Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver is a 2D side-scrolling adventure that places far more emphasis on exploration, resource management, and narrative than on raw GPU or CPU throughput. The measured data for this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the Intel Arc B580 shows a system that is overwhelmingly capable of running the game at maximum settings across all tested resolutions, with performance degradation only appearing at the highest 4K Ultra preset. The benchmark results indicate that the primary bottleneck shifts from the GPU at 1080p to a more balanced load at 4K, where the frame rate finally drops below the 100 FPS mark.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. For a game like Dave The Diver, which is built around 2D sprite work and simple physics, the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. The data supports this: across all settings and resolutions, the frame rates are consistently high, indicating that the processor has ample headroom to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic without creating a bottleneck.

Looking at the CPU’s synthetic benchmark scores, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 places it in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4689 is strong. However, these numbers are far higher than what a 2D game like Dave The Diver would ever require. The game’s performance is much more likely to be constrained by the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth of the GPU, especially when moving to higher resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, even the Ultra preset yields 124 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is not struggling to keep up with the game’s demands. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 20 threads are more than sufficient for the game’s modest threading requirements, making the CPU’s role largely passive in this context. The processor’s performance here is effectively a non-issue; it simply provides a stable foundation that allows the GPU to do the heavy lifting.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average FPS of 63 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but the lack of a minimum FPS value for that row suggests it is playable, though not with a large margin of error.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 142 on Low settings to 94 on Ultra settings. This represents a 48 FPS reduction, or roughly a 34% performance cost for the visual upgrade to Ultra.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B580 the limiting component at 1080p?

A: No, the data suggests the opposite. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 189, and even at Ultra it is 124. These high numbers indicate the GPU is not the bottleneck; the game is likely hitting a frame rate cap or the CPU is still keeping pace perfectly.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B580’s average benchmark score is 23021. It is effectively tied with the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which is only 0.2% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which is 0.6% faster. It is also 0.7% slower than the RTX 3080.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 189, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only row where the frame rate approaches the 200 FPS mark.

Q: Does the CPU’s boost clock matter for this game?

A: The 5.30 GHz boost clock is high, but 2D games rarely rely on sustained single-core frequency boosts. The data shows that even with a lower load, the frame rates are already very high, so the boost clock’s impact is minimal in practice.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p High settings, the average FPS is 141. Moving to 1440p High drops this to 106, a 35 FPS decrease. Jumping to 4K High results in an average of 71 FPS, which is another 35 FPS drop. This linear progression of roughly 35 FPS per resolution step suggests that the GPU is the primary scaling factor, as its fill rate and bandwidth are being taxed more heavily at higher pixel counts.

The scaling is even more pronounced at Ultra settings. From 1080p Ultra (124 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (94 FPS), the drop is 30 FPS. From 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (63 FPS), the drop is 31 FPS. This consistent decline in performance as resolution increases indicates that the Intel Arc B580’s 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth are being utilized more fully as the pixel count grows. The data implies that at 4K, the GPU is nearing its limits, especially on the Ultra preset where the average frame rate falls to 63 FPS. The game becomes less CPU-bound at higher resolutions, and the GPU’s role becomes more dominant. The fact that 4K Low still achieves 95 FPS suggests that the GPU is not wholly inadequate for 4K, but that the heavier visual settings are what push it to its limits.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the Intel Arc B580 ranks 2132 out of 2867 combos for Dave The Diver. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems. While the absolute frame rates are high, this ranking reflects the fact that many other, more powerful GPUs and CPUs can achieve even higher frame rates in this game. The rank is likely dragged down by the GPU’s mid-range standing; the Arc B580 sits in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 93rd percentile. This imbalance means that the GPU is the limiting factor, and other combos with stronger GPUs will rank higher.

The combo’s rank of 2132 can be interpreted as indicating that while it is perfectly playable, it is not a top-tier performer. The data suggests that this pairing is more than sufficient for a smooth experience, but it is not among the elite when competing against systems with higher-end graphics cards. The ranking is a relative measure, and the absolute performance of 71 FPS at 4K Ultra is still quite respectable for a game of this type. The implication is that users looking for the absolute highest frame rates or headroom for future titles might look at different pairings, but for Dave The Diver specifically, this combo offers a solid experience without being a chart-topper.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580, based on the Xe2-HPG architecture, is the primary driver of the frame rates in this test. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, with 2560 shading units. Its synthetic performance is competitive, with a PassMark G3D score of 15748 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3068. The GPU’s role becomes more apparent at higher resolutions, where its memory bandwidth and pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s dictate the performance ceiling.

In Dave The Diver, the GPU is responsible for rendering the detailed 2D sprites, water effects, and lighting. The data shows that the GPU is not stressed at 1080p, where it can easily deliver over 120 FPS on any preset. However, as resolution increases, the demand on the GPU’s fill rate grows. The drop from 189 FPS at 1080p Low to 95 FPS at 4K Low highlights the impact of pixel count. The GPU’s performance relative to its rivals is very close; it is within 1% of the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 in average benchmark scores. This indicates that the B580’s performance in this game is in line with what is expected of a mid-range card, and its 12 GB VRAM buffer is more than adequate for the game’s texture memory needs, avoiding any potential VRAM capacity issues at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings yield 189 FPS, Medium settings produce 158 FPS with a minimum of 134 and a maximum of 182, High settings result in 141 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 124 FPS. The game is exceptionally smooth at this resolution, with even the most demanding preset maintaining a high frame rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings achieve 142 FPS, Medium settings average 119 FPS with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 137, High settings drop to 106 FPS, and Ultra settings settle at 94 FPS. The frame times are still very tight, with the minimum FPS for Medium being well above 60. At 3840x2160, the impact of resolution is clearer. Low settings average 95 FPS, Medium settings drop to 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 and a maximum of 92, High settings average 71 FPS, and Ultra settings are the most demanding, averaging 63 FPS. The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in settings costs a certain amount of performance, and each step up in resolution costs more. The minimum FPS values, where available, indicate that the game is stable and does not suffer from severe frame hitches, even at 4K Medium.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The average FPS of 124 is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the lack of any reported minimum FPS issues suggests it is a stable experience. There is no reason to compromise on visual fidelity at this resolution, as even the most demanding settings leave significant performance headroom.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset still delivers a respectable 94 FPS, which is playable for most users. However, for those who prefer a higher refresh rate experience, dropping to High settings yields 106 FPS, a 12 FPS improvement. The Medium preset at 119 FPS might be the sweet spot for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, but the visual difference between Medium and Ultra is noticeable. For 4K, the Ultra preset is borderline, with an average of 63 FPS. The data suggests that High settings at 71 FPS provides a more comfortable margin, while Medium settings at 80 FPS offers a very smooth experience. The recommendation is to use High settings at 4K for a stable 70+ FPS experience, falling back to Medium if frame rate stability is a concern, as the minimum FPS data shows 68 FPS for Medium, which is safer than the unmeasured minimum for Ultra.