Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the Intel Arc B370, a combination that lands in the lower echelons of tested hardware pairings. The measured frame rates across resolutions reveal a system that is overwhelmingly constrained by its graphics solution, with the processor’s substantial multi-threading capabilities largely left untapped by this particular adventure title. The data shows a playable experience at 1080p, but the journey to 4K is fraught with significant performance degradation, making the resolution scaling analysis particularly telling about where the bottleneck truly lies.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo in Dave The Diver shows a clear and expected decline as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that decline tells a compelling story about the system's limiting component. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 73 FPS to 55 FPS, a reduction of roughly 25%. This is a substantial hit, but it is the jump to 3840x2160 that reveals the true nature of the bottleneck. At 4K High, the average FPS falls to 37, which is a 32% drop from the 1440p figure and a 49% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep scaling curve is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload at higher pixel counts overwhelms the graphics processor's capabilities.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate goes from 98 FPS at 1080p to 74 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 49 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 24 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K drop is 25 FPS, showing a fairly linear degradation in absolute terms, but the percentage losses become more severe at higher resolutions. For Medium settings, the sequence is 82, 62, and 41 FPS, with the gap between 1440p and 4K being 21 FPS. Ultra settings produce 65, 49, and 33 FPS respectively. This consistent pattern across all quality levels strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B370, with its 25 W TDP and integrated graphics architecture, is the primary factor limiting performance, rather than the Ryzen 9 5900X.

The data implies that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this equation. If the processor were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less variation in frame rates between resolutions, as the CPU workload does not scale with pixel count in the same way that GPU workload does. Instead, the consistent and significant FPS drops at each higher resolution point directly to the GPU being saturated. The fact that even at Low settings, which reduce GPU load, the 4K average is only 49 FPS, further confirms that the Arc B370 is struggling to keep up with the pixel throughput demands of 4K output in Dave The Diver. The frame rate scaling is a textbook example of a GPU-limited configuration, where the processor has ample headroom but the graphics solution cannot translate that into higher frame rates at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Dave The Diver, this particular pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B370 finds itself positioned near the bottom. The comboRankInGame field places this setup at rank 2642 out of 2867 total combos, meaning it outperforms only about 8% of all tested configurations. This is a remarkably low standing, which aligns perfectly with the measured FPS data that shows the system struggling to maintain high frame rates even at 1080p. The rank indicates that while the CPU is a high-end desktop part, its inclusion in this combo does not boost the overall performance because the GPU is holding it back so severely.

The GPU's individual benchmark percentile reinforces this low ranking. The Intel Arc B370 sits at the 5th percentile of all GPUs in the database, based on its average benchmark score of 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. This places it in the bottom 5% of all graphics cards, a position that is consistent with its integrated nature and low power envelope. The nearest rivals to the Arc B370 in terms of average score include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 with a deltaPct of -0.2%, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190 with a deltaPct of -0.5%. These are legacy parts from over a decade ago, yet they are benchmarks that the Arc B370 is virtually tied with, underscoring its very low absolute performance level.

In contrast, the CPU's own ranking is much more favorable. The Ryzen 9 5900X sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41376. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, which scores 41263 with a deltaPct of 0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-14650HX, which scores 41576 with a deltaPct of -0.5%. This shows the processor is a top-tier performer, but in this combo, its capabilities are effectively wasted. The massive discrepancy between the CPU's high percentile (87) and the GPU's low percentile (5) creates a severely unbalanced system, and the combo's rank of 2642 out of 2867 reflects that imbalance. The data suggests that this is a pairing where the processor is far more capable than the graphics solution, leading to an overall experience that is defined by the GPU's limitations.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, built on a 7 nm process node. It features a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a 64 MB L3 cache. These specifications point to a CPU designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its strong benchmark scores. For instance, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16262 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 14118. The PassMark multi-thread score of 39002 further illustrates its prowess in parallel processing tasks. However, Dave The Diver, as an adventure title, does not appear to be a demanding multi-threaded application.

The game's performance data, when correlated with the CPU's capabilities, suggests that the processor is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 98 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all settings and resolutions. Even at this relatively low resolution and quality setting, the frame rate is not exceptionally high, which could initially be interpreted as a CPU limitation. However, the fact that the frame rate scales down significantly with resolution increases, such as dropping to 49 FPS at 4K Low, indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the frame rates to remain more consistent across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would be similar. The data shows a clear inverse relationship between resolution and FPS, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance.

The single-threaded performance of the Ryzen 9 5900X, as measured by a PassMark single-thread score of 3469 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 941, is strong and should be more than sufficient for the game's logic and physics calculations. The 12 cores and 24 threads provide massive headroom that this game likely does not utilize. The CPU sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a top performer, but in this combo, its power is left on the table. The game's performance is almost entirely dictated by the graphics solution, making the CPU's role largely irrelevant to the final frame rates observed. The data implies that swapping the Arc B370 for a much more powerful GPU would yield a dramatic increase in performance, while changing the CPU would have a negligible impact on these specific results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Examining the measured FPS data resolution by resolution provides a detailed picture of this combo's performance in Dave The Diver. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 98, which is the single highest average frame rate recorded. Medium settings yield an average of 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 94 FPS. High settings produce an average of 73 FPS, while Ultra settings bring the average down to 65 FPS. This shows a clear progression where lower settings lead to higher frame rates, and even at the highest quality preset, the game remains playable at 1080p, though the 65 FPS average is not exceptionally smooth for a fast-paced game.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings average 74 FPS, which is a 24 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 71 FPS. High settings average 55 FPS, and Ultra settings average 49 FPS. At this resolution, the system starts to struggle more noticeably, with the Ultra preset falling below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for a smooth experience. The data shows that even at Low settings, the frame rate is only 74 FPS, indicating that the GPU is already becoming a significant constraint.

At 3840x2160, the performance is the weakest. Low settings average 49 FPS, which is the only preset to break the 40 FPS mark at this resolution. Medium settings average 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47 FPS. High settings average 37 FPS, and Ultra settings average 33 FPS. None of the 4K presets deliver an average frame rate that would be considered smooth, with the lowest being 33 FPS for Ultra. This resolution is essentially not viable for a good gaming experience with this combo, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a stable 60 FPS, and the average frame rates hover in a range that would likely feel sluggish and unresponsive. The measured data shows a definitive pattern: the combo is most comfortable at 1080p, acceptable at 1440p with some caveats, and largely unsuitable for 4K gaming in Dave The Diver.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear limiting factor in this configuration. Its specifications are those of an integrated graphics solution, with a 25 W TDP and a base clock of 300 MHz, boosting up to 2400 MHz. It features 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with a bandwidth described as "System Dependent." These are not the specifications of a discrete gaming GPU, and its benchmark performance confirms this. The Arc B370 scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it at the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is an exceptionally low position.

The GPU's low performance is directly reflected in the measured frame rates. The fact that the highest average FPS achieved at any resolution and settings combination is 98 at 1080p Low indicates that the GPU is unable to push frame rates much higher than that, even when the graphical load is minimized. The scaling of FPS with resolution is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited pixel fill rate and shading power. At 4K, the GPU is simply overwhelmed, resulting in average frame rates in the 30s and 40s. The nearest rival GPUs, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770, are over a decade old, yet the Arc B370 performs at a similar level, highlighting its very modest capabilities.

The GPU's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 is a point in its favor from a feature perspective, but it does not compensate for the lack of raw performance. The 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power and the 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply too low for demanding resolutions. The data suggests that this GPU is intended for light gaming or basic graphical tasks, not for driving a modern adventure game at high resolutions and settings. In this combo, the GPU's limitations are the single most important factor in determining the final performance, and any analysis of the system's capabilities must center on its significant bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo in Dave The Diver depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset, with an average of 73 FPS, offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, providing a smooth experience above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset, at 82 FPS, is also a strong choice, offering even higher frame rates with a modest reduction in visual fidelity. The Ultra preset, at 65 FPS, is playable but its average is close to the 60 FPS line, which could lead to occasional dips below that threshold. The Low preset, at 98 FPS, is the best choice for maximizing frame rate, but it comes at the cost of visual quality.

For 2560x1440, the recommendations become more conservative. The Low preset, with an average of 74 FPS, is the only settings level that consistently provides a frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset, at 62 FPS, is marginally playable, but its average is right at the edge of the 60 FPS target, and the minimum FPS of 52 suggests there could be noticeable stutters. The High and Ultra presets, at 55 and 49 FPS respectively, fall below the ideal 60 FPS mark, making them less desirable for a smooth experience. Therefore, for a 1440p display, the Low preset is the safest recommendation to maintain good performance, with Medium being a viable option for those who prioritize visuals over a slightly lower frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the data clearly shows that this combo is not well-suited for high-quality gaming. The Low preset, at 49 FPS, is the only option that even approaches playability, but it is still below 60 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets, at 41, 37, and 33 FPS respectively, all produce an experience that would likely feel laggy and unresponsive. Given these results, playing at 4K is not recommended with this hardware, as the frame rates are too low for a satisfactory experience. The best course of action for a 4K display would be to lower the resolution to 1440p or 1080p, where the system can provide more acceptable performance. The data indicates that the "best experience" is achieved at 1080p with High or Medium settings, where the frame rates are comfortably above 60 FPS, or at 1440p with Low settings, where a 74 FPS average is attainable.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieved in Dave The Diver?

A: The highest average frame rate measured was 98 FPS, which occurred at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is this combo capable of playing Dave The Diver at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 33 FPS on Ultra settings to 49 FPS on Low settings. None of these averages reach the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that 4K gaming is not a smooth experience with this hardware.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370's benchmark performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184, which is virtually identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), with deltaPct values of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively. This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: This combo of AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Intel Arc B370 is ranked 2642 out of 2867 total tested combos for Dave The Diver, placing it in the bottom portion of the performance spectrum.

Q: Which settings preset at 2560x1440 provides the best average frame rate above 60 FPS?

A: The Low settings preset at 2560x1440 is the only one with an average frame rate above 60 FPS, achieving an average of 74 FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, which is only slightly above the threshold.

Q: What is the processor's percentile ranking compared to all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41376. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, scores 41263, a deltaPct of 0.3%.