Fortnite

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination that produces playable frame rates only at the lowest settings and lower resolutions in Fortnite. Benchmark results place this pairing at rank 2417 out of 2740 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems evaluated. The data shows a configuration with a very capable processor that is severely constrained by its integrated graphics, resulting in a fundamentally unbalanced gaming experience.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2 family, built on the Arrow Lake-S architecture using a 3 nm process from TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. The processor includes 30 MB of shared L3 cache, with 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core. This is a desktop-class chip with DDR5 memory support, a dual-channel memory bus, and 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong performance. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score reaches 42216, while the single-core score is 5960. The Passmark multithread score is 49682, and the single-thread score is 4689. These results place the processor in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 7 265's average benchmark score of 64640 puts it 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and 0.7% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7343. It trails the AMD EPYC 4464P by 0.3% and the AMD EPYC 9124 by 0.7%. These are marginal differences, indicating the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its class.

Despite this strong processing power, the CPU's role in Fortnite is diminished because the graphics workload is handled by the integrated Arc B390. The processor has enough headroom to feed the GPU, but the system's overall frame rates are not limited by CPU throughput. The data indicates that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would typically be the primary bottleneck in a balanced system, the average FPS of 115 is the highest score achieved across all tested configurations. This suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor; the GPU is. The high core count and fast boost clocks are essentially wasted in this configuration, as the graphics engine cannot translate that processing power into higher frame rates.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Critically, the memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning the GPU uses the system's main DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also system-dependent, which limits the GPU's ability to handle high-resolution textures and complex scenes.

The GPU's hardware specifications are modest for gaming. It has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. It includes 12 ray tracing cores, which is notable for an integrated part. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. Floating point performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The benchmark data confirms the GPU's limited capability. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is an extremely low ranking. The nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% slower), the GeForce 800M (1.5% slower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% slower), and the GeForce GT 710 (2.7% slower). These are all entry-level or legacy components. The Arc B390's performance is essentially on par with a GeForce GT 710, a card that is not considered viable for modern gaming at any resolution.

In Fortnite, this GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at every tested setting. The system shared memory architecture means the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, and the low shading unit count limits fill rate. The results show a stark drop in performance as settings increase, with the GPU unable to maintain acceptable frame rates beyond Low preset at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: Why is the frame rate so low despite having a high-end CPU?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU's strong benchmark scores, such as 42216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, cannot compensate for the GPU's low fill rate and system-shared memory, making the GPU the definitive bottleneck.

Q: Can this system run Fortnite at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS achieved is 39 on Low settings. On High settings, the average drops to 21 FPS, and on Ultra, it falls to 14 FPS. These results are below playable thresholds for a competitive game.

Q: What is the best performance this combination can achieve?

A: The best measured result is 115 FPS average at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches a smooth competitive experience, though it requires the lowest graphical preset.

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

A: The Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482. It is 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710. These are all low-end or legacy parts.

Q: Does the CPU's 20-core design help with Fortnite's performance?

A: No. The CPU's Passmark multithread score of 49682 indicates high processing capability, but Fortnite's frame rates are limited by the GPU. The CPU's headroom does not translate to higher FPS because the Arc B390 cannot render frames fast enough to utilize it.

Q: Is the memory bandwidth sufficient for this configuration?

A: The CPU supports 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, but the GPU's memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent." In gaming, this shared arrangement limits the GPU's effective bandwidth, contributing to the low frame rates observed across all resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across three resolutions and four quality presets. All results are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves its best performance. On Low settings, the average FPS is 115. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. High settings yield an average of 63 FPS. Ultra settings produce an average of 41 FPS. This shows a steady decline of roughly 30-35% per preset step, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed by even modest increases in graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop significantly across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 73 FPS, a 36.5% decrease from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59. High settings average 40 FPS. Ultra settings average 26 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra widens at this resolution, with Ultra being 64% slower than Low.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 39 FPS. Medium settings average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 31. High settings average 21 FPS. Ultra settings average 14 FPS. None of these results are suitable for competitive play, and even casual play would be hampered by the low frame rates.

The data also reveals that the Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values across all resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 69-93 FPS; at 1440p, it is 44-59 FPS; and at 4K, it is 23-31 FPS. This suggests that Medium settings produce a more stable frame delivery relative to the average, though the absolute values are still low.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance degradation. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 115 at 1080p to 73 at 1440p, a 36.5% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the average drops from 73 to 39, a 46.6% reduction. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 66.1%.

At High settings, the scaling is even more severe. The average FPS drops from 63 at 1080p to 40 at 1440p, a 36.5% reduction, and then from 40 to 21 at 4K, a 47.5% reduction. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 66.7%.

At Ultra settings, the pattern holds. The average FPS drops from 41 at 1080p to 26 at 1440p, a 36.6% reduction, and then from 26 to 14 at 4K, a 46.2% reduction. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is 65.9%.

The consistent percentage drops across all presets indicate that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU workload would not change. Instead, the frame rate falls nearly proportionally with the increase in pixel count, which is a classic sign of a GPU that is saturated at even the lowest settings. The Arc B390's low pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and limited shading units make it incapable of handling the increased pixel workload at higher resolutions. The system's rank of 2417 out of 2740 combinations further confirms that this pairing is not designed for high-resolution gaming.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable configuration for an acceptable gaming experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces an average of 115 FPS. This is the only preset and resolution combination that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for any form of gameplay. The 115 FPS average provides enough headroom for competitive play, though it comes at the cost of visual fidelity.

At 1080p Medium, the average of 81 FPS is still playable, but the minimum of 69 FPS suggests occasional dips. This preset offers a better visual experience than Low, but the data shows it is 29.6% slower than Low. For players who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, Medium at 1080p is a reasonable compromise, provided they can tolerate the lower minimums.

At 1080p High, the average of 63 FPS is borderline playable, but the lack of minimum FPS data means the worst-case performance is unknown. Given the trend, it is likely that minimums would dip below 60 FPS, which could cause stutter in fast-paced combat. The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 41 FPS, is not recommended for any gameplay style.

At 1440p and 4K, no settings preset delivers a playable experience. The highest result at 1440p is 73 FPS on Low, but this is 36.5% slower than the same preset at 1080p. The 4K results, with a maximum of 39 FPS on Low, are entirely unsuitable for Fortnite. The data indicates that players should avoid these resolutions entirely with this hardware combination.

The overall recommendation is to run Fortnite at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that leverages the CPU's capability while minimizing the GPU's weaknesses. Any increase in settings or resolution results in a disproportionate drop in frame rate, making the game unplayable or frustratingly inconsistent. The system's performance ceiling is firmly set by the integrated Arc B390, and the data shows that the CPU cannot overcome this limitation.