Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver, an Adventure title released in 2023, presents a unique challenge for the combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and the Intel Arc B390. This pairing sits near the bottom of the performance hierarchy for this game, ranking 2538 out of 2867 tested combos. That places it in the bottom 11th percentile of all configurations, indicating that while the game is playable, the experience is constrained by the graphics solution. The data shows a system that can hit playable framerates at lower resolutions but struggles to maintain smooth performance at higher settings, making it a configuration that demands careful settings management rather than one that delivers effortless high-end performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 2538 out of 2867 is a stark indicator of where this system stands. This placement in the lower tier of all tested combinations suggests that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU is a modern, high-performance part. The CPU's own benchmark percentile is 94, meaning it outperforms 94% of all tested CPUs, yet the combined system rank is near the bottom. This massive discrepancy highlights a severely imbalanced pairing where the GPU holds back the entire experience.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals provides context that the processor is not the issue. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, a mere 0.2% difference from the 9700F's average score of 69996. Similarly, the Intel Core i7-14700KF is just 0.2% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.7% ahead. These deltas are within the margin of error for benchmarking, meaning the 9700F is performing exactly as expected for a high-end desktop chip. The system's poor rank is therefore not a reflection of CPU capability.

The GPU, conversely, is in a completely different performance class. The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which is 1.3% faster, and the GeForce 800M, which is 1.5% faster. These are legacy, entry-level mobile parts from over a decade ago. The fact that the B390 trades blows with these components underscores its position as an integrated or ultra-low-end solution, which directly explains the system's low ranking. The 2538th place finish is a direct consequence of this GPU performance level.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the defining component in this system, and not in a good way for high-performance gaming. It is based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and is built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its specifications reveal an integrated-class part: it has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, figures that are more in line with an IGP than a discrete graphics card. The FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is modest, confirming its low-end positioning.

The memory configuration is particularly telling. The B390 uses "System Shared" memory, with a bus width and bandwidth that are "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the CPU's DDR5 memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is shared with the system. This architecture is a significant limiting factor, as the GPU cannot access dedicated high-speed VRAM. This shared memory setup is typical for integrated graphics, reinforcing that this is not a discrete solution. The boost clock of 2500 MHz is respectable, but it cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated memory bandwidth.

In the context of Dave The Diver, these GPU limitations directly translate to the measured performance. The game is not graphically demanding by modern standards, but the B390's compute and memory constraints still become the ceiling. The data shows that the system can produce an average of 108 FPS at 1080p Low, but this is the peak of its capability. The GPU is the reason why the framerate drops so precipitously as resolution and settings increase. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is a clear indicator of its limited DirectX 12 performance, which is the API used by the game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data clearly illustrates how the system's performance scales with resolution, and the pattern points directly to the GPU as the limiting factor. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 81. Moving to 1440p High drops that to 61 FPS, a reduction of 24.7%. At 4K High, the average falls to 41 FPS, which is a 49.4% drop from the 1080p figure. This steep decline with resolution is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is not the bottleneck here; if it were, the framerate would remain relatively flat across resolutions.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the framerate goes from 108 FPS on Low to 72 FPS on Ultra, a 33% performance hit. At 1440p, it goes from 82 FPS on Low to 54 FPS on Ultra, a 34% hit. At 4K, it goes from 55 FPS on Low to 36 FPS on Ultra, a 34.5% hit. The consistency of this percentage drop across all resolutions suggests that the settings are increasing the load on the GPU's shader and texture units in a linear fashion, and the GPU simply does not have the raw throughput to handle the increased workload.

The data shows that at 4K, even the Low preset only yields 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target that many consider the baseline for smooth gameplay. The 4K Medium setting produces an average of 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combination, as even the lowest settings struggle to maintain a consistent framerate. The limiting component is unequivocally the Intel Arc B390, whose performance characteristics are insufficient for 4K rendering in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Examining the raw data resolution by resolution provides a complete picture of what to expect. At 1920x1080, the system performs at its best. The Low preset delivers an average of 108 FPS, which is very playable. The Medium preset averages 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77 and a maximum of 104 FPS. High settings yield 81 FPS average, and even the Ultra preset manages a 72 FPS average. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot for this hardware, where all settings are playable, though the higher presets are closer to the edge of the 60 FPS comfort zone.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. The Low preset averages 82 FPS, which is still good. The Medium preset drops to a 68 FPS average, with a minimum of 58 FPS. This is the first sign of trouble, as the minimum FPS dips below 60. High settings average 61 FPS, which is just on the edge of playability. The Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. At this resolution, users would need to choose between High settings for a barely acceptable framerate or Medium settings for a more consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. The Low preset averages only 55 FPS. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53 FPS. High settings drop to 41 FPS, and Ultra falls to 36 FPS. None of these results are ideal for a smooth experience, and the minimum FPS figures suggest noticeable stuttering. The data shows that 4K is not a viable option for this combination in Dave The Diver, and users should avoid it unless they are willing to tolerate a sub-30 FPS experience at lower settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390 in Dave The Diver?

A: No. The CPU's benchmark score of 69996 places it in the 94th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, is only 0.2% different in score. The low system rank is due to the GPU's 9th percentile performance, not the CPU.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Dave The Diver with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets achieve an average FPS above 60. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, and at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only averages 55 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Dave The Diver?

A: The benchmark results indicate it cannot. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 55 FPS on the Low preset. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages only 36 FPS, all below a smooth 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. It is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. These are all very low-end parts.

Q: What is the significance of the GPU's "System Shared" memory?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses system memory instead of dedicated VRAM. Its memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent." This means it relies on the CPU's DDR5 memory, which limits its performance compared to a discrete GPU with its own memory.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700F a high-end processor?

A: Yes. Its average benchmark score of 69996 puts it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. It is a desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, and it outperforms the Intel Core i7-14700KF by a small margin of 0.2%.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination is found at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, all presets are technically playable, but the data suggests a specific sweet spot. The High preset averages 81 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset averages 91 FPS, providing a smoother experience with a slightly lower visual ceiling. For users who prioritize a consistent, high framerate, the Medium preset is the best choice, as its minimum FPS of 77 is still well above the 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440, the choices become more constrained. The High preset averages 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS line, but the minimum FPS data is not available for this setting. The Medium preset is the safer option, with a 68 FPS average and a 58 FPS minimum. This is the recommended preset for 1440p, as it provides a more stable experience. The Ultra preset at 54 FPS is not recommended, and the Low preset, while averaging 82 FPS, is visually deficient for a game like this.

The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely. The best average FPS at 3840x2160 is 55 FPS on the Low preset, which is not smooth enough for a comfortable experience. The Medium preset at 46 FPS has a minimum of 39 FPS, indicating significant frame drops. There is no settings preset at this resolution that provides an acceptable level of performance. The data is clear: the system is not designed for 4K gaming, and users should stick to 1080p or, at most, 1440p with Medium settings for the best experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a powerful desktop processor that is completely overshadowed by the GPU in this pairing. It belongs to the 9000 series and is based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The CPU has a 32 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Its PassMark multithread score of 36470 and single-thread score of 4691 are indicative of a strong modern chip.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals shows that it is a top-tier part. It is only 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-14700KF and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K. This puts it in the same performance class as the best desktop chips available. In a game like Dave The Diver, which is not heavily CPU-dependent, the 9700F is more than capable of feeding frames to the GPU. The bottleneck is not the processor's ability to calculate game logic or physics but the GPU's ability to render the final image.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution. The framerate drops consistently as resolution increases, which is a GPU-bound pattern. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see a plateau in the framerate at higher resolutions. The fact that the FPS continues to drop from 1080p to 4K proves that the Ryzen 7 9700F has ample headroom. This is a case where the processor's high performance is entirely wasted due to the severe GPU limitation, making the combination fundamentally unbalanced for this title.