Minimum

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Minimum shows a steep and consistent drop as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At 1080p High settings, the combo delivers 55 FPS average. Moving to 1440p High drops that to 35 FPS, a 36% reduction. Pushing to 4K High yields just 19 FPS, which is a 65% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is severe, indicating that the graphics processor is the dominant limiting factor once you leave 1080p territory.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens dramatically at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the spread from Low (85 FPS) to Ultra (42 FPS) is 43 FPS. At 1440p, that spread narrows to 28 FPS (55 Low vs 27 Ultra). At 4K, the spread compresses further to 15 FPS (30 Low vs 15 Ultra). This compression at 4K tells a clear story: the GPU is so overwhelmed at that resolution that even dropping settings to Low cannot rescue playable frame rates. The data suggests that 1080p is the only resolution where this combination can approach smooth gameplay, and even then, only at Low or Medium settings.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing. At Medium settings, the drop from 42 FPS at 1440p to 23 FPS at 4K represents a 45% loss. At Ultra settings, the drop from 27 FPS to 15 FPS is a 44% loss. This consistency across settings indicates that the bottleneck is purely pixel throughput — the render resolution is choking the GPU regardless of how much graphical work is being asked of it. The 1080p to 1440p transition is more forgiving, with Medium settings dropping from 65 to 42 FPS (35% loss), but still far from ideal.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is built on the Xe3-LPG architecture using a 3 nm process node. Its specifications are modest by modern standards: 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation units. The GPU also features 10 ray tracing cores. Clock speeds are listed with a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning the GPU relies on the host system's memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This shared memory setup is a critical factor in the performance results, as bandwidth becomes "System Dependent."

The GPU's benchmark data is sparse but telling. In 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12), it scores 1184. This places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is exceptionally low. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (scoring 1186, 0.2% ahead), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (scoring 1190, 0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (scoring 1192, 0.7% ahead). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% behind the Arc B370. These rivals are all legacy parts from more than a decade ago, which contextualizes the Arc B370's position as a very low-end performer.

The GPU's pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1). The power envelope is just 25 W TDP, and it is classified as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors and a slot width of "IGP." This is not a discrete card; it is integrated into the platform. The display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," which further confirms this is a mobile or embedded-oriented part.

The combination of shared memory, low shader count, and minimal pixel throughput directly explains the 4K results. At 3840x2160, the GPU simply cannot fill pixels fast enough. The fact that Low settings at 4K only reach 30 FPS — while 1080p Low reaches 85 FPS — shows that the GPU's raw throughput is the limiting factor, not the game's settings complexity. The 10 ray tracing cores are present, but at these performance levels, enabling ray tracing would be impractical in any modern title.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K smoothly?

A: No. The best 4K result is 30 FPS average at Low settings. Medium settings drop to 23 FPS, High to 19 FPS, and Ultra to 15 FPS. None of these reach a 60 FPS target, and even 30 FPS is only achieved at the lowest settings.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows 1080p is the only viable resolution. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 85 FPS average. Medium settings reach 65 FPS. High and Ultra drop to 55 FPS and 42 FPS respectively. 1440p and 4K all fall below 55 FPS even at Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (0.2% ahead), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7% ahead). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4% behind). The Arc B370 sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Does the CPU matter for this game's performance?

A: The CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios. The Intel Core i7-13700K has 16 cores and 24 threads with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and scores in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are far too steep to be CPU-related; they are purely GPU-bound.

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

A: At 1080p, Medium averages 65 FPS (with a minimum of 56 FPS and maximum of 75 FPS). Ultra averages 42 FPS. That is a 35% performance penalty for enabling Ultra settings.

Q: Is the GPU's memory configuration a problem?

A: The GPU uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth. This is a significant limitation because the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access. The benchmark results reflect this constraint, as the GPU's performance is far below what even its modest compute figures might suggest.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2703 out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the bottom 8% of all combinations tested. The rank is driven almost entirely by the GPU's severe performance deficit. The CPU, by contrast, is a high-end part that ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This creates a massive imbalance: a top-tier processor paired with a bottom-tier graphics solution.

The combo's position in the database is consistent with the measured FPS data. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 85 FPS, which is playable for a third-person shooter. However, the rank reflects performance across all resolutions and settings. With 4K results ranging from 15 to 30 FPS and 1440p results ranging from 27 to 55 FPS, the overall score is dragged down significantly. The GPU's 5th percentile standing among all GPUs is the primary factor in this low rank.

In practical terms, this rank means the combo is only suitable for low-resolution, low-settings gaming. The CPU has headroom to spare — it could drive much higher frame rates if paired with a more capable GPU. The data suggests that this pairing is heavily mismatched. The i7-13700K's performance in synthetic benchmarks (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745, Geekbench multi-core of 19429) shows it is a powerful processor, but the Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 shows it cannot translate that CPU power into gaming performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and features 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The CPU's TDP is 125 W, and it was released with a launch MSRP of $409.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-13700K performs strongly. It scores 30745 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2116 in single-core. Geekbench scores are 19429 multi-core and 2529 single-core. PassMark multi-thread score is 45887, with a single-thread score of 4333. The CPU's percentile rank among all CPUs is 89, meaning it outperforms 89% of tested processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (scoring 46971, 0.2% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (scoring 47022, 0.3% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (scoring 46654, 0.5% behind). The Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46653, also 0.5% behind.

For Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The i7-13700K is massively overqualified for this task. The game's release date of 2014 means it was designed for CPUs with far fewer cores and lower clock speeds. The i7-13700K's 16 cores and 5.40 GHz boost clock provide enormous headroom. The measured FPS data confirms the CPU is not the bottleneck: at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 85 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 42 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would not vary so drastically with GPU settings changes.

The CPU's 30 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel memory support are more than sufficient for this game. The game's engine, being from 2014, likely cannot utilize more than a few threads effectively. The i7-13700K's single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2116) is particularly relevant, as older games often rely heavily on single-thread performance. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4333 reinforces that this is a strong single-threaded performer. In this context, the CPU is not just adequate — it is excessive for the demands of Minimum.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 85 FPS. Medium settings average 65 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 75 FPS. High settings average 55 FPS. Ultra settings average 42 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 43 FPS, showing a clear performance hierarchy across settings. For a third-person shooter, 55 FPS at High is borderline playable, while 85 FPS at Low is smooth.

At 2560x1440, performance drops significantly. Low settings average 55 FPS. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS. Ultra settings average 27 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is 30 FPS (85 to 55), a 35% reduction. At High settings, the drop is 20 FPS (55 to 35), a 36% reduction. This resolution is only playable at Low settings, and even then, it is marginal.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 30 FPS. Medium settings average 23 FPS, with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 26 FPS. High settings average 19 FPS. Ultra settings average 15 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with no settings combination reaching even 35 FPS. The data indicates that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo in Minimum, regardless of graphical settings.

The Medium settings data points are the only ones with min/max FPS recorded. At 1080p Medium, the range is 56 to 75 FPS, a 19 FPS variance. At 1440p Medium, the range is 36 to 48 FPS, a 12 FPS variance. At 4K Medium, the range is 19 to 26 FPS, a 7 FPS variance. The narrowing variance at higher resolutions further confirms that the GPU is saturated — there is less headroom for frame time fluctuations because the GPU is consistently at its limit. The overall pattern across all resolutions and settings is one of severe GPU limitation, with the CPU's capabilities going largely unutilized.