Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver is a 2D adventure game with a surprisingly demanding side, and the data for the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 shows a combination that is firmly at the entry-level tier for modern gaming. The benchmark results indicate a system that can deliver playable frame rates, but only with careful attention to settings and resolution. With a combo rank of 2642 out of 2867 tested configurations, this pairing sits in the bottom 10% of all tested combos, meaning it will struggle with the most demanding titles but can still provide a smooth experience for less graphically intense games like this one.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data makes the optimal settings path clear: Medium is the sweet spot for this title. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 82 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. This is the only preset that provides both a high average and a minimum frame rate comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring a consistently smooth experience without major dips. While the Low preset pushes the average to 98 FPS, the jump from Medium to Low sacrifices visual fidelity for only a 16 FPS gain, which is not a worthwhile trade for a game like this where the art style benefits from higher detail.

The High preset at 1080p drops to an average of 73 FPS, which is still playable but introduces a smaller margin for error during busy scenes. The Ultra preset, however, falls to an average of 65 FPS and, given the data pattern, likely has minimums that drop below 60 FPS, making it risky for a consistently smooth experience. The data strongly suggests that Medium is the highest setting you can use without worrying about frame pacing or stutter. The 70 FPS minimum at Medium acts as a safety net, while the 94 FPS maximum shows there is headroom to keep the gameplay fluid.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. The Medium preset here drops to an average of 62 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS. While the average is acceptable, the minimum frame rate indicates noticeable stutter during demanding moments. For a steadier experience at this resolution, the Low preset, with an average of 74 FPS, is a better choice, as it prioritizes frame consistency over visual flair. At 4K, the situation becomes more constrained; the Medium preset averages just 41 FPS, making it unsuitable for fast-paced gameplay. The Low preset at 4K, with an average of 49 FPS, is the only viable option for a semi-playable experience, but even then, it is below the ideal 60 FPS target.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck in this configuration, and its specifications explain the performance ceiling. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 25 W TDP, a base clock of 300 MHz, and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The benchmark results place this GPU in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with its average benchmark score of 1184 nearly identical to that of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% deltaPct) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% deltaPct). This places its raw compute power in the same league as decade-old discrete graphics cards, which is a critical context for understanding the FPS data.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's main RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory clock is also listed as "System Shared," and the bandwidth is "System Dependent." This is a fundamental limitation. In a game like Dave The Diver, which features detailed pixel art and dynamic lighting, the shared memory architecture can lead to performance dips when the game needs to access large textures or effects, as it competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, which is respectable on paper for an integrated solution, but the system-dependent memory bandwidth holds it back in real-world gaming scenarios.

The GPU's performance scaling with settings changes is telling. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 33 FPS (98 vs. 65). This shows that the GPU is sensitive to the increased load from higher-quality shadows, textures, and post-processing effects. The fact that the Arc B370 has to work harder at Ultra settings, dropping to an average of 65 FPS, reinforces that it is the limiting factor when pushing visual fidelity. The GPU's 1280 shading units and 40 texture mapping units are simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at maximum settings, even in a 2D adventure game.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and clearly identifies the GPU as the limiting component. At Medium settings, the average frame rate falls from 82 FPS at 1080p to 62 FPS at 1440p (a 24% drop) and then to 41 FPS at 4K (a 50% drop from 1440p). This scaling pattern is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering resolution directly impacts the amount of pixel work the GPU must complete.

At Low settings, the scaling is similar. The average FPS goes from 98 at 1080p to 74 at 1440p, and finally to 49 at 4K. The percentage drops are consistent with a system where the CPU is not the main constraint. If the Core i5-10400F were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates at 1080p and 1440p to be much closer together, as the CPU would be maxed out before the GPU. Instead, the clear and steady decline in FPS with each resolution increase shows that the Arc B370 is struggling to fill the increasing pixel count.

This behavior has practical implications. The data suggests that to get a smooth 60+ FPS experience, you must stay at 1080p. The 1440p resolution is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the 74 FPS average is a significant step down. The 4K resolution is essentially out of reach for this combo, as even the lowest settings fail to reach 50 FPS. For users with a 1440p or 4K monitor, the system will not be able to utilize the monitor's native resolution effectively, and they would need to run the game at 1080p with scaling enabled, which defeats the purpose of the higher-resolution display.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2642 out of 2867 places this configuration in the 8th percentile of all tested pairs. This is a poor ranking, indicating that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU combinations tested will provide better performance in Dave The Diver. This low rank is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B370, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU, by contrast, is a much stronger component.

The Intel Core i5-10400F has a percentile rank of 68 against all CPUs, meaning it is better than 68% of all processors in the database. Its average benchmark score of 14185 is nearly identical to that of the AMD EPYC 7552, which scores 14115 (a 0.5% deltaPct). This shows that the CPU is a mid-range performer that is more than capable of handling gaming workloads. The pairing of a mid-range CPU with a bottom-tier GPU creates a massive imbalance, and the combo rank reflects this. It is a classic case of a CPU that is ready for a much more powerful discrete GPU, but is being held back by the integrated graphics solution. The data shows that the CPU is not the reason for the low ranking; it is the GPU's performance that drags the entire combo down.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its benchmark scores show it is a capable mid-range CPU, but in this specific combo, its role is subdued. The CPU's multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283, is more than sufficient for modern games. However, the benchmark results for Dave The Diver show that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The frame rates are dictated by the GPU's rendering capabilities.

This is evident when looking at the frame rates at different settings. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra only causes a 33 FPS drop. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see a smaller gap, as the CPU would be unable to feed the GPU frames any faster. Instead, the GPU's performance scales with the settings, confirming it is the primary constraint. The CPU is likely sitting idle waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

The CPU's single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1451, is also adequate for gaming. The game's logic, physics, and AI are likely not stressing the CPU. In fact, the data suggests that this CPU could handle much more demanding tasks. It has a 12 MB shared L3 cache, which is a decent amount for a 6-core chip, and its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient for a mid-range system. The CPU is not the problem; it is a solid foundation that is being wasted by the weak integrated GPU. If paired with a dedicated graphics card, this CPU would likely perform much better, but in this configuration, it plays a supporting role, waiting for the GPU to keep up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's capabilities across resolutions and settings.

4K (3840x2160):

• Ultra: 33 FPS average. This is a slideshow and not playable.
• High: 37 FPS average. Still not playable for a smooth experience.
• Medium: 41 FPS average, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. The minimum shows significant stutter, making this unplayable.
• Low: 49 FPS average. This is the best-case scenario at 4K, but it is below the 60 FPS target and will feel sluggish.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Ultra: 49 FPS average. Barely playable, but frame drops will be noticeable.
• High: 55 FPS average. Playable, but not ideal for a consistent experience.
• Medium: 62 FPS average, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. The average is good, but the minimums show it can dip below 60 FPS.
• Low: 74 FPS average. This is the most reliable option at this resolution, offering a smooth experience with no major dips.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Ultra: 65 FPS average. This is playable, but the margin for error is low, and you may notice hitches in busy scenes.
• High: 73 FPS average. A comfortable experience that is mostly smooth.
• Medium: 82 FPS average, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. This is the ideal sweet spot, providing a consistent and fluid experience.
• Low: 98 FPS average. The highest frame rate available, but the visual sacrifices are significant.

The data clearly shows a linear progression of performance dropping with increased resolution and settings, with the 1080p Medium preset being the only configuration that offers a high average frame rate and a minimum frame rate that never drops below 70 FPS. Every other setting requires a compromise between visual quality and frame rate consistency.