Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa, a racing simulation from 2014, remains a staple in PC benchmarking due to its demanding nature at high settings. This analysis focuses on the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the Intel Arc B570. The data reveals a configuration that scales predictably with resolution and settings, offering a clear picture of its capabilities for sim racing enthusiasts.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and clearly indicates where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 181 FPS, but this falls to 127 FPS at 1440p and 76 FPS at 4K. This represents a 58% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a massive hit. The scaling is more moderate at higher settings. With High settings, the frame rate drops from 96 FPS at 1080p to 67 FPS at 1440p (a 30% decrease) and then to 41 FPS at 4K (a further 39% decrease from 1440p). This pattern shows that at Low settings, the CPU is doing more of the work, and the GPU struggles to keep up as pixel count increases. At High settings, the load is more balanced, but the GPU still becomes the primary limiting factor at 4K.

The data suggests that the Intel Arc B570 is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The i5-14600KF, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, provides ample processing power to feed the GPU, as evidenced by the very high frame rates at 1080p Low (181 FPS). However, as resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows exponentially. The 41 FPS average at 4K High is a clear sign that the GPU is overburdened. The transition from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings is particularly telling, with the average frame rate dropping from 55 FPS to 33 FPS, a 40% decline. This steep drop-off is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth of the B570 are insufficient for the demands of 4K Ultra.

Interestingly, the scaling from Medium to High at 4K is a 13 FPS drop (54 to 41 FPS), while the drop from Low to Medium is 22 FPS (76 to 54 FPS). This suggests that the Medium preset introduces a significant load increase, while the gap between Medium and High is comparatively smaller. For 1440p, the scaling is more linear: 127 FPS (Low) → 89 FPS (Medium) → 67 FPS (High) → 55 FPS (Ultra). This consistent degradation is expected, but the 4K curve shows that the GPU's architecture handles the jump to Medium poorly, possibly due to specific shader effects or memory usage patterns. Overall, the data indicates that for a smooth experience, users should target 1080p or 1440p, as the 4K performance is only playable at Low settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This is a crucial specification for a racing game like Assetto Corsa, which can have large texture loads. The GPU's base and boost clock are both rated at 2500 MHz, and it has a TDP of 150 W. The data shows that this configuration is the limiting factor in this pairing, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

The frame rate results directly correlate with the GPU's capabilities. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is just 33, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. This is not surprising given that the GPU's pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s. These figures, while respectable for a mid-range card, are insufficient for the combined load of 4K resolution and Ultra settings, which demand maximum texture quality and shadow detail. The 10 GB VRAM is also a potential concern at 4K, as modern games can quickly consume this amount of memory with high-resolution textures.

Comparing the B570 to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, it performs within a tight margin of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% delta) and the Intel Arc A750 (-0.1% delta). This indicates that the B570 is a solid performer in its class, but it is not a high-end GPU. The 65th percentile ranking for all GPUs confirms this positioning. The 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is the raw compute power available, and the benchmark results show how this translates to real-world gaming. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support is essential for modern titles, but this older game does not fully leverage those features, making raw rasterization performance the key factor.

The relationship between the GPU's specs and the measured FPS is clear. The 380.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely a contributor to the 4K performance, as higher resolutions require more data to be moved from memory to the rendering pipeline. The 160-bit bus width is narrower than many competitors, which can limit performance in memory-intensive scenarios. While the B570 is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p, its architecture reaches its limits as the pixel count increases, making it the definitive bottleneck in this system for 4K gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and Intel Arc B570 holds a combo rank of 2315 out of 2897 tested combinations for this game. This places it in the bottom 20% of all tested systems, which may seem surprising given the individual component scores. However, this rank is a measure of overall performance in Assetto Corsa, and the data reveals that the GPU is holding the system back.

The CPU itself is a high performer, with an average benchmark score of 49394 and a percentile ranking of 90 vs all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (0.3% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 (0.8% delta), show that it is competitive with other high-end processors. The GPU, on the other hand, has a percentile ranking of 65 vs all GPUs. This disparity in performance class is the reason for the low combo rank. A high-end CPU paired with a mid-range GPU creates a significant imbalance in gaming workloads.

The combo rank of 2315 suggests that many other system configurations, likely those with more balanced pairings or higher-end GPUs, will outpace this setup in Assetto Corsa. The benchmark data shows that the CPU has the headroom to push much higher frame rates if paired with a more powerful GPU, but the B570 is not able to utilize that headroom fully. This is a classic case of a system being GPU-limited, where the overall gaming performance is capped by the graphics card's capabilities. The rank is a direct reflection of the measured FPS data, which shows that the system cannot achieve high frame rates at 4K, and even at 1440p, the performance is moderate. For users prioritizing high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, this combo is adequate, but it will not excel in this specific title compared to other tested combinations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. The data provides a clear hierarchy of performance across the four presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the best approach is to prioritize settings that reduce the GPU load.

At 1080p, all presets are playable, but the High preset (96 FPS) offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset (78 FPS) is also viable, providing a 15% performance hit over High for additional visual fidelity. The Medium preset (127 FPS) is excellent for high refresh rate monitors, but it sacrifices visual quality. For most users, the High preset at 1080p is the recommended choice, as it delivers a frame rate well above 60 FPS while maintaining good graphics.

At 1440p, the performance drops significantly. The High preset averages 67 FPS, which is still smooth, but the Ultra preset falls to 55 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, the Medium preset (89 FPS) is the safest bet, but High (67 FPS) is acceptable if the user is willing to tolerate slight dips. The Low preset (127 FPS) is overkill and sacrifices too much visual quality. The recommendation for 1440p is to use the High preset, as it provides a good balance, but users with 60 Hz monitors should consider Medium to ensure a stable frame rate.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The High preset averages just 41 FPS, which is not smooth for a racing simulator. The Medium preset (54 FPS) is borderline, but it may experience dips. The Low preset (76 FPS) is the only option that provides a playable frame rate, but it significantly reduces the visual quality. Given the data, the only sensible recommendation for 4K is to use the Low preset. The Ultra preset (33 FPS) is not recommended, as it is too demanding for this GPU. In summary, the data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p High or 1440p Medium/High, with 4K being limited to Low settings for a playable experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed picture of performance across all settings and resolutions. Below is a complete breakdown of the average frame rates, with the minimum and maximum FPS where available.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• 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.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• 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.

3840x2160 (4K):

• 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.

The data shows a consistent pattern of performance degradation as both resolution and settings increase. At 1080p, the system has ample headroom, with the Low preset achieving a high 181 FPS. The Medium preset shows a 54 FPS drop from Low, which is a significant jump in workload. The High and Ultra presets continue this downward trend, but the frame rates remain high enough for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset (108 FPS) indicates that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate does not drop below playable levels.

At 1440p, the performance is still respectable, but the frame rates are noticeably lower. The Low preset maintains a high 127 FPS, but the High preset drops to 67 FPS, and Ultra to 55 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 76 is still above 60, but the Ultra preset, without min/max data, is likely to dip below 50 FPS in busy scenes. This resolution represents a compromise between visual quality and performance.

At 4K, the system struggles. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a frame rate above 60 FPS (76 FPS). The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, but the minimum of 46 FPS shows that it will stutter. The High preset (41 FPS) and Ultra preset (33 FPS) are both below the standard of smooth gameplay. The data clearly shows that this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming at higher settings, and users should avoid these presets if they want a consistent experience.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of 60 FPS gaming at 4K resolution?

A: No. The data shows that at 4K, only the Low preset (76 FPS) exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, which is below 60, and the High and Ultra presets are significantly lower at 41 and 33 FPS respectively. Therefore, 60 FPS at 4K is only achievable with the lowest settings.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The data indicates that 1080p is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, all presets yield frame rates above 78 FPS, with the High preset delivering 96 FPS. This provides a smooth and visually appealing experience. 1440p is also viable, but the Ultra preset drops to 55 FPS, which may not be ideal for all users.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its direct competitors?

A: The benchmark data shows the B570 is very closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750. The deltaPct values are 0.1% and -0.1% respectively, indicating that their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. This places the B570 in a specific performance tier, distinct from higher-end GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor for this game?

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU, Intel Core i5-14600KF, has a high average benchmark score and ranks in the 90th percentile. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 181 FPS, indicating the CPU is not a bottleneck. However, as resolution increases, frame rates drop sharply, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

Q: What settings should I use for a 1440p monitor?

A: For 1440p, the High preset (67 FPS) is the recommended choice for a good balance of quality and performance. If you prefer a more stable frame rate, the Medium preset (89 FPS) is a safer option. The Ultra preset (55 FPS) is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Can this system handle the Ultra preset at any resolution?

A: Yes, at 1080p, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 78 FPS, which is smooth. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 55 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. At 4K, the Ultra preset averages only 33 FPS, which is not suitable for a racing simulator. Therefore, it is only recommended for 1080p.