Dave The Diver

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers a surprisingly playable experience in Dave The Diver, but the data positions this combination firmly in the lower tier of tested systems. Across all measured resolutions and settings, the combo achieves a maximum average of 98 FPS at 1080p Low, while dropping to 33 FPS at 4K Ultra. The benchmark results show that this system is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it can maintain smooth frame rates, rather than 4K, where it struggles to reach even 40 FPS on most presets. The GPU, an integrated part of a mobile platform, is clearly the limiting factor, while the CPU provides ample headroom for this adventure title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2642 out of 2867 tested combos in Dave The Diver. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this game, indicating that while the game is playable, most other hardware configurations deliver higher frame rates. The low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score. This is a stark contrast to the CPU, which sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, highlighting a massive performance imbalance within this combo.

In practical terms, this rank means that the vast majority of tested systems will outperform this combo in Dave The Diver. The data shows a clear ceiling on performance, with the system unable to break past 100 FPS at any resolution or setting. For a game that is not graphically demanding, this low rank suggests that the integrated GPU is holding back what is otherwise a top-tier processor. The combo's performance is more in line with entry-level discrete graphics from over a decade ago, as evidenced by the GPU's nearest rivals, which include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, both scoring within 0.7% of the Arc B370.

The rank also indicates that users with this combo should not expect to push high refresh rate monitors at higher resolutions. The data suggests that the sweet spot is 1080p, where the system can achieve frame rates between 65 and 98 FPS depending on settings. At 1440p, the system falls into the 49-74 FPS range, which is still acceptable for casual play. However, at 4K, the system dips below 40 FPS on all settings except Low, making it largely unsuitable for that resolution. The overall ranking, when combined with the measured FPS data, paints a picture of a system that is adequate for 1080p gaming but falls short of what most modern combos achieve.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the primary performance bottleneck in this system. Based on the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, this GPU is integrated (IGP) and shares system memory, which is a major limiting factor. Its benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, meaning 95% of tested GPUs perform better. The nearest rivals in the data are all older or lower-end cards: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (0.2% faster), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5% faster), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7% faster). Only the AMD FirePro M2000 scores lower at 1168 (1.4% slower). This effectively puts the Arc B370 in the same performance class as GPUs from the early 2010s.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a significant drawback for gaming, as memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and not dedicated. The clock speeds are modest: a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. With 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, the GPU has a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. Its FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, which is low by modern standards. The GPU also features 10 ray tracing cores, but given its overall low performance, ray tracing is not a practical option in this game or any other demanding title.

The impact of these specs is clear in the measured FPS data. At 4K, the highest average FPS achieved is 49 on Low settings, dropping to 33 on Ultra. At 1440p, the range is 49-74 FPS, and at 1080p, it is 65-98 FPS. The GPU's 25W TDP and IGP form factor mean it is not designed for high-performance gaming, but rather for basic graphics tasks. The data shows that the Arc B370 is the reason this combo ranks so low, as the CPU is clearly capable of far more. The GPU's architecture, while modern (Xe3-LPG), is simply not powerful enough to drive Dave The Diver at high frame rates, especially at higher resolutions where memory bandwidth and raw compute become critical.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Dave The Diver?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the smoothest experience, with average FPS ranging from 65 on Ultra to 98 on Low. At 2560x1440, average FPS drops to 49-74, while at 3840x2160, it falls to 33-49, making 1080p the only resolution where the system consistently exceeds 60 FPS on all presets.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This is 0.2% slower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), 0.5% slower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and 0.7% slower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). It is 1.4% faster than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168). This places it in the bottom 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the low combo ranking?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 84003, while the GPU sits in the 5th percentile with a score of 1184. The combination ranks 2642 out of 2867, indicating that the GPU's low performance drags down what would otherwise be a high-performing system.

*Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 1440p in Dave The Diver?*

A: Yes, but only on Low settings, where it averages 74 FPS. On Medium settings, it averages 62 FPS, and on High, it averages 55 FPS. On Ultra, it drops to 49 FPS. So, 60 FPS is achievable at 1440p, but only by using Low or Medium presets.

Q: What are the frame time consistency results for this combo?

A: The data includes minimum and maximum FPS only for Medium settings. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 35 FPS and maximum is 47 FPS. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 52 FPS and maximum is 71 FPS. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 70 FPS and maximum is 94 FPS. This indicates reasonable consistency, with no major frame drops recorded.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark performance influence gaming?

A: The CPU scores 51731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7303 in single-core, placing it in the 96th percentile. This indicates it has ample processing power for Dave The Diver, which is not CPU-intensive. The game's FPS is limited by the GPU, not the CPU, as shown by the consistent performance across different CPU benchmarks.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, the best choice is 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which yields an average of 82 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS and maximum of 94 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, ensuring no noticeable frame drops. High settings at 1080p also work well, averaging 73 FPS, but Medium offers a higher minimum FPS, indicating better frame time stability.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate, 1080p Ultra achieves 65 FPS on average, which is still playable. However, the jump from Medium to Ultra only reduces FPS by 17, suggesting that Ultra is a viable option if the user can tolerate slightly lower performance. At 2560x1440, Medium settings provide an average of 62 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, but the minimum of 52 FPS might be noticeable in fast-paced scenes. Low settings at 1440p push the average to 74 FPS, offering a smoother experience at the cost of visual quality. High settings at 1440p drop to 55 FPS, and Ultra falls to 49 FPS, making these less desirable.

At 3840x2160, the data shows that all settings result in sub-60 FPS averages, with Low at 49 FPS, Medium at 41 FPS, High at 37 FPS, and Ultra at 33 FPS. Therefore, 4K is not recommended for this combo, even on Low settings, as the frame rate dips below 50 FPS. The best experience overall is at 1080p Medium, as it offers the highest minimum FPS (70) and a high average (82), ensuring consistent performance. If the user has a 1440p monitor, Low settings are the only way to comfortably exceed 60 FPS. The data strongly suggests that this combo is designed for 1080p gaming, with Medium being the sweet spot for a balance of quality and speed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this combo performs across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the system achieves 37 FPS on High, 49 FPS on Low, 41 FPS on Medium, and 33 FPS on Ultra. The Medium setting has a minimum FPS of 35 and a maximum of 47, indicating some variability. The gap between Low and Ultra is 16 FPS, showing that the GPU's limited compute power is heavily taxed by higher visual settings. None of these 4K results are suitable for smooth gameplay, as even the highest average (49 FPS) is below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance improves significantly. High settings average 55 FPS, Low settings average 74 FPS, Medium settings average 62 FPS, and Ultra settings average 49 FPS. The Medium setting again has the only recorded min/max values: 52 FPS minimum and 71 FPS maximum. This shows that 1440p is playable, but only on Low or Medium presets. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 25 FPS, highlighting how much performance is lost when enabling higher quality effects. For a 1440p monitor, Low settings provide the best chance of maintaining a high refresh rate, while Medium offers a more balanced experience.

At 1920x1080, the system performs at its best. High settings average 73 FPS, Low settings average 98 FPS, Medium settings average 82 FPS, and Ultra settings average 65 FPS. The Medium setting has a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS, demonstrating excellent consistency. The difference between Low and Ultra is 33 FPS, the largest gap across all resolutions, which is expected as lower resolutions reduce the GPU load, allowing settings to have a more pronounced impact. All settings at 1080p exceed 60 FPS on average, making this the only resolution where the combo delivers a consistently smooth experience. The data shows a clear progression: as resolution decreases, average FPS increases across all settings, with 1080p being the only resolution where even Ultra stays above 60 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor that plays a minimal role in the gaming performance of this combo. With 24 cores and 24 threads, it offers massive parallel processing capability. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, and it boosts up to 5.80 GHz, providing strong single-thread performance. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps reduce memory latency. It supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, ensuring that the CPU is not starved for data.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU excels. It scores 5214 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 736 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 21727 multi-core and 3067 single-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 51731 multi-core and 7303 single-core. Its Passmark scores are also strong: 60860 in multithread, 4823 in single-thread, 698346 in data compression, and 52563 in data encryption. These results place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84003. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (0.2% faster), the AMD EPYC 4584PX (1.1% faster), and the AMD EPYC 9135 (1.2% faster), while it is 1.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7F72.

Given this performance, the CPU is not a limiting factor in Dave The Diver. The game is an adventure title that does not require high core counts or extreme clock speeds. The measured FPS data shows that the system's performance is consistently limited by the GPU, as the CPU's capabilities far exceed what the Arc B370 can render. For example, at 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 65 FPS, which is likely the GPU's ceiling, not the CPU's. The CPU's high single-thread score of 7303 in Cinebench R23 indicates it can handle game logic and physics without issue. The 24-core configuration also ensures that any background tasks or streaming workloads will not interfere with game performance. The CPU's 125W TDP and Intel Socket 1851 interface suggest it is a power-hungry desktop part, but in this combo, its power is underutilized due to the weak GPU. Overall, the data indicates that the CPU is more than sufficient for this game, and any performance upgrades would require a more powerful discrete GPU rather than a CPU change.