Minimum

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a narrow range of performance. The Low preset averages 33 FPS, the Medium preset averages 25 FPS with a recorded minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS, the High preset averages 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 16 FPS. None of these averages approach the 60 FPS threshold, and even the Low preset falls roughly halfway to that target.

Moving down to 2560x1440, the picture improves substantially but remains constrained. The Low preset averages 61 FPS, which clears the playable threshold by a single frame. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS, the High preset averages 39 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 14 FPS on average, while the step from Medium to High costs another 8 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 9 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the same combo shows its best results. The Low preset averages 95 FPS, the Medium preset averages 72 FPS with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS, and the High preset averages 61 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 46 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling pattern here is consistent: each preset step downward from Ultra to Low yields meaningful gains, with the largest jump occurring between Ultra and High (15 FPS) and between Medium and Low (23 FPS).

The data shows that resolution has a far larger impact on this combination than settings changes at any single resolution. At 1080p Low, the average sits at 95 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 61 FPS; at 4K Low, it falls to 33 FPS. This represents a 62 FPS swing from 1080p to 4K on the same preset. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 46 FPS, which is higher than the Low preset at 4K (33 FPS), indicating that resolution scaling dominates preset scaling for this hardware.

CPU and GPU Roles

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance limiter in this pairing. Its benchmark results place it in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, all of which score within 2.7% of the B390. The recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 confirms this is entry-level graphics silicon.

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, by contrast, sits in the 81st percentile among all CPUs. Its multi-threaded Cinebench R23 score of 17528.5 and single-thread score of 2183.5 indicate a capable modern processor. The nearest CPU rivals, the Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE, Ryzen 7 7840H, Ryzen 7 5800XT, and Ryzen 7 8845HS, all score within 0.8% of the 9600X, showing that this CPU class is well above the GPU's tier.

The scaling between resolutions and presets confirms this imbalance. When the GPU is stressed at 4K, the average FPS across presets ranges from 16 to 33. At 1080p, the same presets yield 46 to 95 FPS. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to plateau at higher resolutions, but instead the FPS drops sharply as resolution increases. This pattern indicates the GPU saturates well before the CPU reaches its limits.

At 1080p Low, the average of 95 FPS suggests the GPU is still managing the workload without the CPU becoming the constraint. The CPU's single-thread performance, demonstrated by a Geekbench single-core score of 2923 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4570, provides ample headroom for the game's logic and physics. The game is a 2014 release, so its threading demands are modest, and the 9600X's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient.

The conclusion is straightforward: at all three resolutions, the Intel Arc B390 dictates the playable settings. The CPU's role is secondary, and its performance margin over the GPU is substantial. Benchmarks results indicate that upgrading the GPU would yield far larger FPS gains than any CPU change.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The highest average is 33 FPS on Low, which falls 27 FPS short. The database records no playable settings for this resolution, meaning the combo cannot maintain a smooth experience at 4K under any tested preset.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only playable option. It averages 61 FPS, clearing the 60 FPS threshold by one frame. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS, which is below the playable mark. Therefore, the best settings at 1440p are Low, with an average of 61 FPS.

At 1920x1080, three presets clear the threshold: Low at 95 FPS, Medium at 72 FPS, and High at 61 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 46 FPS, which fails to reach 60 FPS. The most demanding preset that remains playable is High, with an average of 61 FPS. This is the recommended configuration for 1080p, as it provides a comfortable margin above the minimum while maximizing visual quality.

The pattern across resolutions shows that the GPU's performance ceiling is roughly equivalent to a low-to-medium settings tier at 1080p, a low tier at 1440p, and no tier at 4K. Users targeting 60 FPS should prioritize resolution over preset quality, as dropping from 1440p to 1080p on the same Low preset raises the average from 61 to 95 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3299 out of 3712 tested combos in the database for this game. This places it in the lower 11% of all configurations. The rank reflects the GPU's severe performance limitation, as the CPU alone would rank far higher if paired with a more capable graphics card.

The GPU's 9th percentile standing among all GPUs means that the vast majority of graphics cards outperform it. Its nearest rivals, the GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, are all legacy or entry-level parts from previous generations. The B390's 3DMark score of 1482 is the only benchmark recorded for it, and that single data point aligns with its low percentile.

The CPU's 81st percentile standing is a stark contrast. The Ryzen 5 9600X outperforms 81% of all CPUs in the database, and its nearest rivals are all modern Ryzen 7 parts with similar average scores. This means the combo's ranking is dragged down almost entirely by the GPU.

For a game released in 2014, the CPU is overprovisioned while the GPU is underprovisioned. The 9600X's Passmark multi-thread score of 30027 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17528.5 are far beyond what this title requires. The B390, however, cannot keep pace with even modest modern graphics demands, as shown by its 4K and Ultra preset results.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 60 FPS on 1920x1080?

A: Yes, at 1080p the Low preset averages 95 FPS, the Medium preset averages 72 FPS, and the High preset averages 61 FPS. All three clear the 60 FPS threshold, with High being the most demanding playable preset.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The Low preset is the only playable option at 1440p, averaging 61 FPS. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is 3840x2160 playable with this hardware?

A: No. At 4K, the highest average FPS is 33 on the Low preset. The Medium preset averages 25 FPS, High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. No preset reaches 60 FPS.

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

A: The B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% slower), GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% slower), GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% slower), and GT 710 (1443, 2.7% slower).

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X compare to nearby CPUs?

A: The 9600X has an average benchmark score of 29713. Its nearest rivals are the Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (29656, 0.2% slower), Ryzen 7 7840H (29868, 0.5% faster), Ryzen 7 5800XT (29879, 0.6% faster), and Ryzen 7 8845HS (29955, 0.8% faster). All are within 1% of the 9600X.

Q: What FPS does the Medium preset deliver at 1920x1080?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p averages 72 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS. The minimum stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B390 can run Minimum at 1920x1080 with the High preset, averaging 61 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual quality among playable settings at that resolution. The Low preset averages 95 FPS and the Medium preset averages 72 FPS, offering higher frame rates at lower quality levels. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 46 FPS, which is not playable.

At 2560x1440, the combo can run the game only on the Low preset, averaging 61 FPS. This is a marginal pass, with only one frame of headroom above the threshold. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall short, with averages of 47, 39, and 30 FPS respectively.

At 3840x2160, the combo cannot run the game at any preset. The best result is 33 FPS on Low, which is far below the 60 FPS target. The database records no playable settings for this resolution.

The verdict is conditional: this system is playable at 1080p with room to spare on High, and just barely playable at 1440p on Low. It is not suitable for 4K gaming. Users who prioritize high frame rates should stick to 1080p, where the system delivers a solid experience. Those who need 1440p should accept Low settings and a thin margin above the threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Arc B390's nearest GPU rivals are all NVIDIA parts with nearly identical scores. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% lower than the B390. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, 1.5% lower. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, 2.5% lower. The GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, 2.7% lower. Any of these GPUs paired with the same CPU would deliver effectively the same FPS in this game, within the margin of measurement.

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's nearest CPU rivals provide similar processing power. The Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE has an average score of 29656, just 0.2% below the 9600X. The Ryzen 7 7840H scores 29868, 0.5% higher. The Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 29879, 0.6% higher. The Ryzen 7 8845HS scores 29955, 0.8% higher. Replacing the 9600X with any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical results, since the GPU remains the bottleneck.

For users considering a swap, the data suggests focusing on the GPU side. The B390's performance tier is so low that even a modest GPU upgrade would change the playable resolutions and presets. The CPU is not the limiting factor, and its nearest rivals offer no meaningful advantage for this title. The recorded measurements show that the GPU's 9th percentile standing is the primary constraint, and any alternative in the same performance class would deliver comparable FPS figures across all resolutions and settings.