Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the Intel Arc B390. The benchmark data reveals a system where the integrated graphics solution is the primary bottleneck, as the powerful 12-core CPU sits largely idle while the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates at standard resolutions. The measured results show a clear pattern of performance scaling that is dictated almost entirely by the graphics processor, making this combo a study in CPU headroom versus GPU limitation.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, which points directly at the GPU as the limiting component. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 81 FPS at 1920x1080 to 61 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 20 FPS, and then further down to 41 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a roughly 49% performance loss when moving from the lowest tested resolution to the highest. This pattern is typical for a system where the graphics card is saturated, as the rendering load increases with pixel count while the CPU’s workload remains relatively constant.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the Arc B390 is already working hard, and the scaling to 1440p and 4K shows diminishing returns and significant frame rate erosion. The difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings is notable: 108 FPS drops to 82 FPS, a 26 FPS decrease. The gap between 1440p and 4K at Low settings is smaller in absolute terms (82 to 55 FPS) but still represents a substantial 33% drop. This non-linear scaling is a classic sign that the GPU is running out of pixel throughput, and the CPU is not a factor in these losses.

What is more telling is the comparison across settings at the same resolution. At 4K, the spread between Low and Ultra is 19 FPS (55 to 36 FPS), which is significant. However, at 1080p, the same spread is 36 FPS (108 to 72 FPS). The wider gap at lower resolutions suggests that the GPU has more headroom to respond to settings changes when the pixel count is lower, but at 4K, the sheer fill-rate demand is so high that even reducing settings to Low cannot push the frame rate past 55 FPS. This indicates that the B390 is simply overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K, and the CPU’s potential is never fully utilized.

The implication for a user is that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve playable frame rates across all settings. The 1440p results are borderline, with only Low settings breaking the 80 FPS mark. At 4K, the experience is likely to feel sluggish, as even the lowest settings fail to reach 60 FPS. The data clearly shows that resolution scaling is the primary determinant of performance, and the CPU is not the reason for the frame rate drops.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, and its role is defined by its memory and clock characteristics. It operates with System Shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own. This is a critical detail, as the GPU must rely on the system’s DDR4 memory, which is shared with the CPU. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which implies that performance can vary based on the system’s RAM configuration, but the available data does not specify the exact speed of the memory in this test.

The GPU’s clocks are set at a 300 MHz base and a 2500 MHz boost. This boost clock is relatively high for an integrated solution, but the performance figures suggest that the GPU is still limited by its raw compute power. The FP32 performance is listed at 7.680 TFLOPS, and the shading units are 1536. These specs, combined with the shared memory, place the Arc B390 in a low-performance tier, which is reflected in its percentile ranking of 9 against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the GeForce GT 710, which are ancient discrete cards from over a decade ago.

The data shows that the GPU is the clear bottleneck in this pairing. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 91, with a minimum of 77 and a maximum of 104. This range of 27 FPS indicates that the GPU is sensitive to scene complexity, but it never approaches the refresh rate of a high-end monitor. The lack of dedicated VRAM is a likely contributor to the performance ceiling, as the shared memory interface can cause latency and bandwidth issues in graphically intensive scenes. The fact that the GPU’s only benchmark score is 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 further confirms its low-end positioning.

The GPU’s boost clock of 2500 MHz is high, but it cannot compensate for the architectural limitations. The data indicates that the Arc B390 is a capable part for light gaming, but it is not designed for high-fidelity experiences at high resolutions. The measured FPS numbers reflect this, with the GPU struggling to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p on anything above Low settings. The GPU’s role in this system is to provide a basic gaming experience, and the CPU is far more powerful than necessary to support it.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 81 FPS. This is the second-highest score for that resolution, trailing only the Low setting’s 108 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in Dave The Diver?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Arc B390 has a percentile ranking of 9 against all GPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has a percentile ranking of 87 against all CPUs. The FPS drops significantly with resolution, which is a GPU-bound characteristic.

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

A: The B390’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, with a deltaPct of 1.3, meaning the B390 is about 1.3% faster. It is also 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M and 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM. These are all very low-performance parts.

Q: What is the best performance setting at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low setting provides the highest average FPS at 82 FPS. Medium provides 68 FPS, High provides 61 FPS, and Ultra drops to 54 FPS. For a smoother experience, Low is the best option.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this combo?

A: The data suggests it is not ideal. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 55 FPS on Low settings. The Medium setting averages 46 FPS, High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 36 FPS. None of these are consistently smooth for fast-paced gameplay.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2538 out of 2867 total combos in the database for this game. This places it in the lower percentile of tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU’s low benchmark scores.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the performance envelope for this system. At 1920x1080, the resolution most likely to be used with this GPU, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 108 FPS, Medium averages 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 and a maximum of 104, High averages 81 FPS, and Ultra averages 72 FPS. This shows a clear and predictable degradation as quality presets are increased, with a total drop of 36 FPS from Low to Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance decreases across the board. The Low preset averages 82 FPS, which is the only setting to break the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78, High averages 61 FPS, and Ultra averages 54 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra here is 28 FPS, which is smaller than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as the pixel count rises.

At 3840x2160, the performance is significantly hampered. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, which is the only setting to approach playability. Medium averages 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53, High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 36 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is only 19 FPS, showing that the GPU is so heavily constrained by the resolution that settings changes have a diminished impact. The minimum FPS for the Medium setting at 4K is 39, which is below the average of the High setting, suggesting some frame pacing issues.

The data shows a consistent pattern where the GPU is the dominant factor in performance. The frame rates are all within a range that reflects a low-end graphics solution, and the CPU’s potential is not realized. The measured FPS values are the core evidence for this analysis, and they clearly demonstrate that this system is best used at 1080p with medium-to-high settings for a balanced experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2538 out of 2867 total tested combos in Dave The Diver. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems, which is a direct result of the GPU’s low performance. The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 87th percentile against all CPUs, showing that it is a high-end part. The massive discrepancy between the CPU’s percentile and the combo’s rank highlights the imbalance in this pairing.

The GPU’s nearest rivals are all low-end NVIDIA parts from a previous era, such as the GeForce GT 520MX and the GeForce GT 710. The B390 is only 1.3% faster than the GT 520MX, which is a negligible difference. This suggests that the gaming experience provided by this combo is similar to what one would expect from a decade-old entry-level discrete GPU. The combo rank of 2538 reflects this, as it is near the bottom of the list.

The rank is not a measure of the CPU’s capability but rather the overall system performance in this specific game. The Ryzen 9 5900X is a top-tier processor, but its power is irrelevant when the GPU is unable to render frames quickly enough. The data shows that the combo is severely GPU-limited, and the rank is a clear indicator that this is not a balanced configuration for gaming. The CPU is effectively wasted in this context, as it is unlikely to ever be the bottleneck in Dave The Diver.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s priority for frame rate versus visual fidelity. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers a good balance, with an average of 91 FPS and a minimum of 77 FPS. This ensures a smooth experience while still providing a decent level of visual detail. The High preset at 81 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset’s higher minimum frame rate makes it a safer choice for maintaining consistency.

At 1440p, the choices are more limited. The Low preset is the only one that provides a comfortable average FPS of 82, while the Medium preset drops to 68 FPS with a minimum of 58. For users who prefer visual quality over a higher frame rate, Medium may be acceptable, but Low is recommended for the most consistent performance. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall to 61 and 54 FPS respectively, which may feel less responsive.

At 4K, the data suggests that only the Low preset is worth considering, with an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset at 46 FPS is borderline, but the minimum of 39 FPS suggests it may struggle in demanding scenes. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they average below 41 FPS. For the best experience, users should stick to 1080p with Medium or High settings, as this is where the GPU has the most headroom and can provide a playable frame rate without sacrificing too much visual quality.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. It has a large 64 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 16262 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1527 in single-core, showing strong multi-threaded performance. Its percentile ranking of 87 against all CPUs confirms that it is a high-end part, far more powerful than what is needed for this game.

However, in Dave The Diver, the CPU’s role is largely passive. The game is not CPU-intensive, and the 12 cores are likely underutilized. The measured FPS is entirely dependent on the GPU’s rendering capabilities. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3dmark single-thread score of 941, is more than sufficient to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, but the GPU cannot keep up.

The data implies that the CPU is not the bottleneck in any of the tested scenarios. The FPS drops with resolution, which is a GPU phenomenon, and the frame rates are consistently low across all settings. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would see less variation between resolutions, as the CPU’s workload would remain constant. The fact that we see significant drops from 1080p to 4K confirms that the GPU is the sole constraint. The Ryzen 9 5900X is simply overqualified for this task, and its performance is wasted in this pairing.