Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 remains one of the most demanding titles in the benchmark database, and the pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F with the Intel Arc B570 produces a specific, often GPU-bound experience. The data shows a combination that can deliver playable frame rates at 1080p with tweaks, but which struggles significantly as resolution climbs. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, settings scaling, and component roles based strictly on the supplied test results.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Cyberpunk 2077?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves an average above 60 FPS, and only at Low settings (76 FPS). At Medium settings, the average drops to 56 FPS, which is playable but not consistently smooth.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, placing it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. It is essentially tied with the Intel Core 3 N355 (deltaPct of 0%), and is only 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-9500, indicating a performance cluster rather than a clear lead.

Q: What is the GPU's relative standing in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B570 sits at the 65th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its closest rival is the Intel Arc A750, which is only 0.1% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which is 0.1% slower, showing the B570 is a mid-tier performer.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck at 3840x2160. The average FPS plummets to 20 at High settings and 19 at Ultra, which is a classic sign of the GPU being overwhelmed, as the CPU workload does not scale as heavily with resolution.

Q: How much of a performance gain is there from dropping from Ultra to Low at 1080p?

A: The measured data shows a significant jump. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 39 FPS, while Low averages 76 FPS. This represents a 37 FPS increase, or roughly a 94.8% improvement in average frame rate by using the lowest preset.

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

A: For Cyberpunk 2077, this specific combination ranks 2316th out of 2920 tested combos, placing it in the bottom quarter of all systems tested. This suggests that while it can run the game, many other configurations deliver higher performance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy for settings presets, with the primary goal being to achieve a playable frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the best average FPS at 76, which is the only configuration exceeding the 60 FPS threshold. For users prioritizing smoothness over visual fidelity, this is the recommended starting point. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 56 FPS, which is a viable alternative if the user can tolerate occasional dips, as the minimum FPS recorded is 47. Given that the minimum FPS for Low is not listed, the average of 76 suggests it is the most stable option.

Stepping up to High at 1080p drops the average to 41 FPS, and Ultra falls to 39 FPS. These are noticeably less smooth, and the data suggests they are not ideal for a responsive experience. At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 56 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced exploration but is risky for combat. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p average 31 and 29 FPS respectively, which are generally considered too low for a smooth experience in an action RPG.

For the best experience per the measured rows, the recommendation is to use the Low preset at 1920x1080. This is the only combination of resolution and settings that consistently breaks the 60 FPS barrier. If a higher resolution is desired, the Low preset at 2560x1440 offers a playable average, but users should be prepared for frame rates in the 50s. The data does not support using Medium or higher presets at 1440p or any preset above Low at 4K, as those configurations all fall below 42 FPS average, with several in the low 20s or teens.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and reveals the GPU as the primary limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 76 FPS at 1920x1080 to 56 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 37 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 51.3% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The trend is consistent across all settings presets, indicating a clear scaling pattern tied to pixel count.

At Medium settings, the averages are 56 FPS at 1080p, 42 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K. This is a 51.7% drop from the highest to the lowest resolution. The High preset shows a similar pattern: 41 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 20 FPS at 4K, a 51.2% decrease. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 39 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K, a 51.3% reduction.

The fact that the percentage drop is nearly identical across all settings (roughly 51-52%) is a strong indicator that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the performance difference between 1080p and 4K would be much smaller, as the CPU would be saturated at all resolutions. Instead, the consistent scaling suggests that the Arc B570's rendering throughput is the constraint. The CPU, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, is likely sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but as the pixel workload increases, the GPU's limits become the dominant factor. The data shows that the Arc B570 is simply not powerful enough for 4K gaming in this title, regardless of the settings preset used.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank data places this configuration at 2316 out of 2920 tested combos for Cyberpunk 2077. This is a low ranking, indicating that the system falls in the bottom 20.7% of all tested combinations. This is a significant finding, as it suggests that while the individual components are not bottom-tier (the CPU is at the 68th percentile and the GPU at the 65th), their combination is not well-suited for this specific game's demands.

The ranking implies that a large majority of other CPU and GPU pairings tested in the database deliver higher frame rates in Cyberpunk 2077. The low rank is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows the system struggling to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings and resolutions. The GPU's 10 GB of VRAM and 160-bit bus, while adequate for some titles, may be a limiting factor in this game's heavy asset streaming and texture loads.

It is important to note that the combo rank is specific to Cyberpunk 2077. The CPU's synthetic benchmark scores show it is competitive with other mid-range processors, and the GPU's average benchmark score is respectable. However, the game's specific engine and rendering path appear to present a challenge for this pairing. The rank of 2316 out of 2920 is a clear warning that users should not expect high-end performance from this combo in this particular title, and that lower resolutions and settings are required for a satisfactory experience.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570's specifications play a crucial role in the measured results. The GPU features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This is a moderate amount of memory, but the bus width is narrower than many competitors, which can limit performance in memory-intensive scenarios. The GPU has 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, with 18 RT cores for ray tracing tasks. Its base and boost clocks are both locked at 2500 MHz, and the FP32 performance is rated at 11.52 TFLOPS.

In Cyberpunk 2077, the GPU's role is clearly the dominant factor in determining frame rates. The severe FPS drop from 1080p to 4K, as detailed in the Resolution Scaling section, is a direct consequence of the GPU's rendering limits. The data shows that even at Low settings, the GPU cannot maintain 60 FPS at 1440p, and at 4K it falls to 37 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's compute and memory subsystems are saturated by the game's workload at higher resolutions.

The VRAM capacity of 10 GB is sufficient for the tested settings, as the game did not appear to run out of memory (no crashes or data anomalies were reported in the measured FPS). However, the 160-bit bus and the resulting 380 GB/s bandwidth may be a bottleneck in this game, which is known for large, detailed environments. The GPU's performance relative to its rivals, being nearly tied with the Arc A750, suggests that it is a mid-range part, and the FPS data confirms that it is not a high-end solution for this game. The clock speed of 2500 MHz is consistent across base and boost, indicating a stable operating point, but it is not enough to overcome the architectural limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 19 FPS, High averages 20 FPS, Medium averages 27 FPS, and Low averages 37 FPS. The Medium preset has listed minimum and maximum values of 23 and 32 FPS, respectively, showing a narrow band of performance. All 4K results are below 40 FPS, making them unusable for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS, High averages 31 FPS, Medium averages 42 FPS, and Low averages 56 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48 FPS. The Low preset at 1440p is the only configuration in this resolution that approaches playable levels, though the 56 FPS average is not ideal. The Ultra and High presets at 1440p are both below 40 FPS, indicating significant stutter potential.

At 1920x1080, the results are more varied. The Ultra preset averages 39 FPS, High averages 41 FPS, Medium averages 56 FPS, and Low averages 76 FPS. The Medium preset has a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 64 FPS. The Low setting at 1080p is the best-case scenario for this combo, delivering a smooth 76 FPS average. The Medium setting at 1080p is also viable, with a 56 FPS average. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p are playable but not smooth, with averages in the 39-41 FPS range.

The data shows a clear pattern: the combo is only capable of delivering a consistently smooth experience at 1080p with Low or Medium settings. The step from 1080p to 1440p results in a significant performance hit, and 4K is not a viable option for this game with this hardware. The minimum FPS values, where available, show that the Medium preset at 1080p can dip to 47 FPS, which is close to the edge of smoothness, while the Medium preset at 1440p can dip to 35 FPS, which will be noticeable. The lack of minimum FPS data for other settings suggests that the benchmark software may not have captured them, but the averages alone are sufficient to guide settings choices.