Minimum

FAQ

Q: What is the fastest preset this combo can run at 1920x1080?

A: The recorded data shows 1920x1080 High is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, averaging 61 FPS. Low runs at 95 FPS, and Medium runs at 72 FPS. Ultra drops to 46 FPS.

Q: Can this PC run the game at 2560x1440?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The measured average is 61 FPS at 2560x1440 Low. Medium falls to 47 FPS, High to 39 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS, so none of those reach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is 3840x2160 playable with this hardware?

A: No. The database shows no playable settings at 4K. The best result at 3840x2160 is Low at 33 FPS, followed by Medium at 25 FPS, High at 21 FPS, and Ultra at 16 FPS. All fall well below the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755, scores 75738 compared to 75779, a delta of only 0.1%. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D is also 0.1% behind, and the AMD EPYC 8224P trails by 0.3%.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463 versus 1482, a delta of 1.3%. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M is 1.5% behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% behind.

Q: What is the overall ranking of this combo in the game?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3299 out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. That places it in the lower portion of the database's tested configurations.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU side, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has an average benchmark score of 75779. The closest matches are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 at 75738 (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D at 75716 (0.1% lower), the AMD EPYC 8224P at 75582 (0.3% lower), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 at 75488 (0.4% lower). These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound behavior in Minimum, meaning any of them paired with the same GPU would likely produce similar frame rates in scenarios where the CPU is the limiting factor. The differences are so small that they fall within typical run-to-run variance.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1463 (1.3% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 at 1443 (2.7% lower). These GPUs would exhibit very similar graphics throughput, so swapping the Arc B390 for any of them would keep the frame rates in the same general range at all resolutions. Conversely, the gap to higher-tier GPUs would be substantial, as the Arc B390 sits at only the 9th percentile among all GPUs.

For a user considering this system, the takeaway is that the CPU is far above average while the GPU is far below it. The measured frame rates in Minimum are governed almost entirely by the GPU, so the nearest CPU rivals would not change the experience. The nearest GPU rivals would produce comparable results, but none would meaningfully improve the playable settings list. The combination is heavily imbalanced: a top-tier processor paired with a low-tier integrated GPU.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data shows a clear pattern: the Intel Arc B390 is the bottleneck at every resolution and preset. The CPU is a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 5 part with a boost clock of 5.70 GHz and a 95th percentile ranking. The GPU is an integrated part from the Panther Lake generation with a 9th percentile ranking. When a system has this kind of gap, the GPU dictates the frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates scale steeply with the preset. Low averages 95 FPS, Medium drops to 72 FPS, High falls to 61 FPS, and Ultra reaches only 46 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 49 FPS, which is a 51.6% reduction from the Low result. That is a large performance cost for higher visual quality, and it indicates the GPU is working at its limits even at 1080p. The CPU has ample headroom; its single-thread score of 1292 in 3DMark and multi-thread score of 17184 at max threads are far beyond what a 2014 third-person shooter would require.

Moving to 2560x1440, the same preset ladder shows 61 FPS at Low, 47 FPS at Medium, 39 FPS at High, and 30 FPS at Ultra. The drop from 1080p Low to 1440p Low is 34 FPS, or 35.8% lower. The drop from 1080p High to 1440p High is 22 FPS, or 36.1% lower. This consistent percentage drop across presets suggests the GPU's fill rate and shading throughput scale predictably with pixel count. The CPU's role remains minor, as the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly proportional to the increase in pixels, not to any CPU limitation.

At 3840x2160, the results collapse. Low averages 33 FPS, Medium 25 FPS, High 21 FPS, and Ultra 16 FPS. The jump from 1440p Low to 4K Low is a 28 FPS loss, or 45.9%. The jump from 1440p High to 4K High is 18 FPS, or 46.2%. The GPU simply does not have enough raw throughput for 4K, regardless of the preset. The CPU, with its 128 MB of L3 cache and DDR5 memory support, has no trouble feeding the GPU; the measured frame rates are entirely consistent with a GPU-bound scenario.

In summary, the CPU and GPU roles are lopsided. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D would be capable of far higher frame rates with a stronger graphics solution. The Arc B390 is the limiting factor at every resolution, and the data shows no evidence of CPU bottlenecking at any point. Users who want higher frame rates should focus on the GPU side of the equation.

The Verdict

This PC can run Minimum, but only under specific conditions. The playable threshold in the database is 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. The best result is Low at 33 FPS, which is far below the threshold. Medium runs at 25 FPS, High at 21 FPS, and Ultra at 16 FPS. None of these are acceptable for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, exactly one setting clears the threshold: Low averages 61 FPS. That is a marginal pass, barely above the 60 FPS line. Medium falls to 47 FPS, High to 39 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS. Users at 1440p must use Low settings to get a playable experience, and even then, the margin is only 1 FPS above the threshold, so dips below 60 are possible during intense scenes.

At 1920x1080, the situation improves. The database lists High, Low, and Medium as playable. High averages 61 FPS, Medium averages 72 FPS, and Low averages 95 FPS. Ultra is not playable at 46 FPS. For a 1080p display, this combo can run the game at High settings with an average just above 60 FPS. That is the best playable preset available.

The verdict is straightforward: this system is a 1080p machine for Minimum. It can manage 1440p only at Low settings, and it cannot handle 4K at any setting. The measured data indicates that the GPU is the sole constraint. If the goal is 1080p gaming at High settings, this combo delivers. If the goal is higher resolutions or Ultra quality, the Arc B390 is not sufficient.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, there is no best setting because no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The highest average is 33 FPS at Low, which is not playable. The database records no playable settings for this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Low, with an average of 61 FPS. This is the only preset that clears 60 FPS at this resolution. Medium is close at 47 FPS but falls short, and High and Ultra are progressively worse at 39 FPS and 30 FPS respectively. For 1440p users, Low is the only option that meets the playable threshold.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is High, with an average of 61 FPS. Medium is also playable at 72 FPS, and Low is playable at 95 FPS. Ultra is not playable at 46 FPS. The database's verdict marks High as the best settings choice at 1080p because it offers the highest visual quality while still maintaining an average at or above 60 FPS. Users who prioritize smoothness over quality could choose Medium for a 72 FPS average or Low for 95 FPS, but High is the recommended ceiling for this resolution.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: the Arc B390 has enough performance for 1080p at up to High, barely enough for 1440p at Low, and not enough for 4K. The exact numbers from the database are 61 FPS at 1080p High, 61 FPS at 1440p Low, and no playable result at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D plus Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 3299 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. That places it in the bottom 11.1% of all tested configurations. The ranking reflects the GPU's severe limitation more than the CPU's strength. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 95th percentile processor, but the Arc B390 is a 9th percentile GPU, and the game's frame rates are GPU-bound.

The combo rank is a direct consequence of the measured FPS data. At 1080p, the system reaches only High at 61 FPS, while many other tested combos would presumably reach Ultra or higher frame rates. At 1440p, only Low is playable. At 4K, nothing is playable. These results put the combo near the bottom of the database's ranking, despite the premium CPU.

For context, the CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.4% of its average score, so the CPU choice is not what separates this combo from higher-ranked ones. The GPU's nearest rivals are also low-tier parts with similar scores. The ranking is driven by the GPU's position at the 9th percentile. Any combo with a stronger GPU would rank higher, regardless of the CPU.

The practical implication is that this combo is mismatched. The CPU is overkill for the GPU's capabilities, and the ranking reflects the weakest link. Users considering this build should understand that the recorded data shows a system that is playable at 1080p High and 1440p Low, but it ranks near the bottom of the database because the GPU cannot deliver the frame rates that the CPU would otherwise allow. If the goal is to play Minimum at higher settings or resolutions, the GPU must be upgraded. The CPU has plenty of headroom for a much stronger graphics card.