructions, which caps the maximum achievable frame rate. This is why we see a relatively narrow spread between Low and High settings at a given resolution. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 142, but at 1080p High, it drops to 115. The difference is there, but the ceiling imposed by the CPU prevents the GPU from stretching its legs. This bottleneck is less pronounced at higher resolutions, where the GPU's workload increases, but it still shapes the overall performance profile. The data strongly suggests that upgrading the CPU would yield a substantial FPS increase, as it would remove the current constraint.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 115.

Q: Is there a significant difference between the average FPS at 1080p Low and 1440p Low?

A: Yes, the average FPS drops from 142 at 1080p Low to 125 at 1440p Low, a decrease of 17 FPS.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The highest average FPS is 142, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo's rank in this game compare to all tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 652nd out of 2953 tested combinations, placing it in the top 22% of all combos.

Q: What is the performance delta between the RTX 5090 D and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT?

A: The RTX 5090 D has a -1.6% deltaPct compared to the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, meaning the RX 6850M XT has a slightly higher average benchmark score.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the 4K Ultra setting yield the lowest average FPS?

A: The lowest average FPS in the data is 61, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is ranked 652nd out of 2953 tested combos in Rust. This places it in the 78th percentile, meaning it outperforms approximately 78% of all other tested combinations. At first glance, this seems like a strong result. However, the ranking must be interpreted with the context of the component mismatch. The GPU is an absolute top-tier part, sitting in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is a mid-range part from a previous generation, sitting in the 47th percentile.

The data implies that this rank is achieved despite the CPU bottleneck, not because of a balanced pairing. The RTX 5090 D's raw power is doing the heavy lifting, but it is being held back. A more balanced combo, with a CPU that matches the GPU's capabilities, would likely rank much higher. The fact that this combo still lands at 652nd confirms the GPU's sheer performance, as it can brute-force through many scenarios even with a limiting CPU. But the ranking also highlights a potential inefficiency. Players with this combo are not getting the full value of their GPU in Rust, as the CPU is preventing it from reaching its maximum potential frame rates. The rank of 652 is a good result, but it is a number that hints at untapped performance.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 4K (3840x2160), the average FPS ranges from 61 at Ultra to 105 at Low. The Medium preset delivers an average of 90 FPS, with a minimum of 77 and a maximum of 104. High settings yield an average of 80 FPS. Moving to 1440p (2560x1440), performance scales up. Low settings produce an average of 125 FPS, High settings average 101 FPS, and Medium settings average 108 FPS with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 124. Ultra settings at this resolution average 92 FPS. At 1080p (1920x1080), the highest average FPS is 142 on Low settings. High settings average 115 FPS, Medium settings average 122 FPS with a minimum of 104 and a maximum of 140, and Ultra settings average 104 FPS.

Analyzing these numbers reveals a pattern. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution is significant but not enormous. At 1080p, the spread is 38 FPS (142 to 104). At 1440p, the spread is 33 FPS (125 to 92). At 4K, the spread is 44 FPS (105 to 61). The fact that even at 4K Ultra, the combo still manages an average of 61 FPS shows the GPU's strength, but the FPS ceiling at lower resolutions is more indicative of the CPU's limitations. The data also shows that the Medium preset often provides a good balance, with FPS figures that are close to High but with a smaller performance penalty. For instance, at 1440p, Medium averages 108 FPS, which is 7 FPS higher than High. This suggests that the Medium preset is a more efficient use of the hardware.

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

The resolution scaling behavior is a key indicator of where the bottleneck lies. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by 17% on Low settings (142 to 125), 12% on High settings (115 to 101), 11% on Medium settings (122 to 108), and 12% on Ultra settings (104 to 92). These are relatively modest drops, suggesting that the GPU has enough headroom to handle the increased pixel count at 1440p without a massive frame rate hit. However, the transition to 4K shows a more pronounced effect. From 1440p to 4K, the average FPS drops by 16% on Low settings (125 to 105), 21% on High settings (101 to 80), 17% on Medium settings (108 to 90), and 34% on Ultra settings (92 to 61).

The larger percentage drops at 4K, especially on Ultra settings, indicate that the GPU is finally becoming the limiting factor. At 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is the primary constraint, so the FPS doesn't scale up as much as one would expect from such a powerful GPU. The GPU is not being fully saturated. As the resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and we see a more significant FPS penalty. The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the i5-9400 is holding the system back, preventing the RTX 5090 D from achieving its full potential. At 4K, the system becomes more balanced, as the GPU's rendering load becomes more demanding, but the CPU is still a factor, especially at lower settings. This pattern is classic evidence of a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions.

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

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset appears to offer the best balance of visual quality and performance across all tested resolutions. At 1080p, Medium averages 122 FPS, which is 7 FPS higher than High and 18 FPS higher than Ultra. The minimum FPS of 104 also indicates that the frame pacing is likely to be smoother than at higher settings. At 1440p, Medium averages 108 FPS, which is 7 FPS higher than High and 16 FPS higher than Ultra. This is a very playable frame rate for a game like Rust. At 4K, Medium averages 90 FPS, which is 10 FPS higher than High and 29 FPS higher than Ultra. It also has a minimum of 77 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

The Ultra preset, while visually appealing, is the most demanding. At 4K, it dips to an average of 61 FPS, which is on the edge of what many would consider acceptable. At 1080p, Ultra averages 104 FPS, but the performance cost relative to Medium is steep. The Low preset, on the other hand, offers the highest frame rates, but likely at a significant visual quality cost. For players with high refresh rate monitors at 1080p, Low settings might be preferable to push FPS to the maximum, but for a balanced experience, Medium is the sweet spot. It provides a substantial FPS advantage over High and Ultra while maintaining a good level of graphical fidelity. The data strongly recommends Medium as the default setting for this combo.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a monster of a GPU, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2017 MHz, with a boost clock of 2407 MHz. It has 21,760 shading units and 170 RT cores. The GPU sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77712. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, with delta percentages of 1.1% and -1.6%, respectively.

In Rust, the GPU's role is to render the game world, including textures, lighting, and effects. The 32 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for any scenario in Rust, ensuring that there are no texture streaming issues or memory-related stutters. The high bandwidth also helps with loading asset-heavy areas. However, the benchmark data reveals that the GPU's immense power is not being fully utilized in this pairing. The FPS figures, while respectable, are not indicative of a top-tier GPU performing at its peak. This is because the CPU is bottlenecking the system, preventing the GPU from receiving enough data to render frames faster.

The GPU's high clock speeds and core count are the reason why the system can still achieve over 100 FPS at 1080p Medium. It is likely that the GPU is often idle, waiting for the CPU to send new draw calls. The data implies that the RTX 5090 D is the star of this show, but it is being held back by its older CPU partner. If paired with a modern high-end CPU, this GPU would likely produce significantly higher frame rates across all settings and resolutions, especially at 1080p and 1440p. The GPU's performance in this test reflects its raw power, but it also serves as a clear example of how a component mismatch can limit overall system performance.