Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V, a 2013 action-adventure title, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B370 integrated GPU. The data set provides a clear picture of a system with a capable processor constrained by its graphics solution, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The combination ranks 2714th out of 2954 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower percentile of systems, which is consistent with the GPU's low benchmark percentile of 5. The following sections break down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to detail the specific bottlenecks and offer guidance on optimal configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance drop as resolution increases, which is the primary indicator of the system's limiting component. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 72 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average falls to 49 FPS, a decline of 23 FPS or roughly 32%. At 4K with Low settings, the average further plummets to 28 FPS, a 44 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline, representing a 61% reduction. This severe scaling pattern points directly at the GPU as the bottleneck, as the workload on the processor does not increase proportionally with resolution.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 63 at 1080p, to 43 at 1440p, and finally to 24 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 39 FPS, a 62% decrease. At High settings, the averages are 49, 33, and 19 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The percentage decrease from 1080p to 4K is similarly steep at 61%. Even at the most demanding Ultra preset, the pattern holds: 36 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K, a 61% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

The consistency of this ~60% performance drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. When a system is GPU-bound, the frame rate is determined by the graphics card's ability to render pixels. Raising the resolution increases the pixel count significantly (from about 2 million at 1080p to over 8 million at 4K), which directly increases the GPU's workload. The CPU, on the other hand, is responsible for preparing frames and its workload remains relatively constant. The data here shows a predictable and substantial FPS loss that is proportional to the increased pixel count, confirming that the Intel Arc B370's rendering capacity is the limiting factor at all measured resolutions. The CPU has headroom; the GPU is working at its maximum.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its performance metrics, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and a single-core score of 1674, place it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates a solid mid-range performer for a modern game like Grand Theft Auto V, which is known to be sensitive to single-thread performance.

In this specific configuration, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. This is evident from the fact that the frame rates at 1080p, where the CPU has more relative influence, are still modest and scale down predictably with resolution. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a situation where lowering the resolution from 1440p to 1080p yields little to no FPS improvement, as the CPU would still be maxed out. However, the data shows a clear improvement at 1080p. For example, going from 1440p to 1080p at Low settings increases the average FPS from 49 to 72, a significant jump that would not occur if the CPU were the bottleneck.

The CPU's nearest rivals in benchmarks, such as the Intel Core i5-9500 with a delta of 0.3%, have essentially identical average scores. This suggests that the Core i3-12100F's processing power is adequate for the game's logic, physics, and draw call handling. The 8 threads are sufficient to manage the game's workload without becoming a limiting factor at the frame rates this GPU can produce. The data suggests that the CPU has ample headroom to handle higher frame rates, but the GPU's performance ceiling prevents it from being utilized to its full potential. The processor is ready to do more work, but the graphics adapter cannot keep up, especially at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. With 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, it posts a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in benchmarks include the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which is a much older discrete card, and the AMD FirePro M2000. This low percentile ranking is the most crucial piece of data for understanding this system's performance.

The GPU is unequivocally the limiting component in this configuration. Its benchmark percentile of 5 is extremely low, and this is reflected in the measured FPS. The highest average frame rate achieved in the entire data set is 72 FPS, which occurs only at 1080p with Low settings. At more realistic settings like High, the 1080p average drops to 49 FPS. These figures are low for a game from 2013, and they are a direct consequence of the Arc B370's limited processing power.

The GPU's performance is characterized by its inability to handle high pixel counts. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," meaning it shares system memory, which is a significant disadvantage for an integrated GPU. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are modest figures that limit its fill rate. As resolution increases, the demand on these units grows, and the GPU's performance falls off sharply, as seen in the resolution scaling data. The data clearly shows that any attempt to play at 1440p or 4K will result in sub-30 FPS average frame rates on most settings, making those resolutions largely unplayable for a smooth experience. The GPU is the bottleneck, and its performance is the single most important factor in determining the playability of Grand Theft Auto V in this system.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Grand Theft Auto V, the pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2714th out of 2954 total combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, a position that underscores its relatively weak overall gaming performance. This ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU's low standing. While the CPU is in the 68th percentile, the GPU's 5th percentile ranking drags the entire system's gaming capability down.

The combo rank is a holistic metric that accounts for the interaction between the CPU and GPU. In this case, the pairing is heavily imbalanced. The CPU's performance, as evidenced by its benchmark scores and its proximity to rivals like the Intel Core i5-9500, is not the reason for the low rank. Instead, the rank confirms the GPU's severe performance limitations. The data shows that a more capable GPU would likely allow this CPU to perform much better, but the Arc B370's output ceiling is low.

The delta from the nearest CPU rivals is minimal, with the Intel Core 3 N355 having a delta of 0%, meaning the i3-12100F is a performance peer. This further emphasizes that the processor is not the weak link. The system's overall rank of 2714 is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance class. This combination is not competitive for modern gaming standards, as indicated by the low rank, and is only suitable for the most undemanding scenarios or very old games at low resolutions and settings. The data suggests that this is a system where the CPU has significant untapped potential, but it is held back by the integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Grand Theft Auto V at a smooth 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that 60 FPS is only achievable at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where the average FPS is 72. At Medium settings, the average drops to 63 FPS. At High settings, the average is 49 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game with this hardware?

A: 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system achieves playable frame rates. At 2560x1440, the average FPS only exceeds 30 at Low settings (49 FPS) and Medium settings (43 FPS). At 3840x2160, all average FPS figures are below 30, with the highest being 28 FPS on Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. This is evidenced by the steep performance drop as resolution increases. The CPU has a benchmark percentile of 68, while the GPU has a percentile of 5. The CPU is not the limiting factor at the frame rates the GPU can produce.

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

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad benchmark, the Arc B370 scored 1184. This is nearly identical to the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scored 1190, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which scored 1192. These are all older, low-performance parts.

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

A: The highest average FPS in the measured data is 72, which was achieved at a resolution of 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a strong performer on its own?

A: Yes, the CPU data indicates it is a capable mid-range processor. It has a percentile rank of 68 among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 13494 is nearly identical to rivals like the Intel Core i5-9500, which has a deltaPct of 0.3%.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system is found at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the user has a choice between smoothness and visual quality. For the most fluid gameplay, the Low preset offers the best performance, with an average FPS of 72. This is the only setting that approaches the 60 FPS target with a comfortable margin. If a higher level of visual fidelity is desired, the Medium preset provides an average of 63 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a better visual experience than Low. The measured minimum FPS for Medium at 1080p is 54, indicating that there may be occasional dips below 60 FPS, but the average remains playable.

The High preset at 1080p yields an average of 49 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for many, but it is noticeably below the 60 FPS standard and may feel less smooth. The Ultra preset is not recommended for a good experience, as it only achieves 36 FPS on average. Moving up to 1440p, the situation worsens. The Low preset is the only one that provides a decent average FPS at 49, while Medium falls to 43. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they produce average frame rates of 33 and 24, respectively, which are likely to feel sluggish. At 4K, no settings preset provides a playable experience, with the highest average being 28 FPS on Low.

Therefore, the recommended configuration is to play at 1920x1080. For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it maintains an average FPS above 60. For users who prioritize a higher and more consistent frame rate above all else, the Low preset is the safer option. It is advisable to avoid the High and Ultra presets at all resolutions, as they result in significant performance degradation. The data clearly indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming with modest settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 28 FPS average.
• Medium: 24 FPS average, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS.
• High: 19 FPS average.
• Ultra: 14 FPS average.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 49 FPS average.
• Medium: 43 FPS average, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 49 FPS.
• High: 33 FPS average.
• Ultra: 24 FPS average.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 72 FPS average.
• Medium: 63 FPS average, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS.
• High: 49 FPS average.
• Ultra: 36 FPS average.

The data from the 1080p Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 54 and a maximum of 73, indicating some variance in frame times. Similarly, at 1440p Medium, the minimum is 36 and the maximum is 49. This variance is typical for a system that is heavily GPU-limited, where complex scenes can cause frame rate dips. The overall trend is clear: performance is highest at 1080p and degrades significantly at higher resolutions. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is substantial at every resolution, with Ultra being roughly half the performance of Low. This system is fundamentally a 1080p gaming solution for Grand Theft Auto V, and the data provides a clear guide for setting expectations.