Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver presents an interesting performance profile when paired with the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the Intel Arc B390. The benchmark data shows a configuration where the graphics solution is the primary constraint, with the CPU providing ample headroom. Across all tested resolutions and settings, the system delivers playable frame rates at 1080p, but struggles to maintain high performance at 4K, clearly indicating where the bottleneck lies.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance drop as resolution increases, a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 108 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 82 FPS, a reduction of 24%. At 4K Low, the average further falls to 55 FPS, which is a 49% decrease from the 1080p figure. This pattern holds across all settings presets, confirming that the rendering load at higher resolutions quickly overwhelms the graphics processor.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe than the jump to 4K. For High settings, the frame rate drops from 81 FPS at 1080p to 61 FPS at 1440p, a 24.7% decline. However, moving from 1440p High to 4K High results in a 32.8% drop, from 61 FPS to 41 FPS. This nonlinear degradation suggests that the Arc B390's memory bandwidth and compute resources are insufficient for the pixel throughput demanded at 4K, making this resolution impractical for smooth gameplay with this combo.

The data indicates that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The CPU’s performance metrics, which are in the 79th percentile among all tested CPUs, show no sign of being a constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller performance gaps between resolutions, as the frame rate would be capped by processing power rather than pixel count. Instead, the consistent and significant drops with each resolution increase point directly to the graphics card as the performance ceiling.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It features a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 20 MB shared L3 cache. Its synthetic benchmark scores are robust, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391 and a single-core score of 3302. These numbers place it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong processing capability for a desktop part.

In the context of Dave The Diver, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. The game’s frame rates are far more sensitive to resolution changes than to any potential CPU workload fluctuation. The 3DMark scores show a healthy scaling from 1995 for 2 threads to 7956 for 16 threads, suggesting that the processor can handle both lightly and heavily threaded tasks, though the game likely does not stress all 16 threads. The single-thread performance, as evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2157, is more than adequate for the game's logic and physics.

The data suggests that the i5-12600KF is not a limiting factor at any tested resolution. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is less stressed and the frame rate is highest at 108 FPS, the CPU provides enough headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The processor’s 125W TDP and unlocked multiplier indicate a high-performance part intended for demanding tasks, but in this specific game, its capabilities are largely untapped. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, confirming that the 12600KF is in the top tier of processors, further reinforcing that it is not the cause of the performance limitations seen in the FPS data.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is a mobile-grade integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units. Its clock speeds are listed as a 300 MHz base and a 2500 MHz boost, with a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The GPU has 12 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, but its memory is system shared, meaning bandwidth is dependent on the system's RAM.

This GPU’s performance is decidedly entry-level, as indicated by its 9th percentile ranking among all tested GPUs. Its sole benchmark score in the data, a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, places it in direct competition with very old discrete graphics cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which score 1463 and 1443 respectively. This context is crucial; the Arc B390 is not designed for high-end gaming, and its performance in Dave The Diver reflects that.

The GPU's role is the primary determinant of the frame rates in this test. The system shared memory architecture likely limits effective bandwidth, which is a critical factor at higher resolutions. As the resolution increases, the demand for texture data and pixel fill rate grows, and the Arc B390's 24 ROPs and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate become a significant bottleneck. This is why the frame rate at 4K High is only 41 FPS, as the GPU simply cannot process the necessary pixels quickly enough. The 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance is respectable for integrated graphics, but it falls short of what is needed for smooth 1440p or 4K gaming in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2538 out of 2867 total tested combos for Dave The Diver. This places the system in the bottom 11.5% of all configurations, which aligns perfectly with the GPU's lowly 9th percentile ranking. The CPU’s high performance cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations, and the combo rank accurately reflects the overall system's gaming capability.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU bottleneck. While the CPU is in the 79th percentile, its contribution to the frame rate is capped by the graphics card. The data shows that the combo's performance is almost entirely dictated by the Arc B390, as evidenced by the fact that the system's rank is much closer to the GPU's percentile than the CPU's. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the combo rank would likely be higher, closer to the CPU's 79th percentile.

In practical terms, this rank means that the vast majority of other tested systems will outperform this configuration in Dave The Diver. The GPU's nearest rivals are all over a decade old, and the fact that the Arc B390 only manages a 1.3% to 2.7% delta against them highlights its lack of modern gaming capability. This combo is not suitable for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming, and its rank serves as a clear warning to users seeking a smooth experience at anything above 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the system is most viable. With Low settings, the average FPS is 108, which is excellent for fast-paced action. Medium settings reduce this to 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS, indicating smooth gameplay. High settings yield 81 FPS, and even Ultra settings manage a respectable 72 FPS. These numbers suggest that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, with all settings providing playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, performance begins to degrade noticeably. Low settings produce an average of 82 FPS, which is still playable but a significant drop from 1080p. Medium settings average 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS, which could be noticeable during intense scenes. High settings average 61 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 54 FPS. For competitive or fast-paced play, the 54 FPS at Ultra might feel slightly sluggish, but it remains technically playable. The 1440p resolution is a borderline experience, with Low and Medium settings being the most practical.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The highest average is 55 FPS at Low settings, which is below the ideal threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS, which can feel stuttery. High settings average 41 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 36 FPS. None of the 4K results are ideal for a good gaming experience. The data clearly shows that this combo is not designed for 4K gaming, as the GPU cannot handle the pixel load, and users would need to significantly compromise on visual quality to achieve even marginal playability.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets achieve an average FPS above 70. At this resolution, even Ultra settings provide a playable experience, making it the clear choice for this hardware.

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

A: No. The data shows that the highest average FPS at 4K is 55 with Low settings, and it drops to 36 FPS at Ultra. These frame rates are too low for a smooth experience, indicating that the GPU is a severe bottleneck at this resolution.

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

A: The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, indicating it is in the same performance tier as those very old entry-level cards.

Q: Is the CPU a limiting factor in this game?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-12600KF is in the 79th percentile of all CPUs and has strong multi-threaded scores. The frame rate drops are consistently tied to resolution increases, which points to the GPU as the sole limiting component.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings average 68 FPS, while High settings average 61 FPS. This is a 10.3% performance decrease for the jump in visual fidelity.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2538 out of 2867 total combos, placing it in the bottom 11.5% of configurations tested for this game.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this hardware, users should prioritize 1080p resolution. At 1920x1080, the data shows that the High preset offers an excellent balance, providing an average of 81 FPS without the potential frame-time spikes seen at lower settings. While Low settings achieve 108 FPS, the visual compromise may not be worth the extra performance, especially since High is already well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play.

If a higher frame rate is desired for a competitive edge, the Low preset at 1080p is the only option that significantly exceeds 100 FPS, hitting an average of 108 FPS. However, for most players, the Medium preset is a strong middle ground, with an average of 91 FPS and a minimum of 77 FPS, ensuring consistent performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable, with 72 FPS, but the gains over High are marginal and may not justify the performance cost.

At 1440p, the data recommends the Low preset as the only option that maintains a comfortable frame rate, with an average of 82 FPS. The Medium preset at 68 FPS is acceptable, but the minimum of 58 FPS suggests potential stuttering. For 4K, no preset is recommended, as even the Low preset's 55 FPS average is below the standard for a fluid experience, and users should instead reduce the resolution to 1080p or 1440p for better gameplay.