Minimum

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 is a study in extreme imbalance. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is a low-power integrated graphics solution. In "Minimum," this configuration lands at rank 2703 out of 2939 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems. The benchmark data shows a processor capable of massive compute workloads utterly constrained by a graphics solution that the data places in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to determine what this pairing can actually deliver in this 2014 third-person shooter.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is the dominant component in this pairing. With 14 cores and 20 threads, it is a modern desktop processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture and the 10 nm process node. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The processor has a 24 MB shared L3 cache, 2 MB per core of L2 cache, and 80 KB per core of L1 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus. This is a CPU that scores in the 90th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49394.

In synthetic workloads, this processor is exceptionally strong. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 32544, while its single-core score is 4594. The Geekbench results are similarly robust: 17085 for multicore and 2445 for single-core. PassMark tests show strong integer and floating-point performance at 125982 and 93048 respectively. The data shows this CPU is a top-tier performer. The nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which is 0.3% slower on average, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which is 0.4% slower. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% slower, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8% faster. This places the i5-14600KF in a very tight performance band at the top of the consumer CPU stack.

However, the measured FPS in "Minimum" reveals that this CPU power is largely irrelevant to the gaming experience. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 85 FPS. When the resolution is scaled up to 1440p, the average drops to 55 FPS at Low. This is a 35% reduction in performance. The CPU has enough headroom to handle any frame rate the GPU can produce, but the GPU cannot produce frames fast enough to challenge the CPU. The data suggests the processor is never the limiting factor. Its high single-core performance, evidenced by the 462 Cinebench R15 single-core score, is more than sufficient for a game from 2014. The CPU's role here is to be ready for workloads it will never see in this configuration. The bottleneck is entirely elsewhere, and the measured data points to the GPU as the sole constraint on performance.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is the polar opposite of the i5-14600KF. This GPU is based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and the Panther Lake chip, fabricated on a 3 nm process node. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 25 W TDP. Its base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," indicating it has no dedicated graphics memory of its own.

The compute resources are minimal. It has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. There are 10 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 and 12.29 TFLOPS for FP16 (2:1). In the database, this GPU sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184. Its sole benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, produced a score of 1184. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which is 0.2% faster, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which is 0.5% faster. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M is 0.7% faster, while the AMD FirePro M2000 is 1.4% slower. These rivals are all legacy or low-power parts, confirming the Arc B370's position as an entry-level integrated solution.

The gaming performance data reflects this. In "Minimum," the combo's best result is 85 FPS at 1080p Low. At 1080p High, it drops to 55 FPS. The lack of dedicated VRAM means it shares memory bandwidth with the system, which is a significant handicap. The GPU's 20 ROPs limit fill-rate dependent tasks, and the 40 TMUs restrict texture throughput. The boost clock of 2400 MHz is respectable for an IGP, but the sheer lack of execution units compared to a discrete GPU is the primary challenge. The data shows that this GPU is only capable of playable frame rates at the lowest settings and resolution. It is not a component designed for high-refresh or high-fidelity gaming, and the measured results in this game confirm that assessment.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2703 out of 2939 tested combos in "Minimum." This places the pairing in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this game. This is a very poor ranking, driven entirely by the GPU's limitations. The CPU's high percentile ranking (90th) does not translate into a good combo ranking because the GPU holds the entire system back.

The data shows a stark contrast between the component's theoretical capabilities and the system's practical performance. The CPU is a top-10% part, while the GPU is in the bottom 5%. The resulting combo is near the bottom of the overall list. The measured FPS numbers confirm this. At 1080p Ultra, the combo manages only 42 FPS. At 1080p Medium, it gets 65 FPS. These are not competitive numbers for a system with a 90th percentile CPU. The bottleneck is so severe that the CPU's performance is essentially wasted. The combo rank of 2703 indicates that the vast majority of other tested systems, even those with much weaker CPUs, outperform this pairing because they have more capable graphics solutions.

This ranking is a clear indicator that the pairing is ill-suited for gaming. The data shows that the GPU is the definitive limiting factor. While the CPU could drive far higher frame rates in this game, the GPU cannot deliver them. The result is a system that underperforms its best component by a wide margin. The 2703 rank is not an anomaly; it is consistent with the GPU's 5th percentile standing and the measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in "Minimum"?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 85, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2703 out of 2939 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it performs better than only 5% of the database.

Q: How much faster is the CPU than its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900's score of 49228.

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

A: At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 85 on Low settings to 42 on Ultra settings, a reduction of 43 FPS.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated VRAM?

A: No, the memory configuration is listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory instead of dedicated graphics memory.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 85 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average FPS drops to 55, which is a 35% decrease. At 4K Low, the average FPS falls to 30, which is a further 45% decrease from 1440p. The trend is consistent across all settings levels.

At High settings, the progression is 55 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. This is a 65% drop from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, the FPS goes from 65 at 1080p to 42 at 1440p and 23 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows 42 FPS at 1080p, 27 FPS at 1440p, and 15 FPS at 4K.

These results indicate that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases, which is a hallmark of GPU limitation. The GPU is responsible for rendering pixels, and increasing the resolution increases the pixel count, which directly increases the GPU's workload. The CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU is overwhelmed.

The data shows a clear pattern: the higher the resolution, the lower the frame rate, regardless of the quality preset. This is conclusive evidence that the Intel Arc B370 is the sole limiting factor in this system. The CPU is not holding back performance at any resolution; it is the GPU that cannot keep up with the demands of higher resolutions. The 4K results are particularly telling, with even Low settings only achieving 30 FPS, which is barely playable. The scaling behavior confirms that any upgrade to the graphics solution would yield a significant performance increase, while the CPU would require no change.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of what settings are playable. The only configuration that delivers a consistently smooth experience is 1080p Low, with an average FPS of 85. This is the only setting and resolution combination that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold for fluid gameplay. At 1440p Low, the average FPS drops to 55, which is playable but may show some stutter in fast-paced scenes. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 55, which is similar to 1440p Low. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 65, which is also a viable option.

The data indicates that for the best balance of visual quality and performance, 1080p Medium is the optimal choice. It offers an average of 65 FPS, which is above the playable threshold, and provides better visuals than Low settings. The Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 56, ensuring that even the worst-case frame times remain acceptable. In contrast, 1080p High drops to 55 FPS average, which is marginally lower, and 1080p Ultra falls to 42 FPS, which begins to feel sluggish.

At higher resolutions, the options are limited. At 1440p, even Low settings only achieve 55 FPS. This is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 42 FPS, which is borderline. The 4K resolution is not recommended for any preset. The best result at 4K is 30 FPS on Low settings, which is below the acceptable playability threshold for most users. The Ultra preset at 4K is unplayable at 15 FPS.

Therefore, the recommendation is to play at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This delivers an average FPS of 65 with a minimum of 56, providing a smooth experience with improved visual fidelity over Low. If a higher frame rate is prioritized over visual quality, 1080p Low at 85 FPS is the alternative. The data shows that sacrificing resolution for quality is not a viable strategy, as the GPU struggles at 1440p and 4K. The best experience is firmly at 1080p, with Medium offering the best compromise between performance and visual quality.