Rust

Rust’s measured performance with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER reveals a system that is heavily influenced by resolution and settings, with the data showing a clear progression from playable at 1080p to challenging at 4K. The combination ranks 1650th out of 2953 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database, a position that reflects the age of the GPU relative to the CPU’s modern architecture. The following analysis breaks down how each component contributes to the observed frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and tells a definitive story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 86 FPS, but at 1440p High it falls to 59 FPS, and at 4K High it plummets to 35 FPS. This represents a 59% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at High settings, a scaling curve that points directly at the GPU as the limiting factor. The RTX 2070 SUPER’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated as pixel count increases, and the data suggests the Turing architecture is struggling to maintain throughput at higher resolutions.

Looking at Low settings, the scaling is even more revealing. The system produces 152 FPS at 1080p Low, 104 FPS at 1440p Low, and 62 FPS at 4K Low. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 31.6%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 40.4%. This non-linear decline indicates that the GPU’s compute resources, specifically its 2560 shading units and 9.062 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, are insufficient to feed the frame buffer at 4K, even when the game’s visual complexity is minimal. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 20 MB of L3 cache, is likely not the primary constraint in these scenarios, as the FPS scales almost purely with resolution.

The Medium settings data provides min/max FPS values that further illuminate the pattern. At 4K Medium, the average is 41 FPS with a minimum of 35 and maximum of 48, showing a tight 13 FPS range. At 1440p Medium, the average jumps to 70 FPS with a 60-81 range, and at 1080p Medium it reaches 102 FPS with an 87-117 range. The widening gap between resolutions as settings drop suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is the critical resource, as higher resolutions require more frequent data transfers that this older memory subsystem cannot sustain. The data implies that for 4K gaming, this combo is only viable at Low settings, where 62 FPS is achievable, but even that is marginal for competitive play.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a modern Arrow Lake-S part with 10 cores and 10 threads, a configuration that might seem unusual for a desktop CPU but is reflected in its benchmark scores. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and single-core score of 3655 place it in the 85th percentile against all CPUs, indicating strong raw processing power. In Rust, which is known for its server-side simulation and entity updates, the CPU’s role is often more pronounced at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed.

At 1080p Low, the combo produces 152 FPS, which is the highest measured result across all configurations. This suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately at this resolution, but the drop to 86 FPS at 1080p High indicates that the GPU is now the limiting factor. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.90 GHz and base clock of 3.30 GHz provide solid single-thread performance, which is crucial for Rust’s game logic, but the data shows that even at 1440p Low (104 FPS), the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. Instead, the GPU’s limits are exposed as resolution increases.

Comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals in the database, it is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (deltaPct 0) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (deltaPct -0.2) and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (deltaPct -0.4). These rivals all have similar average benchmark scores, suggesting that the Core Ultra 5 225’s 10-core/10-thread layout is competitive for gaming workloads. However, the lack of hyperthreading (10 threads for 10 cores) could be a limitation in heavily threaded scenarios, though Rust’s performance here does not indicate this is a major issue given the 152 FPS ceiling at 1080p Low.

The CPU’s L3 cache of 20 MB shared is modest by modern standards, and its memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s for DDR5 may be a factor in how quickly it can deliver data to the GPU. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30459 and single-thread score of 4412 suggest balanced performance, but in Rust, the data shows that resolution scaling has a greater impact on FPS than any CPU frequency or core count adjustment could mitigate. The CPU is not the star here; it is a capable partner that enables the GPU to reach its limits at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing architecture part from 2019, built on a 12 nm process at TSMC with 13,600 million transistors. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and its boost clock of 1770 MHz translates to 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. In Rust, the GPU’s role is clearly dominant, as the FPS drops consistently with each resolution increase across all settings.

At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 65 FPS, while at 1440p Ultra it drops to 45 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 27 FPS. The Ultra settings likely enable heavy post-processing and draw distances that tax the GPU’s 64 ROPs and 160 TMUs. The pixel rate of 113.3 GPixel/s and texture rate of 283.2 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits, and the data suggests these are being approached at 4K Ultra, leading to the sub-30 FPS result. The GPU’s 40 RT cores are present but likely underutilized in Rust, which does not heavily rely on ray tracing.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile against all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 18169 and an average benchmark score of 20282. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (deltaPct -1), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (deltaPct -1.2), and Intel Arc B570 (deltaPct -1.3), all of which are within 1.5% of its average score. This indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER is slightly below these parts in raw compute, but in Rust’s specific workload, the data shows it is the limiting component at 4K.

The memory configuration is the most telling factor. With 8 GB of VRAM, the card is at the edge of modern requirements, and at 4K with High or Ultra settings, it may be spilling over into system memory, causing the significant FPS drops. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is also a constraint, as higher resolutions require more data per frame. The data shows that at 4K Low, the combo still only manages 62 FPS, which is barely above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, indicating that even at minimal settings, the GPU’s memory subsystem is struggling to keep up with the pixel throughput demands.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the only resolution where all settings produce playable frame rates, with High at 86 FPS, Medium at 102 FPS, and Low at 152 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (104 FPS) and Medium (70 FPS) exceed 60 FPS, while 4K drops below 62 FPS even at Low.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (deltaPct 0) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (deltaPct -0.2) and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (deltaPct -0.4) in average benchmark scores, indicating similar overall performance.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the bottleneck in Rust?

A: The data clearly shows the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as FPS drops by 59% from 1080p High (86 FPS) to 4K High (35 FPS). The CPU’s 10 cores and 4.90 GHz boost clock are sufficient to maintain high FPS at 1080p Low (152 FPS).

Q: What is the maximum FPS achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 152 at 1080p Low settings. The lowest is 27 FPS at 4K Ultra, indicating a wide performance range depending on configuration.

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

A: The combo ranks 1650th out of 2953 tested combos in Rust, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database, which aligns with the GPU’s 65th percentile standing versus all GPUs.

Q: Does the GPU’s VRAM capacity affect performance?

A: The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is likely a limiting factor at 4K, as the FPS drops to 35 at High and 27 at Ultra, suggesting the card may be running out of memory or bandwidth at these settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1650 out of 2953 tested combinations in Rust places it just above the median, but not by a wide margin. This rank reflects the pairing of a modern, 85th-percentile CPU with a GPU that sits in the 65th percentile of all graphics cards. The data suggests that while the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates, the GPU’s age and memory limitations prevent the combo from climbing higher in the rankings.

In the context of Rust specifically, this rank indicates that the system is better suited for 1080p gaming than for higher resolutions. The 152 FPS at 1080p Low is a strong result, but the 27 FPS at 4K Ultra is among the lowest measured for this game. The combo’s position relative to other tested systems suggests that it would benefit from a GPU upgrade more than a CPU upgrade, as the Core Ultra 5 225’s performance is not the limiting factor in most scenarios.

The rank also implies that many other combos in the database achieve higher FPS in Rust, likely due to more powerful GPUs. The RTX 2070 SUPER’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Arc B570 and RTX 3070 Mobile, have slightly higher average benchmark scores, which may translate to better Rust performance at higher resolutions. However, the data here shows that for 1080p gaming, this combo is competitive, ranking in the upper half of tested systems.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Medium preset at 102 FPS (min 87, max 117) offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. The High preset at 86 FPS is also viable, but Medium’s higher average and tighter min/max range make it the safer choice for consistent gameplay.

At 1440p, the Low preset at 104 FPS is the only configuration that maintains a high frame rate, while Medium at 70 FPS (min 60, max 81) is still playable but approaches the lower limit. High at 59 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 45 FPS is not recommended for competitive play. For 4K, only the Low preset at 62 FPS is remotely playable, but even this is marginal, and users should expect occasional dips below 60 FPS.

The data suggests that the Ultra preset is not viable at any resolution above 1080p, as it produces 65 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K. For the best experience, users should prioritize Medium at 1080p for a balance of quality and performance, or Low at 1440p if higher resolution is preferred. The High preset at 1080p is a good middle ground, but the Medium preset’s higher minimum FPS (87 vs. no data for High) makes it more reliable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full dataset of measured FPS values is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 152 FPS average
• Medium: 102 FPS average (min 87, max 117)
• High: 86 FPS average
• Ultra: 65 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 104 FPS average
• Medium: 70 FPS average (min 60, max 81)
• High: 59 FPS average
• Ultra: 45 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 62 FPS average
• Medium: 41 FPS average (min 35, max 48)
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 27 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step down halves the frame rate at most settings. For example, at High settings, the FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 59 at 1440p (a 31.4% reduction) and then to 35 at 4K (a 40.7% reduction). At Low settings, the drop is from 152 to 104 (31.6%) and then to 62 (40.4%). This consistency across settings indicates that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and processing power are the dominant factors, with the CPU maintaining its performance headroom throughout.

The Medium settings data, which includes min/max FPS, shows that the frame time variance increases with resolution. At 1080p Medium, the range is 30 FPS (87 to 117), at 1440p Medium it is 21 FPS (60 to 81), and at 4K Medium it is 13 FPS (35 to 48). This suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU can burst to higher frame rates, but at 4K, it is consistently near its limits, resulting in a narrower but lower FPS range. The data reinforces that this combo is best utilized at 1080p, where it can maintain high and stable frame rates across all settings.