Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver on the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B390 combination presents a study in extremes: the CPU is a modern, high-performing desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated-class solution that anchors the entire experience. Benchmark data shows this pairing lands at a 1080p High average of 81 FPS, but the experience degrades rapidly as resolution increases, revealing a system where the graphics processor is the definitive bottleneck. The measured results indicate this combo is playable at 1080p, but it falls to the bottom percentile of tested configurations in this game, ranking 2538 out of 2867 combos.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and clearly illustrates the GPU's limitations. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average frame rate is 81 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 High drops the average to 61 FPS, a reduction of 20 FPS. At 3840x2160 High, the average falls further to 41 FPS, meaning the 4K result is roughly half the frame rate of the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario; the CPU has ample headroom, but the graphics processor cannot sustain the pixel throughput at higher resolutions.

The trend is consistent across all quality presets. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 108 at 1080p, to 82 at 1440p, and finally to 55 at 4K. Even at the lowest graphical load, the system cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K, confirming that the resolution is the primary factor limiting performance. The data suggests that the Intel Arc B390's memory bandwidth, listed as "System Dependent" and sharing system memory, becomes a critical constraint as the pixel count increases, directly impacting the frame delivery.

Analyzing the Medium preset provides a clear picture of the frame time consistency. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average drops to 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS. The 4K Medium result shows an average of 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. The minimum frame rates at 4K dip well below 40 FPS, indicating that the experience would not be consistently smooth, even if the average is technically playable.

This resolution scaling behavior makes the system's identity clear: it is a 1080p-focused configuration. The 1440p results are playable at lower settings, but the 4K results are mostly below the 60 FPS threshold, with the Ultra preset at 4K averaging only 36 FPS. The GPU's pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are simply not sufficient to feed a 4K display with high detail levels in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong single-thread performance with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4412. Its multi-threaded capabilities are also solid, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891.

However, the CPU's role in Dave The Diver, based on the measured FPS data, appears to be secondary to the GPU. The fact that frame rates drop by nearly half when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings is a sign that the CPU is not the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU workload is largely independent of resolution. Here, the dramatic scaling points directly at the GPU.

The CPU's performance percentile of 85 versus all CPUs indicates it is a high-performing part. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, have average scores that are within 0.5% of the Intel chip, showing it is in a competitive performance tier. This means that in a system with a more powerful discrete GPU, this processor would likely deliver much higher frame rates in Dave The Diver. The data suggests the CPU is ready for a more demanding graphics card, as its processing power is largely untapped in this configuration.

With a boost clock of 4.90 GHz and 20 MB of shared L3 cache, the processor has the resources to handle game logic and physics calculations without issue. The Passmark data compression score of 302811 and integer math score of 65345 further support that this is a capable general-purpose compute processor. The bottleneck is not in the calculation of game state, but in the rendering of the final image, which is the GPU's task.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance ceiling for this combo. It is an integrated GPU (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a significant limitation for gaming, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark score is very low, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This places it in the 9th percentile versus all GPUs, indicating it is a very low-performance part. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, which are legacy entry-level parts. This context shows that the Arc B390 is not designed for high-end gaming, and its performance in Dave The Diver reflects this.

The GPU's compute capabilities are limited. It has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, which are low counts for a modern GPU. Its FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s. These specifications explain the measured frame rates. At 1080p Low, the GPU can output 108 FPS, but it struggles as the workload increases. The 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited ROPs and fillrate being overwhelmed by the pixel count.

The fact that the GPU has a TDP of only 80 W and is an IGP means it is likely thermally constrained and shares power with the CPU. The performance data shows a part that is adequate for 1080p gaming at medium-to-high settings in a light title like Dave The Diver, but it is not capable of handling higher resolutions. The "System Shared" memory is a critical bottleneck, as the bandwidth is not dedicated to the GPU, leading to the significant frame rate drops seen at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured data places this specific combination of CPU and GPU at rank 2538 out of 2867 tested combos in Dave The Diver. This ranking places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations, confirming that it is a low-performance pairing for this game. The rank is a direct result of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a high-performer on its own.

This rank is consistent with the GPU's low percentile score. The Intel Arc B390 performs in the 9th percentile globally, and this combo's rank in the game reflects that, as the GPU is the primary determinant of gaming performance. The CPU's high percentile of 85 does not help the ranking, because the game is not CPU-bound in this configuration.

Comparing to other combos, the data suggests that most other tested systems, even those with older CPUs, would likely outperform this one if they have a more powerful discrete GPU. The ranking is a strong indicator that this is not a gaming-focused build. It is a system where the integrated graphics are being used for gaming, and the results are predictable. The combo's rank of 2538 out of 2867 is a clear verdict: this is a low-tier gaming configuration, best suited for 1080p with modest settings.

The delta from the top combos is substantial, as the rank indicates a performance level that is far below the median. The benchmark results show that a user with this system should not expect a high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming experience in Dave The Diver. The data is measured, so this ranking is factual and not an estimate.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Dave The Diver with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution that consistently delivers playable frame rates. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 72 on Ultra to 108 on Low, while at 2560x1440, the average ranges from 54 to 82, and at 3840x2160, it drops to between 36 and 55.

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

A: No. The benchmark results indicate that at 3840x2160, the maximum average frame rate is 55 FPS on Low settings. The Ultra preset at 4K averages only 36 FPS, which is below the standard 60 FPS target and likely feels stuttery.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390?

A: No, the data does not suggest this. The frame rates drop significantly with increasing resolution, which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has a high performance percentile (85) and strong single-thread scores, implying it is not holding back the system in this game.

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

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. This shows it is in the same performance tier as these very low-end legacy GPUs.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 108 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 72 FPS. This is a difference of 36 FPS, showing that the GPU has limited headroom for visual quality improvements.

Q: What is the combo's rank compared to all other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2538 out of 2867 tested configurations for Dave The Diver. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, indicating it is a low-performance pairing for this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the recommended starting point. The measured average FPS of 81 is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This setting provides a significant visual upgrade over the Low preset, which averages 108 FPS, without the performance penalty of the Ultra preset, which drops the average to 72 FPS.

If the user prioritizes a higher frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p is an excellent choice. It averages 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 FPS, ensuring a consistent and responsive experience. The difference between Medium and High is only 10 FPS on average, so either preset is viable for a smooth 1080p experience.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that maintains an average above 60 FPS, with a score of 82 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 68 FPS, which is playable but closer to the lower boundary. For a more stable experience at this resolution, the Low preset is recommended, as the High preset drops to 61 FPS and the Ultra preset falls to 54 FPS.

The 4K resolution is not recommended for this combination. Even the Low preset at 3840x2160 only manages an average of 55 FPS, and the frame rate will likely drop during demanding scenes. The data indicates that the best experience is found at 1080p, with the High or Medium presets providing a good mix of visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable, but the 9 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not justify the graphical gains for all users.