Is Rust a CPU or GPU Game? My Experience with Performance
As a Rust player, I've often wondered: is Rust a CPU or GPU game? After spending countless hours tweaking my settings and upgrading my rig, I can confidently say that Rust is primarily a CPU-intensive game.
From my experience, having a powerful processor and plenty of RAM is a must for getting good performance in Rust. I've noticed that upgrading my CPU and adding more RAM gave me much bigger FPS boosts compared to upgrading my graphics card.
Rust puts a heavy load on the CPU, handling complex calculations for things like player movements, item interactions, and the ever-changing game world. The game's recommended specs call for an Intel Core i7-4790K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor, which are pretty beefy CPUs.
RAM is another big factor. I started with 4GB and struggled with low FPS. Upgrading to 8GB helped, but I still had issues. The game recommends 16GB, and even then, some players report performance problems.
While having a decent GPU is important, Rust doesn't lean on it as heavily as other games might. So if you're looking to improve your Rust experience, focus on your CPU and RAM first.
About the author
I'm the Head of Research at RustClash. With over 5 years of experience in the Rust niche, I have developed extensive knowledge of the game, its strategies, and the competitive scene. My insights are based on years of in-depth analysis and close involvement with the Rust community.