Minecraft

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i7-13700K sits in a tightly contested performance band. The database shows its average benchmark score at 46881, which places it within a fraction of a percent of several competing processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, a margin of only 0.2% behind the i7-13700K. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 is similarly close at 47022, trailing by 0.3%. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535 each score 46654 and 46653 respectively, putting them 0.5% ahead of the i7-13700K. In practical terms, any of these four CPUs would deliver nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Minecraft, assuming the same GPU and settings. The differences are well within run-to-run variance.

The GPU side presents a more dramatic spread. The Intel Arc B390, with an average benchmark score of 1482, ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all legacy NVIDIA parts. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% behind the Arc B390. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, trailing by 1.5%. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% deficit, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, 2.7% behind. These are all low-end parts from previous generations, which underscores how limited the Arc B390 is in absolute terms. For a user considering this combo, swapping the GPU for any of those NVIDIA parts would produce very similar frame rates, though none of them would be an upgrade. The CPU, by contrast, is a high-end part with many stronger alternatives nearby, but for Minecraft specifically, the GPU is the binding constraint.

CPU and GPU Roles

Minecraft is a game where the CPU often matters heavily, but the recorded data for this combo tells a different story. The measured FPS scales strongly with resolution, which points to the GPU being the primary limiter. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches 216 FPS average. At 2560x1440 Low, it drops to 136 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 3840x2160 Low, it falls further to 71 FPS, another 48% drop. This pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior: as pixel count rises, the render workload increases and frame rate falls proportionally. If the CPU were the bottleneck, resolution scaling would be much flatter.

The same trend appears across presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 216 on Low down to 85 on Ultra. At 2560x1440, the range is 136 on Low down to 54 on Ultra. At 3840x2160, it is 71 on Low down to 28 on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases, which again implicates the GPU. At 1080p, the delta between Low and Ultra is 131 FPS. At 1440p, it is 82 FPS. At 4K, it is 43 FPS. The absolute numbers shrink at higher resolutions because the GPU is already saturated.

The CPU's role is still relevant at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the i7-13700K is likely doing more of the work, since the GPU has fewer pixels to shade. The fact that 1080p Low hits 216 FPS suggests the CPU can feed frames well above the display refresh rate of most monitors. However, the GPU's ceiling becomes apparent at 4K, where even Low settings only manage 71 FPS. For this game and this combo, the Arc B390 is the deciding factor at 1440p and above. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom that the GPU still dictates the maximum preset that stays playable.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this combination at 3282 out of 3710 tested combos for Minecraft. That places it in the lower 12% of all systems in the database for this game. The percentile is driven almost entirely by the GPU, which sits in the 9th percentile overall. The CPU, by contrast, is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This mismatch is worth noting: the processor is capable, but the graphics solution holds the system back.

In terms of raw frame delivery, the combo can produce high FPS at 1080p with lighter presets, but the ranking reflects how it performs across the full range of tested conditions. Many other combos with mid-range GPUs and similar CPUs would rank considerably higher, because the Arc B390's low fill rate and modest shading power limit the overall experience. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 for the GPU is indicative of a part that is far below contemporary discrete graphics cards. The ranking of 3282 out of 3710 means that roughly 88% of tested combinations do better in Minecraft.

The Verdict

This PC can run Minecraft, but the playable envelope is narrow at higher resolutions. The database defines 60 FPS as the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, only Low settings clear that bar, with an average of 71 FPS. Medium at 4K averages 56 FPS, which misses the threshold. High and Ultra at 4K are not playable, with averages of 45 and 28 FPS respectively.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves. Low, Medium, and High all stay above 60 FPS. Low averages 136 FPS, Medium averages 108 FPS, and High averages 86 FPS. Ultra at 1440p averages 54 FPS, so it falls short. At 1920x1080, every preset clears the threshold. Low averages 216 FPS, Medium averages 171 FPS, High averages 136 FPS, and Ultra averages 85 FPS.

The practical verdict: this system is fully playable at 1080p across all settings, playable at 1440p up to High, and only playable at 4K on Low. For users with a 1440p monitor, High settings are the sensible ceiling. For 4K displays, Low settings are the only option that maintains 60 FPS, and even then the margin is thin.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the recorded data shows the following. Low settings produce an average of 216 FPS. Medium settings average 171 FPS, with a minimum of 146 FPS and a maximum of 197 FPS. High settings average 136 FPS. Ultra settings average 85 FPS. The minimum and maximum values are only available for Medium, indicating a stable frame delivery with a 51 FPS spread between the 1% low and the peak.

At 2560x1440, Low settings average 136 FPS. Medium settings average 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. High settings average 86 FPS. Ultra settings average 54 FPS. The Medium preset again shows a narrow band, with a 32 FPS difference between minimum and maximum.

At 3840x2160, Low settings average 71 FPS. Medium settings average 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. High settings average 45 FPS. Ultra settings average 28 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has a 17 FPS spread, which is tighter in absolute terms but still below the 60 FPS threshold.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: Low always delivers the highest average, followed by Medium, then High, then Ultra. The drop from Low to Medium is roughly 20% at every resolution. The drop from Medium to High is about 20% again. The drop from High to Ultra is the largest, around 40% at each resolution. This suggests Ultra is a significantly heavier preset than High, likely due to advanced lighting or shadow effects that tax the GPU heavily.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 85 FPS. This is the highest quality option that remains comfortably playable. Medium and High also exceed 60 FPS, but Ultra offers the best visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are High, with an average of 86 FPS. Medium and Low also clear the threshold, but High provides the best quality among the playable options. Ultra at 1440p averages 54 FPS, so it must be avoided for a 60 FPS experience.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable, with an average of 71 FPS. Medium falls to 56 FPS, which is below the threshold. High and Ultra are far outside the playable range. For 4K users, Low is the only viable choice, and the 71 FPS average leaves little headroom for demanding scenes.

For users who prioritize frame rate over quality, the lower presets at each resolution provide a significant cushion. At 1080p, Low hits 216 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh displays. At 1440p, Low hits 136 FPS. At 4K, Low hits 71 FPS, which is just above the threshold.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Minecraft at 4K with Medium settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 56, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Low settings are required for 4K playability, averaging 71 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 1440p?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 average 86 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS. Ultra at 1440p averages 54 FPS and is not playable.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in the database benchmark. It is 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the primary limiter at 1080p. Low settings at 1920x1080 reach 216 FPS average, and the frame rate scales down significantly as resolution increases, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the frame rate at 1080p Ultra?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 85, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. This is the best quality preset that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 3282 out of 3710 tested combinations for Minecraft. This places it in the lower 12% of all systems, primarily due to the GPU's low performance relative to other parts.