Assetto Corsa

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a functional, if not spectacular, experience in Assetto Corsa, a 2014 racing simulation that remains popular due to its modding scene and physics fidelity. Benchmark results place this combination at rank 2315 out of 2897 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. The data reflects a system that can achieve high frame rates at lower settings but struggles to maintain fluid performance at the highest visual presets, particularly at 4K resolution. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance data to understand the specific roles of the CPU and GPU in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor demonstrates solid single-threaded performance with a 3DMark single-thread score of 909, but its multi-threaded scaling is moderate, as shown by the 3DMark max-threads score of 5912, which is nearly identical to its 16-thread score of 5895. This suggests that while the chip has 12 threads, performance gains plateau quickly beyond 8 threads, a trait common in gaming workloads.

In the context of Assetto Corsa, which is a racing simulation that often relies on a few heavily loaded threads for physics and AI calculations, the i5-12400F's strong single-core performance is more relevant than its multi-core throughput. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1680 indicates the processor can handle the game's primary game logic thread without becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, the data suggests the CPU is not the primary limiting factor in this pairing. At 1080p Low settings, the average FPS reaches 181, a figure that is unlikely to be constrained by a 12-thread processor. The CPU's 73rd percentile ranking among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039, places it just above the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core 3 201E in the nearest rivals list, with a delta percentage of 0.0% and -0.1%, respectively. This indicates that the i5-12400F is a competent mid-range performer, but its headroom is not the defining factor in this game's frame rate output.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the graphics workhorse in this configuration, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, along with 18 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a consistent base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, with memory clocked at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s, which is a crucial specification for high-resolution texture rendering. The GPU's pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS.

In Assetto Corsa, the GPU's role scales heavily with resolution and settings. The graphics card's average benchmark score of 20556 puts it at the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which has a delta percentage of just 0.1% higher. This suggests the Arc B570 offers performance in the same tier as a high-end mobile GPU from a previous generation. The GPU's capabilities are directly observable in the measured FPS data. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 181 FPS, indicating the GPU is efficiently processing frames. However, the load becomes more intense at higher settings. The data shows that at 1440p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 55, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 33 FPS. This is a clear indication that the B570's 10 GB VRAM and 380 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed by the game's higher-fidelity textures and effects. The GPU is the primary driver of performance changes across different quality presets, as the CPU performance remains relatively constant.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable but stark scaling pattern as resolution increases, which clearly identifies the GPU as the limiting component. Starting at 1080p, the system delivers an average of 181 FPS on Low settings and 96 FPS on High. Moving to 1440p, these numbers drop to 127 FPS and 67 FPS, respectively. Finally, at 4K, the averages fall to 76 FPS on Low and 41 FPS on High. This represents a significant performance degradation: from 1080p Low to 4K Low, the frame rate drops by 105 FPS (from 181 to 76), which is a 58% reduction. For High settings, the drop from 1080p to 4K is 55 FPS (from 96 to 41), a 57% reduction.

The pattern indicates a near-linear scaling with pixel count, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at 1080p, but as the pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors. The 4K Medium setting shows an average of 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, while the 1440p Medium setting averages 89 FPS with a range of 76 to 102 FPS. This consistency in the relative performance deltas between resolutions across all settings confirms that the Arc B570 is the bottleneck. The data does not show any unusual CPU-related stuttering or frame drops; instead, the FPS scales smoothly with the number of pixels being rendered, which is a hallmark of a GPU-limited workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal balance between visual fidelity and smooth gameplay is found at the Medium preset. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 127 FPS, with a minimum of 108 FPS, which is well above the threshold for a fluid experience on high refresh rate monitors. Comparatively, the High preset at 1080p averages 96 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset offers a 32% higher average frame rate. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 78 FPS, which is a noticeable reduction and does not provide a substantial visual improvement in the context of this aging but still demanding title.

For users with 1440p displays, the Medium preset is the recommended choice as well. It provides an average of 89 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, ensuring a consistent and responsive experience. The High preset at 1440p averages 67 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but the Medium preset maintains a safer margin above common 60 FPS thresholds. At 4K, the data suggests that even the Low preset, which averages 76 FPS, is preferable to Medium (54 FPS) or High (41 FPS). The Medium preset at 4K does have a recorded minimum of 46 FPS, which could lead to perceptible stutter in a racing game. Therefore, the data supports using Medium as the "sweet spot" for most users, with Low settings reserved strictly for 4K gaming or for those who prioritize frame rate above all else. The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution in this test, as it consistently produces the lowest frame rates without proportional visual gains relative to the significant performance cost.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2315 out of 2897 tested combos in Assetto Corsa. This places the system in the 21st percentile of all tested configurations, meaning roughly 79% of the combos in the database perform better than this one. The low ranking is primarily attributable to the GPU's performance ceiling, as the CPU is a relatively capable mid-range part. The combo's rank is not a reflection of a hardware failure, but rather a consequence of pairing a mid-tier CPU with a GPU that, while modern, does not have the raw throughput to compete with higher-end cards in a simulator like Assetto Corsa that can be sensitive to GPU fill rate at high resolutions.

Within the context of the database, this rank indicates that users should expect performance in line with a mainstream gaming PC. The data shows that this combo is not at the bottom of the barrel—it outperforms 582 combos—but it is firmly in the lower tier. The CPU's 73rd percentile ranking and the GPU's 65th percentile ranking suggest that the GPU is the weaker link, pulling the overall combo ranking down. The fact that the GPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Arc A750 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, both with near-zero delta percentages, suggests that the Arc B570 is competitively positioned among its immediate peers, but those peers themselves are not at the top of the performance charts. For a game from 2014, this hardware is sufficient for lower-to-mid settings, but it will not provide a high-end experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed summary of the average FPS at each resolution and settings combination, as measured in the database.

1080p (1920x1080)

• Low: 181 FPS average.
• Medium: 127 FPS average, with a minimum of 108 FPS and a maximum of 146 FPS.
• High: 96 FPS average.
• Ultra: 78 FPS average.

1440p (2560x1440)

• Low: 127 FPS average.
• Medium: 89 FPS average, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS.
• High: 67 FPS average.
• Ultra: 55 FPS average.

4K (3840x2160)

• Low: 76 FPS average.
• Medium: 54 FPS average, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS.
• High: 41 FPS average.
• Ultra: 33 FPS average.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in Assetto Corsa?

A: No. The data suggests the CPU is not the primary limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 181 FPS, and at 1080p High it maintains 96 FPS, indicating the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at these settings. The performance drops are more strongly tied to resolution increases, which point to the GPU as the bottleneck.

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

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 76, which is playable. However, at 4K High, the average drops to 41 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 33 FPS, which is not ideal for a smooth racing experience. The Medium preset at 4K offers a 54 FPS average but has a minimum of 46 FPS.

Q: What is the best quality preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: The Medium preset is the recommended choice for 1440p. It delivers an average of 89 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, providing a smooth and consistent experience. The High preset averages 67 FPS, which is lower, and the Ultra preset drops to 55 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, has a score of 20534, representing a delta percentage of 0.1% higher for the NVIDIA card. The Intel Arc A750 has a score of 20582, which is -0.1% relative to the B570, indicating near-identical performance among these three.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 96. At 4K High, the average FPS is 41. This represents a 57% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K, highlighting the heavy load placed on the GPU at higher resolutions.

Q: Does the i5-12400F perform better than similar CPUs in other tests?

A: The i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047) and the Intel Core 3 201E (19056), have delta percentages of 0.0% and -0.1%, respectively. This indicates that the i5-12400F is statistically tied with these processors in overall benchmark performance.