Dave The Diver

# Dave The Diver — AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D + Intel Arc B580

This combination of AMD's 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Intel's Arc B580 produces a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Dave The Diver, with 4K Ultra remaining playable but demanding compromises. The measured frame rates show a system that scales predictably across resolutions, with the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance ensuring the GPU remains the primary bottleneck in most configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial but not catastrophic, indicating a balanced pairing where the GPU becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 141 FPS at 1920x1080 to 106 FPS at 2560x1440, a 24.8% reduction, and then further to 71 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 49.6% decline from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern suggests the Arc B580's 12 GB GDDR6 memory and 456.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient to feed the rendering pipeline, but the GPU's raw compute (13.67 TFLOPS FP32) becomes the limiting factor at higher pixel counts.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens dramatically as resolution increases. At 1080p, the spread from Low (189 FPS) to Ultra (124 FPS) is 65 FPS, a 34.4% drop. At 1440p, the spread narrows to 48 FPS (142 down to 94), a 33.8% reduction. At 4K, the spread is 32 FPS (95 down to 63), a 33.7% decline. The consistency of this percentage drop across resolutions indicates that the GPU's shading units (2560) and texture mapping units (160) are being utilized proportionally, with no single resource creating a disproportionate bottleneck.

The Medium preset at each resolution shows the most balanced behavior, with minimum frame rates recorded. At 4K Medium, the system delivers 68 FPS minimum and 92 FPS maximum, averaging 80 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 101 to 137 FPS with a 119 FPS average. At 1080p Medium, the range is 134 to 182 FPS with a 158 FPS average. These minimums suggest that even in demanding scenes, the combination maintains playable frame rates, with the 4K Medium minimum of 68 FPS staying above common 60 FPS thresholds.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K at each preset reveals the GPU's architecture: at High settings, the drop is 33.0% (106 to 71 FPS); at Low, 33.1% (142 to 95 FPS); at Medium, 32.8% (119 to 80 FPS); and at Ultra, 33.0% (94 to 63 FPS). This near-identical percentage reduction across all quality presets strongly indicates that resolution, not settings complexity, is the primary driver of performance loss, pointing to pixel throughput as the limiting factor.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 2132 out of 2867 tested combinations for Dave The Diver, placing it in the 25.6th percentile of all combos. This rank reflects the Arc B580's mid-tier positioning rather than any CPU deficiency, as the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's benchmark scores place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The GPU's 68th percentile ranking among all GPUs, combined with the CPU's 91st percentile, creates a pairing where the GPU is the constraining component.

The combo rank suggests that while this system handles Dave The Diver well at mainstream resolutions, there are 2131 other combinations that achieve higher frame rates. Given the game's adventure genre and non-competitive nature, this rank is acceptable, but users seeking maximum frame rates would need to look toward GPUs with higher average benchmark scores. The Arc B580's average benchmark score of 23021 places it near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, 0.6% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, -0.2% delta), indicating it competes with older high-end and newer mid-range cards.

Within the context of Dave The Diver's requirements, the combo's rank is less critical than the actual measured frame rates, which show playable performance at all tested settings. The game's stylized visuals likely do not require the extreme GPU horsepower that other titles demand, and the measured results confirm this. The rank of 2132 out of 2867 is a relative measure, and the absolute frame rates tell a more nuanced story of a capable, if not top-tier, gaming system.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D brings substantial processing power to this pairing, with 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). Its base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz provide strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1269 and a Geekbench single-core score of 3041. This single-thread strength is crucial for Dave The Diver, which likely relies on a primary game thread for core game logic.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are equally impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 22884. The 128 MB L3 cache (with 80 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core) provides ample fast storage for game data, and the dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth ensures the CPU can feed data to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU's benchmark results show strong scaling from 4 threads (4885 in 3DMark) to 8 threads (9002) to 16 threads (12490), indicating efficient core utilization.

In the context of Dave The Diver's measured frame rates, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 189 FPS, which suggests the CPU can handle the game's logic and draw calls at high frame rates. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2512 and 4-thread score of 4885 indicate that even a few cores are sufficient for the game's single-threaded aspects, while the 24 threads provide headroom for background tasks and any multi-threaded game systems. The CPU's percentile ranking of 91st among all CPUs confirms it is not the limiting factor in this combination.

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (55093, -0.6% delta), Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (54053, 1.3% delta), Intel Xeon 6505P (53701, 2% delta), and Intel Core i7-14700F (53620, 2.1% delta). The CPU's average benchmark score of 54762 places it competitively within this group, with the 9900X3D performing essentially on par with the Core Ultra 5 245KF and slightly ahead of the others. This indicates that the CPU provides performance consistent with modern mid-to-high-end desktop processors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. The Low preset averages 189 FPS, Medium averages 158 FPS (with a range of 134 to 182), High averages 141 FPS, and Ultra averages 124 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 34.4% reduction in average frame rate, with each settings tier costing approximately 17-31 FPS. The Medium preset's recorded minimum of 134 FPS ensures smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenes, and the maximum of 182 FPS approaches the Low preset's average.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain highly playable. Low averages 142 FPS, Medium averages 119 FPS (range 101 to 137), High averages 106 FPS, and Ultra averages 94 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p is consistent at approximately 24-25% across all settings, confirming the resolution-driven scaling. The Medium preset's minimum of 101 FPS still comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset's 94 FPS average indicates that maximum quality is viable at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. Low averages 95 FPS, Medium averages 80 FPS (range 68 to 92), High averages 71 FPS, and Ultra averages 63 FPS. The Ultra preset's 63 FPS average is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but users should expect occasional dips below this mark. The Medium preset's 68 FPS minimum provides a safer margin, while the Low preset's 95 FPS average shows the GPU's capability when settings are reduced. The 4K results indicate that 60 FPS is achievable at High and Ultra, but with limited headroom for demanding scenes.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination in Dave The Diver?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 provides the best balance of quality and performance. At High settings, the system averages 106 FPS, and at Ultra, 94 FPS, both well above 60 FPS. The 1080p results are higher (141 FPS High, 124 FPS Ultra), but the visual fidelity gain from 1440p is significant, and the frame rates remain excellent.

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

A: Yes, at 4K the system achieves 71 FPS at High settings and 63 FPS at Ultra settings. The Medium preset delivers 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS. For a stable 60 FPS experience, High settings are recommended, while Ultra may occasionally dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to other GPUs in this context?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. It performs nearly identically to the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, -0.2% delta) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, 0.6% delta), while being slightly behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (23172, -0.7% delta).

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D a bottleneck for the Arc B580?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and its strong single-thread score (1269 in 3DMark) and multi-thread score (13795 in 3DMark max threads) ensure it can feed the GPU effectively. The consistent FPS scaling across resolutions confirms the GPU is the primary constraint.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with this setup?

A: At 1080p, the system delivers 189 FPS at Low, 158 FPS at Medium, 141 FPS at High, and 124 FPS at Ultra settings. The Medium preset has a recorded range of 134 to 182 FPS, indicating smooth performance throughout.

Q: How does this combination rank among all tested combos?

A: This CPU-GPU pairing ranks 2132 out of 2867 tested combinations for Dave The Diver. While this places it in the lower half of tested combos, the actual measured frame rates are playable at all resolutions and settings tested.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience at 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 124 FPS average is the recommended choice, as the frame rate remains well above 60 FPS and provides the highest visual quality. Users with high refresh rate monitors (144 Hz or above) should consider High settings at 141 FPS or Medium at 158 FPS, as these provide smoother motion. The Low preset at 189 FPS offers the highest frame rates but sacrifices visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset at 94 FPS is recommended for maximum quality, as the frame rate remains smooth and the visual upgrade from High (106 FPS) is noticeable. For users prioritizing frame rate consistency, Medium at 119 FPS (minimum 101) provides a robust experience with minimal visual compromise. The Low preset at 142 FPS is suitable for competitive play, though the game's genre does not demand such high frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the High preset at 71 FPS average is the best balance of quality and performance, staying comfortably above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 63 FPS is playable but offers limited headroom, and users may experience dips below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. The Medium preset at 80 FPS (minimum 68) provides a safer margin while maintaining good visual quality. The Low preset at 95 FPS is unnecessary for this resolution, as the visual degradation outweighs the frame rate benefit.

Overall, the Medium preset at 1440p (119 FPS) or High at 1080p (141 FPS) delivers the most balanced experience, with the Medium preset's recorded minimums ensuring consistent performance. The game's visual style benefits from higher resolutions, so 1440p Medium or High is the recommended sweet spot for this combination.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580, based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation), is the primary determinant of frame rates in this system. With 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, the GPU provides a pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 427.2 GTexel/s. The 12 GB GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus delivers 456.0 GB/s bandwidth, which proves sufficient for Dave The Diver at all tested resolutions and settings.

The GPU's clock speeds are notable, with both base and boost clocks at 2670 MHz. This high sustained clock, combined with the 13.67 TFLOPS FP32 compute, allows the B580 to maintain strong performance across the resolution range. The 20 ray tracing cores are present but likely underutilized in this game, given the stylized art style. The GPU's 68th percentile ranking among all GPUs and average benchmark score of 23021 place it in the mid-range tier, appropriate for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

The GPU's measured performance in Dave The Diver shows its scaling characteristics: at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 65 FPS (189 to 124), while at 4K, the difference is 32 FPS (95 to 63). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU's fixed-function units (ROPs and TMUs) become more fully utilized as pixel count increases, reducing the relative impact of settings changes. The 80 ROPs provide sufficient pixel throughput for 4K, as evidenced by the 63 FPS average at Ultra, but the GPU is clearly more comfortable at lower resolutions.

The Arc B580's nearest GPU rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, -0.2%), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, 0.6%), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (23172, -0.7%), and NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, -1%). The B580's launch MSRP of 249 USD positions it as a mainstream offering, and its measured performance in Dave The Diver confirms it can deliver playable frame rates at 4K, with excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p. The GPU's 12 GB VRAM capacity ensures no memory-related bottlenecks in this title, even at 4K Ultra with potential texture-heavy scenes.