Outriders

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a curious case in Outriders, a looter shooter known for its dense particle effects and enemy count. The data reveals a system that is heavily bottlenecked by the graphics processor, particularly as resolution climbs. The Arc B390’s integrated nature, combined with the i3-12100F’s modest core count, creates a performance curve that is predictable in its shape but severe in its drop-off. The measured frames per second (FPS) across the board indicate that this combo is for lower-resolution play, with the 1080p results being the only ones approaching a playable standard for a fast-paced action game.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about the limiting component in this pairing. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 63 FPS at 1920x1080 to 40 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 23 FPS. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average plummets to 21 FPS, which is a 67% decrease from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario; the rendering load is increasing faster than the graphics processor can handle, and the CPU is not the primary constraint at these higher resolutions.

The data suggests that the Intel Arc B390’s performance collapses under the pixel count of 4K. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases, indicating that the GPU is struggling with both the resolution and the graphical complexity. At 1080p Low, the system hits 115 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 38 FPS. This is a 77 FPS reduction, showing that even on the lowest settings, the resolution alone is enough to cripple the frame rate. The implication is that the Arc B390’s memory bandwidth, which is "System Dependent" and shared, becomes a severe bottleneck at 4K, as the iGPU must compete for system memory bandwidth.

The scaling between 1440p and 1080p is less punishing but still significant. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 83 at 1080p to 53 at 1440p, a 30 FPS difference. This suggests that 1440p is a more reasonable target, but the performance is still not ideal. The most telling metric is the 4K Ultra result of 15 FPS, which is effectively unplayable. The data indicates that this combo is not designed for 4K gaming, and the resolution scaling curve shows that the Arc B390 is the clear limiting factor, with the i3-12100F having little influence on the outcome beyond 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where the system achieves an average of 115 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a frame rate comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, which is critical for a looter shooter’s responsiveness. The High preset at 1080p yields 63 FPS, which is playable but leaves little headroom for demanding combat sequences with multiple enemies and effects. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a balance at 83 FPS, but the jump from Low to Medium costs 32 FPS, which is a significant trade-off for visual fidelity.

The data suggests that for a stable and smooth experience, sticking to Low settings at 1080p is the safest choice. At 2560x1440, the best result is 72 FPS on Low, but this is a marginal improvement over the 1080p High setting and sacrifices visual quality. The High preset at 1440p drops to 40 FPS, which is too low for a game that requires quick reactions. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it only achieves 45 FPS at 1080p and falls to 15 FPS at 4K, indicating that the graphical settings are pushing the GPU beyond its capabilities.

The Medium preset at 1080p, with its measured min FPS of 71 and max of 96, shows some frame time inconsistency. The Low preset is the only one that appears to avoid major dips, making it the most reliable for competitive play. For users who prioritize visuals over frame rate, the High preset at 1080p is the upper limit, but the data warns that any higher settings or resolution will result in a sub-30 FPS experience. The recommendation is clear: keep the resolution at 1080p and the settings at Low to maximize playability.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. It has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. Its performance, however, is severely constrained by its memory configuration, which is "System Shared" with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system’s RAM, which is a massive disadvantage compared to dedicated graphics cards with their own high-speed memory. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is in the bottom tier of performance.

The benchmark results show that the Arc B390’s nearest rivals are extremely old, low-end dedicated GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710. The data indicates that the Arc B390 is 1.3% ahead of the GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710. This context is crucial; the Arc B390 is not just a weak iGPU, it is comparable to a decade-old entry-level discrete card. In Outriders, this translates to the GPU being the absolute bottleneck. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 15 FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU’s inability to process the high-resolution textures and shaders.

The GPU’s clock behavior is also telling. The boost clock of 2500 MHz is high, but the base clock of 300 MHz suggests that the chip can downclock significantly under load or thermal constraints. The fact that it has a 80 W TDP for an integrated solution is unusual, but it does not compensate for the shared memory bottleneck. The data clearly shows that the Arc B390 is the limiting component in this combo, as the FPS scales almost linearly with resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU that is maxed out. The 9th percentile ranking reinforces that this is not a gaming-capable part for modern titles at high resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2582 out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, which is a poor result. The rank reflects the combined limitations of the GPU and the CPU, but the GPU’s weakness is the dominant factor. This ranking means that the vast majority of other hardware combinations, even those with older CPUs, will outperform this setup in Outriders. The data indicates that this combo is not competitive for gaming, and its position is largely due to the Arc B390’s low performance ceiling.

The combo rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s 9th percentile standing. While the i3-12100F is a decent budget CPU, as indicated by its 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, it cannot overcome the GPU’s deficit. The data suggests that pairing this CPU with even a modest dedicated GPU would yield a significantly higher combo rank. The measured FPS results, which are mostly below 60 FPS at 1080p with higher settings, align with the low rank. This is not a surprise, as the combo’s performance is essentially capped by the iGPU’s capabilities.

The rank of 2582 out of 2913 is a stark warning. It implies that for Outriders, this hardware combination is among the least capable. The only positive aspect is that it is not the absolute worst, but the data shows that there are very few combos that perform worse. The user would be better served by lowering expectations to 720p or using the system for less demanding games. The combo rank effectively confirms that the Arc B390 is unsuitable for this title, and the i3-12100F’s potential is wasted in this configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It has 12 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its benchmark scores are respectable for a budget chip, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and a single-core score of 1674. The PassMark multi-thread score of 14015 and single-thread score of 3444 also indicate solid performance for its class. This CPU is not the bottleneck in this game, as its performance is more than adequate for the GPU’s output.

The data shows that the CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500 and Intel Core 3 N355, with the i3-12100F being 0.3% ahead of the i5-9500 in average benchmark score. This suggests that the CPU is competitive with older six-core parts, which reflects its efficient architecture. However, in Outriders, the CPU’s role is secondary. The measured FPS drops are too steep to be explained by CPU limitations. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 115 FPS, but at 4K Low, it falls to 38 FPS, which is a GPU-side bottleneck.

The i3-12100F’s 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for Outriders, as the game is not heavily multi-threaded in a way that would require more cores. The boost clock of 4.30 GHz provides good single-thread performance, which is often more important for game logic. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the FPS scaling is consistent with GPU load. The only scenario where the CPU might matter is at 1080p Low, where the 115 FPS result shows the CPU can handle the frame rate, but the GPU is still trailing. In this combo, the CPU is effectively waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 115. Moving to Medium drops the average to 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 and a maximum of 96. High settings yield 63 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45 FPS. These numbers show a clear trade-off between visual quality and performance, with Low being the only setting that offers a significant margin above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. Low settings produce 72 FPS, Medium drops to 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61. High settings fall to 40 FPS, and Ultra is a playable but low 29 FPS. The 1440p results are borderline, with only Low settings providing a comfortable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 38 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings drop to 28 FPS, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 32. High settings are at 21 FPS, and Ultra is a slideshow at 15 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly poor, confirming that this resolution is not viable for this combo. The data shows that the sweet spot is 1080p Low, and any other configuration requires a significant compromise on either resolution or settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Outriders with this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides acceptable performance. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 115, while at 1440p Low it drops to 72 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 38 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Outriders?

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 38 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K averages only 15 FPS, which is unplayable.

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

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile, while the CPU is in the 68th percentile. The FPS drops significantly with resolution, indicating a GPU limitation.

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

A: The Arc B390 is 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, making it comparable to very old, low-end dedicated graphics cards.

Q: What is the highest settings preset that maintains above 60 FPS?

A: Only the Low preset at 1080p, which averages 115 FPS, maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 83 FPS, but the High preset drops to 63 FPS.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking among tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2582 out of 2913 tested combos in Outriders, placing it in the bottom 11% of all tested hardware configurations.