Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa, a racing simulation from 2014, remains a demanding title for lower-tier hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390, using only the benchmark data provided. The combination ranks 2566th out of 2897 tested combos, placing it in the lower 12th percentile of all systems tested. This suggests that while the configuration is capable of running the game, users will need to make significant compromises in visual quality to achieve playable frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 memory are standard for its generation. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283 and a single-core score of 1451. Its average benchmark score is 14185, which places it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, indicating a solid, mid-range performer for its time.

In the context of Assetto Corsa, the CPU's role is primarily to manage game physics and AI logic. The data shows a clear pattern where the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower settings, but its influence becomes apparent when paired with the GPU. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 118 FPS, but this drops to 62 FPS at High settings. This is a significant 56 FPS difference attributed entirely to the graphics workload. However, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to feed the Arc B390 at these settings, as the frame rates are not collapsing to single-digit values.

The i5-10400F's nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the Intel Xeon 6756E, which is 0.2% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7552, which is 0.5% slower. It is also 0.3% faster than the Intel Core 7 160UL and 0.6% faster than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. These are tight margins, indicating that the i5-10400F is a very average performer relative to its direct competitors. For a game like Assetto Corsa, which is not known for being heavily multi-threaded, the single-thread performance is crucial, and the Geekbench single-core score of 1420 suggests it can handle the game's primary simulation thread without being a severe limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the most balanced experience is achieved at 1080p with Medium settings. This configuration yields an average of 83 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 95 FPS. This provides a smooth, playable experience with a noticeable improvement in visual fidelity over Low settings.

At 1080p High, the average FPS drops to 62, which is still playable for a racing sim, but the minimum frame rate is not recorded, and the margin for error in demanding scenes is smaller. The 1080p Ultra preset yields an average of 51 FPS, which is on the lower edge of what is considered smooth gameplay. While playable, it is more susceptible to drops.

For users with 1440p monitors, the Medium preset is the highest viable option, producing an average of 58 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS. While playable, the lower minimum frame rate suggests occasional stutters. The High preset at 1440p averages 44 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a fast-paced racing game. At 4K resolution, even the Low preset only manages an average of 50 FPS, and the Medium preset falls to 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS. The data clearly indicates that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this combo without significant graphical compromises.

The data suggests that the "best experience" is a trade-off between visual quality and frame rate stability. The 1080p Medium preset offers the best combination of a high average FPS (83) and a recorded minimum FPS (70) that ensures a consistent experience. Lowering to Low settings at 1080p increases the average to 118 FPS, but the visual hit is substantial. Therefore, Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot for this hardware configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Assetto Corsa with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can maintain consistently high frame rates. At 1080p Low, it averages 118 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it averages 83 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS. Higher resolutions result in significantly lower average frame rates.

Q: Can this system handle 4K resolution in Assetto Corsa?

A: The benchmark data indicates that 4K is not a practical option. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 50 on Low settings. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, and the High preset averages 26 FPS. These results are below the threshold for a smooth gaming experience.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3% slower. Other close rivals include the GeForce 800M (1.5% slower) and the GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% slower). The Arc B390 is 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor. For example, at 1440p, the frame rate drops from 82 FPS on Low to 36 FPS on Ultra, a 46 FPS difference. This massive scaling with graphical settings indicates the GPU is struggling to keep up. The CPU's performance stays relatively consistent, as its benchmark percentile (68th) is much higher than the GPU's (9th).

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 118 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 51 FPS. This represents a 67 FPS (or 56.8%) reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest graphical preset.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo is ranked 2566 out of 2897 total combinations tested. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems, confirming that it is a low-performance configuration for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B390 combination is ranked 2566th out of 2897 tested combos for Assetto Corsa. This rank of 2566 places it in the bottom 11.4% of all systems tested. This is a very low ranking, indicating that the vast majority of other hardware configurations will provide a better gaming experience.

This low rank is primarily driven by the GPU's performance. The Intel Arc B390 sits at the 9th percentile of all GPUs, meaning 91% of other graphics cards are faster. Its average benchmark score of 1482 is only slightly better than its nearest rivals, which include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the GeForce 800M. These are entry-level, low-power mobile or OEM graphics solutions, not desktop gaming cards.

In contrast, the CPU is a much more capable part. The i5-10400F's 68th percentile ranking and average score of 14185 show that it is a competent mid-range processor. The disparity between the CPU's and GPU's capabilities confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor in this combo. The overall rank of 2566 reflects the combined performance, dragging the decent CPU down to the bottom tier due to the weak GPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. It has 12 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent." The GPU's TDP is 80 W, and it is designed to be an IGP with a slot width of "IGP" and no power connectors.

The GPU's performance in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test is 1482, which places it at the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, indicating that it is not designed for demanding gaming. In the measured FPS data, its role is clear. At 1080p Low, it can produce 118 FPS, but this drops to 51 FPS at Ultra. This demonstrates that the GPU's raw processing power is insufficient for high-fidelity graphics, even in a 2014 title.

The GPU's nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts. It is 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710. These are all extremely weak GPUs, highlighting the Arc B390's limited capabilities. The system-shared memory architecture means performance is heavily dependent on the system's RAM speed and bandwidth, which is a further disadvantage compared to dedicated graphics cards with their own VRAM.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo performs best. The Low preset achieves an average of 118 FPS. The Medium preset averages 83 FPS, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 95. The High preset averages 62 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 51 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 82 FPS. The Medium preset averages 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 and a maximum of 67. The High preset averages 44 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 36 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles. The Low preset averages 50 FPS. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. The High preset averages 26 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 22 FPS.

This data shows a consistent pattern. Each increase in resolution or settings level results in a significant drop in average FPS. The minimum FPS data points, where available, show that the system can experience frame drops below the average, particularly at Medium settings. For example, at 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS is 49, which is close to the average of 58, indicating some instability.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the limiting component. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 83 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p, a 30.1% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the average FPS drops from 58 to 35, a 39.7% decrease. At High settings, the drop from 1080p (62 FPS) to 1440p (44 FPS) is a 29.0% decrease, and from 1440p (44 FPS) to 4K (26 FPS) is a 40.9% decrease.

This scaling pattern is a strong indicator of a GPU bottleneck. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render increases exponentially. The CPU's workload remains relatively constant regardless of resolution. Since the frame rate drops so dramatically with resolution, it is clear that the Intel Arc B390's rendering capabilities are being saturated. The i5-10400F is able to provide the necessary data, but the GPU cannot process it fast enough to maintain higher frame rates at higher resolutions.

The data confirms that this combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming in Assetto Corsa. The GPU has enough power to deliver playable frame rates at 1080p, but it runs out of headroom when asked to render more pixels. The performance cliff between 1440p and 4K is particularly steep, making 4K unplayable and demonstrating that the GPU is the definitive limiting factor in this system.