Rust

The Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a distinct performance profile in Rust, a survival title with demanding world simulation and rendering loads. The recorded data shows a system that scales predictably across resolutions and settings, with clear implications for which component governs frame rates under different conditions. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them within the database’s broader testing pool, and examines how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the observed frame times.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake refresh architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process node. Its base clock is listed at 2.10 GHz with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 33 MB L3 cache. The chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory via a dual-channel memory bus, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The processor’s 65 W TDP suggests a power-efficient design, though the boost clock indicates significant single-thread headroom when needed.

In Rust, the CPU’s role is substantial. The game’s procedural world generation, entity management, and physics calculations rely heavily on single-threaded performance, while the 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample multi-threaded capacity for background simulation and server-side tasks. The database’s recorded benchmarks for the i7-14700F show strong multi-core results: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 19620. Single-core performance is equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4958 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2429. These numbers indicate that the CPU can handle both the lightly threaded aspects of Rust (the main game loop) and the heavier parallel workloads (such as chunk loading and entity updates) without becoming a persistent bottleneck.

The measured frame rates in this database reflect that capacity. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches an average of 250 FPS, which is a high ceiling that suggests the CPU is delivering frames faster than the GPU can render them at lower settings. However, the gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution reveals how the CPU’s performance interacts with GPU load. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 250 at Low to 124 at Ultra, a 126 FPS difference. This spread is typical of a system where the GPU becomes more stressed as settings increase, but the CPU still maintains enough headroom to avoid causing a hard cap below the GPU’s output.

The CPU’s percentile rank against all tested processors is 91, meaning it outperforms 91% of the CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which has an average benchmark score 0.6% higher than the i7-14700F, and the Intel Xeon 6505P, which is 0.2% lower. This proximity indicates that the i7-14700F is competitive with other high-end desktop and workstation chips, and in Rust, that level of performance translates to consistent frame delivery across the tested resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks - use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 holds a rank of 218 out of 3723 tested combos in Rust. This places it in the top 5.9% of all CPU and GPU pairings recorded in the database for this game. The rank reflects not just raw component power, but how well the two parts work together under Rust’s specific workloads. A higher rank in this context means the pair produces higher average frame rates relative to other combinations, accounting for both CPU and GPU capabilities.

Breaking down the rank, the RTX 4080’s GPU percentile is 86, meaning it outperforms 86% of all GPUs in the database. The CPU’s percentile is 91. When combined, the system’s overall performance in Rust surpasses 94.1% of tested combos. The delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles is small, which suggests that neither component is drastically weaker than the other in a way that would create an obvious bottleneck. The nearest GPU rivals for the RTX 4080 include the RTX 4080 SUPER (0.1% higher average score) and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (1.1% lower). The gap between the RTX 4080 and the SUPER is negligible in synthetic benchmarks, and the measured Rust data confirms that the 4080 is fully capable of driving high frame rates.

The rank of 218 out of 3723 is notable because Rust is a title that can be sensitive to both CPU and GPU. Many combos with higher-ranked GPUs but weaker CPUs may fall below this pairing in Rust due to the game’s reliance on processor performance. Conversely, pairs with top-tier CPUs but slower GPUs cannot match the 4080’s raw rasterization output. The i7-14700F’s strong single-threaded score (4958 in Cinebench R23) and the RTX 4080’s 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 throughput combine to deliver a balanced experience that ranks highly in the database’s measured results.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 250 at 1080p to 198 at 1440p (a 20.8% decrease) and then to 117 at 4K (a 53.2% decrease from 1080p). This steep drop at 4K indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiter at higher pixel counts, as the CPU’s workload does not increase proportionally with resolution. The 117 FPS average at 4K Low is still high, but the decline is substantial.

At Medium settings, the pattern is similar: 193 FPS at 1080p, 133 FPS at 1440p (31.1% lower), and 79 FPS at 4K (59.1% lower from 1080p). The 4K Medium result includes recorded min and max values of 67 and 90 FPS, respectively, showing a frame time variance that suggests the GPU is under heavy load. At High settings, the averages are 163 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p (31.3% lower), and 66 FPS at 4K (59.5% lower). The Ultra preset shows the most extreme drop: 124 FPS at 1080p, 85 FPS at 1440p (31.5% lower), and 50 FPS at 4K (59.7% lower).

The consistent percentage drop from 1440p to 4K (around 59-60% across Medium, High, and Ultra) strongly suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. In contrast, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is smaller (around 31% for Medium through Ultra), which indicates that the CPU still has headroom at 1440p, but the GPU load is increasing. At 1080p Low, the 250 FPS average is likely near the CPU’s practical limit for this game, as the GPU has very little work to do at that resolution and setting. The fact that 1080p Low is exactly 250 FPS, a round number, hints that the CPU or memory subsystem may be capping the frame rate at that point.

This scaling behavior implies that for players targeting 4K, the RTX 4080 is the component that dictates frame rates, especially at Medium and above. At 1080p, the i7-14700F is the more active player, as the GPU is underutilized. The data does not show a scenario where both components are fully saturated simultaneously, which is typical for a high-end pairing in a game like Rust.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 250.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested CPU and GPU pairings in Rust?

A: It ranks 218 out of 3723 combos, placing it in the top 5.9% of all tested configurations.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 163 at 1080p to 66 at 4K, a 59.5% decrease.

Q: Which component appears to limit performance at 4K Medium settings?

A: The GPU limits performance, as the average FPS drops to 79 with recorded min and max of 67 and 90 FPS, indicating the RTX 4080 is heavily loaded.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile rank compared to all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F holds a percentile of 91, outperforming 91% of all CPUs.

Q: What is the GPU’s average benchmark score and its closest rival?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, with the RTX 4080 SUPER as its closest rival at a delta of 0.1% higher.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 uses the AD103 chip on the Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 5 nm process. It packs 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 716.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and memory runs at 1400 MHz (22.4 Gbps effective). The shader configuration includes 9728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 render output units. The RTX 4080 also features 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores, which support ray tracing and DLSS but are not the primary drivers of raw frame rate in standard rasterization.

For Rust, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions and settings. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for Rust’s texture and object data, even at 4K Ultra, where the measured average FPS is 50. The memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s helps sustain frame rates when the scene complexity increases, such as large bases with many dynamic objects. The GPU’s FP32 throughput of 48.74 TFLOPS provides high fill rates, which is critical for Rust’s draw calls and shadow rendering.

The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 4080 can deliver playable frame rates at 4K Medium (79 FPS average) and 4K High (66 FPS), but drops to 50 FPS at 4K Ultra. This indicates that the Ultra preset’s additional effects (likely higher shadow quality, more draw distance, and increased post-processing) push the GPU to its limits. At 1440p, the GPU has more headroom, with averages between 85 and 198 FPS depending on settings. At 1080p, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, as even Ultra settings produce 124 FPS average.

The GPU’s percentile of 86 places it above most GPUs in the database, but its nearest rivals include the RTX 4080 SUPER (0.1% higher average score) and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (1.1% lower). The small deltas in synthetic benchmarks suggest that the RTX 4080 is very close to its direct successor in raw compute, and the measured Rust data reflects that: the 4K High average of 66 FPS is consistent with what a high-end GPU should deliver in this title.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of how each preset affects frame rates. At 1080p, all presets are playable, with Low at 250 FPS, Medium at 193 FPS, High at 163 FPS, and Ultra at 124 FPS. The jump from Ultra to High is 39 FPS, which is a significant gain for a modest visual reduction. For players with a 144 Hz monitor, High at 1080p is the best balance, as it stays above the refresh rate most of the time. Medium is also viable if higher visual quality is preferred, but the 30 FPS difference between Medium and High is less impactful than the 39 FPS gain from High to Ultra.

At 1440p, the options are more constrained. Low produces 198 FPS, Medium 133 FPS, High 112 FPS, and Ultra 85 FPS. For a 144 Hz display, Medium is the highest preset that can keep the average above the refresh rate, with a 133 FPS average. High at 112 FPS is still smooth, but it dips below 120 FPS. Ultra at 85 FPS is playable on a 60 Hz monitor but may feel less fluid on higher refresh displays. The Medium preset’s recorded min FPS of 113 and max of 153 show that the frame time variance is moderate, which is acceptable for a survival game where reaction times matter.

At 4K, the data shows that Low is the only preset that exceeds 100 FPS (117 FPS average). Medium averages 79 FPS, High 66 FPS, and Ultra 50 FPS. For a 60 Hz display, Medium is the sweet spot, as it stays well above the refresh rate with a 79 FPS average and a min of 67 FPS. High at 66 FPS is borderline, as it is close to the 60 Hz threshold and may occasionally dip below. Ultra at 50 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as it falls below the standard 60 FPS target. The best experience per the measured rows is 4K Medium, which offers a substantial visual improvement over Low while maintaining a comfortable frame rate margin.

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

The database records average FPS for each resolution and preset, with some entries also including min and max values. The full breakdown is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 250 FPS average
• Medium: 193 FPS average, with min 164 and max 222
• High: 163 FPS average
• Ultra: 124 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 198 FPS average
• Medium: 133 FPS average, with min 113 and max 153
• High: 112 FPS average
• Ultra: 85 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 117 FPS average
• Medium: 79 FPS average, with min 67 and max 90
• High: 66 FPS average
• Ultra: 50 FPS average

The 1080p results show that the CPU is the primary driver at Low settings, with the GPU taking over as settings increase. The 250 FPS average at Low is likely near the CPU’s frame generation limit, as the GPU has minimal load. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 164 is still above 144 Hz, which is useful for high refresh gaming. At 1440p, the scaling is smoother, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 113 FPS (198 to 85). The 4K results show the GPU’s dominance, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 67 FPS (117 to 50). The Medium preset at 4K has the only recorded min and max values besides 1080p and 1440p Medium, with 67 and 90 FPS respectively, indicating that the GPU is working hard but maintaining stable frame times.