Outriders

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a highly unusual configuration for running Outriders, a looter shooter released in 2021. The benchmark data shows a system where an extremely capable desktop processor is coupled with an integrated graphics solution that performs at the level of entry-level discrete GPUs from over a decade ago. The measured frame rates reflect this stark imbalance, positioning this combo in the 2582nd spot out of 2913 tested combinations. The following analysis breaks down the performance characteristics, scaling behavior, and component roles based strictly on the measured data.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and immediate, indicating that the integrated GPU is the overwhelming bottleneck across all tested settings. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 63 FPS at 1920x1080 to 40 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 23 frames. Moving from 1440p to 3840x2160 at High settings yields an additional drop of 19 frames, landing at just 21 FPS. This progression shows that the Arc B390 cannot maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions, as the pixel throughput demands exceed its capabilities.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all quality presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 115 FPS at 1080p to 72 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 38 FPS at 4K. This represents a steep 67% performance loss from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, at Medium settings, the average drops from 83 FPS at 1080p to 53 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 28 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the same trajectory, with 45 FPS at 1080p falling to 29 FPS at 1440p and then to 15 FPS at 4K.

These results indicate that the limiting component is purely the graphics solution. The Ryzen 7 7700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is not the constraining factor at any resolution. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the system achieves 115 FPS, which suggests the CPU can feed frames well beyond what the GPU can render. The consistent proportional drops with resolution scaling point to a GPU that is saturated with pixel work, leaving the high-end CPU largely idle in terms of gaming performance. The gap between 1080p and 4K at every preset is substantial, confirming that the Arc B390 is only suitable for 1080p gaming, and even then, only at lower quality settings for smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its performance profile is remarkably low, with a percentile ranking of 9 among all GPUs. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in direct competition with legacy mobile and OEM parts. The nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463 (1.3% delta), and the GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% delta). This context is crucial: the Arc B390 performs at a level similar to GPUs from over a decade ago, not modern gaming hardware.

The GPU's specifications support this assessment. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. The boost clock is listed at 2500 MHz, with a base clock of 300 MHz. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with FP32 compute at 7.680 TFLOPS. However, the memory configuration is the most telling limitation: the memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent." This means the Arc B390 relies on the system's main memory (DDR5 in this case) rather than dedicated VRAM, which severely hampers performance in a memory-intensive game like Outriders.

In the measured results, the GPU's limits are evident. At 1080p Ultra, the average frame rate is 45 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K Ultra preset produces an average of just 15 FPS, making it effectively unplayable. The GPU's role is to be the sole determinant of performance across all settings; the data shows no scenario where the CPU becomes the bottleneck. The system shared memory architecture, combined with the low compute throughput, creates a situation where reducing resolution and quality settings is the only path to higher frame rates, and even then, the gains are modest relative to what a dedicated GPU would provide.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a desktop processor from the 7000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The processor supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19088 and a single-core score of 1987, placing it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs.

Given the GPU's limitations, the CPU's role in Outriders is to provide ample headroom that is never utilized. The Ryzen 7 7700X's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (0.3% delta), Intel Core 7 250H (0.5% delta), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (0.5% delta), all of which are within a fraction of a percent in overall performance. This indicates that the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics, but the frame rate is entirely gated by the GPU.

The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the system reaches 115 FPS, the CPU is not stressed. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see diminishing returns when lowering resolution or quality settings, but instead, the frame rate scales consistently with GPU load. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration is vastly overprovisioned for Outriders, which is a game that does not heavily multi-thread on a modern desktop CPU. The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and high boost clock ensure that frame pacing is consistent, but the measured FPS numbers are purely a reflection of the GPU's output. In summary, the Ryzen 7 7700X performs its role flawlessly, but its potential is entirely untapped in this configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 115 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations in Outriders?*

A: It ranks 2582nd out of 2913 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of all configurations.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 a dedicated graphics card?

A: No, it is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a slot width of "IGP" and uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on system RAM.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings yield an average of 72 FPS, while Ultra settings yield an average of 29 FPS, a difference of 43 frames per second.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 7700X bottleneck the system in this game?

A: No, the data shows the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is in the 85th percentile for all CPUs, and the frame rates are consistently low across all settings, indicating a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What is the 3DMark Steel Nomad score for the GPU?

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which places it near the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's target frame rate. For a playable experience at 60 FPS or higher, the only viable option is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which delivers an average of 115 FPS. This is the sole configuration that provides a smooth, responsive experience suitable for a looter shooter.

At Medium settings, the 1080p preset yields an average of 83 FPS, which is still above 60 and acceptable for most players, though it drops to 71 FPS on the minimum frame rate measurement. This represents a reasonable balance between visual quality and performance, as it offers higher fidelity than Low while maintaining a playable frame rate. High settings at 1080p produce an average of 63 FPS, which is borderline; the minimum frame rate is not listed, but the average is just above the 60 FPS threshold.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the data suggests that only Low settings are viable, with an average of 72 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p drop to 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, and High settings fall to 40 FPS. At 4K, all settings are below 40 FPS, with Low at 38 FPS, Medium at 28 FPS, High at 21 FPS, and Ultra at 15 FPS, making 4K unsuitable for any gameplay. The recommendation is to use 1080p Medium for a balance of quality and performance, or 1080p Low if a higher frame rate is prioritized. Ultra settings should be avoided entirely, as they do not provide a playable frame rate at any resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates for this configuration is as follows. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 115 FPS. The Medium preset averages 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 and a maximum of 96 FPS. High settings average 63 FPS, and Ultra settings average 45 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra delivering only 39% of the frame rate of Low.

At 2560x1440, Low settings average 72 FPS. Medium settings average 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61 FPS. High settings average 40 FPS, and Ultra settings average 29 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant across all presets, ranging from a 37% reduction at Low to a 36% reduction at Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are critically low. Low settings average 38 FPS. Medium settings average 28 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 32 FPS. High settings average 21 FPS, and Ultra settings average 15 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly below playable thresholds, reinforcing the conclusion that this combo is not suited for high-resolution gaming. The data shows that the system is only capable of delivering consistent frame rates above 60 FPS at 1080p with Low or Medium settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global ranking for Outriders, this combination of AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B390 sits at rank 2582 out of 2913 tested combos. This places it in the lower 12th percentile of all configurations, indicating that it is outperformed by the vast majority of systems tested. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's poor performance, as the CPU is a high-end part that would otherwise rank much higher in processor-centric benchmarks.

The combo's rank reflects the reality that an integrated GPU, regardless of the CPU paired with it, cannot compete with systems using dedicated graphics cards. The data shows that the Arc B390's performance is on par with GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which is a low-end dedicated card from 2014. Even with a top-tier CPU like the Ryzen 7 7700X, the system's overall gaming performance is dragged down by the GPU's inability to render frames quickly.

This ranking is informative for users considering such a build. It demonstrates that the CPU choice has minimal impact on gaming performance when paired with an IGP of this class. The 2582nd rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability but rather evidence of the GPU's limitations. For any user seeking to play Outriders at acceptable settings, this combo is not recommended, as the measured data shows that it falls far short of the performance levels achieved by even mid-range dedicated GPU configurations. The combination of a high-end CPU and a low-end IGP results in a system that is severely unbalanced for gaming, and the ranking accurately captures this inefficiency.