Rust

Rust’s measured performance with the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile reveals a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, yet exposes a notable dependency on the CPU at lower resolutions. The data indicates a strong pairing for high-refresh 1440p play, while 4K Ultra remains a demanding target for this specific configuration.

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

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 3 nm process. Its base clock is 2.00 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and it carries 18 MB of shared L3 cache. In the context of Rust, a survival game known for heavy server-side and entity simulation, the core count and high boost clock are directly relevant. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p Low, the system reaches 237 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all configurations. This suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU exceptionally well at lower graphical loads.

However, the processor’s benchmark scores indicate it sits in a specific performance tier. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 28221, and its single-core score is 3984. In the Passmark suite, it scores 4005 on single-thread tests and 32956 on multithreaded tests. These numbers place the CPU in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40518. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core 7 253PE and AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, are within a 0.2% deltaPct of its average score, indicating that this processor is competitive with those parts but not a class leader.

The implication for Rust’s measured FPS is that the CPU’s 16 cores likely help maintain consistent frame pacing in complex scenes, but the 16-thread (no hyperthreading) design means the processor relies on raw core performance rather than additional logical threads. The 5.00 GHz boost clock is a key factor for single-threaded game logic, which Rust often depends on. The data shows that moving from 1080p Low to 1080p High (from 237 to 134 FPS) introduces a 103 FPS drop, which is a larger absolute drop than seen at other resolutions. This indicates that at low settings, the CPU is the primary limiter, and as settings increase, the GPU takes over as the bottleneck.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile is a flagship mobile GPU built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 24 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 990 MHz with a boost clock of 1515 MHz, and its memory clock runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). With 10496 shading units and 328 tensor cores, this is a high-end part designed for demanding workloads.

In Rust, the GPU’s role becomes more apparent as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the measured average FPS is 41, while at 1080p Low, it jumps to 237 FPS. This range highlights the GPU’s capability, but also its limits at extreme settings. The 24 GB VRAM allocation is more than sufficient for Rust’s textures, even at Ultra presets, so memory capacity is not a bottleneck in the data. The GPU’s raw compute power, as measured by its Passmark G3D score of 30034, places it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 45152.

The nearest rivals to this GPU include the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, which has a deltaPct of -0.5%, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, which has a deltaPct of 0.8%. This positioning is interesting because it suggests that while the RTX 5090 Mobile is a high-end part, its performance in synthetic benchmarks is closely matched by desktop GPUs from a previous generation. However, the measured FPS in Rust shows that this mobile GPU is well-suited for high-refresh gaming at 1440p, where it averages 163 FPS at Low settings. The boost clock of 1515 MHz is relatively modest for a flagship, which may explain why 4K Ultra settings cap out at 41 FPS, as the GPU’s clock speed limits its fill rate at higher resolutions.

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

The measured data shows a clear pattern of FPS degradation as resolution increases, but the rate of decline varies by settings preset. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 237 at 1080p to 163 at 1440p (a 31% reduction) and then to 96 at 4K (a further 41% reduction). This steep decline at Low settings indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases, even when the CPU is not heavily taxed.

At High settings, the FPS drops from 134 at 1080p to 92 at 1440p (a 31% reduction) and then to 54 at 4K (a further 41% reduction). This similar percentage decline suggests that the scaling is consistent across presets, but the absolute values are lower because the GPU is doing more work per frame. At Medium settings, the FPS drops from 159 at 1080p to 109 at 1440p and then to 65 at 4K, with min and max FPS values of 135-183 at 1080p, 93-126 at 1440p, and 55-74 at 4K.

The most telling data point is at 4K Ultra, where the FPS drops to 41. This is a 60% reduction from the 1080p Ultra score of 102 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings shows a drop of 61 FPS, which is the largest absolute drop of any preset. This indicates that at Ultra settings, the GPU is heavily saturated, and the 1515 MHz boost clock is insufficient to maintain higher frame rates. Conversely, at Low settings, the 141 FPS drop from 1080p to 4K suggests that the CPU is still contributing to performance, but the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor. The data implies that for this combo, 1440p is the sweet spot where the CPU and GPU are more balanced, as evidenced by the 163 FPS at Low and 92 FPS at High.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all presets. The Low preset averages 237 FPS, which is the peak measured value. The Medium preset averages 159 FPS, with a minimum of 135 and a maximum of 183 FPS. The High preset averages 134 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 102 FPS. This shows a clear hierarchy where each settings increment costs roughly 20-25% performance, from Low to Medium (a 78 FPS drop), Medium to High (a 25 FPS drop), and High to Ultra (a 32 FPS drop).

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain playable but drop significantly. The Low preset averages 163 FPS, which is still high for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 109 FPS, with a minimum of 93 and a maximum of 126 FPS. The High preset averages 92 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 70 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with the Low preset losing 74 FPS, Medium losing 50 FPS, High losing 42 FPS, and Ultra losing 32 FPS. This indicates that the GPU’s fill rate is a limiting factor, but the system remains capable of high-refresh gaming at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more demanding. The Low preset averages 96 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 65 FPS, with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74 FPS. The High preset averages 54 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a drop of 67 FPS for Low, 44 FPS for Medium, 38 FPS for High, and 29 FPS for Ultra. The Ultra preset’s 41 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, indicating that this configuration is not suited for 4K Ultra in Rust.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Rust, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile holds a rank of 692 out of 3723 combos. This places it in the top 18.6% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing given the wide variety of hardware combinations that can run Rust. The rank is based on aggregate performance across all measured resolutions and settings, and it reflects the system’s ability to maintain high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, while being less competitive at 4K Ultra.

The combo’s rank is notable when considering the CPU’s percentile of 87 and the GPU’s percentile of 84. The system performs slightly better than the GPU’s percentile would suggest, likely due to the CPU’s strong single-thread performance, which is crucial for Rust’s game logic. The rank of 692 means that there are 691 combos that outperform this one, which likely include desktop-class CPUs with higher boost clocks and GPUs with higher power limits. However, for a mobile platform, this rank is respectable, and the data indicates that the system is well-balanced for most gaming scenarios.

The nearest rival data for the CPU and GPU individually provides context for the combo’s rank. The CPU is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H’s average score, while the GPU is within 0.8% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti’s average score. This suggests that the combo’s performance is comparable to a system with a high-end mobile CPU and a desktop mid-range GPU, but the RTX 5090 Mobile’s 24 GB VRAM and higher bandwidth give it an edge in memory-intensive scenarios.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Low preset at 237 FPS is ideal for competitive play where maximum frame rates are prioritized. However, the Medium preset at 159 FPS offers a better balance between visual fidelity and performance, with a minimum of 135 FPS ensuring smooth gameplay. The High preset at 134 FPS is also viable, but the Ultra preset at 102 FPS may introduce noticeable dips in complex scenes.

For 2560x1440, the Low preset at 163 FPS is the best choice for high-refresh monitors, providing a significant performance margin. The Medium preset at 109 FPS is a solid choice for those who want better visuals without sacrificing smoothness, as the minimum of 93 FPS is still above 90 FPS. The High preset at 92 FPS is acceptable, but the Ultra preset at 70 FPS may be less desirable for fast-paced gameplay.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that the Low preset at 96 FPS is the only preset that consistently exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 65 FPS is borderline, with a minimum of 55 FPS indicating potential stutters. The High preset at 54 FPS and Ultra at 41 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience. Therefore, for 4K gaming, users should stick to Low or Medium settings to maintain playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Rust?

A: The highest average FPS is 237, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-core performance compare to its multi-core performance?

A: The CPU scores 3984 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 28221 in multi-core, indicating a strong single-thread capability that is beneficial for Rust’s game logic.

Q: Is 4K Ultra playable with this hardware?

A: No, the 4K Ultra preset averages 41 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the FPS range for 1440p Medium settings?

A: The 1440p Medium preset has an average of 109 FPS, with a minimum of 93 FPS and a maximum of 126 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Rust?

A: It ranks 692 out of 3723 tested combos, placing it in the top 18.6%.

Q: Which GPU is a close rival based on average benchmark scores?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti has a deltaPct of 0.8%, making it a close rival to the RTX 5090 Mobile in synthetic benchmarks.