Minecraft

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this Intel Core i7-14700K and Intel Arc B390 combination shows a wide performance spread across the three tested resolutions, with the most demanding preset at 4K dropping below the 60 FPS playable threshold while lower resolutions handle even the heaviest settings comfortably.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 216 FPS, Medium raises the visual load and still lands at 171 FPS on average with a minimum of 146 FPS and a maximum of 197 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 136 FPS, while Ultra, the most demanding preset, still holds an average of 85 FPS. Every preset at this resolution clears the 60 FPS threshold by a substantial margin, with even the worst-case recorded average remaining 25 FPS above the playable line.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance drop is noticeable but not catastrophic. Low settings average 136 FPS, Medium averages 108 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS and maximum of 124 FPS, and High averages 86 FPS. Ultra, however, falls to an average of 54 FPS, which sits 6 FPS below the playable threshold. The three lighter presets all remain above 60 FPS, but the margin shrinks considerably compared to 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. Low settings average 71 FPS, just 11 FPS above the threshold. Medium averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and maximum of 65 FPS, meaning the frame rate dips below 50 FPS at times. High drops to 45 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 28 FPS average. Only the Low preset at 4K maintains an average above 60 FPS, and even that result leaves little headroom for demanding scenes.

The scaling pattern is consistent: each resolution step roughly halves the headroom available at the top preset. At 1080p Ultra the average is 85 FPS, at 1440p Ultra it is 54 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it is 28 FPS. The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, going from 171 FPS at 1080p to 108 FPS at 1440p and 56 FPS at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 3,710 tested combinations for Minecraft, this pairing ranks 3,282nd. That places it in the lower portion of the field, which is expected given the GPU's standing in the broader benchmark hierarchy.

The Intel Arc B390 sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482 places it just ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1,463, a 1.3% difference. It also edges out the GeForce 800M (1,460, 1.5% ahead) and the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1,446, 2.5% ahead). The closest rival below is the GeForce GT 710 at 1,443, with the B390 leading by 2.7%. The GPU's low percentile ranking indicates that most other graphics solutions in the database outperform it substantially.

The CPU tells a different story. The Core i7-14700K ranks in the 94th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 69,355. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the AMD EPYC 9115 scores 69,288 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69,515 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69,875 (0.7% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69,996 (0.9% ahead). The processor is clearly not the limiting factor in this configuration.

The combination of a top-tier CPU and a low-tier GPU means the database ranking reflects the graphics bottleneck almost entirely. The 3,282nd rank out of 3,710 combos indicates that most pairings tested in Minecraft produce higher frame rates, which aligns with the GPU's position near the bottom of the performance distribution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data shows a clear division of labor in this pairing. Minecraft's frame rates scale dramatically with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 216 FPS. At 1440p Low, that drops to 136 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K Low, it falls further to 71 FPS, another 48% reduction. This steep scaling across resolutions points directly at the graphics card as the performance ceiling.

The CPU's role becomes evident when comparing presets at the same resolution. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium reduces the average from 216 to 171 FPS, and from Medium to High it drops to 136 FPS. The CPU has ample headroom at these settings, as evidenced by the 85 FPS result at Ultra, which still clears the playable threshold. Had the processor been the bottleneck, the preset scaling would flatten out at higher settings, but the data shows continued drops with each preset increase.

At 1440p, the same pattern holds. Low averages 136 FPS, Medium 108 FPS, High 86 FPS, and Ultra 54 FPS. The consistent decline with each preset step indicates the GPU is responding to the increased shading load. At 4K, the GPU is clearly saturated: Low produces 71 FPS, Medium 56 FPS, High 45 FPS, and Ultra 28 FPS. The near-linear relationship between preset intensity and frame rate at 4K confirms the graphics card is the dominant constraint.

The Core i7-14700K's capabilities, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, are largely underutilized in this game. The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 33,440.5 and a single-core result of 2,160, place it far above what Minecraft requires. The data suggests the processor could drive much higher frame rates if paired with a stronger GPU, but with the Arc B390, the graphics card sets the limits at every resolution and preset.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Minecraft at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The measured average at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 71 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium drops to 56 FPS, High to 45 FPS, and Ultra to 28 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset at 1440p for this system?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 86 FPS, which is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS. Ultra falls to 54 FPS, so High is the recommended ceiling.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The B390's average 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482 is 1.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M, 2.5% ahead of the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% ahead of the GeForce GT 710. It ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU holding back performance in this game?

A: No. The Core i7-14700K ranks in the 94th percentile among CPUs and is within 0.9% of its nearest rivals. The frame rate scaling with resolution and presets indicates the GPU is the limiting factor throughout.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average is 85 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding preset at the lowest tested resolution, and it remains well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Does the Medium preset at 4K ever drop below 60 FPS?

A: Yes. The average is 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. The frame rate spends meaningful time below the playable threshold, making Medium unsuitable for 4K play.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the only preset that maintains an average at or above 60 FPS is Low, which delivers 71 FPS. Medium falls to 56 FPS, so Low is the recommended setting for 4K.

At 2560x1440, High settings produce an average of 86 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that clears the threshold. Medium averages 108 FPS and Low averages 136 FPS, but High offers the best visual quality while staying playable. Ultra drops to 54 FPS and should be avoided.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings average 85 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS line. This is the most demanding preset available, and it remains fully playable. High averages 136 FPS, Medium 171 FPS, and Low 216 FPS, but there is no need to sacrifice visual quality when Ultra already performs well.

The pattern is clear: at 1080p, the full settings range is playable; at 1440p, the top three presets work but Ultra does not; at 4K, only Low works.

The Verdict

This system can run Minecraft, but the experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, every preset including Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with the lowest average being 85 FPS. This is the resolution where the combo performs best.

At 2560x1440, High settings are the ceiling, averaging 86 FPS. Low and Medium also work, with averages of 136 and 108 FPS respectively. Ultra falls short at 54 FPS, so it is not recommended at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable, averaging 71 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all drop below 60 FPS, with averages of 56, 45, and 28 FPS respectively.

The verdict by resolution is straightforward: 1080p is fully playable at all presets, 1440p is playable up to High, and 4K is playable only at Low. The Core i7-14700K provides ample processing power, but the Intel Arc B390's position in the 9th GPU percentile limits the overall result. Players seeking higher frame rates at 4K or Ultra settings at 1440p would need a more capable graphics solution. For 1080p gaming, this combination delivers a smooth experience across the board.