Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks near the bottom of the database for Outriders, sitting at 2582 out of 2913 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 11th percentile of all systems tested with this title, indicating that this pairing will struggle to deliver a smooth experience in most scenarios. The data shows a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, with the CPU capable of far more than the GPU can feed to the screen.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2582 out of 2913 is a clear signal that this is not a high-performance gaming rig for Outriders. Benchmark results indicate that the system will be playable only at lower resolutions and settings, and even then, frame rates will be modest by modern standards. This ranking places the system in the lower tier of tested hardware, meaning that the vast majority of other combinations in the database will outperform it in this specific looter shooter.

The ranking is not a reflection of the CPU, which holds a 71st percentile score against all processors, but rather a consequence of the GPU's position in the 9th percentile against all graphics cards. The disparity between these two components is stark. The Ryzen 5 3600 is a competent mid-range processor from its generation, while the Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution that is not designed for demanding AAA gaming. The result is a system where the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, and the CPU's potential is largely left untapped.

Given the rank, the practical takeaway for a builder is that this system is not suitable for Outriders at high fidelity. The measured frame rates, which top out at 115 FPS only at 1080p on Low settings, confirm that the experience is best described as "functional" rather than "enjoyable" at higher visual presets. The data suggests that users should manage their expectations and prioritize frame rate over visual quality.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the single most limiting factor in this combination. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM; the bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent."

This memory setup is a critical weakness for a game like Outriders, which benefits from dedicated video memory. The GPU's raw compute capabilities are modest, with an FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s. With 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, the Arc B390 is architecturally capable, but its integrated nature and shared memory severely hamper its real-world performance in a demanding title.

The benchmark results underscore this limitation. The GPU's only recorded benchmark score is 1482 points in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are legacy NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 520MX and GT 625 OEM, with score deltas of 1.3% and 2.5% respectively. This comparison is telling: the Arc B390 is performing in the same league as graphics solutions that are over a decade old. In Outriders, this translates to an average of 21 FPS at 4K High, 40 FPS at 1440p High, and 63 FPS at 1080p High. The GPU is simply overwhelmed by the game's rendering demands at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

In contrast to the GPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a capable processor that is not the primary cause of the low frame rates. This is a 6-core, 12-thread CPU based on the Zen 2 architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The CPU features a 32 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Its TDP is a modest 65W.

The Ryzen 5 3600's benchmark scores show a solid multi-threaded performer. It scores 15045 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2124 in single-core, and it achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 7372. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 17035, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11400 and the Intel Core i7-1260P, with delta percentages of -0.2% and 0.2%, respectively. This indicates that the CPU is a balanced, mainstream part that can handle modern games without being a bottleneck in most scenarios.

In the context of Outriders, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI. Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is more than capable of this task, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate scales almost entirely with resolution and GPU load. When the resolution drops from 4K to 1080p, the average FPS on High settings increases significantly, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. The CPU is not holding the system back; it is waiting for the IGP to produce frames. The data suggests that this pairing would benefit immensely from a discrete GPU, as the Ryzen 5 3600 has ample headroom to drive a much more powerful graphics card.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal way to play Outriders with this hardware is to prioritize the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the system achieves an average of 115 FPS, which is the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth and responsive experience. This is the only setting that pushes the frame rate well beyond the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for gameplay that requires quick reactions.

The Medium preset at 1080p offers a compromise, with an average of 83 FPS and a minimum of 71 FPS. This is still playable and provides better visual fidelity than Low. If you can tolerate slightly lower frame rates for improved textures and effects, Medium is a viable option. However, the jump to High at 1080p drops the average to 63 FPS, which is playable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 45 FPS, is not recommended as it falls below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

For those with 1440p monitors, the Low preset is the only viable option, yielding an average of 72 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 53 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but it is riskier due to the minimum of 45 FPS. High and Ultra at 1440p produce averages of 40 FPS and 29 FPS, respectively, which are too low for a fast-paced looter shooter. At 4K, even the Low preset only manages an average of 38 FPS, making the game effectively unplayable at that resolution. In summary, the data points to 1080p Low or Medium as the best experience, with 1440p Low as a secondary option for those who prioritize resolution over detail.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Outriders at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with the Low preset, where the average FPS is 115. The Medium preset also exceeds 60 FPS at 1080p, with an average of 83 FPS. At higher resolutions or settings, the frame rate drops below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this combo?

A: The GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The Ryzen 5 3600 performs in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The frame rates scale significantly with resolution, which is a hallmark of a GPU-limited system.

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

A: The Arc B390's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 625 OEM, with score deltas of 1.3% and 2.5%, respectively. This places its performance level in the same range as those older, low-end parts.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the only playable frame rates. At 1440p, only the Low preset averages above 60 FPS, and at 4K, the game is not playable, with the highest average being 38 FPS on Low.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 3600 a good match for a more powerful GPU?

A: The benchmark data suggests yes. The CPU has a high average score of 17035 and sits near the Intel Core i5-11400 in performance. Its low frame rate in Outriders is due to the GPU, not the CPU, indicating it has headroom for a more capable graphics card.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve in Outriders?

A: The maximum recorded average FPS is 115, which occurs at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is the only configuration in the data that approaches or exceeds double the 60 FPS target.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and clearly illustrates the GPU's limitations. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 63 at 1080p to 40 at 1440p and then to 21 at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 67% drop from 1080p to 4K. This steep curve is characteristic of a system where the graphics processor is overloaded, as the rendering resolution directly impacts the GPU's workload.

The same pattern is visible across all presets. On Low settings, the average FPS drops from 115 at 1080p to 72 at 1440p and 38 at 4K. On Medium, the averages are 83, 53, and 28, respectively. The scaling is not linear, which indicates that the GPU is hitting a compute or memory bandwidth ceiling as the pixel count increases. The fact that the CPU is not the limiting factor is confirmed by the relatively high frame rates at 1080p; if the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. The data strongly suggests that the limiting component is the Intel Arc B390's inability to process the increased pixel data at higher resolutions, particularly its shared memory architecture which struggles with the larger frame buffers required for 1440p and 4K rendering. This system is best served by a 1080p display, as that is the only resolution where it can deliver a consistently acceptable frame rate.