Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa, a racing simulation from 2014, remains a demanding title for modern low-power hardware. The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the Intel Arc B370 produces a performance profile that is almost entirely dictated by the integrated GPU. The benchmark data shows that this system is only capable of providing a playable experience at the lowest settings and the lowest resolution, struggling significantly at higher presets and resolutions. The i5-11400F CPU, a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, provides more than enough computational headroom, but the Arc B370's integrated graphics, with a 25 W TDP and system-shared memory, act as the definitive bottleneck in this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, confirming that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component in every scenario. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 56 FPS at 1920x1080 to 39 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 17 frames per second. The decline continues to 24 FPS at 3840x2160, which is a 57% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep curve indicates that the GPU is overwhelmed by the pixel count, with its pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s being insufficient for 4K rendering in this title.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. At the Low preset, the system achieves 106 FPS at 1080p, but this drops to 74 FPS at 1440p and further to 45 FPS at 4K. While the 1080p result is smooth, the 1440p figure shows a significant 30% performance hit, and the 4K result is borderline unplayable. The Medium preset shows a similar trend, with average FPS of 75, 52, and 32 for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The data suggests that the system is not memory-bandwidth limited, as the scaling is uniform across settings; rather, it is the raw shading and texture processing power of the GPU that is being exhausted.

The fact that the drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper than the drop from 1080p to 1440p suggests the GPU is hitting a hard computational wall. For instance, at the Ultra preset, the system produces 46 FPS at 1080p, which falls to 32 FPS at 1440p and then to just 19 FPS at 4K. This last figure is a 59% reduction from the 1440p result, showing that the 4K resolution demands more than double the pixel workload of 1440p, which the Arc B370's 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs cannot handle. The conclusion is clear: this setup is designed for 1080p gaming, and any attempt to scale up to higher resolutions will result in a significant loss of fluidity.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, and its performance in Assetto Corsa is its defining characteristic. The benchmark results show a single 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12) score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low ranking, and its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, both of which are very old, entry-level parts. The deltaPct values against these rivals are minimal, with a -0.2% difference to the HD 5570, indicating that the Arc B370's raw performance is practically identical to these legacy mobile parts.

The GPU's memory architecture is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a critical factor, as the memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent." In practice, this means the GPU is competing with the CPU for memory access, which can cause stuttering and lower frame rates, especially at higher resolutions where the demand for texture data increases. The core clocks are a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz, but the lack of dedicated memory bandwidth is a severe handicap. The measured FPS data confirms this, as even at 1080p Low settings, the system cannot exceed 106 FPS, which is far from the high refresh rates that a discrete GPU could achieve.

The GPU's raw compute figures, such as 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s, are modest, but the bottleneck is the shared memory. The 4K Medium test shows a minimum FPS of 27 and a maximum of 36, which shows inconsistent frame pacing that is typical of memory-constrained integrated graphics. The system's percentile ranking of 5 against all GPUs underscores its position at the bottom of the performance stack. When paired with the i5-11400F, it is clear that the GPU is the sole determinant of gaming performance, and its capabilities are marginal for even a 2014 title at higher detail levels.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data dictates that the only viable way to play Assetto Corsa with this hardware is at the Low preset. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 106 FPS, which is the only configuration that provides a consistently fluid experience. The Medium preset at the same resolution drops to 75 FPS, which is still playable, but the jump to High reduces the average to 56 FPS, and Ultra brings it down to 46 FPS. Given the game's nature as a racing simulator, where smooth frame delivery is paramount for accurate car control, the 106 FPS offered by Low settings is the clear choice.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more restrictive. The Low preset produces 74 FPS, which is acceptable, but the Medium preset falls to 52 FPS, and High and Ultra drop to 39 and 32 FPS respectively. For a consistent experience, sticking to 1440p with Low settings is the only sensible recommendation. However, the 1080p Low configuration is superior in terms of frame rate headroom. The 4K resolution is not viable for serious play, as even the Low preset only averages 45 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth racing experience.

The data suggests that users should prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p is a 60 FPS swing (106 vs 46), which is a massive difference in gameplay smoothness. The High and Ultra presets at any resolution do not offer enough of a visual improvement to justify the substantial performance penalty. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is unequivocally the 1920x1080 Low preset, which offers the highest average FPS and ensures that the CPU's performance is not wasted by a GPU that is struggling to keep up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data reveals a clear hierarchy of performance. At 1920x1080, the system's best results are found. The Low preset averages 106 FPS, the Medium preset averages 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 and a maximum of 86, the High preset averages 56 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 46 FPS. This shows a steady decline as visual complexity increases, with the Ultra preset being exactly half the frame rate of the Low preset. The Medium preset's margin of 64 to 86 FPS indicates that the frame time is not entirely stable, but it is still within an acceptable range.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops across the board. The Low preset averages 74 FPS, a 32 FPS decrease from 1080p. The Medium preset averages 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 60. The High preset averages 39 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 32 FPS. This resolution is the edge of playability, with only the Low preset offering a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset's minimum of 44 FPS could lead to noticeable dips during intense moments on track.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly overmatched. The Low preset averages 45 FPS, the Medium preset averages 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 36, the High preset averages 24 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 19 FPS. These figures are all below the standard for playable frame rates. The 4K Medium preset's minimum of 27 FPS is particularly problematic, as it would result in a stuttery and unresponsive experience. The data confirms that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware configuration, and the system is best utilized at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Assetto Corsa at 4K resolution?

A: No. The benchmark data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 45 on the Low preset, with the Ultra preset dropping to just 19 FPS. These results are below the threshold for smooth gameplay, making 4K impractical.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this hardware?

A: The 1920x1080 Low preset provides the best experience, yielding an average of 106 FPS. This is the only configuration that offers a high frame rate buffer, ensuring a consistent and fluid racing experience.

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

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% slower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186) and 0.5% slower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190). This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177 and is in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its performance is sufficient to handle the game's physics; the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component in every test scenario.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 106 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 46 FPS. This represents a 60 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU, leading to a much lower frame rate.

Q: Does the system's memory configuration affect performance?

A: Yes. The Intel Arc B370 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This architecture forces the GPU to share the system's DDR4 memory with the CPU, which likely contributes to the performance limitations observed at higher resolutions, such as the 4K Medium preset's minimum FPS of 27.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F plays a supporting role in this configuration, but its capabilities ensure that it does not hinder the GPU. This processor features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are solid, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and a single-core score of 2024. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5619 and the max-thread score of 5652 show that the CPU can handle multi-threaded workloads effectively, but for gaming, the single-thread performance is often more critical.

The i5-11400F's single-thread performance is strong, as evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 2981 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1777. This is important for Assetto Corsa, which relies heavily on a single main thread for simulation logic. The CPU's performance is far ahead of what the GPU can deliver. For example, in the 1080p Low preset, the system achieves 106 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's limit for frame generation in this title, but the GPU is still the primary constraint. If the GPU were faster, the CPU could likely push even higher frame rates.

However, the data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The system's combo rank in this game is 2669 out of 2897 combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested hardware combinations. This low rank is overwhelmingly due to the GPU's 5th percentile performance, not the CPU's 71st percentile ranking. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 7H12 with a deltaPct of 0.3% and the Intel Core i5-12450H with a deltaPct of -0.4%, show that it is a mid-pack performer. In contrast, the GPU's rivals are ancient parts. The conclusion is that the i5-11400F is a capable processor that will not limit the Arc B370 in this game; it is the integrated graphics that defines the system's performance ceiling.