Rust

Rust with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon RX 7800M presents a compelling mobile gaming dataset. The measured frames per second across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a configuration that is heavily influenced by graphics load, with the CPU providing a solid foundation that rarely becomes the primary constraint. The data shows a clear hierarchy of performance that shifts predictably as resolution and settings change, offering specific insights into where this combo excels and where it struggles.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a dramatic and consistent drop in frame rates, indicating that the AMD Radeon RX 7800M is the defining component at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 140 at 1080p to 96 at 1440p, a reduction of 44 frames, and then further to 57 at 4K, which is a 59% decline from the 1080p figure. This steep curve suggests that the GPU’s raw throughput, while capable, is not sufficient to maintain high refresh rates at 4K, even with minimal graphical demands.

The scaling pattern at High settings tells a similar story. The average FPS drops from 79 at 1080p to 55 at 1440p, a 30% decrease, and then to 32 at 4K, which is 59% lower than the 1080p result. This consistent proportional decline across different presets strongly implies that the limiting factor is the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth, rather than the CPU. The RX 7800M’s 432.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 224.2 GPixel/s pixel rate are the specifications that directly correlate with this performance degradation.

Interestingly, the gap between 1080p and 1440p is substantial but not as severe as the gap between 1440p and 4K for most settings. For example, at Medium settings, the FPS goes from 94 at 1080p to 65 at 1440p, a 31% drop, but then falls to 38 at 4K, a 42% drop from the 1440p figure. This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU’s 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width begin to saturate as the pixel count increases, with 4K representing a significant challenge for the architecture.

The data implies that the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is not the bottleneck in this scenario. If the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 4K, as the GPU would have more headroom at lower resolutions. Instead, the consistent and large FPS drops across all resolutions point directly to the Radeon RX 7800M as the primary constraint, making the resolution scaling behavior a clear indicator of the GPU-bound nature of this configuration in Rust.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H provides a robust multi-threaded foundation, but its influence on Rust’s frame rates appears secondary to the GPU. With 16 cores and 22 threads, the CPU offers ample parallelism for a game that is known to utilize multiple threads for world simulation and entity management. The processor’s boost clock of 4.80 GHz and base clock of 3.80 GHz ensure that single-threaded tasks, which are often critical in game logic, are handled with sufficient speed.

Benchmark data for the CPU shows a PassMark multithread score of 24873 and a single-thread score of 3468, placing it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, has an average score of 32707, which is nearly identical to the 155H’s average benchmark score of 32697. This near-parity in synthetic benchmarks suggests that the CPU is not a standout performer, but it is more than adequate for feeding a mid-range mobile GPU like the RX 7800M.

The measured FPS data reinforces this assessment. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 140, which is high enough to suggest that the CPU is capable of driving substantial frame rates when the GPU is not the limiting factor. However, the fact that performance scales so heavily with resolution indicates that the CPU’s role is to provide a stable baseline, not to be the ultimate arbiter of frame rate. The L3 cache of 24 MB shared and L2 cache of 2 MB per core likely help with the game’s procedural world generation and entity tracking, but these features do not translate into a measurable advantage over the GPU’s constraints.

The CPU’s performance relative to its rivals is unremarkable, with deltas of 0% to -0.4% against the closest competitors. This places the 155H in a position where it will not be the reason for poor performance, but it also will not boost the system beyond what the GPU can deliver. In Rust, where the GPU load is clearly dominant, the CPU’s 22 threads and high boost clock are sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck, but the data does not suggest that a stronger CPU would yield significantly higher frame rates in this specific pairing.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance for this combo. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 140 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but the Medium preset at 94 FPS offers a substantial improvement in visual fidelity while still maintaining a frame rate that is smooth on most displays. The High preset at 79 FPS is also viable, but the jump from Medium to High yields a 15 FPS loss, which may not be worth the modest visual gains for some players.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the optimal choice, producing an average of 65 FPS with minimums of 55 FPS and maximums of 74 FPS. This provides a playable experience with good detail, whereas the High preset at 55 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 42 FPS begins to feel sluggish for a fast-paced survival game. The Low preset at 96 FPS is the only option for high refresh rate monitors at this resolution, but it sacrifices too much visual quality to be recommended as a default.

For 3840x2160, the data is less encouraging. The Low preset at 57 FPS is the only setting that achieves a playable frame rate, with Medium at 38 FPS and High at 32 FPS being too low for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 25 FPS is effectively unplayable. Given these numbers, the best experience at 4K would be to use the Low preset, but even then, the 57 FPS average is not ideal for a competitive title.

The overall recommendation is to prioritize the Medium preset at either 1080p or 1440p, as it offers a good compromise between the visual enhancements and the measured frame rates. The data shows that the jump from Low to Medium costs roughly 33% of the frame rate at both 1080p and 1440p, but the visual improvement is typically noticeable. At 4K, the Low preset is the only realistic option, and users should be prepared for a significant reduction in graphical quality to maintain playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon RX 7800M ranks 1958 out of 2953 tested combos in Rust, placing it in the lower-middle tier of all possible configurations. This ranking, which reflects the measured FPS data, indicates that while this setup is functional, it is not a high-performance outlier. The percentile position suggests that a majority of other CPU-GPU pairings deliver better frame rates in this specific game.

The GPU’s individual percentile is 73, meaning it outperforms 73% of all GPUs in the database, while the CPU sits at the 83rd percentile. Despite these relatively strong individual rankings, the combined performance in Rust is dragged down by the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, have average scores that are within 0.5% of the RX 7800M, indicating that it is a mid-pack performer among its peers.

The combo’s rank of 1958 out of 2953 is a direct consequence of the measured FPS at 4K, where the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. At 1080p, the performance is respectable, but the database ranking likely weights the full range of resolutions, and the 4K results pull the overall standing down. This suggests that users with 1080p monitors will find the combo to be more than adequate, while those with 4K displays will be disappointed with the experience.

The data indicates that the combo’s ranking is not a reflection of a flawed pairing, but rather a consequence of the GPU’s mid-range capabilities being tested against a demanding game like Rust. The CPU is capable, and the GPU is adequate for mainstream gaming, but the combination does not reach the upper echelons of performance that would place it in a higher percentile. For users seeking high frame rates at 4K, this combo is not the answer, but for 1080p gaming, it ranks reasonably well.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M is the dominant factor in determining frame rates across all tested configurations. Its specifications, including 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, provide a solid foundation for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus is a limiting factor at 4K. The memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s is sufficient for lower resolutions, but the high pixel count at 4K strains this figure.

The GPU’s boost clock of 2335 MHz and game clock of 2145 MHz contribute to its performance, but the data shows that these clocks are not enough to overcome the memory bandwidth limitations. The 224.2 GPixel/s pixel rate is a key metric, as it directly impacts how many pixels can be rendered per second. At 4K, the demand for pixel throughput is immense, and the RX 7800M’s capabilities are stretched thin.

The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a PassMark G3D score of 17613, place it in the 73rd percentile, but its nearest rivals are not modern high-end cards. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, which is several generations old, has an average score that is only 0.5% lower, indicating that the RX 7800M is not a significant step forward in raw compute. This is reflected in the 4K FPS numbers, where the GPU consistently delivers below 60 FPS even on Low settings.

The 28,100 million transistors on a 5 nm process node give the GPU a high transistor density, but this does not translate into superior gaming performance in Rust. The measured data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions, as evidenced by the large FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 4K. The RX 7800M is a capable mobile GPU, but its role in this combo is to provide playable frame rates at mainstream resolutions, not to excel at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a wide range of performance depending on settings. The Low preset delivers an average of 140 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. The Medium preset produces an average of 94 FPS, with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS, indicating a stable experience. The High preset averages 79 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 60 FPS. This progression shows a clear trade-off between visual quality and frame rate, with the Low preset offering more than double the FPS of the Ultra preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. The Low preset averages 96 FPS, which is still very playable, while the Medium preset averages 65 FPS with minimums of 55 FPS and maximums of 74 FPS. The High preset drops to 55 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 42 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 30-35% of the frame rate across all settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel load.

At 3840x2160, the performance takes a significant hit. The Low preset averages 57 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches playability. The Medium preset averages 38 FPS with a minimum of 32 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS, while the High preset drops to 32 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 25 FPS. These numbers confirm that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this combo beyond the lowest settings.

The data also reveals that the minimum FPS values, where available, are not drastically lower than the averages. For example, at 1440p Medium, the minimum is 55 FPS against an average of 65 FPS, indicating a relatively smooth frame pacing. This suggests that the GPU does not suffer from severe frame time spikes, which is a positive sign for overall gameplay stability, even if the average FPS is not exceptionally high.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the highest frame rates, with the Low preset averaging 140 FPS and the Medium preset averaging 94 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is still playable at 65 FPS, but 3840x2160 is only viable on Low settings with 57 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-14600T at 32707, a delta of 0%. It is also very close to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which has a score of 32662 and a delta of 0.1%.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The measured FPS data indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 7800M is the primary limiting factor. The large frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K, such as from 140 FPS to 57 FPS on Low settings, are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, and the CPU’s high core count and boost clock are not the bottleneck.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking in Rust?

A: This combination ranks 1958 out of 2953 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This ranking is influenced by the GPU’s difficulties at 4K, despite the CPU and GPU having individual percentiles of 83 and 73, respectively.

Q: What settings are recommended for a smooth experience at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the recommended choice, as it delivers an average of 65 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS. The High preset at 55 FPS is also playable, but the Ultra preset at 42 FPS is less desirable for a fast-paced game.

Q: How does the GPU’s memory configuration affect performance?

A: The GPU has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. This configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the data shows that 4K performance suffers, likely due to the memory bandwidth being unable to keep up with the increased pixel data.