Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver presents an interesting scalability challenge for the Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B370. The measured frame rates show a clear progression from 1080p to 4K, with the average FPS at High settings dropping from 73 at 1920x1080 to 55 at 2560x1440, and finally to 37 at 3840x2160. This represents a 49% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at High settings, indicating that the rendering load is scaling significantly with resolution. The data pattern suggests that at lower resolutions, the system is less constrained by the GPU, but as pixel count increases, the graphics processor becomes the primary bottleneck, which is typical for this type of adventure title.

At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 98 FPS, which drops to 74 at 2560x1440 and then to 49 at 3840x2160 with the same Low preset. This 50% performance drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings further confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases; at 1080p, the difference is 33 FPS (98 vs 65), while at 4K, the difference narrows to 16 FPS (49 vs 33). This narrowing gap at 4K indicates that even at Low settings, the Arc B370 is struggling to keep up, making the resolution the dominant performance factor rather than the visual preset.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Dave The Diver reveals a consistent scaling pattern across all four settings presets. At 1080p, the system delivers playable performance even at Ultra settings, with an average of 65 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average FPS at Ultra drops to 49, which represents a 25% decrease from the 1080p result. At 4K, the Ultra preset yields only 33 FPS on average, a 49% drop from the 1080p Ultra result. This scaling behavior suggests that the Arc B370's rendering capabilities are being saturated as resolution increases, with the GPU becoming the clear limiting component at higher pixel counts.

The Medium settings preset shows a similar trend, with average FPS of 82 at 1080p, 62 at 1440p, and 41 at 4K. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings also illustrates this trend, with values of 70 at 1080p, 52 at 1440p, and 35 at 4K. The maximum FPS for Medium settings follows the same pattern, dropping from 94 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p and finally 47 at 4K. These numbers indicate that even at more moderate settings, the system cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K, with the average dipping below the 60 FPS threshold that many users consider the minimum for smooth gameplay.

Interestingly, the performance scaling from 1440p to 4K is steeper than from 1080p to 1440p across most settings. For instance, at High settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 18 FPS (73 to 55), while the drop from 1440p to 4K is also 18 FPS (55 to 37). However, in percentage terms, the 1440p to 4K transition represents a 33% reduction, whereas the 1080p to 1440p transition is a 25% reduction. This suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are becoming increasingly strained as the pixel count approaches 4K, making this resolution impractical for smooth gameplay with this combination.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is a mobile-class integrated graphics processor based on the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its performance profile is modest, as evidenced by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's nearest rivals in terms of benchmark scores include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186, the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 1190, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M at 1192, with delta percentages of -0.2%, -0.5%, and -0.7% respectively. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower than the Arc B370. This positioning indicates that the Arc B370 is a low-power, entry-level graphics solution that is not designed for demanding gaming workloads.

The GPU's clock speeds are notable for their wide range, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. This substantial boost ratio allows the GPU to scale its performance dynamically based on thermal and power headroom, but the actual gaming performance in Dave The Diver suggests that even at boost clocks, the GPU cannot handle 4K resolutions at playable frame rates. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning the GPU uses the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This shared memory architecture likely contributes to the performance bottlenecks observed at higher resolutions, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

The Arc B370 features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS. These specifications, while modest, are sufficient for running Dave The Diver at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 98 FPS average at 1080p Low settings. However, the data clearly shows that the GPU's capabilities are exhausted when pushing to 4K, where even Low settings only manage 49 FPS. The 25 W TDP and IGP form factor suggest this is designed for thin-and-light portable devices rather than desktop gaming rigs, which explains its performance ceiling in this adventure title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a desktop processor from the Core 12th Gen series, codenamed Alder Lake-S, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The processor has a 65 W TDP and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with PCIe Gen 5 support providing 20 lanes from the CPU. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's benchmark results show strong single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, along with a Geekbench multi-core score of 9472 and single-core score of 1964.

In the context of Dave The Diver, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, especially at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 98 FPS, which suggests the CPU can feed frames to the GPU sufficiently at lower resolutions. However, the fact that the i5-12400F has a 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a capable processor for gaming workloads. Its 3DMark 16-thread score of 5895 and max-thread score of 5912 show good multi-threading scaling, while the single-thread score of 909 indicates solid per-core performance. These metrics suggest that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this game, as even at 1080p High settings, the average FPS of 73 is well within the CPU's ability to maintain.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with a score of 19047 (0% delta), the Intel Core 3 201E at 19056 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982 (0.3% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7773X at 18979 (0.3% delta). This grouping shows that the i5-12400F's overall performance is comparable to these processors, which are a mix of mobile and server parts. The CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 19433 and single-thread score of 3481 further confirm its balanced performance profile. In Dave The Diver, this CPU should not present a significant limitation, as the game's adventure genre typically relies more on GPU rendering than complex CPU calculations. The measured FPS data supports this, as the performance drops align more closely with resolution increases than with settings changes that would tax the CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i5-12400F with Intel Arc B370 ranks 2642 out of 2867 total combos for Dave The Diver. This places the combo in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. The rank reflects the overall gaming experience, which is constrained primarily by the GPU's limited capabilities, especially at higher resolutions. This ranking position suggests that users with this combination will need to make significant compromises in terms of resolution and visual quality to achieve playable frame rates.

The combo's ranking is particularly low when considering that the CPU is a relatively capable desktop processor. The i5-12400F's 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests that the processor itself is not the limiting factor, as it outperforms a significant majority of processors in general benchmarks. Instead, the Arc B370's 5th percentile GPU ranking drags the overall combo down, as the integrated graphics solution is simply not powerful enough for modern gaming at higher resolutions. The data indicates that this combination is better suited for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings, where the average FPS of 73-82 provides a reasonably smooth experience, rather than attempting 1440p or 4K gaming where the performance drops significantly.

When compared to other combos in the database, this pairing falls into the lower quartile of performance. The 4K Ultra result of 33 FPS average is below the threshold for playable frame rates, and even the 1440p High result of 55 FPS is marginal. The combo's best performance comes at 1080p Low with 98 FPS, which is acceptable but requires significant visual compromises. The ranking suggests that users looking for a more capable gaming system would need to upgrade the GPU significantly, as the CPU has headroom to support a more powerful graphics card. However, for users with this specific configuration, the data shows that 1080p is the only resolution that provides consistently playable performance across all settings.

FAQ

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

A: According to the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets deliver playable frame rates, with averages ranging from 65 FPS at Ultra to 98 FPS at Low.

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

A: The data shows that 4K performance is limited, with the best result being 49 FPS at Low settings, dropping to 33 FPS at Ultra. These frame rates are below the 60 FPS threshold typically desired for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184, which is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770, and 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, while being 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as FPS drops significantly with resolution increases while the CPU's benchmark scores suggest it has sufficient performance for this game.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings is 74, while at Ultra settings it drops to 49, representing a 25 FPS difference that shows the impact of visual quality settings.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking for this game?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F with Intel Arc B370 ranks 2642 out of 2867 tested combos for Dave The Diver, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For users prioritizing smooth gameplay at 1080p, the Medium settings preset provides an excellent balance, with an average of 82 FPS, a minimum of 70 FPS, and a maximum of 94 FPS. This preset delivers performance well above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining better visual quality than Low settings. For users who want the best visual experience at 1080p, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 65 FPS, which is still playable, though the lack of minimum FPS data means there could be occasional dips below 60 FPS.

At 1440p, the data suggests that users should stick to Medium or Low settings for the best experience. The Medium preset delivers an average of 62 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS, which is playable but may experience some stuttering in demanding scenes. The Low preset provides a more comfortable margin with 74 FPS average, though the visual quality is significantly reduced. The High preset at 1440p yields 55 FPS average, which is borderline playable, while Ultra drops to 49 FPS, making it less suitable for smooth gameplay. For 4K gaming, the data indicates that this combo is not well-suited, with even Low settings only achieving 49 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Users attempting 4K should expect to play at Low settings with reduced visual fidelity, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

The measured data shows that the Medium settings preset offers the best overall experience for this combo across all resolutions, providing a reasonable balance between visual quality and performance. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 82 FPS average, which is 16% lower than Low but likely provides noticeably better visuals. At 1440p Medium, the 62 FPS average is just above the 60 FPS target, making it the highest quality setting that maintains playable frame rates at this resolution. For users who prefer higher visual fidelity, the High preset at 1080p with 73 FPS average is also a viable option, though the Medium preset provides a larger performance margin. Ultimately, the data suggests that Medium settings at 1080p is the sweet spot for this hardware combination, delivering smooth performance without sacrificing too much visual quality.