Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa, a racing simulation from 2014, remains a staple in the sim-racing community due to its physics and modding support. When paired with the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B580, the game shows a performance profile that is heavily dependent on resolution and graphics settings. The data indicates that this combination provides a versatile experience, capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but requiring compromises at 4K to maintain smooth gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p, the Intel Arc B580 is able to stretch its legs, delivering frame rates that far exceed the refresh rates of most standard monitors. For instance, at Low settings, the average FPS is 205, which is exceptionally high and suggests the system is not bottlenecked at this resolution. Even at the demanding Ultra preset, the average FPS at 1080p is 89, which is still very playable on a 60Hz or even a 144Hz display.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance impact is significant but expected. The average frame rates at this resolution show a drop of roughly 30% compared to 1080p across the board. For example, High settings go from 109 FPS at 1080p to 76 FPS at 1440p. This drop indicates that the GPU is becoming a more significant factor, but the system remains capable of delivering a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors, especially with Medium settings which yield an average of 101 FPS.

The jump to 3840x2160 (4K) presents the most substantial challenge for this combination. The data shows a more pronounced performance hit, with the average FPS at High settings falling to 46. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is not linear, highlighting the immense pixel-pushing demand of 4K. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 38, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience on many standard displays. The 4K Low setting, at 87 FPS, is the only way to achieve a high refresh rate at this resolution, suggesting that the Arc B580's 12 GB of VRAM and 456.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient, but its raw compute power is the limiting factor at 4K Ultra.

The pattern strongly suggests that at 1080p, the Intel Core i5-10400F is more than capable of feeding the GPU, allowing it to hit its performance ceiling. However, as resolution climbs, the load shifts overwhelmingly to the GPU. The significant frame rate drops at 4K, especially between Medium (61 FPS) and Ultra (38 FPS), indicate that the Arc B580 is the primary bottleneck in this configuration at higher resolutions. The data does not suggest a CPU limitation; rather, it points to the GPU's compute performance, with a 13.67 TFLOPS FP32 rating, being the deciding factor in demanding 4K scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for high-refresh-rate gaming with this combo?

A: According to the measured data, 1920x1080 is the optimal choice for high refresh rates. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset achieves an average of 89 FPS, while Medium settings reach 144 FPS. Low settings push the average to 205 FPS, indicating the system is well-suited for 1080p gaming.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 38 (Ultra) to 87 (Low). The only preset that allows for a consistently smooth 60+ FPS experience is Low. Medium settings yield an average of 61 FPS, which is borderline, while High and Ultra settings will suffer from noticeable frame rate dips.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The Intel Arc B580's average benchmark score is 23021, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, has an average score of 23061, making the Arc B580 0.2% slower. In contrast, it is 0.6% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 0.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. These are general synthetic scores, not specific to Assetto Corsa.

Q: What is the CPU's general performance standing?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14185 and sits in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. It performs nearly identically to its nearest rivals, with a 0.2% difference from the Intel Xeon 6756E and a -0.3% difference from the Intel Core 7 160UL. This indicates the CPU is a solid mid-range performer.

Q: Is there a significant performance gap between the Medium and Ultra presets?

A: Yes, the gap is substantial and grows with resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 55 FPS (144 vs 89). At 1440p, the difference is 39 FPS (101 vs 62). At 4K, the difference is 23 FPS (61 vs 38). This shows that the Ultra preset demands much more from the GPU, and the relative cost increases as resolution rises.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The data shows that this specific combo, the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B580, ranks 2791 out of 3712 total tested combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the rankings, indicating that while it's not a top-tier performer, it is far from the bottom and offers a functional experience.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the star of this show, and its characteristics are directly reflected in the gaming benchmarks. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. This generous memory allocation and bandwidth are likely why the game runs well at Medium settings even at 4K, as it provides enough headroom for textures and geometry without stuttering due to memory constraints.

The GPU's clock speed is listed with a base and boost of 2670 MHz. With 2560 shading units, the card can deliver a peak FP32 performance of 13.67 TFLOPS. This raw compute power is what ultimately governs the frame rates at high resolutions. The data shows a clear correlation: at 4K Ultra, the game demands more compute power than the GPU can deliver, resulting in an average FPS of 38. When the settings are dropped to Low, the computational load is reduced, and the average FPS jumps to 87, illustrating the GPU's headroom when not maxed out.

The GPU's performance in general benchmarks places it in the 68th percentile, with its average score of 23021 closely matching that of the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080. This suggests it is a solid performer in its class. In the context of Assetto Corsa, which is an older title, the GPU is not struggling with VRAM capacity. Instead, the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the limiting factor is the GPU's shading and rasterization throughput. The game is not heavily dependent on the CPU, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p, which are only possible when the GPU is not the bottleneck. The Arc B580's 20 RT cores and 160 TMUs are less relevant for this title, as it's a 2014 release that doesn't use ray tracing, but the TMUs are critical for texture filtering, which impacts visual quality at all settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend entirely on the target resolution and refresh rate. For users with a 1920x1080 monitor, the Medium preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 144 FPS. This is ideal for 144Hz displays, providing a smooth and responsive experience. If a user has a 60Hz monitor, the Ultra preset at 89 FPS is viable, offering maximum visual fidelity without any concern for frame drops. For those with a 240Hz display, the Low preset, at 205 FPS, is the only way to approach the refresh rate limit.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the sweet spot for a high-refresh experience, with an average of 101 FPS. This provides a great balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 76 FPS is still suitable for 60Hz monitors and offers a better visual experience. The Low preset at 143 FPS is for competitive players who prioritize frame rate above all else. The Ultra preset at 62 FPS is playable but will not provide a stable 60 FPS experience at all times, and it is recommended only for users who value visual fidelity over consistent smoothness.

For 3840x2160 displays, the recommendations are more constrained. The Low preset is the only one that guarantees a high-refresh-rate experience, averaging 87 FPS. The Medium preset is the best choice for a standard 60Hz display, with an average of 61 FPS, but it's close to the limit and may experience dips to 52 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for a smooth experience, as they average 46 and 38 FPS, respectively. A 4K user should prioritize the Medium preset for a balanced experience, as it provides the majority of the visual benefits without the severe performance penalty of the higher presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B580 combination is ranked 2791 out of 3712 tested combos for Assetto Corsa. This places it in the bottom 25% of all tested combinations, which might seem alarming at first glance. However, this ranking is relative to all possible hardware configurations, many of which include top-tier CPUs and GPUs. It does not mean the experience is bad; rather, it indicates that many other systems will achieve higher frame rates.

In context, this ranking is a reflection of the hardware's overall capabilities. The CPU sits in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU also sits in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. This means both components are solidly mid-range. The combo's rank in the game is influenced by the fact that many other combos have more powerful GPUs or CPUs that can push higher frame rates, especially at lower resolutions. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo is perfectly capable of delivering a playable and enjoyable experience in Assetto Corsa, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. The ranking is a relative metric, and the absolute FPS numbers are what matter for the end-user. This system is not a top performer, but it is far from a poor one.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average frame rates for this specific hardware combination. The data shows a clear progression across resolutions and settings.

1920x1080:

• Low: The average FPS is 205. This is the highest performance tier, offering maximum frame rates.
• Medium: The average FPS is 144, with a minimum of 122 and a maximum of 166. This shows a tightly bounded frame rate, indicating good consistency.
• High: The average FPS is 109. This is a significant drop from Medium but still well above 60 FPS.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 89. This is the most demanding setting at this resolution, but it remains highly playable.

2560x1440:

• Low: The average FPS is 143. This is a substantial drop from the 1080p Low setting, but still excellent for high-refresh monitors.
• Medium: The average FPS is 101, with a minimum of 86 and a maximum of 116. This is the best balanced setting for this resolution.
• High: The average FPS is 76. This is a solid performance for a 60Hz monitor and a good visual upgrade over Medium.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 62. This is on the edge of playability, with dips below 60 potentially noticeable.

3840x2160:

• Low: The average FPS is 87. This is the only setting that provides a high-refresh experience at 4K.
• Medium: The average FPS is 61, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 70. This is the recommended setting for a standard 60Hz 4K display, but the minimum FPS shows it can stutter.
• High: The average FPS is 46. This is not a smooth experience and is not recommended.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 38. This is the most demanding scenario and will result in a visually impressive but choppy experience.