Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B390 pairing produces a fascinatingly lopsided set of results in Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014. The data reveals a system where the integrated-class GPU is the definitive bottleneck, while the six-core processor sits largely idle, waiting for instructions that never come. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across three resolutions and four settings presets, interpreting what the numbers mean for the overall performance profile.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a steep and consistent penalty as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 95 FPS at 1080p to 61 FPS at 1440p, a substantial 34 FPS reduction. Pushing further to 4K, the average falls to 33 FPS, meaning that moving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings cuts performance by over 65%. This dramatic scaling indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is being overwhelmed by the sheer pixel count, as the workload expands far beyond what its execution units can handle.

The pattern holds across all quality presets, though the absolute numbers differ. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 61 at 1080p, to 39 at 1440p, and finally to 21 at 4K. This represents a loss of 22 FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and another 18 FPS when moving to 4K. Interestingly, the relative drop from 1440p to 4K is proportionally larger at High settings (46% reduction) compared to Low settings (46% reduction as well), suggesting that the combination of higher resolution and more complex shading is compounding the load on the GPU.

The Medium preset provides the only complete min/max data in the pack, offering a closer look at frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the average is 72 FPS with a minimum of 62 and maximum of 83. At 1440p, the average drops to 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 and maximum of 54. At 4K, the average falls to 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 and maximum of 29. The spread between min and max remains relatively tight at each resolution (about 21 FPS at 1080p, 14 FPS at 1440p, and 8 FPS at 4K), which suggests the GPU is not stuttering but rather consistently delivering lower performance as resolution increases.

What this scaling reveals is that the limiting component is unambiguously the GPU. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not showing any signs of bottlenecking at lower resolutions, as the FPS continues to climb when pixel count drops. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect to see plateauing FPS numbers at 1080p, where the GPU has less work to do. Instead, the data shows a linear relationship between resolution and performance, which is the hallmark of a graphics-bound scenario.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the primary driver of the performance ceiling in this pairing. Its benchmark scores place it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, which is exceptionally low and explains why it struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 puts it in direct competition with very old discrete GPUs, as shown in the nearest rivals data. It sits just 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M, 2.5% ahead of the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710. These are all entry-level or legacy parts, and the Arc B390 is only marginally faster than them, which contextualizes its inability to handle 4K Ultra settings.

The GPU’s memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system’s main DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a critical limitation, as the memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which varies based on the rest of the platform. The bus width is also "System Shared," further indicating that the GPU is drawing on the same memory pool as the CPU. This shared memory architecture is typical for integrated graphics and is a major reason why performance degrades so sharply at 4K, where the memory bandwidth requirements increase substantially.

Clock speeds show a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz, which is a wide dynamic range. The boost clock of 2500 MHz is relatively high, but the GPU’s raw compute throughput is limited by its other specifications. The shading units number 1536, with 48 texture mapping units and 24 ROPs. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. These figures, combined with the 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance, are modest by modern standards and are insufficient for the demands of 4K gaming in Minimum.

The GPU’s TDP is listed at 80 W, which is low for a discrete card but typical for an integrated part. The fact that it is an IGP with no power connectors and a bus interface of "IGP" confirms that this is not a standalone graphics card but rather an integrated solution. The architecture is Xe3-LPG on a 3 nm process, which is modern in terms of manufacturing, but the small die and limited resources mean that process efficiency cannot compensate for the lack of raw hardware. In this game, the GPU is the clear limiting factor, and its low percentile ranking (9th) is a strong predictor of the sub-30 FPS results seen at 4K Ultra.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D presents a stark contrast to the GPU, as its benchmark results indicate a processor that is more than capable of handling the demands of Minimum. The CPU sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, a massive gap from the GPU’s 9th percentile. This discrepancy is the core insight of this pairing: a high-end processor paired with a low-end graphics solution creates a severe imbalance that limits the system’s overall gaming performance.

The CPU’s architecture is Zen 3 on the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a standout feature, likely contributing to its strong benchmark scores. The PassMark multithread score is 20363, with a single-thread score of 2941. These figures place it in close competition with several rivals, as shown in the nearest rivals data. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, and 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i9-12900T. This clustering indicates that the 5500X3D is a solid mid-range performer that trades blows with other mainstream and even higher-end parts.

In Minimum, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with data, and the measured FPS suggests it is doing so without breaking a sweat. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 95 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would require a reasonably strong CPU to sustain. The fact that the FPS drops to 61 at 1440p and 33 at 4K is not due to CPU limitations, as the workload per frame increases with resolution while the CPU’s per-frame work remains relatively constant. The CPU is likely not the bottleneck at any resolution, as evidenced by the continuous FPS scaling with resolution.

The CPU’s memory support is DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This is a standard specification for the AM4 platform, and while it is not the fastest available, it is sufficient for this game. The TDP of 105 W is moderate, and the socket is AMD Socket AM4. The CPU has a production status of Active and a release date of 2025-06-04, making it a recent addition to the market. In this test, the CPU’s performance is effectively masked by the GPU’s limitations, meaning its true gaming potential cannot be fully realized with the Arc B390.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 5 5500X3D and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2602 out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations, which is a poor showing but entirely consistent with the GPU’s low percentile ranking. The rank reflects the overall gaming experience, and the data shows that this combo struggles to provide smooth gameplay at higher settings and resolutions.

The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU, as the CPU’s high percentile (85th) does not compensate for the GPU’s low percentile (9th) in a game that is graphics-intensive. The combo’s rank of 2602 suggests that the vast majority of other tested systems outperform it, even those with less powerful CPUs but more capable GPUs. This is a classic example of a mismatched pairing, where the CPU’s potential is wasted due to the GPU’s inability to keep up.

Looking at the measured FPS, the combo only achieves playable frame rates (above 60 FPS) at 1080p Low and 1080p High. At 1440p, the best result is 61 FPS at Low settings, which is borderline. At 4K, all settings fall below 33 FPS, making the experience poor. The ranking reflects this reality, as a combo that cannot maintain 60 FPS at 1440p or higher will necessarily be placed near the bottom of the database. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, and even then, only at lower quality presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 95 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. The High preset also achieves 61 FPS, which is playable, but the Low preset provides a significant margin of safety for frame rate stability. The Medium preset offers 72 FPS, which is a good middle ground, but the Low preset’s higher frame rate makes it the recommended choice for the best experience at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the options become more limited. The Low preset is the only one that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, with an average of 61 FPS. The High preset drops to 39 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the Ultra preset falls to 30 FPS. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, and even then, the frame rate is marginal. Gamers seeking a higher quality image would need to accept a significant performance hit, which is not advisable.

At 3840x2160, none of the settings provide a playable experience. The Low preset offers 33 FPS, which is borderline but likely too choppy for a third-person shooter. The Medium preset averages 25 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets drop to 21 and 16 FPS respectively. The data clearly shows that 4K is not feasible with this combo, and attempting to do so will result in a substandard experience. The best recommendation is to stick to 1080p with Low or Medium settings, or 1440p with Low settings, to get the most out of the hardware.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this combo?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo consistently achieves playable frame rates. At 1080p, the Low preset averages 95 FPS and the High preset averages 61 FPS, making it the recommended resolution for this hardware.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Minimum?*

A: The measured results indicate that 4K is not playable. At 3840x2160, the best average FPS is 33 at Low settings, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset drops to 16 FPS, confirming that 4K is beyond the GPU’s capability.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% higher than the GT 710. This places it in a very low performance tier.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile. The FPS scaling with resolution confirms that the GPU’s limits are reached well before the CPU’s.

*Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking in Minimum?*

A: The combo ranks 2602 out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems. This low rank is primarily due to the GPU’s poor performance.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 95, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset. This is the only measured result that approaches high-refresh-rate territory, indicating the system’s performance ceiling.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B390 in Minimum is as follows:

At 1920x1080:

• Low settings: 95 FPS average
• Medium settings: 72 FPS average, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS
• High settings: 61 FPS average
• Ultra settings: 46 FPS average

At 2560x1440:

• Low settings: 61 FPS average
• Medium settings: 47 FPS average, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS
• High settings: 39 FPS average
• Ultra settings: 30 FPS average

At 3840x2160:

• Low settings: 33 FPS average
• Medium settings: 25 FPS average, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS
• High settings: 21 FPS average
• Ultra settings: 16 FPS average

This data shows a clear degradation pattern as resolution increases and settings become more demanding. The only settings that provide a smooth experience (above 60 FPS) are 1080p Low, 1080p Medium, and 1080p High, with 1440p Low being borderline at exactly 61 FPS. The min/max data for Medium settings at each resolution shows that frame pacing is relatively consistent, with the gap between minimum and maximum FPS shrinking as resolution increases, from 21 FPS at 1080p to 8 FPS at 4K. This suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is consistently saturated and cannot burst above its average, leading to a more uniform but lower overall frame rate.