Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa, a racing simulation from 2014, is often used as a benchmark for lower-end hardware due to its age and scalability. In this analysis, the combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F processor and the Intel Arc B370 graphics solution produces a highly constrained experience. The data indicates that this combo ranks 2669 out of 2897 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom percentile for performance in this title. This pairing exhibits a significant bottleneck, with the GPU's capabilities severely limiting frame rates across all tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is drastic and clearly illustrates where the system's limitation lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average FPS falls to 74, a reduction of roughly 30%. At 4K with Low settings, performance nearly halves again to 45 FPS. This steep decline is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario; the processor is capable of feeding frames at lower resolutions, but the graphics solution cannot maintain the fill rate demanded by higher pixel counts.

The scaling pattern holds across all quality presets. For High settings, the average FPS drops from 56 at 1080p to 39 at 1440p and further down to 24 at 4K. Similarly, with Medium settings, the averages are 75, 52, and 32 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The Ultra preset shows the same trend, with averages of 46, 32, and 19 FPS. In every case, the transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a substantial performance penalty, and the move to 4K makes the game nearly unplayable at higher presets, with the Ultra preset at 4K averaging just 19 FPS.

This consistent pattern across all settings confirms that the limiting component is the GPU. The frame rate is not just dropping; it is dropping at a rate consistent with the exponential increase in pixel count. The i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the primary constraint here. The data suggests that at 1080p Low, the system is starting to approach a playable state, but any increase in resolution or graphical fidelity immediately overwhelms the Intel Arc B370, leading to sub-30 FPS experiences at 4K.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the definitive performance ceiling for this system in Assetto Corsa. Its benchmark data is stark; it holds a percentile rank of just 5 among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals in the database are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M. This places its raw compute power in a very low tier. The GPU's specifications reinforce this, with a boost clock of 2400 MHz and a TDP of just 25 W, indicating a power-constrained, integrated-class solution.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a significant factor in a game like Assetto Corsa, where texture loading and memory bandwidth are crucial. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means it will be bottlenecked by the dual-channel DDR4 memory support of the CPU, which has a theoretical bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. This shared memory setup severely limits the texture throughput and can cause stuttering or low frame rates, especially at higher resolutions where more data needs to be processed.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the Arc B370 scores 1184 points. This is nearly identical to its rivals, with a delta of -0.2% versus the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and -0.5% versus the ATI Radeon HD 5770. This confirms that its raw performance is on par with those older parts, which is a poor sign for a modern racing simulation. The GPU's 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs are simply insufficient to handle the rendering load of Assetto Corsa at high resolutions and settings, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Assetto Corsa at 1080p with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, at lower settings. The measured data shows an average of 106 FPS at 1080p Low and 75 FPS at 1080p Medium. However, at High settings, the average drops to 56 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 46 FPS, which may be less consistent for competitive play.

Q: What resolution is best for this hardware combo in this game?

A: The data suggests 1080p is the only viable resolution for a smooth experience. At 1440p, even Low settings yield an average of 74 FPS, but the drop to 52 FPS on Medium highlights the GPU's struggle. At 4K, all presets fall below 45 FPS, making it unsuitable for a racing game.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The benchmark data shows it is statistically tied with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, and AMD Radeon HD 7650M. Its average benchmark score is 1184, with a delta of -0.2% to -0.7% compared to those parts, placing it in the same performance class.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this game?

A: No, the data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Core i5-10400F has a high average benchmark score of 14185 and is in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The frame rate scaling with resolution points directly to a GPU bottleneck, as the CPU is likely capable of handling the game's physics and AI calculations.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers like for this combo?

A: The data only includes minimum FPS values for the Medium setting at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 64 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 44 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 27 FPS. This shows that frame pacing can be erratic, especially at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this combo?

A: This specific combo ranks 2669 out of 2897 tested combinations for Assetto Corsa. This places it in the 8th percentile of all tested systems, confirming it is a very low-performance configuration for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2669 out of 2897 tested combinations is a clear, definitive statement of its performance class. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for Assetto Corsa. The data shows that while the CPU is a competent mid-range part, the GPU drags the entire system down. This pairing is not a balanced one; the i5-10400F is severely held back by the Arc B370.

To contextualize this rank, consider the CPU's performance. The i5-10400F scores 10283 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1451 in single-core, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E and AMD EPYC 7552, which are server-class processors. This indicates the CPU is not the source of the low ranking. The GPU, however, sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with a score of 1184 in its only benchmark. The combination of a high-percentile CPU with a low-percentile GPU results in a system that is wholly defined by its weakest link.

The rank is also a function of the game's demands. Assetto Corsa, while older, still requires a certain level of GPU horsepower for high settings. The Arc B370, with its shared system memory and low compute throughput, cannot meet these demands. The result is a system that is only suitable for the lowest graphical presets and resolutions, as indicated by the measured FPS. In a ranking of over 2,800 systems, this combo is firmly at the bottom, competing with systems using graphics hardware from over a decade ago.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F plays a secondary but important role in this configuration. While the GPU is the primary bottleneck, the CPU's capabilities define the ceiling for the game's simulation aspects. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it offers a solid foundation for gaming. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz provide adequate processing power for most gaming workloads, including racing simulators which often have complex physics calculations.

The CPU's benchmark scores are respectable. It achieves a Passmark single-thread score of 2541 and a multi-thread score of 12115. In Cinebench R23, it scores 10283 multi-core and 1451 single-core. These numbers indicate that the i5-10400F is far from a weak processor. In fact, its performance is comparable to or better than many modern mid-range chips. The data shows that in 3DMark's 16-thread test, it scores 4748, which is not far off its max-thread score of 4735, indicating good scaling with its 12 threads.

Given its performance, the CPU is not the reason for the low FPS in Assetto Corsa. The measured FPS drops are entirely consistent with a GPU bottleneck. For instance, the move from 1080p Low to 4K Low cuts the frame rate by more than half, which is a rendering load issue, not a CPU load issue. The i5-10400F is likely keeping up with the game's logic, but the Arc B370 is unable to render the frames fast enough. In a better-balanced system, this CPU could likely push much higher frame rates, but in this pairing, its potential is largely untapped.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. The table below summarizes the average FPS for each configuration.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 106 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 75 | 64 | 86 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 56 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 46 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 74 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 52 | 44 | 60 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 39 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 32 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 45 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 32 | 27 | 36 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 24 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 19 | - | - |

At 1080p, the system shows its best performance. Low settings achieve a very playable 106 FPS, and Medium is also smooth at 75 FPS. High settings at 56 FPS are borderline, while Ultra at 46 FPS may be acceptable for some. The minimum FPS data for Medium at 1080p shows 64 FPS, indicating some frame drops but not catastrophic ones.

Moving to 1440p, the performance becomes more strained. The Low setting at 74 FPS is still decent, but Medium drops to 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS. High and Ultra settings fall to 39 and 32 FPS respectively, which are not ideal for a racing game. At 4K, the system is clearly overmatched. Even Low settings only manage 45 FPS, and Medium is just 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS. High and Ultra are effectively unplayable at 24 and 19 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this system is at 1080p with Medium settings. This configuration provides an average of 75 FPS, which is well above the playable threshold, and the minimum recorded FPS of 64 indicates that frame pacing remains stable. The visual improvement over Low settings is significant, and the performance cost is acceptable.

If a smoother experience is the primary goal, 1080p Low is the best choice, yielding an average of 106 FPS. This is the only setting that gets close to high-refresh-rate territory. However, the graphical fidelity will be noticeably lower. For players who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, 1080p High at 56 FPS is a possibility, but this is the absolute limit for a consistent experience.

At 1440p, the data suggests that only the Low preset is viable, with an average of 74 FPS. Medium at 52 FPS is borderline, and the minimum of 44 FPS may lead to noticeable stutters. High and Ultra settings at 1440p should be avoided, as they dip below 40 FPS. The 4K resolution is not recommended for this combo. All presets fail to reach a consistent 60 FPS, and even Low settings at 45 FPS will feel sluggish. The Ultra preset at 19 FPS is a slideshow. In summary, the best experience is a 1080p Medium configuration, which balances visual quality and performance for this hardware pairing.