Rust

Rust with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 presents a clear picture of a system where the GPU is the dominant performance driver, but the CPU’s capabilities ensure that even at lower resolutions, the frame rates remain exceptionally high. The data shows a significant spread between the Low and Ultra presets, and the scaling behavior across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K reveals how the balance of load shifts between the processor and the graphics card. This analysis breaks down the measured results to understand what the numbers indicate about this specific hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable, yet steep, decline in performance as resolution increases, which is typical for a demanding title like Rust. At 1080p with the High preset, the system achieves an average of 128 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 88 FPS, a reduction of 31%. Stepping up to 4K further reduces the average to 52 FPS, a 41% drop from the 1440p figure and a 59% drop from 1080p. This scaling pattern is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the workload on the render pipeline increases dramatically with pixel count.

The Low preset tells a similar story but with higher absolute numbers. At 1080p Low, the system produces an average of 226 FPS, which falls to 156 FPS at 1440p (a 31% decrease) and then to 92 FPS at 4K (a 41% decrease from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage drops across presets suggests that the RTX 4090’s performance is scaling in a linear fashion with resolution, which is expected for a GPU with its memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s and 24 GB of GDDR6X memory. The frame rate at 4K Low is still very playable, but the gap between 1080p and 4K is substantial.

What is more revealing is the relationship between resolution and the CPU’s role. At 1080p High, the average of 128 FPS is high, but when compared to the 226 FPS at 1080p Low, it’s clear that the graphics settings are having a major impact. If the CPU were the primary bottleneck at 1080p, we would expect the FPS to be similar regardless of preset, since the processor’s workload (draw calls, game logic) does not change as much with visual detail. Instead, the massive jump from 128 FPS on High to 226 FPS on Low indicates that the RTX 4090 has headroom to spare and is not being fully utilized at the lower settings; the GPU is still the main constraint, even at 1080p.

The 4K Ultra result of 40 FPS is the most demanding scenario in the dataset. This is a 69% reduction from the 1080p Ultra score of 98 FPS. This steep decline underscores the immense strain that 4K resolution places on the GPU, pushing it to its limits. The fact that the system can still maintain an average of 40 FPS at 4K Ultra confirms the raw power of the RTX 4090, but it also shows that this combination is not meant for maxed-out 4K gaming in Rust without compromises. The scaling data firmly establishes that the RTX 4090 is the bottleneck, especially as resolution climbs.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and RTX 4090 combination at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra preset compare to the 1080p Ultra preset?

A: At 4K Ultra, the system averages 40 FPS. At 1080p Ultra, it averages 98 FPS. This represents a 59% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K on the Ultra preset.

Q: Which preset provides the highest frame rate at 1920x1080?

A: The Low preset provides the highest average frame rate at 1920x1080, achieving 226 FPS. This is followed by the Medium preset at 152 FPS, the High preset at 128 FPS, and the Ultra preset at 98 FPS.

Q: Is there a significant difference between the High and Medium presets at 4K?

A: Yes, there is a notable difference. The High preset at 4K averages 52 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 62 FPS. This is a 10 FPS difference, or approximately 19% higher performance on the Medium preset.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 on Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 on Medium settings is 89 FPS, with the average sitting at 105 FPS.

Q: Does the data show a large gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: Yes, the gap is substantial. The Low preset at 1440p averages 156 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 67 FPS. This is a difference of 89 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It also features 30 MB of shared L3 cache. In the context of Rust, which is known for being a CPU-intensive game due to its complex world interactions and large numbers of entities, this processor provides a strong foundation. The benchmark results show that it sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a high-performance part.

Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the Intel Core i7-13790F, which scores 0.1% higher on average, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, which scores 0.2% higher. The Core Ultra 7 255HX is 0.7% behind. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, meaning the 265HX is effectively on par with these competitors in synthetic tests. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40642 and single-core score of 5737 demonstrate its ability to handle both multi-threaded workloads and single-threaded tasks, the latter being critical for game engine logic.

The measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this system, even at 1080p. The fact that the RTX 4090 can push frame rates from 98 FPS on Ultra to 226 FPS on Low at 1080p indicates that the GPU is being tasked differently based on settings, and the CPU is capable of feeding it enough data to reach these high numbers. If the CPU were limiting, we would see a ceiling on the FPS regardless of resolution or settings. The data does not show this ceiling, as the 1080p Low result of 226 FPS is far higher than the 4K High result of 52 FPS, confirming that the GPU’s workload is the determining factor.

With a TDP of 55W, the 265HX is a mobile processor, but its performance is clearly sufficient to avoid holding back the RTX 4090 in Rust. The high boost clock of 5.30 GHz is particularly beneficial for gaming, as it ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is often the most critical aspect of a CPU in this genre. The processor’s capability is corroborated by its PassMark single-thread score of 4500 and its PassMark multi-thread score of 47985, which place it in a competitive position among its peers.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested system combinations, the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 in Rust achieves a combo rank of 559 out of 2953 tested combos. This places it in the top 19% of all systems tested for this game. This is a strong showing, but it is not at the absolute top, which suggests that there are other combinations of higher-end CPUs and GPUs that can achieve better performance in Rust.

The rank is a relative measure, and the data shows that while this system is very capable, there is room for improvement. The 93rd percentile ranking of the CPU and the 88th percentile ranking of the GPU individually are high, but the combined rank of 559 indicates that the system is not perfectly optimized for this specific title. This could be due to the CPU’s mobile architecture being a slight bottleneck in certain scenarios, or simply because other tested combos include desktop-class processors with more cache or higher memory bandwidth.

The rank of 559 out of 2953 is a solid result, but it is not a top-tier finish. It suggests that for users seeking the absolute maximum frame rates in Rust, there are better-performing combinations available. However, for the vast majority of users, this combo offers excellent performance, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1440p and even playable performance at 4K. The data indicates that the system is well-balanced, but it also highlights that the RTX 4090 is capable of more, and its full potential may be limited by the mobile CPU in this pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The dataset provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. Starting at 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 226 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 152 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 175 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 128 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 98 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy, with a 56% reduction in FPS from Low to Ultra at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down as expected. The Low preset averages 156 FPS, which is a 31% decrease from the 1080p Low score. The Medium preset averages 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. The High preset averages 88 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 67 FPS. The performance gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 89 FPS, which is a larger absolute difference than at 1080p, but the percentage reduction is similar at 57%.

At 3840x2160, the system’s performance is put under the most strain. The Low preset is the only setting that provides a frame rate above 60 FPS, averaging 92 FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of 40 FPS. The data shows that the system can handle 4K gaming, but only at lower settings for a smooth experience. The minimum FPS recorded at 4K Medium is 52, which is the lowest minimum in the dataset, indicating potential for stutter in demanding scenes. Overall, the 1080p and 1440p results are excellent, while the 4K results are usable but require careful settings management.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience depends heavily on the user's display resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset at 128 FPS is an excellent choice, as it offers a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset while still maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 98 FPS is also viable for users with a 144Hz monitor, but the High preset provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance. The Low preset at 226 FPS is only recommended for competitive play where maximum frame rate trumps visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 88 FPS is the recommended starting point. It provides a smooth experience for most users, and the Medium preset at 105 FPS is a great alternative for those who prefer higher frame rates. The Ultra preset at 67 FPS is playable but is not ideal for fast-paced action, as the frame rate may dip in busy areas. The data suggests that Medium or High are the sweet spots at this resolution, offering a good compromise between visual quality and responsiveness.

For 3840x2160, the recommendations are more constrained. The Medium preset at 62 FPS is the best option for a playable experience, as it is the only preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Low preset at 92 FPS is a better choice for users with a 4K 120Hz display, but it comes with a significant visual downgrade. The High preset at 52 FPS and Ultra preset at 40 FPS are not recommended for general play, as they may feel sluggish and are likely to experience noticeable frame drops in complex scenes. Therefore, for 4K, the Medium preset is the most sensible choice, balancing playability with visual quality.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the clear performance driver in this system. With its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, it is well-equipped to handle the high-resolution textures and large draw distances that Rust can present. The GPU's 16,384 shading units and 512 texture mapping units provide immense compute power, which is reflected in its ability to deliver 226 FPS at 1080p Low. Its PassMark G3D score of 38194 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 place it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, confirming its high-end status.

The GPU's role is most evident in the scaling of performance with resolution. As the resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the frame rates drop significantly, which is a direct result of the increased pixel fill rate required. The RTX 4090's pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s are substantial, but they are still finite resources. The 4K Ultra result of 40 FPS shows that even this powerful GPU cannot maintain high frame rates when maxed out at 4K in Rust.

The RTX 4090’s boost clock of 2520 MHz and base clock of 2235 MHz are high for a GPU, and its FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS is among the best available. This raw compute power is what allows the system to achieve high frame rates at 1440p, where the GPU is still the primary bottleneck but has enough headroom to produce excellent results. The data indicates that the GPU’s performance is consistent and predictable, with no signs of thermal throttling or other issues that could cause inconsistent results. The 24 GB of VRAM is also a significant asset, as it ensures that memory capacity is not a limiting factor at any resolution or settings level tested. The GPU is the star of this combination, and its capabilities are the primary reason for the strong performance seen across most of the tested scenarios.