High On Life

High On Life at 4K with the Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B370 is a slideshow, but the data reveals a system that is fundamentally limited by its graphics processor rather than its processor. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern: as resolution climbs, performance collapses, indicating the integrated-class Arc B370 is the dominant bottleneck in this pairing. While the i5-9400 is a modest six-core part, its role is secondary; the graphics solution simply cannot feed the display pipeline at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and tells a definitive story about where the bottleneck lies. At the High preset, the average FPS falls from 45 at 1920x1080 to 32 at 2560x1440, then plummets to 19 at 3840x2160. This represents a 58% reduction in average FPS from the lowest to the highest resolution tested. Such a steep decline is characteristic of a graphics-bound scenario, where the rendering load on the GPU increases geometrically with pixel count, and the Arc B370’s limited pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. At Low, the average FPS drops from 70 at 1080p to 49 at 1440p and finally to 30 at 4K. At Medium, the averages are 55, 38, and 23 respectively. At Ultra, the numbers are 34, 24, and 14. The relative drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly 53-59% regardless of preset, which reinforces the conclusion that resolution, not CPU workload, is the primary constraint. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rate would typically plateau or drop less severely as resolution increases, because the CPU workload remains roughly constant while the GPU work expands.

The data indicates that the i5-9400 is keeping pace with the graphics demands at 1080p, but the Arc B370 runs out of headroom quickly. At 4K, even the Low preset, which reduces pixel shading work significantly, only manages an average of 30 FPS. This is the same average FPS achieved by the Medium preset at 4K, suggesting that the GPU is so saturated that lowering settings from Medium to Low provides no meaningful relief at that resolution. The component limiting performance is unequivocally the Intel Arc B370, whose 20 ROPs and 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 throughput are insufficient for 4K rendering in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 provides 6 cores and 6 threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. In the context of High On Life, this is a sufficient foundation for the frame rates observed. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as 6629 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 935 in single-core, place it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, indicating a mid-range part that is not a top-tier performer but is far from a bottleneck at the measured frame rates.

Evidence for the CPU being adequate lies in the resolution scaling. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 45. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the frame rate to be similar at 1440p and 4K, since the CPU’s required work per frame does not change with resolution. Instead, the frame rates drop dramatically to 32 and 19, respectively. This proves that the GPU is the limiting component at all resolutions tested. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with draw calls and game logic, but the Arc B370 cannot keep up with the pixel rendering demands.

The i5-9400’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is marginal. It sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i3-10305 and within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 in average benchmark score. This means that swapping the CPU for a comparable alternative would not change the gaming outcome here, as the GPU is the decisive factor. The CPU’s integrated UHD 630 graphics are irrelevant in this configuration, as the system uses the discrete Arc B370. The data shows a classic case of a balanced mid-range CPU paired with a weak GPU, where the CPU’s role is to simply keep up, which it does without issue up to the limits of the graphics solution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS measured is 70, which occurs at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 capable of 4K gaming in High On Life?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 14 on Ultra to 30 on Low, with the High preset yielding only 19 FPS. These results indicate an unplayable experience at 4K.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, while the i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, making the i5-9400 0.2% slower in that specific metric.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: The benchmark results indicate the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component. This is evidenced by the significant frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the combo’s ranking among all tested combinations for High On Life?

A: The combo ranks 2715 out of 2958 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems.

Q: Does lowering settings from Medium to Low help at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 30 on Low and 23 on Medium. While there is a numerical gain, the 30 FPS average on Low is still below the 60 FPS target and indicates the GPU is severely overburdened.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers playable results on lower settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 70 FPS, while Medium yields 55 FPS with a min of 47 and max of 63. The High preset averages 45 FPS, and Ultra drops to 34 FPS. These numbers suggest that 1080p is the only resolution where the system can approach a smooth experience, but only when settings are kept below Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance degrades noticeably. The Low preset averages 49 FPS, which is a 30% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium averages 38 FPS (min 33, max 44), High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra drops to 24 FPS. None of the 1440p presets manage to sustain a 60 FPS average, indicating that this resolution is too demanding for the Arc B370 in this title.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently poor. The Low preset is the only one to reach an average of 30 FPS. Medium averages 23 FPS (min 20, max 27), High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is only 7 FPS, and the gap between High and Ultra is 5 FPS, showing that the GPU is so saturated that settings changes have diminishing returns. The data shows a linear degradation pattern: the system is only viable at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, and even then, it cannot reach a locked 60 FPS on Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2715 out of 2958 tested combinations for High On Life. This places the system in the bottom 8% of all tested hardware pairings, which is consistent with the measured FPS results. The rank reflects the severe limitations of the Arc B370, which has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 and sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low-performing graphics solution, and the ranking confirms that the combo is unsuitable for modern gaming at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in benchmark score are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, 0.2% faster) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, 0.5% faster). This places the Arc B370 in performance territory equivalent to integrated and entry-level discrete graphics from over a decade ago. The CPU’s ranking is comparatively better, sitting at the 47th percentile, but this does not offset the GPU’s weakness. The combo rank is dragged down almost entirely by the graphics processor, as the CPU is a mid-range part that performs adequately for gaming workloads.

The rank of 2715 out of 2958 means that only 243 tested combinations performed worse. This is a clear signal that this specific pairing is not intended for high-end gaming. The data suggests that while the CPU is a reasonable match for 1080p gaming, the GPU is a severe bottleneck that prevents the system from achieving playable frame rates at 1440p or 4K. The combo is best suited for esports or older titles at low resolutions, but for a game like High On Life, it is near the bottom of the performance ladder.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo are at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which delivers an average of 70 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a smooth, playable experience with headroom above 60 FPS. The Low preset is the recommended choice for a consistent frame rate, as it is the only setting that achieves an average above 60 FPS at any resolution.

If visual quality is prioritized over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p is the best compromise. It yields an average of 55 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The High preset at 1080p drops to 45 FPS, and Ultra falls to 34 FPS, both of which are below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stuttering. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 49 FPS, but even this is marginal. At 4K, no setting is recommended, as the maximum average FPS is 30 on Low, which is unplayable for a first-person shooter.

The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p and use the Low preset for the best balance of performance and responsiveness. The Medium preset is acceptable for those who want slightly better visuals and can tolerate a 55 FPS average. Any settings above Medium, or any resolution above 1080p, will result in a sub-optimal experience. The Ultra preset is never recommended, as it only reaches an average of 34 FPS at 1080p and drops to 14 FPS at 4K. In summary, the measured rows indicate that this hardware combo is only fit for 1080p gaming with lowered settings, and the Low preset at 1080p is the definitive best experience.