Minecraft

Minecraft with the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B390 produces a highly variable experience that depends heavily on the graphics settings selected, with the data showing a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate. The combination ranks 984th out of 1176 tested combos for this game, placing it in the lower third of all systems benchmarked. The measured frame rates range from a playable 45 FPS at 4K High to a very fluid 216 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating that the system's performance is extremely sensitive to configuration choices.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on TSMC's 4 nm process. It has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache. This processor supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 8400F shows a balanced profile. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and single-core score of 2943 indicate strong all-around performance for a desktop chip in its segment. The 3DMark results show scaling from 951 in single-thread to 6165 in max-threads, demonstrating that the processor can leverage its 12 threads effectively when workloads demand it. The PassMark multi-thread score of 24389 and single-thread score of 3685 corroborate this mid-range positioning.

The CPU's percentile ranking against all CPUs is 77, meaning it performs better than 77% of all processors in the database. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, which scores 24964 (a 0.2% delta), the Intel Core i7-11850H at 24935 (0.3% delta), and the Intel Core i7-13620H at 24911 (0.4% delta). The AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25103, which is 0.4% higher than the 8400F. These very small deltas indicate that the Ryzen 5 8400F sits in a tightly contested performance tier.

For Minecraft specifically, the CPU role is significant because the game's world simulation and entity logic often create single-threaded bottlenecks. The Ryzen 5 8400F's single-core performance, evidenced by its 2943 Cinebench R23 single-core score and 3685 PassMark single-thread score, provides a solid foundation for these tasks. The 6-core/12-thread configuration ensures that background processes and chunk generation do not starve the main game thread. The data shows that at higher resolutions and settings, the frame rates drop considerably, which suggests that while the CPU is capable, it is not the primary limiting factor at 4K Ultra where the GPU struggles.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS.

A critical aspect of this GPU is its memory configuration: the memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the Arc B390 relies on the system's DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM, and the available bandwidth depends entirely on the host system's memory configuration. The TDP is 80 W, and it uses no power connectors, consistent with its integrated nature.

The GPU's benchmark presence is sparse, with only one data point: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating very low overall graphics performance when compared to the broader GPU landscape. Its nearest rivals in this benchmark are all older NVIDIA discrete GPUs: the GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 (1.3% higher), the GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% higher), the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% higher), and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% higher). These comparisons show that the Arc B390's raw compute performance is similar to entry-level discrete GPUs from a decade ago.

In Minecraft, the GPU's role is primarily rendering the scene. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 216 FPS, which is excellent. However, at 4K Ultra, it drops to 28 FPS. This dramatic scaling indicates that the Arc B390's shared memory bandwidth and modest compute resources become overwhelmed at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are sufficient for simpler scenes but struggle with the increased fill rate and texture demands at 4K. The system shared memory means that at higher resolutions, the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, potentially exacerbating performance drops.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a playable frame rate?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 171 FPS, while at 2560x1440 Medium it drops to 108 FPS. At 3840x2160 Medium, it falls to 56 FPS. Based on these measured results, 1080p provides the most headroom, while 1440p remains playable, and 4K should only be considered with Low settings, which yields 71 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25005. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, scores 24964, which is 0.2% lower. The Intel Core i7-11850H scores 24935 (0.3% lower), and the Intel Core i7-13620H scores 24911 (0.4% lower). The AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25103, which is 0.4% higher. These differences are minimal, indicating near-identical performance in these tests.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile and who are its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, just 1.3% below the Arc B390's score of 1482. The GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% lower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% lower), and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% lower).

Q: Does the system perform better at lower settings or lower resolutions?

A: The data clearly shows that reducing settings has a larger impact than reducing resolution. At 1080p, moving from Ultra (85 FPS) to Low (216 FPS) increases performance by 131 FPS. At 4K, moving from Ultra (28 FPS) to Low (71 FPS) increases performance by 43 FPS. Resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings drops from 171 FPS to 56 FPS, a reduction of 115 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 984th out of 1176 tested combos for Minecraft. This places it in the lower portion of the ranking, indicating that most other CPU-GPU combinations deliver better performance in this game.

Q: Is there a significant difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the gap is substantial. At 1080p, High settings produce 136 FPS while Ultra produces 85 FPS, a difference of 51 FPS. At 1440p, High gives 86 FPS and Ultra gives 54 FPS, a 32 FPS difference. At 4K, High gives 45 FPS and Ultra gives 28 FPS, a 17 FPS difference. The performance penalty for Ultra is consistent across resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this system performs across three resolutions and four quality settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers strong performance across the board. Low settings produce an average of 216 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. Medium settings yield 171 FPS with a minimum of 146 FPS and maximum of 197 FPS, showing good frame time consistency. High settings drop to 136 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 85 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra representing a 60.6% reduction from Low.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings produce 136 FPS, which matches the 1080p High result. Medium settings yield 108 FPS with a range of 92 to 124 FPS. High settings drop to 86 FPS, and Ultra produces 54 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 82 FPS, indicating that the quality settings have a pronounced effect at this resolution. The Medium setting's minimum of 92 FPS suggests that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains playable frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles significantly. Low settings produce 71 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that approaches smooth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 56 FPS with a range of 48 to 65 FPS, meaning the minimum frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings produce 45 FPS, and Ultra produces only 28 FPS. The 4K results highlight the GPU's limitations, as the shared memory system and modest compute resources cannot handle the increased pixel count effectively. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 43 FPS, with Ultra being 60.6% slower than Low, matching the same percentage drop seen at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 984th out of 1176 tested combinations for Minecraft, placing it in the 83.7th percentile of all combos (meaning 83.7% of tested systems perform better). This low ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's limited capabilities, as the CPU's 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs is respectable. The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this system; rather, the integrated GPU holds back overall performance.

Looking at the component-level benchmarks, the CPU's average benchmark score of 25005 places it in a competitive tier with its nearest rivals, all of which are within 0.4% of its score. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile, with its nearest rivals being older entry-level discrete GPUs. This disparity between CPU and GPU performance is stark: the CPU performs better than 77% of all CPUs, while the GPU performs better than only 9% of all GPUs.

The ranking indicates that for Minecraft specifically, the system is not well-suited for high-end gameplay. The game is known for being CPU-intensive, but the GPU still needs to render the scene, and the Arc B390's performance is insufficient for higher resolutions and settings. The 984th rank out of 1176 suggests that users looking for a better Minecraft experience would need to consider a system with a discrete GPU, as the integrated graphics solution is a significant limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For users with a 1080p display, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 171 FPS average with a minimum of 146 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with room to spare for demanding scenes. The High preset at 136 FPS is also excellent and offers better visuals, while the Low preset at 216 FPS is ideal for competitive play or maximum frame rates.

At 1440p, the Low preset at 136 FPS provides the smoothest experience, while Medium at 108 FPS offers a good balance. The High preset at 86 FPS is serviceable but may dip in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 54 FPS is borderline, and the data suggests that Medium is the highest setting that consistently maintains frame rates above 90 FPS at this resolution.

For 4K displays, the system is severely limited. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the only setting that provides a playable experience, while Medium at 56 FPS is marginal. The High preset at 45 FPS and Ultra at 28 FPS are not recommended for smooth gameplay. Users with 4K displays should accept Low settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

The data indicates that the Medium preset provides the most consistent performance across all resolutions, with minimum frame rates that are 85-86% of the average. This suggests that Medium settings offer the best frame time consistency, making it the recommended choice for most users who prioritize smooth gameplay over maximum visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals important insights about the system's bottleneck. At Medium settings, the system produces 171 FPS at 1080p, 108 FPS at 1440p, and 56 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36.8% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 67.3% drop from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, indicating that the GPU becomes increasingly stressed as resolution increases.

The same pattern holds for other settings. At High settings, the system produces 136 FPS at 1080p, 86 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K. This is a 36.8% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 66.9% drop from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the system produces 216 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 71 FPS at 4K, representing drops of 37.0% and 67.1% respectively.

These consistent percentage drops across all settings strongly suggest that the GPU is the limiting component. The number of pixels at 4K is four times that of 1080p, and the performance drops by roughly two-thirds, indicating that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, as shown by its 2943 Cinebench R23 single-core score, is sufficient to feed the GPU at all resolutions, but the GPU simply cannot keep up with the increased rendering demands at higher resolutions.

The system shared memory configuration of the Arc B390 further compounds this issue, as the GPU must share memory bandwidth with the CPU. At higher resolutions, the increased memory traffic for frame buffers and textures likely causes contention, leading to the dramatic FPS drops observed. The data shows that the system is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, acceptable for 1440p with lower settings, but not suitable for 4K gaming beyond the lowest settings.