Grand Theft Auto V

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers playable performance in Grand Theft Auto V only at 1080p with reduced settings, ranking in the bottom 8% of all tested combinations. The data shows a system heavily constrained by its integrated graphics, with 4K resolutions proving unplayable across all settings. Benchmark results indicate that while the six-core CPU provides adequate processing power for this 2013 title, the Arc B370’s integrated design (with system-shared memory) becomes the definitive bottleneck as resolution increases.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall ranking of this CPU and GPU combo for Grand Theft Auto V?

A: The combination ranks 2714 out of 2954 tested combos in this game, placing it in the 8th percentile overall. This indicates that the vast majority of hardware pairings deliver better performance in GTA V.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-9400 compare to its closest rivals in general CPU benchmarks?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It trails the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 by just 0.2% (that rival scores 2259) and the Intel Core i3-10305 by 0.4% (score 2264), while slightly edging out the Intel Core i7-10710U by 0.3% (score 2248) and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 by 0.4% (score 2246).

Q: What is the best 1080p result achievable with this hardware?

A: The highest average frame rate at 1920x1080 is 72 FPS, achieved with Low settings. Medium settings produce 63 FPS, High settings drop to 49 FPS, and Ultra settings yield only 36 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in GTA V?

A: No. At 3840x2160, even the best-case scenario (Low settings) only reaches 28 FPS average. High settings drop to 19 FPS, Medium to 24 FPS, and Ultra to 14 FPS. All of these are below playable thresholds.

Q: How much VRAM does the Intel Arc B370 have?

A: The GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM. Its memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark percentile ranking compared to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score of 1184 (from 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12). This places it in extremely low-performing territory, comparable to decade-old discrete graphics cards.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this configuration at rank 2714 out of 2954 total tested combinations for Grand Theft Auto V. This bottom-decile positioning (approximately the 8th percentile) is consistent with the hardware profile. The Intel Core i5-9400 is a mid-range desktop processor from the Coffee Lake era, scoring in the 47th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its six cores and six threads at base clocks of 2.90 GHz and boost up to 4.10 GHz provide enough computational headroom for a game from 2013.

The critical weakness is the Intel Arc B370. This integrated GPU (IGP) scores in the 5th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, delta 1.4%). These are all legacy or low-power mobile parts, indicating the Arc B370's performance class is roughly equivalent to integrated graphics from over a decade ago.

The combination's ranking reflects a fundamental mismatch: a competent six-core CPU shackled to an IGP that cannot translate that processing power into frame rates. The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks show how close it is to other mid-range parts, yet none of that matters when the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The rank of 2714 confirms that users would need to step up to virtually any discrete GPU from the past decade to meaningfully improve GTA V performance.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate degradation from 1080p to 4K reveals a GPU-bound scenario at every resolution. At Low settings, average FPS drops from 72 at 1920x1080 to 49 at 2560x1440 (a 32% reduction) and then to 28 at 3840x2160 (a further 43% reduction from 1440p). This pattern of steep declines with each resolution increase is classic evidence that the integrated GPU's rendering throughput is the limiting component.

For High settings, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute values: 49 FPS at 1080p, 33 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 33% from 1080p to 1440p and 42% from 1440p to 4K. Medium settings show 63 FPS at 1080p, 43 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K, with corresponding reductions of 32% and 44%.

Ultra settings produce the most dramatic scaling: 36 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. The 1440p to 4K drop of 42% mirrors the other settings, suggesting that pixel throughput scales predictably with resolution regardless of quality preset. This consistency indicates that the Arc B370's shading units (1280), TMUs (40), and ROPs (20) are simply overwhelmed by pixel count at higher resolutions.

The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases. With an L3 cache of 9 MB shared and dual-channel DDR4 memory support at 42.7 GB/s, the i5-9400 has ample bandwidth for GTA V's data streaming. The fact that 1080p Low achieves 72 FPS while 4K Low only reaches 28 FPS confirms that the GPU, not the CPU, is the performance ceiling. Users seeking higher resolutions would need a fundamentally different GPU solution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a clear hierarchy across quality presets. Low settings deliver the only fully smooth experience at 72 FPS average. Medium settings still provide solid playability at 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and maximum of 73 FPS in the measured data. High settings drop to 49 FPS, which remains playable but approaches the threshold where frame pacing becomes noticeable. Ultra settings produce only 36 FPS, making this preset unsuitable for action sequences.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance degrades across all presets. Low settings average 49 FPS, which is marginally playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes. Medium settings fall to 43 FPS (minimum 36, maximum 49), while High settings drop to 33 FPS — below the 60 FPS target and approaching uncomfortable territory. Ultra settings at 1440p yield only 24 FPS, which is not recommended for gameplay.

At 3840x2160, all results are below playable thresholds. Low settings produce 28 FPS average, which is technically rendered but will feel sluggish. Medium settings average 24 FPS (minimum 21, maximum 28), High settings 19 FPS, and Ultra settings 14 FPS. None of these 4K configurations approach the minimum 30 FPS typically considered necessary for basic playability, let alone the 60 FPS ideal.

The spread between Low and Ultra at each resolution is telling. At 1080p, the difference is 36 FPS (72 vs 36). At 1440p, it narrows to 25 FPS (49 vs 24). At 4K, it shrinks to 14 FPS (28 vs 14). This narrowing spread indicates that at higher resolutions, even Low settings overwhelm the GPU's pixel pipeline, reducing the relative benefit of lowering quality.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor built on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake chip) using a 3 nm process. Its integrated nature means all memory operations go through system shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a fundamental limitation for gaming, as dedicated VRAM bandwidth is critical for texture-heavy titles like GTA V.

The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz with a boost of 2400 MHz. It contains 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. Theoretical performance includes a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s, texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s, and FP32 compute of 6.144 TFLOPS. For context, the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals being ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192).

The 25 W TDP and lack of power connectors confirm this is a low-power integrated solution, not designed for sustained gaming workloads. The system-shared memory architecture means the GPU competes with the CPU for the same DDR4 bandwidth (42.7 GB/s dual-channel), further limiting performance in memory-intensive scenes.

The data reveals that this GPU cannot maintain 60 FPS at 1080p even on Low settings in GTA V, peaking at 72 FPS only in the least demanding preset. At higher resolutions, the low ROP count (20) becomes a severe bottleneck for fill-rate-dependent operations. The RT cores (10) and DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) are present but functionally irrelevant for a title from 2013 that was designed for much older hardware. The GPU's 5th percentile ranking across all GPUs explains why the combination ranks so poorly: the CPU is in the 47th percentile, but the GPU drags the entire system down.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, averaging 72 FPS. This preset leaves enough headroom for the game's open-world streaming and busy scenes. Medium settings at 1080p (63 FPS average, 54 FPS minimum) are also viable for players who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum frame rates.

For users who require 60 FPS as a hard target, 1080p High (49 FPS) is insufficient. The 1440p resolution is only usable at Low settings (49 FPS), which defeats the purpose of higher resolution. All 4K presets should be avoided entirely, as even Low settings produce an average of 28 FPS, below the minimum playable threshold.

The recommended setup is 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This provides 63 FPS average with a 54 FPS minimum, balancing visual quality with performance. The 73 FPS maximum shows there is headroom in less demanding scenes, while the minimum stays above the 50 FPS comfort level. Players wanting maximum smoothness should select Low at 1080p, accepting reduced draw distances and texture quality for the 72 FPS average.

Ultra settings at any resolution are not recommended. The 36 FPS at 1080p and 24 FPS at 1440p fall below the 30 FPS minimum for acceptable gameplay. Given that the GPU's performance class is equivalent to decade-old integrated graphics (per its nearest rivals), the expectation should be modest: this combo is suitable for low-detail 1080p gaming in GTA V, nothing more. The CPU's headroom (six cores, 9 MB L3 cache) suggests that upgrading the GPU alone would substantially improve these results, but with the Arc B370, users must accept its limitations.