Minimum

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

The measured FPS data for Minimum with the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B390 reveals a steep and consistent performance cliff as resolution climbs. At 1080p Low, the combo delivers 95 FPS average. Dropping to 1440p Low cuts that to 61 FPS, a 36% reduction. Pushing to 4K Low yields only 33 FPS, which is 65% below the 1080p Low result. This pattern—where every resolution step roughly halves the frame rate—points squarely at the GPU as the primary bottleneck.

Looking at the same settings across all three resolutions reinforces this. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 72 at 1080p, to 47 at 1440p, to 25 at 4K. At High settings, the progression is 61, 39, and 21 FPS respectively. The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count, which is the classic signature of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect the 1080p and 1440p numbers to be closer together, with the gap only widening at 4K when the GPU becomes the wall. Instead, the performance drops immediately and uniformly, indicating the Intel Arc B390 is saturated even at 1080p.

The data also shows the Ultra preset is nearly unplayable above 1080p. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 30 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it collapses to 16 FPS. This suggests that the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth—both system-shared and dependent on the platform—are simply insufficient for the increased load. The 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 rate and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate, while respectable for an integrated part, cannot keep pace with the demands of 4K rendering in this title.

What is interesting is the relative delta between Low and Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, the gap is 49 FPS (95 vs 46). At 1440p, the gap narrows to 31 FPS (61 vs 30). At 4K, it shrinks further to 17 FPS (33 vs 16). This narrowing suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so overwhelmed that even lowering settings fails to recover meaningful performance. The limiting component is unambiguously the graphics processor, not the Ryzen 5 9600X.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its clock behavior is notable: a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. This wide frequency range indicates a power-optimized design that can ramp up under load, but the measured results in Minimum suggest the boost state is not enough to overcome the fundamental throughput limits.

Memory is a critical factor here. The Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory, with a bus width also listed as "System Shared" and bandwidth as "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system's DDR5 memory, which the Ryzen 5 9600X supports in dual-channel configuration with a theoretical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. However, that figure is for the CPU's memory controller, and the GPU's share of that bandwidth is not specified. The benchmark results imply that memory bandwidth is a severe constraint, particularly at 4K where the 21 FPS average at High settings and 25 FPS at Medium suggest the GPU cannot fetch textures and geometry fast enough.

The GPU's raw compute specs—1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs—are modest. The texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s are in line with entry-level integrated graphics. The FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS, while not trivial, is clearly insufficient for a 2014 third-person shooter at high resolutions with modern API overhead. The DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) means the hardware is feature-rich, but features don't translate to raw fill rate.

The GPU's percentile ranking is 9th among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it just 1.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% above the GeForce 800M, 2.5% above the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% above the GeForce GT 710. These rivals are ancient, low-end parts, which contextualizes the Arc B390's position: it is competing with decade-old discrete GPUs. In Minimum, this translates to sub-60 FPS at 1440p Low and below-30 FPS at 4K, which are not competitive results for a modern system.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X provides a stark contrast to the GPU's limitations. This is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 9000 series, based on Zen 5 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process. Its base clock is 3.90 GHz with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and it has a TDP of 65 W. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. These specifications place it firmly in the mid-range desktop segment, with a launch MSRP of $279.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU shows strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. Its 3DMark single-thread score is 1253, and its 3DMark max-threads score is 7590. Cinebench R23 scores are 2183.5 single-core and 17528.5 multi-core. Geekbench results are 2923 single-core and 14438 multi-core. The CPU's percentile ranking is 81st among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29713. Compared to its nearest rivals, it is essentially tied: 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE, 0.5% below the Ryzen 7 7840H, 0.6% below the Ryzen 7 5800XT, and 0.8% below the Ryzen 7 8845HS.

Given this CPU's capability, the FPS data in Minimum strongly indicates that the processor is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the 95 FPS average is respectable, but it's not a stellar result for a 6-core Zen 5 part. The fact that 4K Low drops to 33 FPS—a 65% reduction—cannot be attributed to the CPU, which would see similar workloads across resolutions. The CPU's 12 threads are more than enough for a game released in 2014, and its high boost clock of 5.40 GHz should handle single-threaded game logic without issue.

The data implies that the Ryzen 5 9600X is left waiting for the GPU to catch up. Even at 1080p Ultra, where the average FPS is 46, the CPU is likely not the constraint. A more powerful discrete GPU would almost certainly push this combo to much higher frame rates, especially at 1080p and 1440p. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s is also shared with the GPU, but the CPU itself has ample headroom for this workload.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the only settings that achieve a playable frame rate at 1080p are Low and Medium. At 1080p Low, the average is 95 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 72 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS. The Medium preset still provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, and the 23 FPS cost (95 to 72) is a reasonable trade for improved visual fidelity. High at 1080p yields 61 FPS, which is borderline but playable, while Ultra at 1080p drops to 46 FPS, which may feel stuttery in a third-person shooter.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more restrictive. Only Low produces a playable average at 61 FPS. Medium drops to 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS, which will likely feel inconsistent. High at 1440p is 39 FPS, and Ultra is 30 FPS—both below the 60 FPS threshold and not recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, no settings are playable. Low averages 33 FPS, Medium 25 FPS, High 21 FPS, and Ultra 16 FPS. Even the lowest preset fails to reach 40 FPS, so 4K is not a viable option for this combo in Minimum.

The best experience per the measured rows is 1080p Medium. The 72 FPS average with a 62 FPS minimum ensures consistent frame pacing, and the visual upgrade over Low is significant. For players who prioritize frame rate above all, 1080p Low at 95 FPS is the clear choice. 1440p Low is the only viable option at that resolution, but the 61 FPS average is only marginally above the 60 FPS target, and any complex scene could push it below. The data suggests that 1080p is the intended resolution for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X + Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2602nd out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of all configurations, which is a poor showing. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's low percentile (9th) dragging down what would otherwise be a strong CPU. The CPU's percentile is 81st, but the combo's overall position is dominated by the GPU's inability to render the game at competitive frame rates.

To contextualize, the GPU's nearest rivals are all NVIDIA parts from the GT 5xx and 6xx era, with scores within 2.7% of the Arc B390. These are not modern gaming GPUs, and their presence in the same tier as the Arc B390 confirms the integrated part's limitations. The combo rank of 2602 means there are 337 other combinations that perform worse, but the vast majority of systems (2601) would outperform this setup.

The rank also indicates that the CPU is not the differentiator. If the same CPU were paired with a mid-range discrete GPU, the combo rank would likely jump significantly, as the CPU's 3DMark max-threads score of 7590 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17528.5 are strong. The data suggests that any system with this CPU and a better GPU would see dramatic improvements in Minimum, but with the Arc B390, the experience is firmly entry-level. The 2602nd rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's 9th percentile standing, not the CPU's 81st percentile.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Minimum?*

A: 1080p is the only resolution that consistently delivers playable frame rates. At 1080p Low, the average is 95 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it's 72 FPS. 1440p Low averages 61 FPS, which is borderline, while 4K is unplayable at any setting (best average is 33 FPS at Low).

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

A: The Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482, which is 1.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% above the GeForce 800M, 2.5% above the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% above the GeForce GT 710. These are all legacy parts, indicating the Arc B390 is an entry-level GPU.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong (Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17528.5, single-core: 2183.5), and its percentile is 81st. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is linear with pixel count, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component, not the CPU.

*Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems in Minimum?*

A: The combo ranks 2602nd out of 2939 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of systems, primarily due to the GPU's low performance percentile of 9th.

Q: Which settings preset should I use for a smooth experience?

A: 1080p Medium is the best balance, with a 72 FPS average and a 62 FPS minimum. If you need higher frame rates, 1080p Low delivers 95 FPS. Avoid Ultra at any resolution, as it drops to 46 FPS at 1080p and 16 FPS at 4K.

Q: Does the Arc B390 have dedicated VRAM?

A: No. The memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," and bandwidth is "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system's DDR5 memory, which is a significant constraint at higher resolutions.

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

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: average 95 FPS
• Medium: average 72 FPS, minimum 62 FPS, maximum 83 FPS
• High: average 61 FPS
• Ultra: average 46 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: average 61 FPS
• Medium: average 47 FPS, minimum 40 FPS, maximum 54 FPS
• High: average 39 FPS
• Ultra: average 30 FPS

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: average 33 FPS
• Medium: average 25 FPS, minimum 21 FPS, maximum 29 FPS
• High: average 21 FPS
• Ultra: average 16 FPS

The data reveals a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only usable resolution, with Low and Medium both exceeding 60 FPS. 1440p Low barely hits 61 FPS, but every other 1440p setting falls below 50 FPS. 4K is uniformly below 35 FPS across all presets. The minimum FPS values, where recorded (Medium settings), show that frame pacing is consistent—at 1080p Medium, the 62 FPS minimum is close to the 72 FPS average, and at 1440p Medium, the 40 FPS minimum is only 7 FPS below the 47 FPS average. This suggests the GPU, while slow, is at least stable in its output. The lack of min/max data for other settings limits further analysis, but the averages alone paint a definitive picture of a system that is GPU-bound and best suited for 1080p gaming at medium-to-low presets.