Fivem

Fivem, a multiplayer modification platform built on Grand Theft Auto V, presents a unique performance profile where server-side scripts, asset streaming, and CPU-bound game logic often dominate. The benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis walks through the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, interprets the roles of the CPU and GPU, and contextualizes the combo’s standing within the broader test database.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 88 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average drops to 58 FPS, a reduction of 30 FPS or roughly 34%. The scaling continues to 3840x2160, where the Low preset yields only 32 FPS. This pattern indicates that the rendering pipeline, rather than the processor, is the limiting factor.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens considerably at higher resolutions, further confirming the GPU constraint. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (88 FPS) and Ultra (43 FPS) is 45 FPS. At 2560x1440, the spread between Low (58 FPS) and Ultra (29 FPS) is 29 FPS. At 3840x2160, the spread narrows to just 16 FPS (32 FPS Low versus 16 FPS Ultra). This narrowing is telling: as resolution climbs, even the Low preset becomes too demanding for the Arc B390, so lowering settings yields diminishing returns because the GPU is already saturated.

The data suggests that 1080p is the only practical resolution for this combo, and even there, the user must choose between smoothness and fidelity. The 1440p results, ranging from 58 FPS on Low to 29 FPS on Ultra, are playable only on the lowest preset. The 4K results, peaking at 32 FPS on Low, are below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. The scaling curve implies that the Intel Arc B390’s fill rate and shader throughput are exhausted long before the Core Ultra 5 235’s processing capacity is reached.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. Its boost clock of 2500 MHz and base clock of 300 MHz are specified, but the memory configuration is "System Shared" with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This shared memory setup is a critical weakness, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which directly impacts frame rates in a demanding open-world environment like Fivem.

The GPU’s raw compute specifications are modest: 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. These numbers translate to a fill-rate ceiling that the measured FPS data reflects. At 3840x2160, even the High preset yields an average of 20 FPS, and Ultra drops to 16 FPS. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1482 places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are dated NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which score between 1443 and 1463. This is a stark indicator of the B390’s position in the performance hierarchy.

The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility are modern, but they do not compensate for the lack of dedicated VRAM. The "System Shared" memory type and bus width mean that texture loading and frame buffering are bottlenecked by the system’s memory subsystem. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the dominant limiter across all tested configurations; the FPS figures are consistently low, and the scaling with settings is constrained. For Fivem, which involves heavy asset streaming and draw calls, this integrated solution is simply out of its depth beyond 1080p Low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor (no hyperthreading) based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It has 24 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The CPU’s benchmark scores are robust: a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. Its Passmark multithread score is 37816, and the single-thread score is 4516. These figures place the CPU in the 89th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 46062.

Nearest rival comparisons show the Core Ultra 5 235 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (delta -0.1%), indicating that its CPU-side performance is competitive with high-end mobile and desktop parts from the previous generation. For Fivem, which is known to be sensitive to single-thread performance for server communication and game logic, the 5.00 GHz boost clock and strong single-core Cinebench score (2085) are positive indicators.

However, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work, the system reaches only 88 FPS. If the CPU were the limiter, we would expect to see a plateau across resolutions at a given setting, but the data shows continuous drops from 1080p to 1440p to 4K. The CPU’s 14 cores and 14 threads are more than sufficient for Fivem’s multithreaded asset streaming, and the high boost clock ensures responsive single-threaded logic. The bottleneck is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames faster than the Arc B390 can render them.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2656 out of 3005 tested combos in Fivem, placing it in the bottom 12th percentile of all system configurations. This rank is heavily influenced by the GPU’s weak performance. The CPU’s 89th percentile standing is neutralized by the GPU’s 9th percentile position, resulting in a system that is fundamentally unbalanced for this game.

The combo’s rank of 2656 means that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in the database deliver higher average frame rates in Fivem. The data implies that even a modest dedicated GPU, paired with a weaker CPU, would likely outperform this setup because the GPU is the primary constraint. The rank is not a reflection of the CPU’s capability; it is a measure of the entire system’s gaming performance, and the Arc B390 drags the combo down significantly.

For context, the CPU’s nearest rivals (Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Core i9-13900HX) would, if paired with a more capable GPU, achieve far better results. But with the Arc B390, the system is relegated to the lower echelons of the database. The practical takeaway is that this combo is only suitable for low-resolution, low-detail gaming, and its rank reflects that limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets:

1920x1080:

• Low: 88 FPS average
• Medium: 70 FPS average (min 59, max 80)
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 43 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 58 FPS average
• Medium: 46 FPS average (min 39, max 53)
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 29 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 32 FPS average
• Medium: 25 FPS average (min 22, max 29)
• High: 20 FPS average
• Ultra: 16 FPS average

At 1080p, the system is playable on Medium (70 FPS) and High (56 FPS), with Low providing a comfortable 88 FPS. The Ultra preset at 43 FPS is borderline but might be acceptable for less demanding scenarios. The min FPS values at 1080p Medium (59 FPS) indicate that the frame pacing is stable, with no severe dips.

At 1440p, the system becomes marginal. Low is the only preset that maintains a playable average (58 FPS), while Medium (46 FPS) and High (37 FPS) are below ideal smoothness. The min FPS at 1440p Medium (39 FPS) suggests that drops below 40 FPS are common, which can lead to noticeable stutter in a fast-paced multiplayer environment.

At 4K, all presets are below 32 FPS, which is not suitable for competitive play. The Ultra preset at 16 FPS is effectively a slideshow. The data confirms that 4K is not a viable option for this combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Fivem?

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system achieves consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p, even High settings produce 56 FPS, while 1440p and 4K fall below 60 FPS on most presets.

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

A: The Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710 (1443). These are all very low-end parts, and the B390 sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 the bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769 and single-core score of 2085 indicate strong performance, and its 89th percentile ranking confirms it is a capable processor. The FPS drops with resolution demonstrate that the GPU is the limiting factor.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 58 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS. This is a 29 FPS difference, meaning Ultra is exactly half the frame rate of Low.

Q: Does the system support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the Intel Arc B390 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. However, this API support does not translate into high performance due to the GPU’s limited compute resources.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2656 out of 3005 tested combinations in Fivem, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems. This low rank is primarily due to the GPU’s weak performance.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which yields an average of 70 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS. This provides a smooth gameplay experience while maintaining acceptable visual quality. The Low preset at 88 FPS is the best choice for competitive play where frame rate is paramount, but the visual downgrade is significant.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the High preset at 1080p (56 FPS) is a viable option, though the lower minimum frame rates may cause occasional dips. The Ultra preset at 1080p (43 FPS) is not recommended, as the frame rate drops below the smoothness threshold and the visual improvements over High are typically minimal in Fivem’s multiplayer environments.

At 2560x1440, the only playable option is the Low preset (58 FPS), and even that may experience drops in densely populated server areas. The Medium preset at 1440p (46 FPS) is borderline, but the 39 FPS minimum suggests it is risky for competitive play. The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely, as all presets fall below 32 FPS.

The data supports a clear hierarchy: 1080p Medium for balanced performance, 1080p Low for maximum smoothness, and 1080p High for those who can tolerate lower frame rates for better visuals. This combo is fundamentally a 1080p gaming solution, and attempting to push higher resolutions will result in an unsatisfactory experience. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has the processing headroom to handle higher frame rates, but the Intel Arc B390 is the definitive limiting factor in this pairing.