Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver is not a demanding title by modern standards, but the data for this specific pairing of an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and an Intel Arc B390 tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. This is a 2D adventure game with a top-down perspective, but the measured frames per second (FPS) reveal that the integrated graphics solution is the primary constraint, rather than the six-core processor. The benchmark results show a system that is perfectly playable at 1080p, but one that begins to struggle as the render resolution climbs toward 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 81 FPS. Moving up to 1440p at the same High settings drops the average to 61 FPS, a 24.7% reduction. Pushing further to 4K at High settings yields just 41 FPS, which is a 49.4% drop from the 1080p result and a 32.8% drop from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern indicates that the Intel Arc B390's rendering capabilities are being saturated as the pixel count increases, and the CPU is not the limiting factor in this equation.

The trend holds across all settings presets. On Low, the frame rate goes from 108 FPS at 1080p, to 82 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 55 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K on Low is a 49.1% performance loss. On Medium, the averages are 91, 68, and 46 FPS respectively. This consistent drop of roughly half the performance when moving from 1080p to 4K, regardless of the quality preset, strongly suggests that the fill-rate and shading capabilities of the GPU are the decisive factors. The 1080p to 1440p transition also shows a substantial 22-25% performance hit, which is more significant than what you would typically see on a dedicated discrete graphics card, further confirming that this integrated GPU is the weak link.

The fact that the FPS does not scale perfectly with the number of pixels (4K has 4x the pixels of 1080p, but performance only halves) suggests that other GPU bottlenecks, such as memory bandwidth or texture processing, are also coming into play. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent" and the memory type is "System Shared," which means the GPU is relying on the system's DDR5 RAM. This shared memory architecture is often a performance limiter in integrated graphics, and the data here is consistent with that limitation. The results indicate that the Arc B390 is capable of delivering a smooth experience at 1080p, but it is simply out of its depth at 4K, where even Low settings cannot maintain a 60 FPS average.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Dave The Diver, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Arc B390 lands at rank 2538 out of 2867 total combos. This places it in the bottom 11.4% of all tested systems for this game. The data shows that while the CPU is a high-performing part, the overall combo ranking is dragged down significantly by the GPU's performance. Many other systems, likely those paired with even modest discrete graphics cards, will outperform this setup in this particular title.

The low combo rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's benchmark standing. The Intel Arc B390 has a percentile rank of just 9, meaning it performs better than only 9% of all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark list are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which it beats by 1.3%, and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, which it beats by 1.5%. These are very old, entry-level mobile parts, which puts the Arc B390's performance into perspective. It is an integrated graphics processor, and its performance in this game reflects that classification. The combo's overall rank is therefore not a reflection of the CPU's capabilities, but rather a clear indicator that the graphics solution is the primary barrier to a higher position.

The Ryzen 5 9600X, in contrast, is a strong performer on its own. It holds an 81st percentile rank among all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H, with performance deltas of only 0.2% and -0.5% respectively. This shows the 9600X is a very capable processor, but in this game, its potential is entirely untapped. The data suggests that if this CPU were paired with a more powerful GPU, the combo rank would improve dramatically, as the processor is not the source of the low score.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the defining component in this benchmark analysis. Its role is clearly the bottleneck, and the performance figures bear this out. The GPU is based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and is built on Intel's 3nm process node. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines. The boost clock is rated at 2500 MHz, and it has 12 ray tracing cores. However, despite these modern specifications, its integrated nature limits its raw throughput. The FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, which is modest for gaming at high resolutions.

The most critical aspect of this GPU is its memory configuration. It has "System Shared" memory, meaning it does not have its own dedicated VRAM. The memory type is also "System Shared," and the bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent." This is a significant disadvantage in gaming. In Dave The Diver, the game must share the system's DDR5 memory bandwidth with the CPU, which can lead to performance dips, especially at higher resolutions where more memory bandwidth is needed for larger frame buffers. This is a likely contributor to the steep performance drop seen at 4K, where the average FPS on High is just 41, and on Ultra it falls to 36. The GPU's single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1482 reinforces its low standing, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows that this is a GPU designed for basic graphical tasks and light gaming, not for high-resolution, high-detail gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the performance is generally acceptable. On Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 108 FPS. The Medium preset delivers 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS. High settings produce an average of 81 FPS, and even the Ultra preset manages a solid 72 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is capable of providing a smooth experience at any preset, making it a viable option for competitive or fast-paced gameplay.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. The Low preset yields an average of 82 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset averages 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78. High settings drop to 61 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 54 FPS. While the frame rates are still above 50 FPS, the margin for error is thinner, and players may notice occasional stutters during busy scenes, especially on the Ultra preset. The transition to 4K at 3840x2160 is where the combo struggles. Low settings are the only option that comes close to playability, with an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High settings drop to 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the worst, with an average of just 36 FPS. These numbers are below the standard 60 FPS target and will result in a less fluid experience. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this hardware in Dave The Diver.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience is found at 1080p. At this resolution, the Ultra preset offers an average of 72 FPS, which is a very good experience for a game like this. The High preset provides a higher average of 81 FPS, which might be preferable for players who want a bit more headroom. The Medium preset offers a good balance with 91 FPS, but the jump in quality from Medium to High or Ultra is often worth the slight FPS cost. The data suggests that at 1080p, players can confidently select the Ultra preset without worrying about performance issues, as even the minimum FPS is not recorded, implying the average is stable.

For 1440p, the recommendation is to stick with the High preset, which delivers a 61 FPS average. This is a playable frame rate, and the visual upgrade from 1080p is noticeable. The Medium preset would be a safer choice for those who prioritize a higher frame rate, as it offers 68 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at this resolution, as it drops to 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. At 4K, the data suggests that only the Low preset is viable, with a 55 FPS average. However, even this is borderline. The Medium preset at 46 FPS will feel sluggish, and the High and Ultra presets are simply too demanding. The best experience, per the data, is to play at 1080p with the Ultra or High preset, which provides the best combination of visual fidelity and smooth performance.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a high-end desktop processor, and its role in this benchmark is to show that a powerful CPU cannot compensate for a weak GPU in a graphically intensive scenario. The CPU features 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It has a 32 MB L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. Its benchmark scores are strong, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17528.5 and a single-core score of 2183.5. The data shows that the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics.

However, in Dave The Diver, the CPU's performance is not the limiting factor. The FPS is determined by the GPU's ability to render the frame. The CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1253 and Passmark single-thread score of 4570, ensures that it can feed the GPU with draw calls and game state updates without becoming a bottleneck. The fact that the FPS drops by roughly half when moving from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant, confirms that the GPU is the constraint. The Ryzen 5 9600X is effectively idle in this scenario, waiting for the Arc B390 to finish its work. The processor's 81st percentile rank among all CPUs and its close rivalry with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT (a -0.6% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (a -0.8% delta) show that it is a top-tier part, but its potential is wasted in this pairing. The data indicates that the CPU is providing a stable platform, but the gaming experience is entirely dictated by the GPU's modest capabilities.