Dave The Diver

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a playable but constrained experience in Dave The Diver, with the GPU acting as the definitive bottleneck across all tested settings and resolutions. The measured data shows a combo that ranks 2642nd out of 2867 tested configurations in this game, placing it in the bottom 8% of all combos, yet the frame rates remain surprisingly serviceable for a title of this genre. The Arc B370, with its integrated graphics design and system-shared memory, delivers its best results at 1080p, where it achieves a peak average of 98 FPS on Low settings, but the experience degrades predictably as resolution and visual fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the exact measured performance, the GPU's role in limiting results, and provides clear settings recommendations based solely on the data.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear GPU-bound scenario, with the Arc B370 struggling to maintain playable framerates at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 98 FPS average, but dropping to 1440p Low reduces that to 74 FPS, a 24.5% decrease. Moving further to 4K Low yields 49 FPS, which represents a 50% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep scaling curve indicates that the integrated GPU's rendering capabilities, not the CPU, are the limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-12700K, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, is far more capable than what this game demands at these settings, as evidenced by its 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs in general benchmarks.

The 4K Ultra result of 33 FPS average illustrates the extreme end of this scaling, where the GPU simply cannot maintain fluid motion despite the CPU having ample headroom. Comparing the 1080p to 4K spread across all settings shows a consistent pattern: High settings drop from 73 FPS at 1080p to 37 FPS at 4K (a 49.3% reduction), Medium drops from 82 to 41 (50% reduction), and Ultra drops from 65 to 33 (49.2% reduction). This uniformity across settings strongly suggests that resolution scaling is purely a GPU workload increase, with no CPU involvement in the bottleneck.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less punishing than from 1440p to 4K. At High settings, 1080p yields 73 FPS, 1440p yields 55 FPS (a 24.7% drop), and 4K yields 37 FPS (a 32.7% drop from 1440p). This non-linear scaling indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth, which is system-dependent and shared with the CPU, becomes progressively more strained as pixel count increases. The 4K resolution demands significantly more from the System Shared memory interface, which lacks the dedicated bandwidth of a discrete GPU solution.

The data also shows that resolution scaling interacts with settings in a predictable way. At 1080p, the gap between Low (98 FPS) and Ultra (65 FPS) is 33 FPS, while at 4K that same gap narrows to 16 FPS (49 vs 33). This compression of the settings gap at higher resolutions further confirms that the GPU is saturated at 4K, leaving little additional headroom for graphical enhancements. In contrast, at 1080p the GPU has more spare capacity, so increasing settings has a larger absolute impact on frame rate.

For players targeting 4K, the data shows that even Low settings (49 FPS) cannot achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience, and Medium (41 FPS) and High (37 FPS) fall further behind. The only viable path to 60 FPS would be at 1080p with Low settings (98 FPS) or Medium settings (82 FPS), which provide substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p, Low settings (74 FPS) barely clear 60 FPS, while Medium (62 FPS) sits just above it, making these the highest resolution options for smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive component in this combo's performance, and its specifications explain the measured results. This GPU operates in the Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) generation, built on a 3 nm process with the Xe3-LPG architecture. Its base clock runs at 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation pipelines. The GPU also includes 10 ray tracing cores, though Dave The Diver is unlikely to leverage these given its genre.

The most critical specification is the memory configuration: the Arc B370 uses System Shared memory, with system-dependent bandwidth. This design choice means the GPU relies on the same memory pool as the CPU, creating a potential contention point that directly impacts frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions. The measured results support this interpretation, as the 4K performance drops disproportionately compared to the pixel count increase.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B370 scores 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, delta 1.4%). This places the Arc B370 in extremely dated company, as its closest competitors are integrated and entry-level discrete GPUs from over a decade ago. The GPU's 25 W TDP and IGP slot width further confirm its integrated nature, designed for power efficiency rather than raw gaming performance.

The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS and FP16 of 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1) provide theoretical compute figures, but the measured 3DMark score of 1184 puts these into context. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are modest, and the system-dependent memory bandwidth becomes a limiting factor as resolution increases. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which ensures compatibility with modern game APIs, but this does not compensate for the hardware limitations.

The boost clock of 2400 MHz is relatively high for an integrated GPU, and the 3 nm process node suggests efficiency, but the 1280 shading units are insufficient for demanding 4K workloads. In Dave The Diver, the GPU's role is clear: it provides acceptable 1080p performance, marginal 1440p performance, and sub-60 FPS 4K performance across all settings. The CPU, by contrast, has significant headroom, as evidenced by its benchmark scores: Cinebench R23 multicore of 19784, Geekbench multicore of 15790, and Passmark multithread of 34404. These figures place the i7-12700K in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i5-13600T (avg score 35305, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i7-12700KF (avg score 35365, delta -0.2%), Intel Core i7-13700T (avg score 35403, delta -0.3%), and Intel Core 5 213PE (avg score 35428, delta -0.4%).

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the data shows that Low settings (98 FPS average) provide the highest frame rate with significant headroom above 60 FPS. However, Medium settings (82 FPS average) still offer a smooth experience while presumably improving visual quality, and even High (73 FPS) maintains comfortable margins. Ultra at 1080p (65 FPS) dips closest to the 60 FPS threshold but remains playable. For players prioritizing smoothness above all, Low or Medium at 1080p is the safest choice, with Medium offering the best balance of performance and visual fidelity based on the measured rows.

At 1440p, the recommendations become more restrictive. Low settings (74 FPS) provide the only comfortable margin above 60 FPS, while Medium (62 FPS) just barely clears the threshold. High (55 FPS) and Ultra (49 FPS) both fall below 60 FPS, which may result in noticeable stutter for sensitive players. The data indicates that Medium at 1440p is viable but leaves little room for frame rate dips, as the measured minimum for Medium at this resolution is 52 FPS with a maximum of 71 FPS. Low settings at 1440p do not have recorded minimum or maximum values, but the 74 FPS average suggests a more stable experience.

For 4K, no setting achieves 60 FPS. Low (49 FPS) is the highest performer, followed by Medium (41 FPS), High (37 FPS), and Ultra (33 FPS). The Medium setting at 4K has recorded minimum and maximum values of 35 and 47 FPS respectively, indicating significant frame time variance. Players with 4K displays should accept that this combo cannot deliver a smooth 60 FPS experience and should either lower resolution or accept sub-60 FPS performance. The data suggests that Low at 4K is the most playable option, but even this falls short of ideal smoothness.

The settings scaling at each resolution follows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium costs 16 FPS (98 to 82), Medium to High costs 9 FPS (82 to 73), and High to Ultra costs 8 FPS (73 to 65). At 1440p, these drops are 12 FPS (74 to 62), 7 FPS (62 to 55), and 6 FPS (55 to 49). At 4K, the drops are 8 FPS (49 to 41), 4 FPS (41 to 37), and 4 FPS (37 to 33). This diminishing impact of settings at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU is the limiting factor, as visual enhancements have less effect when the GPU is already saturated.

The best overall experience per the measured rows is Medium at 1080p, offering 82 FPS average with a minimum of 70 FPS and maximum of 94 FPS. This provides a 22 FPS margin above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even during demanding scenes. For players willing to accept lower visual quality, Low at 1080p (98 FPS) offers the highest frame rate, while High at 1080p (73 FPS) remains acceptable for those prioritizing visuals.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance across all settings. Low settings achieve 98 FPS average, the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 82 FPS average, with a minimum of 70 FPS and maximum of 94 FPS, providing a stable experience. High settings produce 73 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 65 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 33.7% reduction in frame rate, from 98 to 65 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance decreases notably but remains playable on lower settings. Low settings achieve 74 FPS average, a 24.5% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings yield 62 FPS average, with minimum and maximum values of 52 and 71 FPS respectively, showing a wider variance than at 1080p. High settings produce 55 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 49 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra at this resolution represents a 33.8% reduction, from 74 to 49 FPS, a similar percentage drop as at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become severe. Low settings achieve 49 FPS average, a 33.8% drop from 1440p Low and a 50% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings yield 41 FPS average, with minimum and maximum values of 35 and 47 FPS, indicating unstable frame delivery. High settings produce 37 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 33 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra at 4K represents a 32.7% reduction, from 49 to 33 FPS, the smallest percentage drop across all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is saturated regardless of settings.

Comparing the same settings across resolutions provides additional insight. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 98 (1080p) to 74 (1440p) to 49 (4K), with each resolution step costing between 24.5% and 33.8% of the previous frame rate. At Medium settings, the drops are from 82 to 62 to 41, representing 24.4% and 33.9% reductions respectively. At High settings, the drops are from 73 to 55 to 37, representing 24.7% and 32.7% reductions. At Ultra settings, the drops are from 65 to 49 to 33, representing 24.6% and 32.7% reductions. This consistency across all settings suggests that resolution scaling is the dominant factor, with settings having a secondary effect.

The Medium setting is the only one with complete minimum and maximum data at all three resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 70 to 94 FPS (a 24 FPS spread), at 1440p the range is 52 to 71 FPS (a 19 FPS spread), and at 4K the range is 35 to 47 FPS (a 12 FPS spread). The narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes more consistently saturated, reducing frame time variance but also limiting the ceiling.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700K + Intel Arc B370 combo ranks 2642nd out of 2867 tested combinations in Dave The Diver, placing it in the bottom 7.8% of all tested systems. This rank reflects the GPU's severe limitations, as the CPU alone would rank much higher based on its 84th percentile standing among all CPUs. The combination's rank in this game is primarily determined by the Arc B370's 5th percentile GPU performance, which drags the overall result down despite the capable processor.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the 3DMark Steel Nomad benchmark provide context for its performance tier. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, just 0.2% higher than the Arc B370's 1184. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, 0.5% higher, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, 0.7% higher. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower than the Arc B370. These rivals are all integrated or entry-level GPUs from previous generations, confirming that the Arc B370 operates in a performance class that is fundamentally unsuited for demanding gaming workloads.

The CPU's nearest rivals, by contrast, are all modern processors with similar performance. The Intel Core i5-13600T has an average score of 35305, just 0.1% lower than the i7-12700K's 35287. The Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365, 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, 0.3% higher. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, 0.4% higher. This grouping shows that the CPU is well-matched with its peers, but the GPU's performance class is so low that it dominates the combo's ranking in this game.

Given the combo rank of 2642 out of 2867, the data indicates that a majority of tested configurations outperform this pairing in Dave The Diver. The game's relatively low system requirements, as evidenced by playable frame rates even at 4K Low, mean that most discrete GPUs will exceed the Arc B370's performance. The integrated nature of the Arc B370, with its System Shared memory and 25 W TDP, fundamentally limits its ability to compete with even entry-level discrete graphics solutions.

The rank also reflects the game's optimization. Dave The Diver, released in 2023, is an adventure game that does not appear to be graphically demanding, yet the Arc B370 still struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p Medium. This suggests that the GPU's 5th percentile performance is simply too low for consistent 60 FPS gameplay at higher resolutions, regardless of the game's visual complexity.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Dave The Diver?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 98 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which achieve 74 FPS average. Medium settings at 1440p yield 62 FPS average, which also clears 60 FPS but with a minimum of 52 FPS, indicating potential dips below the threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gameplay?

A: Low settings at 3840x2160 provide the highest average frame rate at 49 FPS. No settings preset at 4K achieves 60 FPS, with Medium at 41 FPS, High at 37 FPS, and Ultra at 33 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in 3DMark Steel Nomad?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184, which is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). It is 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168).

Q: Where does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Dave The Diver?

A: This combo ranks 2642nd out of 2867 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 7.8% of all tested systems.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in this game?

A: The GPU is the definitive limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-12700K ranks in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K shows consistent GPU-bound behavior across all settings.