Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a highly specific case study in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is profoundly limited by its graphics solution, with the CPU's substantial processing power left largely untapped at higher resolutions. The data shows a clear narrative: this is a combination built for esports-level performance at 1080p on lower presets, but one that struggles to maintain playability as resolution and graphical fidelity increase.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 95 FPS. Moving to 1440p at Low settings, the average falls to 61 FPS, a significant 35.8% reduction. Pushing further to 4K at Low settings yields an average of just 33 FPS, which is a 65.3% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the rendering workload is overwhelming the GPU, as the resolution increase directly multiplies the number of pixels the Intel Arc B390 must process.

The pattern holds across all settings. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 61 at 1080p to 39 at 1440p and then to 21 at 4K. The transition from 1440p to 4K consistently halves the frame rate or worse, which is a classic symptom of a GPU that has hit its memory bandwidth or fill-rate limit. The fact that the 1080p Low result (95 FPS) is more than double the 4K Low result (33 FPS) suggests that the GPU's raw pixel throughput is the primary constraint. The CPU is not the limiting factor in these higher-resolution scenarios; otherwise, the frame rates would remain relatively flat as resolution increased.

Interestingly, the scaling between settings at the same resolution is also non-linear. For instance, at 1080p, moving from Low to Medium reduces performance by 24.2% (from 95 to 72 FPS), but moving from High to Ultra reduces it by 24.6% (from 61 to 46 FPS). This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces effects that are particularly demanding on the Arc B390's limited resources. The data implies that to maintain a smooth experience, users must aggressively trade off resolution for settings, as the GPU cannot handle both high fidelity and high pixel counts simultaneously.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is a low-power integrated graphics solution, and its benchmark results confirm it is the dominant limiting component in this pairing. Its average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a stark indicator of its performance class. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 is its sole dedicated benchmark, and its nearest rivals are all older, low-end discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (scoring 1463, a 1.3% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (scoring 1443, a 2.7% delta). This places its raw compute capability in the same tier as decade-old entry-level hardware.

The GPU's specifications further explain its performance ceiling. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, but its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM instead of dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which is a critical weakness. In a game like Minimum, which likely requires frequent texture streaming and geometry processing, the lack of dedicated high-bandwidth memory causes significant stuttering and frame rate drops, especially as resolution and texture quality increase. This is why the 4K Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 21, while the average is 25, indicating frame time inconsistency.

The GPU's architecture, Xe3-LPG on a 3 nm process, is efficient but not powerful. With 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, its fillrate is limited to 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. These figures are modest and directly cap the number of pixels and texels it can process per second. The data indicates that the Arc B390's role in this system is to provide a baseline level of graphical output, but it is simply not equipped to handle the demands of 1440p or 4K gaming with high detail settings. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (16 FPS average) is effectively unplayable, highlighting a hard limit of the GPU's capabilities.

CPU Role

In stark contrast to the GPU, the Intel Core i5-12400F is a powerful desktop processor that is vastly underutilized in this configuration. Its average benchmark score of 19039 places it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, a high ranking that underscores its processing strength. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it provides ample parallelism for modern game engines. Its 3DMark multi-threaded score of 5912 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380 demonstrate substantial computational throughput that far exceeds the demands of a 2014 title.

The CPU's high single-thread performance is also noteworthy. Its 3DMark single-thread score of 909 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1680 ensure that game logic, physics calculations, and draw calls are processed without creating a bottleneck. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is likely the limiting factor, the CPU has significant headroom. The data suggests that the i5-12400F is more than capable of feeding frames to a much more powerful GPU than the Arc B390. In this specific pairing, the CPU is not the constraint; it is the anchor that provides a stable platform, ensuring that the system's performance is purely dictated by the graphics card.

This CPU-GPU imbalance is a critical finding. The i5-12400F's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (scoring 19047, a 0% delta) and the Intel Core 3 201E (scoring 19056, a -0.1% delta), are in the same performance bracket. However, the GPU's nearest rivals are entry-level parts from over a decade ago. This creates a massive performance gap within the system. The data implies that if a more capable GPU were installed, the overall system performance in Minimum would improve dramatically, as the CPU is ready to deliver far higher frame rates than the current graphics solution allows.

How This Combo Ranks

When looking at the overall ranking for Minimum, this specific combination of Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B390 places at 2602 out of 2939 tested combos. This rank, which puts it in the bottom 11.5% of all tested systems, is a direct reflection of the GPU's severe limitations. The CPU's high percentile ranking (73rd) does little to boost the combo's position in the game, as the frame rates are almost entirely dependent on the graphics card's performance.

The data indicates that this combo is not designed for high-end gaming. Its rank of 2602 suggests that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in the database will outperform it in Minimum. This is a crucial point for hardware analysts: a powerful CPU cannot compensate for a weak GPU in a graphically intensive task. The combo's position is a cautionary tale about system balance. The user is essentially paying for a high-tier CPU but receiving a low-tier gaming experience due to the integrated GPU.

The implications are clear. For users seeking to play Minimum at high settings or high resolutions, this combo will be disappointing. The frame rates are simply too low for a smooth experience. However, for a user who prioritizes CPU performance for other tasks and plays games at 1080p with low settings, this combo could be acceptable. The ranking data, combined with the measured FPS, suggests that this is a productivity-first system that can handle light gaming on the side, but it is far from a recommendation for a gaming-focused build.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is found at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 95 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches the 60 FPS threshold with significant headroom, providing a smooth and responsive experience suitable for the fast-paced action of a third-person shooter. The 1080p Medium preset, with an average of 72 FPS and a minimum of 62 FPS, is also a viable option for users who want slightly better visuals without sacrificing playability.

The data suggests avoiding higher resolutions. At 2560x1440, the best result is 61 FPS on Low settings, which is barely playable and offers no headroom for dips in performance. The 1440p Medium preset drops to an average of 47 FPS, which will feel choppy. At 3840x2160, all presets are unplayable, with the highest average being 33 FPS on Low. The 4K Medium preset shows an average of 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 FPS, indicating significant frame pacing issues.

Therefore, the recommended path is clear. For a competitive experience, use 1080p Low. For a more visually rich experience that remains fluid, 1080p Medium is the best compromise. The Ultra presets at any resolution are not recommended, as they push the frame rate below the playability threshold. The data strongly suggests that the Arc B390's "System Shared" memory becomes a bottleneck at higher settings, causing severe performance degradation. Users should prioritize frame rate over fidelity to get the most out of this hardware.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the best for performance, delivering an average of 95 FPS. For better visuals while maintaining smoothness, 1920x1080 with Medium settings offers an average of 72 FPS and a minimum of 62 FPS.

*Q: Can I play Minimum at 4K with this CPU and GPU?*

A: No. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 33 FPS. The Ultra preset averages just 16 FPS, making the game unplayable at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the definitive limiting factor. The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile, while the Intel Core i5-12400F scores 19039 and sits in the 73rd percentile. The frame rates scale dramatically with resolution, which is a clear sign of a GPU bottleneck.

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

A: Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463, just 1.3% lower than the Arc B390's 1482. Other rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446). This shows the B390 is in the same performance class as these older, entry-level parts.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 95 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages just 46 FPS. This represents a 51.6% performance decrease when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Does the CPU's performance leave headroom for a better GPU?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-12400F has a high multi-threaded score of 12380 in Cinebench R23 and a single-thread score of 1680. Its performance is not the bottleneck, suggesting that pairing it with a more powerful GPU would result in significantly higher frame rates in Minimum.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact average, minimum, and maximum frame rates measured for the Intel Core i5-12400F + Intel Arc B390 combination.

3840x2160 (4K)

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

2560x1440 (1440p)

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

1920x1080 (1080p)

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

The data reveals a clear and consistent performance hierarchy. The system is only capable of delivering a fluid 60+ FPS experience at 1080p with Low or Medium settings. The frame rate drops precipitously at higher resolutions, confirming the Intel Arc B390 as the absolute performance ceiling for this configuration.