Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver, an adventure title from 2023, presents an interesting benchmark scenario for the Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B580. The measured data reveals a combination that scales predictably with resolution and settings, with the GPU emerging as the primary bottleneck at higher graphical presets. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics, focusing on how the components interact to produce the observed frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the graphics card is the limiting factor. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 141 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average drops to 106 FPS, a reduction of 35 FPS or approximately 25%. This is a significant hit, indicating that the additional pixel count is placing a substantial load on the GPU. The trend continues at 4K, where the average FPS falls to 71, a further 33% drop from the 1440p result. This scaling behavior strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B580 is being pushed to its limits as the resolution increases.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p, the difference between Low (189 FPS) and Ultra (124 FPS) is 65 FPS, a 34% performance penalty for the highest visual quality. At 1440p, the gap between Low (142 FPS) and Ultra (94 FPS) is 48 FPS, a 34% penalty as well. Interestingly, at 4K, the relative penalty is slightly smaller: the spread from Low (95 FPS) to Ultra (63 FPS) is 32 FPS, which is a 34% reduction. This consistency in relative scaling across resolutions suggests that while the GPU is the primary limiter, the game's engine and the CPU are able to keep up with the demands of higher settings, as the percentage drop remains stable.

The most telling data point for identifying the bottleneck is the performance headroom at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system produces 189 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve a very high output. However, as the resolution increases to 4K Low, the frame rate plummets to 95 FPS. Since the CPU workload is largely resolution-independent in most scenarios, this massive drop in performance must be attributed to the GPU's inability to process the increased number of pixels at the same speed. The data demonstrates that the Intel Arc B580 is the limiting component, with the CPU having ample processing power to spare at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture, is the clear performance driver in this configuration. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth, provide a solid foundation for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The GPU's 2560 shading units and 80 ROPs are tasked with rendering the game's visuals, and the benchmark results show it handles the workload admirably at lower settings. The boost clock of 2670 MHz is a constant across the board, indicating that the card is running at its rated speed during the tests.

The GPU's memory configuration is a crucial factor in the observed scaling. The 12 GB frame buffer is ample for the game, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 63 FPS. If the game were running out of memory, we would expect to see severe stuttering and frame drops, which are not reflected in the average FPS numbers. The 456.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth is also sufficient to feed the GPU's cores, as the performance degradation is smooth and predictable rather than erratic. The data suggests that the GPU's compute capacity, rather than its memory subsystem, is the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

The GPU's overall positioning is reflected in its average benchmark score of 23021, which places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. When compared to its nearest rivals, the differences are marginal. The Arc B580 is 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP. This indicates that in a general compute sense, the card is performing in line with these older, high-end parts. The measured FPS in Dave The Diver, however, shows a specific strength in this title, as the card is able to maintain playable frame rates at 4K High (71 FPS), which is a demanding task for any GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F provides the processing backbone for this system. With 10 cores and 16 threads, it offers a substantial amount of parallelism for the game's logic and physics. The CPU's boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures that single-threaded performance is strong, which is often critical for game engines. In this benchmark, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, as the frame rates are largely dictated by the graphical settings and resolution. The data shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any of the tested resolutions.

Evidence for this is found in the high frame rates achieved at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system produces 189 FPS. This is a very high frame rate that suggests the CPU can process the game's simulation and issue draw calls faster than the GPU can render them. If the CPU were struggling, we would see this frame rate cap at a lower value, regardless of the GPU's capabilities. The fact that the frame rate scales down consistently as resolution increases points to a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU is waiting for the GPU to complete its rendering tasks.

The CPU's benchmark scores also put its performance into perspective. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and single-core score of 3055 indicate a strong processor for its class. Its average benchmark score of 32279 places it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, the performance is nearly identical. The i5-14400F is 0.1% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i9-11900. This suggests that while the CPU is powerful, it is not a performance outlier that would give a significant advantage in a game like Dave The Diver, where the GPU is the primary constraint.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 63 FPS.

Q: How does the performance at 1080p High compare to 1440p High?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 141. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS drops to 106, a 35 FPS reduction.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 95, while at 1080p Low, it is 189 FPS. This significant drop at higher resolution, despite the same low settings, points to the GPU being unable to keep up with the pixel count.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this combination?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 63 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: This combination ranks 2780 out of 3710 tested combos, placing it in the lower half of all tested systems.

Q: Is there a significant performance difference between the Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 119 FPS, while High yields 106 FPS. This is a 13 FPS difference in favor of Medium settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data provides a detailed look at the average frame rates for the Intel Core i5-14400F and Intel Arc B580 combination across all tested configurations. The results show a clear hierarchy based on resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the lowest average frame rate is 124 FPS with Ultra settings. The Low preset produces the highest average at 189 FPS. Medium settings average 158 FPS, with a minimum of 134 FPS and a maximum of 182 FPS. The High preset averages 141 FPS. This resolution offers the best performance, with all settings easily exceeding 120 FPS on average.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance decreases. The Ultra preset averages 94 FPS. Low settings average 142 FPS. Medium settings average 119 FPS, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS. The High preset averages 106 FPS. This resolution still provides a smooth experience, with the lowest average being 94 FPS for Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the demands on the GPU become apparent. The Ultra preset averages 63 FPS. Low settings average 95 FPS. Medium settings average 80 FPS, with a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 92 FPS. The High preset averages 71 FPS. All presets at this resolution remain above 60 FPS on average, but the frame rates are noticeably lower than at 1440p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth and visually rich experience, the High preset at 1440p is a strong recommendation. It achieves an average of 106 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings.

For users with 4K displays, the data suggests that Medium settings provide the best balance of visual quality and performance. The average of 80 FPS is playable, and the minimum of 68 FPS indicates that the frame rate remains stable during demanding scenes. While High settings are also playable at 71 FPS, the Medium preset offers a higher average and a better safety margin against frame drops, as evidenced by its 68 FPS minimum.

At 1080p, the High preset is a solid choice, delivering 141 FPS. However, for those with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Medium preset at 158 FPS might be preferable, even if the visual fidelity is slightly lower. The Ultra preset at 124 FPS is also a viable option for those who prioritize visual quality above all else, as it still provides a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The data suggests that the Low preset is rarely necessary for this game on this hardware, as even the most demanding settings at 1080p remain highly playable.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F and Intel Arc B580 combination holds a rank of 2780 out of 3710 tested combos in Dave The Diver. This position places it in the 25th percentile of tested systems, meaning that 75% of the other combinations in the database deliver higher average performance in this specific game. This is a notable finding, as the individual components are not low-end parts; the CPU is in the 83rd percentile, and the GPU is in the 68th percentile.

The discrepancy between the component-level percentiles and the in-game combo rank suggests that this particular pairing may not be optimal for this title. While the CPU is strong, its performance is largely untapped due to the GPU being the bottleneck, as previously established. The GPU, while capable, is not fast enough to place the system among the top performers in this game. The game's engine may also favor other architectures, but the data cannot confirm this. The rank is a direct measure of the measured FPS, and it indicates that while the system is fully capable of running the game well, it does not compete with the highest-performing combinations in the database. For a game like Dave The Diver, the experience is still positive, but the combo's overall standing is in the lower quartile of all tested systems.