Fortnite

Fortnite, a Battle Royale title released in 2017, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and Intel Arc B370 combination. The measured data reveals a system where the graphics processor is the primary limiting factor, with frame rates that scale dramatically with both resolution and quality settings. The benchmark results indicate a configuration that can achieve playable performance only under specific, lower-demand configurations, while struggling significantly at higher resolutions and presets.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a very clear and steep decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 104 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average drops to 66 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36.5%. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls further to 35 FPS, which represents a 47% drop from the 1440p figure and a 66% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is a strong indicator that the Intel Arc B370's rendering capabilities are being saturated as pixel count increases.

When examining the High settings, the trend is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The average FPS at 1080p is 57, which falls to 36 at 1440p (a 37% decrease) and then to 19 at 4K (a 47% decrease from 1440p). The consistent percentage drops across different settings suggest that the bottleneck is not related to CPU compute but rather the GPU's fill rate and pixel processing power. The 4K High result of 19 FPS is effectively unplayable, highlighting that the Arc B370 is not suited for high-fidelity 4K gaming in this title.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 46 to 25, a 46% drop. This non-linear scaling at the highest resolution indicates that the GPU is running out of memory bandwidth or raw shader throughput. The fact that the Arc B370 uses System Shared memory, as noted in the specifications, means its performance is also dependent on system memory speed and allocation, which can further exacerbate the performance cliff at higher resolutions where demand for memory bandwidth increases significantly.

The conclusion from the resolution scaling data is that this combo is fundamentally constrained by the GPU. The CPU, with its 14 cores and boost clock of 5.00 GHz, appears capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot maintain frame rates as the pixel workload grows. Users targeting 1080p can find playable settings, but 1440p and 4K will require significant compromises in visual quality to achieve acceptable performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Fortnite?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 37 on Ultra to 104 on Low. The 1440p and 4K results show averages that frequently fall below 60 FPS, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p, the Low preset yields an average of 104 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 37 FPS. This represents a 67 FPS difference, meaning the Ultra preset delivers roughly 64% lower performance compared to Low settings.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this configuration?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 104 FPS, which is a high frame rate. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions. Instead, performance drops significantly with each increase in resolution, indicating the Intel Arc B370 is the component being stressed.

Q: Is the Ultra preset usable at 1440p?

A: No, the data indicates it is not. At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the combo produces an average of only 24 FPS. This is well below the threshold for smooth, competitive play and would likely result in a poor gaming experience.

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 25 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS is 21 and the maximum is 28, showing that the frame rate is consistently low and unsuitable for a fast-paced game like Fortnite.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2517 out of 2740 tested combos for this game. This places it in the bottom 8% of all combinations, indicating that it is a lower-performing setup specifically for Fortnite.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. In the context of Fortnite, a game that is often more GPU-bound, the CPU's role is to ensure that game logic, physics, and draw calls are processed quickly enough to not limit the GPU. The benchmark results for this CPU show a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. These scores indicate a capable processor for gaming workloads.

However, the FPS data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combination. When comparing the 1080p Low result of 104 FPS to the 1080p Ultra result of 37 FPS, the massive difference is due to the GPU's workload, not the CPU. The CPU is delivering a relatively high frame rate at Low settings, which suggests it has enough headroom to push even higher if the GPU could keep up. The single-core performance, as measured by the Cinebench R23 score of 2085, is strong and should handle the main game thread of Fortnite without issue.

The fact that this CPU has 14 cores but only 14 threads (no Hyper-Threading) is less relevant for Fortnite, which typically doesn't scale perfectly across many cores. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz is more important for gaming, as it ensures low latency and high responsiveness in the primary game thread. The data shows that the CPU is performing its role adequately, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of the final frame rate. The processor's 24 MB of L3 cache helps with data locality, but again, the performance ceiling in this test is set by the Arc B370.

The CPU's performance percentile of 89th among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46062, places it well above the GPU's 5th percentile. This disparity in relative performance classes confirms that the system is unbalanced for gaming, with a strong central processor paired with a weak integrated graphics solution. The CPU is ready for a more powerful discrete GPU, but with the Arc B370, its potential is untapped in this specific workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a competitive experience at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the clear choice. It delivers an average of 104 FPS, which is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay and provides a significant competitive advantage over higher presets. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers a good balance, with an average of 73 FPS, but it comes with a 30% performance cost compared to Low.

For users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate at 1080p, the High preset is a viable option, yielding an average of 57 FPS. This is still playable, though it may not be ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 37 FPS, is not recommended for competitive play, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel less responsive.

At 1440p, the options are more limited. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 46 FPS, which is borderline playable but may suffer from occasional stutters. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, with averages of 36 and 24 FPS respectively, are not recommended for action-oriented gameplay.

At 4K, no settings are recommended for a good experience. The best result is from the Low preset at 35 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth play. The Medium preset at 4K averages 25 FPS, and the High preset averages 19 FPS. The data suggests that 4K gaming is not feasible with this combo in Fortnite. The best experience per the measured rows is definitively at 1080p with Low settings, as it maximizes frame rate and minimizes input lag, which is crucial for a Battle Royale game.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2517 out of 2740 tested combos for Fortnite. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a low-performance configuration for this specific title. This low ranking is primarily driven by the Intel Arc B370's performance, which is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's average benchmark score is 1184, placing it near rivals like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770.

This ranking puts the combo in a difficult position. While the CPU is a high-performance part, ranking in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, the GPU drags the entire system down. The combination is not well-balanced for gaming, and the result is a system that struggles to deliver playable frame rates at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows that this combo is best suited for esports-style gaming at 1080p with lower settings, where the CPU can shine and the GPU can keep up.

The performance delta between this combo and others is significant. The GPU's nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, has a score that is 0.2% higher, showing that the Arc B370 is in a performance class with much older hardware. This is reflected in the game's FPS numbers, which are not competitive with modern gaming systems. The combo's rank of 2517 out of 2740 suggests that users with this configuration will have to make significant compromises to achieve a playable experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data for this combo is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS 35
• Medium: Average FPS 25, Minimum FPS 21, Maximum FPS 28
• High: Average FPS 19
• Ultra: Average FPS 13

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS 66
• Medium: Average FPS 46, Minimum FPS 39, Maximum FPS 53
• High: Average FPS 36
• Ultra: Average FPS 24

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS 104
• Medium: Average FPS 73, Minimum FPS 62, Maximum FPS 84
• High: Average FPS 57
• Ultra: Average FPS 37

This data shows a clear and consistent pattern. For each resolution, the Low preset provides the highest average FPS, followed by Medium, then High, and finally Ultra. The only data points with minimum and maximum FPS values are the Medium settings, which show a variance of about 7-8 FPS, indicating some frame time inconsistency. For example, at 1080p Medium, the range is from 62 to 84 FPS, a 22 FPS spread, which could lead to noticeable stuttering in fast-paced scenes.

The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant across all settings. For Low, the drop is from 104 to 66 FPS. For Medium, it is from 73 to 46 FPS. For High, it is from 57 to 36 FPS. And for Ultra, it is from 37 to 24 FPS. This consistent ~35% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p reinforces that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The further drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe, with the Low preset falling from 66 to 35 FPS, a 47% reduction.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. Its boost clock is 2400 MHz, and it has a TDP of only 25 W. The GPU's memory is System Shared, meaning it uses the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This configuration is a major factor in its performance characteristics, as it is limited by system memory bandwidth and latency.

The GPU's benchmark results are very poor, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This score places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it is one of the weakest graphics processors on the market. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which are over a decade old. This puts the Arc B370 in a performance class that is not suited for modern gaming, especially at higher resolutions.

In Fortnite, the GPU's limitations are exposed. The combination of a low shading unit count and limited memory bandwidth results in the low FPS numbers seen in the measured data. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are insufficient for handling the workload at 1440p and 4K. The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is also quite low, further limiting its ability to render complex scenes. The system shared memory, with a bandwidth of System Dependent, becomes a severe bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the GPU needs to constantly access system memory for texture and geometry data.

The GPU's role in this combo is to be the limiting factor. The data shows that the CPU is not the issue; the GPU is. The low FPS numbers across all settings and resolutions are a direct result of the Arc B370's weak compute and memory capabilities. While it can handle Fortnite at 1080p Low, it struggles with any increased workload, making it a poor choice for a game that benefits from high frame rates and responsive gameplay.