High On Life

High On Life is a fast-paced FPS that leans on both CPU and GPU, but with this specific pairing—the 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the integrated Intel Arc B370—the benchmark data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution. The CPU is a top-tier desktop part with a 3.70 GHz base clock and a 5.80 GHz boost clock, placing it in the 96th percentile of all processors tested. In stark contrast, the GPU sits in the 5th percentile of all graphics cards, and the measured frame rates reflect this massive imbalance. This combination delivers playable performance only at the lowest settings and resolutions, making it a configuration built for productivity or light esports duty rather than modern AAA gaming at high fidelity.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a formidable piece of silicon on paper. It packs 24 cores and 24 threads, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, with a 125 W TDP. The L3 cache is a shared 36 MB, and it supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates its strength: it scores 51,731 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7,303 points in single-core, alongside a 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs. For a game like High On Life, which relies on physics and game logic, this CPU should theoretically provide a massive headroom for frame generation.

However, the data shows that this CPU is effectively idle in this gaming scenario. The measured FPS is not limited by the CPU but by the integrated graphics processor. The Arc B370 is an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a 25 W TDP, sharing system memory. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is a mere 1,184, putting it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU’s role here is to feed the GPU; with such a weak GPU, the CPU’s multi-core muscle never gets fully utilized. The benchmark results indicate that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU typically has the most influence, the system only achieves 70 FPS. This is a clear sign that the bottleneck is the graphics pipeline, not the processor. In a system with a discrete GPU, this CPU would likely push hundreds of frames per second, but paired with the Arc B370, it is held back entirely.

The core count and clock speed are still relevant for system responsiveness and non-gaming tasks, but for High On Life, the CPU is not the limiting factor. The data suggests that the game is entirely GPU-bound at all tested settings. The fact that the CPU has 24 threads and a high boost clock does not translate to higher FPS here because the GPU cannot render frames fast enough to demand more from the CPU. This is a classic case of a high-end CPU being paired with an entry-level graphics solution, resulting in performance that is far below what the CPU alone could achieve.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The overall performance of this combination is poor relative to the entire test database. The combo rank for High On Life is 2,715 out of 2,958 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested, which is a stark indicator of the GPU’s limitations. While the CPU is in the 96th percentile, the GPU’s 5th percentile ranking drags the entire system down to the bottom tier for gaming purposes.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the data shows it is essentially tied with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which has an average benchmark score of 83,807 versus 84,003 for the 290K Plus, a delta of just 0.2%. This means the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its class. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 are also close, with deltas of 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is slightly ahead with a 1.3% higher average score. These comparisons show that the CPU is a top-tier performer, but it is wasted in this configuration.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are all legacy or low-end parts. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 has an average score of 1,186, which is 0.2% higher than the Arc B370’s 1,184. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 is 0.5% higher, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M is 0.7% higher. The AMD FirePro M2000 is 1.4% lower. This puts the Arc B370 in the same performance tier as integrated and discrete GPUs from over a decade ago. In the context of High On Life, this means the combo ranks near the bottom because the GPU is simply not capable of delivering modern gaming performance. The CPU’s high ranking does not offset the GPU’s extremely low ranking in the overall combo list.

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

The resolution scaling data is a textbook example of GPU-bound performance. When moving from 1080p to 4K, the frame rates drop significantly, but the pattern reveals that the GPU is the sole limiting factor. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 70 at 1080p to 49 at 1440p and further down to 30 at 4K. This is a steady decline that correlates directly with the increase in pixel count.

At High settings, the drop is from 45 FPS at 1080p to 32 FPS at 1440p and 19 FPS at 4K. The scaling is not linear but consistent with a GPU that is running out of pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth. The Arc B370 has a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s, which are extremely low numbers for modern gaming. As the resolution increases, the GPU must process more pixels, and its limited ROPs (20) and TMUs (40) become the bottleneck.

The fact that the FPS drops even at 1080p when moving from Low to Ultra further confirms this. At 1080p Low, the system hits 70 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 34 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is struggling to handle the increased shading and texture work, not the CPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see similar FPS across different resolutions at the same settings, but that is not the case here. The data shows a clear GPU limitation, with the CPU having plenty of headroom to spare. The performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is entirely attributable to the Arc B370’s inability to render frames at higher resolutions.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of what to expect from this system in High On Life. At 1080p, the best case scenario is 70 FPS at Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches smooth gameplay. At Medium settings, the average drops to 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. High settings yield 45 FPS, and Ultra drops to 34 FPS. None of these are ideal for a competitive FPS, but Low is playable.

Moving to 1440p, the performance degrades further. Low settings produce an average of 49 FPS, which is borderline acceptable. Medium settings average 38 FPS, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 44 FPS. High settings average 32 FPS, and Ultra drops to 24 FPS. At this resolution, the system is struggling to maintain playable frame rates except at the lowest preset.

At 4K, the situation becomes dire. Low settings average 30 FPS, which is barely playable but not smooth. Medium settings average 23 FPS, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27 FPS. High settings average 19 FPS, and Ultra drops to a slideshow-like 14 FPS. These numbers are well below the threshold for a playable experience in a fast-paced shooter. The data clearly shows that 4K is not viable for this combo, and even 1440p requires significant compromises. The only resolution where the system can deliver a reasonably smooth experience is 1080p, and only at Low settings.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU-GPU combo good for playing High On Life at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low settings, the combo averages 70 FPS, which is playable. However, at Medium settings, the average drops to 55 FPS, and at High or Ultra, it falls to 45 FPS and 34 FPS, respectively. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, you must stick to Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: The 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84,003, which is 0.2% higher than the 285K’s score of 83,807. This is a negligible difference, indicating that the two CPUs perform nearly identically in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the bottleneck in this system when playing High On Life?

A: The Intel Arc B370 GPU is the clear bottleneck. It ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 96th percentile. The frame rates are entirely limited by the GPU’s rendering capabilities, not the CPU’s processing power.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in High On Life?

A: No. At 4K, even Low settings only average 30 FPS, and Medium averages 23 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 14 FPS. These frame rates are too low for a playable experience.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 GPU compare to the ATI Radeon HD 5770?

A: The Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184, which is 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770’s score of 1,190. They are essentially in the same performance tier, despite the significant generational gap.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings average 49 FPS, which is the only preset that approaches playability. Medium averages 38 FPS, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 24 FPS. For the best experience, you should use Low settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the only viable path to a smooth experience in High On Life is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The data shows that this system is severely GPU-limited, so the settings must be adjusted to reduce the load on the Arc B370.

At 1080p, the recommended preset is Low, which delivers an average of 70 FPS. This is the only setting that consistently hits the 60 FPS mark, which is crucial for a responsive FPS. Medium settings at 55 FPS are playable but may feel less smooth, and the minimum of 47 FPS could cause noticeable stutters in action-heavy scenes. High and Ultra settings at 45 FPS and 34 FPS, respectively, should be avoided for competitive play.

At 1440p, the situation is more challenging. Low settings average 49 FPS, which is acceptable if you are not sensitive to frame drops. However, the minimum FPS data is not available for Low, so it is risky. Medium settings average 38 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold for a shooter. We recommend sticking to Low at 1440p if you want the best playable experience, but be prepared for occasional frame dips.

At 4K, no settings preset is recommended for a good experience. Even Low averages only 30 FPS, which is too low for a game that requires quick reflexes. We strongly advise against playing at this resolution with this combo. The data indicates that the system simply does not have the GPU horsepower to handle 4K in High On Life, regardless of the settings chosen.

In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is at 1080p with Low settings. This provides the highest average FPS and the most consistent performance. If you must play at 1440p, use Low settings, but understand that you are at the edge of playability. For anything above that, the performance is too poor to recommend. This system is a clear example of a powerful CPU being wasted by an integrated GPU that lacks the raw power for modern gaming.