Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver, an Adventure title released on June 27, 2023, presents a unique challenge for the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Arc B370 pairing. The benchmark data reveals a system that is decisively constrained by its graphics processor, with the CPU showing significant headroom across all tested configurations. This combination ranks near the bottom of the database, but the measured frame rates tell a story of a playable experience at 1080p, with performance degrading predictably as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance loss as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 73 FPS at 1080p to 55 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 37 FPS at 4K. This progression represents a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 33% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The total scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings is a 49% drop, which indicates that the rendering pipeline is heavily dependent on pixel throughput.

The scaling pattern is similar across other settings presets. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 98 at 1080p to 74 at 1440p, then to 49 at 4K. This is a 50% total reduction. Medium settings show a drop from 82 FPS at 1080p to 62 at 1440p and 41 at 4K, a 50% decline overall. Ultra settings demonstrate the same trend, going from 65 FPS at 1080p to 49 at 1440p and 33 at 4K, a 49% reduction.

These consistent percentage drops across all quality presets are a strong indicator that the limiting component is the GPU. The Intel Arc B370, with its 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, appears to be the bottleneck, as the frame rate scales almost linearly with the number of pixels being rendered. The CPU, a 4-core/8-thread Intel Core i3-12100F, is unlikely to be the constraint at these resolutions, as its workload does not typically increase proportionally with resolution. The data suggests that moving from 1080p to 4K roughly halves the frame rate, which is exactly what would be expected from a GPU-bound scenario where the fill rate and pixel processing power are the determining factors. The 4K results, hovering around 33-49 FPS depending on settings, are below the 60 FPS target, suggesting that this resolution is not ideal for this hardware combination.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is a GPU with specifications that are firmly in the entry-level segment. Its benchmark score in 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 is 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs in the database. This extremely low percentile ranking is corroborated by its nearest rivals, which include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4%). The core specifications are modest, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it features 10 RT cores and 40 TMUs.

The GPU’s memory configuration is peculiar: it uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the CPU's system RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a critical detail, as its memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent." This architecture suggests that the GPU is designed for laptops or other portable devices, as indicated by its "IGP" slot width and "Portable Device Dependent" display outputs. The lack of dedicated VRAM is a likely contributor to its low performance, as it must contend with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

In the context of Dave The Diver, the GPU's role is clearly the primary performance limiter. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra, which is 33 FPS, aligns with the GPU's low percentile ranking. The fact that the GPU is in the 5th percentile while the CPU is in the 68th percentile of all CPUs further supports the notion that the Arc B370 is the bottleneck. The boost clock of 2400 MHz is relatively high, but it cannot compensate for the limited number of shading units and the shared memory architecture. The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is its theoretical peak, but real-world results in this game show that it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The data strongly suggests that the GPU is the component that determines the playable settings and resolutions for this combo.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2642 out of 2867 total combos in Dave The Diver. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. The low ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU is a relatively capable part.

The combo's rank is a direct reflection of the measured FPS. With the GPU in the 5th percentile, it is expected that this combination would produce low frame rates relative to other systems. The CPU, however, is in the 68th percentile, which means it is more powerful than most other CPUs in the database. This contrast highlights the imbalance in the system: the processor is capable of much more, but it is held back by the graphics solution.

When compared to other combos, this pairing is at a significant disadvantage. For example, a system with a similar CPU but a more powerful GPU would rank much higher. The data shows that the GPU is the deciding factor in this game's performance, and the Arc B370 simply does not have the computational power to deliver high frame rates. The rank of 2642 out of 2867 suggests that users of this combo should expect a playable but not exceptional experience, likely limited to 1080p or 1440p with adjusted settings. The ranking serves as a warning that this is not a high-performance gaming rig, but rather a basic system that can handle lighter titles at moderate settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the game is most playable. Low settings deliver an average of 98 FPS, which is a very smooth experience. Medium settings yield 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. High settings produce 73 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 65 FPS. All 1080p results are above 60 FPS, making this the resolution where the game feels most responsive.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings still provide a comfortable 74 FPS average. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. High settings fall to 55 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 49 FPS. At this resolution, users will need to stick to Low or Medium settings to maintain a stable 60 FPS. The frame rate at High and Ultra dips below the 60 FPS threshold, which may be noticeable in a fast-paced adventure game.

At 3840x2160, the system is struggling. Low settings produce an average of 49 FPS. Medium settings average 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. High settings drop to 37 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 33 FPS. None of the 4K results reach 60 FPS, and even the Low preset is below 50 FPS. This resolution is not recommended for this hardware combination, as the frame rate dips can detract from the gameplay experience.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the optimal resolution, 1440p is playable with lower settings, and 4K is largely unplayable for a smooth experience. The variation between settings at the same resolution is also notable. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 33 FPS (from 98 to 65), which is a 34% drop. At 1440p, the difference is 25 FPS (from 74 to 49), a 34% drop. At 4K, the difference is 16 FPS (from 49 to 33), a 33% drop. The consistent 33-34% penalty for maxing out settings indicates that the GPU is the sole performance constraint, as the relative cost of each quality preset remains the same regardless of resolution.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution. All settings presets at 1080p achieve an average FPS above 60, with Low at 98 FPS and Ultra at 65 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 (a 0.2% difference). It is also within 1.4% of the AMD FirePro M2000, which scores 1168. This indicates it performs in the same class as these older, low-end parts.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, while the Intel Core i3-12100F ranks in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The frame rate scaling with resolution also indicates a GPU limitation.

Q: What average FPS can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 62. The minimum FPS is 52, and the maximum is 71, meaning the frame rate can fluctuate but generally remains playable.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-12100F have enough power for this game?

A: Yes, the CPU appears to have sufficient power. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 11860, and its single-core score is 1674. Since the game's performance is limited by the GPU, the CPU is not the primary factor affecting the results.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: No, 4K gaming is not viable for a smooth experience. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 49 FPS on Low settings. At Ultra settings, the average drops to 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for fluid gameplay.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In terms of CPU benchmarks, it scores 11860 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1674 in single-core. Its Passmark multithread score is 14015, and its single-thread score is 3444. These scores place it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a capable mid-range processor.

In the context of Dave The Diver, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. Given that the GPU is the bottleneck, the CPU is likely underutilized. The 4-core/8-thread configuration is sufficient for this adventure game, which is not likely to be heavily multithreaded. The high single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 1674 score in Cinebench R23 single-core, is beneficial for games that rely on a single main thread.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The 3DMark scores for the CPU show a strong progression from 2 threads (1659) to 8 threads (4026), which suggests good scaling. However, the game's performance does not improve with lower resolutions, which would be the case if the CPU were the constraint. The i3-12100F's 58W TDP and "Active" production status suggest it is a modern, efficient part. Its nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks, such as the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492, 0% deltaPct) and Intel Core i5-9500 (13452, 0.3% deltaPct), have similar average benchmark scores, confirming that the i3-12100F is a solid performer in its class. The CPU's capabilities are more than adequate for this game, and its performance headroom is clear.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that consistently delivers this across all presets. At 1080p, even Ultra settings achieve an average of 65 FPS, so users can prioritize visual quality without sacrificing playability. High settings at 73 FPS provide a good balance of visual fidelity and performance, but Medium at 82 FPS is also a strong choice for a higher frame rate cushion.

For 2560x1440, the data suggests that users should select Low or Medium settings to stay near the 60 FPS target. Low settings deliver an average of 74 FPS, while Medium settings average 62 FPS, which is just above the threshold. High settings at 55 FPS and Ultra at 49 FPS may be acceptable for users who prefer visual quality over frame rate, but they risk noticeable dips during intense scenes. The Medium preset, with a minimum FPS of 52, is a reasonable compromise for 1440p gaming.

At 3840x2160, the data indicates that no settings preset can provide a consistently smooth experience. Low settings at 49 FPS is the best option, but it still falls below 60 FPS. Medium settings at 41 FPS experience significant drops to 35 FPS, which could be jarring. Given the performance data, it is recommended to avoid 4K entirely and instead use 1080p with Ultra settings, which offers a much better visual experience than 4K with Low settings, while maintaining a higher frame rate. The 1080p Ultra preset, at 65 FPS, is the best overall experience for this hardware, as it combines the highest visual quality with a playable frame rate.