Rust

# Rust with Intel Core Ultra X9 388H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile: Benchmark Analysis

This combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile ranks 1167th out of 3723 tested combos in Rust, placing it in the 68.6th percentile of all tested configurations. The data shows a system that handles Rust comfortably at most resolutions and settings, though the gap between low and ultra presets widens significantly as resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1167 out of 3723 tested combinations places this system in the upper third of all tested hardware pairings for Rust. This is a strong result for a mobile platform, positioning it ahead of roughly two-thirds of all tested configurations while still leaving headroom above it. The ranking reflects a balanced pairing where neither component dramatically bottlenecks the other in this title.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H achieves a percentile rank of 88 against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 88% of all tested processors in general benchmarks. Its average benchmark score of 44466 places it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (44573 score), effectively a statistical tie. It edges out the Intel Core i9-13950HX by 0.3% and leads both the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and Intel Core i5-13600 by 0.4% and 0.5% respectively. This clustering of rivals within half a percentage point indicates the CPU is performing at a level where small benchmark variations determine the ordering.

The GPU holds a percentile rank of 81 against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 38135. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce MX570, scores 38299 — only 0.4% higher, which is within noise margins. The RTX 4080 Mobile also trails the RTX 5080 Mobile by 0.6% but leads the RTX 4070 and Tesla P4 by 1.3% each. This tight grouping suggests the GPU is performing at a well-established performance tier where generational improvements yield modest gains.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H brings 16 cores and 16 threads to Rust, a configuration that suits the game's server-side and simulation workloads. With a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, the processor can scale from efficient background processing to demanding single-threaded tasks. The lack of hyperthreading means each core handles one thread, which can be advantageous for games that prefer physical cores over logical ones.

The CPU's cache hierarchy is substantial: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 allocation helps Rust's frequently accessed world state data remain close to the cores, potentially reducing memory latency during gameplay. The dual-channel LPDDR5X memory support with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth provides ample throughput for the CPU's 16 cores to feed data to the GPU.

Benchmark results show a strong multi-core showing with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 and a single-core score of 2200.5. The Passmark multi-thread score of 36811 with a single-thread score of 4280 indicates the CPU handles both parallel and serial workloads effectively. In Rust, where terrain generation, entity updates, and physics calculations run across multiple threads, this multi-core strength contributes to maintaining stable frame pacing at lower resolutions where the CPU can become a limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 7424 shading units, 232 texture mapping units, and 80 raster operation units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1290 MHz with a boost clock of 1665 MHz, delivering 24.72 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. With 58 RT cores and 232 tensor cores, the GPU is well-equipped for both traditional rasterization and ray-traced workloads, though Rust's current rendering pipeline primarily uses rasterization.

Memory configuration is a key differentiator: 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus provides 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory capacity is sufficient for Rust's large, persistent world textures and draw distances at high resolutions. The 2250 MHz memory clock (18 Gbps effective) ensures the shading units have adequate data throughput. The GPU's pixel rate of 133.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 386.3 GTexel/s indicate strong fill-rate capabilities that benefit Rust's dense foliage and building rendering.

The GPU draws 110 W under load, classified as an IGP form factor with no external power connectors, relying on the laptop's internal power delivery. In benchmark comparisons, the RTX 4080 Mobile's DirectX 12 score of 96 and Vulkan score of 145807 suggest modern API utilization is efficient. The Passmark G3D score of 24926 reflects strong overall 3D performance, while the G2D score of 929 indicates adequate 2D capabilities for desktop rendering.

FAQ

Q: How does this combo compare to similar CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 44466 on average benchmarks, placing it 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13950HX. It also leads the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 by 0.4% and the Intel Core i5-13600 by 0.5%.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile among all tested graphics cards?

A: The RTX 4080 Mobile ranks in the 81st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 38135. It trails the GeForce MX570 by 0.4% and the RTX 5080 Mobile by 0.6%, but leads the RTX 4070 and Tesla P4 by 1.3% each.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1080p with high settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combination produces an average of 117 FPS. The Low preset reaches 207 FPS, Medium averages 139 FPS, and Ultra drops to 89 FPS.

Q: How does resolution scaling affect the frame rate between 1080p and 4K?

A: At High settings, performance drops from 117 FPS at 1080p to 81 FPS at 1440p to 48 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1080p to 4K represents a 59% reduction in average frame rate across this settings tier.

Q: What is the best playable configuration for this system in Rust?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS and maximum of 110 FPS, providing a balanced experience. At 1920x1080, Medium averages 139 FPS with a range of 118-159 FPS.

Q: Does the system favor CPU or GPU performance in Rust?

A: The CPU ranks in the 88th percentile while the GPU ranks in the 81st percentile, indicating the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card. However, the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K suggests GPU limitations become more apparent at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data reveals distinct scaling patterns across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 207 FPS on Low, 139 FPS on Medium, 117 FPS on High, and 89 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440, these figures drop to 142, 95, 81, and 61 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, the averages fall to 84, 56, 48, and 36 FPS.

The percentage drops from 1080p to 1440p range from 31% (Low) to 32% (Ultra), showing consistent scaling regardless of settings. From 1440p to 4K, the drops are steeper: 41% for Low, 41% for Medium, 41% for High, and 41% for Ultra. This uniform scaling pattern indicates the GPU becomes progressively more limiting as pixel count increases, while the CPU maintains adequate headroom even at 4K.

The minimum FPS values at Medium settings illustrate the impact of resolution: 118 FPS at 1080p, 81 FPS at 1440p, and 48 FPS at 4K. These lows follow the same proportional scaling as averages, suggesting stable frame delivery without sudden stutters. The consistent scaling ratios across all settings tiers indicate that neither component produces an unexpected bottleneck at any resolution — the performance degradation is gradual and predictable.

Settings Recommendations

For the best measured experience, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers the strongest balance of visual quality and performance. The average of 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS provides smooth gameplay that remains above 60 FPS even in demanding scenes. This configuration shows the system's capability to handle higher resolutions without sacrificing playability.

At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 117 FPS average, which is well above typical display refresh rates and provides substantial visual improvements over Medium's 139 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra costs 28 FPS (from 117 to 89) — a 24% reduction for what is typically a marginal visual gain in Rust's rendering. Players prioritizing visual fidelity should consider High at 1080p rather than Ultra.

For 4K gaming, the Low preset's 84 FPS is the only configuration that maintains playable frame rates, as Medium drops to 56 FPS and High falls to 48 FPS. The Ultra preset at 36 FPS is below playable thresholds for competitive scenarios. The data suggests 4K is best reserved for slower-paced activities where visual quality takes precedence over frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest performance across all settings. The Low preset averages 207 FPS, providing headroom for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium averages 139 FPS with a measured range of 118-159 FPS. High maintains 117 FPS average, while Ultra drops to 89 FPS. The 118 FPS spread between Low and Ultra highlights the significant impact of settings on this resolution.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected reduction. Low averages 142 FPS, Medium 95 FPS (range: 81-110), High 81 FPS, and Ultra 61 FPS. The minimum FPS at Medium (81) matches the average FPS at High, indicating settings tier changes produce roughly equivalent frame rate shifts at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. Low averages 84 FPS, which is still playable. Medium averages 56 FPS with a range of 48-65 FPS, placing the minimum just below the 60 FPS threshold. High averages 48 FPS, and Ultra averages 36 FPS. The 48 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K demonstrates that settings selection becomes critical for maintaining playable performance at this resolution.