Outriders

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark example of CPU headroom being entirely wasted by GPU limitations in Outriders. The data shows a combination where the processor’s 20 cores and 28 threads are effectively idle in this title, as the integrated graphics solution becomes the sole determinant of performance. This analysis breaks down the measured frames, the role of each component, and what the benchmark results indicate for playability.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. In the broader context of all tested CPUs, this chip sits at the 91st percentile, with an average benchmark score of 53,620. Its nearest rivals in synthetic testing include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which is 0.6% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7313P, which is 0.8% slower. The processor’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,122 and single-core score of 4,958 indicate a high level of computational capability.

However, in Outriders, the CPU’s role is largely academic. The measured frames per second (FPS) do not change in a way that reflects the CPU’s capabilities; they change only with GPU workload. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 115 FPS, while at 4K with Low settings, it drops to 38 FPS. This scaling is entirely consistent with GPU-bound behavior, where the processor is not the limiting factor. The CPU’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4/DDR5) are more than sufficient for this game’s engine, but they cannot compensate for the GPU’s inability to render frames quickly at higher resolutions.

The data suggests that the Core i7-14700F provides a massive performance buffer that the Intel Arc B390 never comes close to exhausting. Even at 1080p Low, where the FPS is highest at 115, the CPU is likely waiting on the GPU to finish its draw calls. The processor’s passmark multithread score of 41,317 and integer math score of 155,808 are indicative of a chip that could handle far more demanding gaming workloads, but in this specific pairing, those resources are untapped.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide a clear picture of what settings are playable. The data shows that the only preset achieving a consistently smooth experience is Low at 1080p, with an average of 115 FPS. This is the only configuration that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by a significant margin. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 83 FPS, with minimums of 71 FPS and maximums of 96 FPS, which is also acceptable for most players, though it leaves less headroom for demanding scenes.

At 1440p, the Low preset averages 72 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to 53 FPS, with minimums of 45 FPS. This indicates that 1440p Medium is borderline, and players seeking a stable experience should stick to Low. At 4K, all presets are below 40 FPS, with Low averaging 38 FPS and Medium averaging 28 FPS (minimum 23 FPS, maximum 32 FPS). These are not viable for smooth gameplay.

The best experience per the measured rows is the 1080p Low preset. It provides the highest average FPS of 115, which offers substantial headroom for drops during intense combat. The 1080p Medium preset is the second-best option, but the 83 FPS average with a 71 FPS minimum means it is closer to the edge of comfort. For players prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate, 1440p Low at 72 FPS is the only reasonable alternative, as it balances resolution and playability without dipping below the 60 FPS mark. The Ultra preset is effectively unplayable at every resolution, with averages of 45 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and 15 FPS at 4K.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this CPU and GPU in Outriders?*

A: The benchmark data shows that the 1080p Low preset yields the highest average FPS at 115, making it the optimal choice for smooth gameplay. The 1080p Medium preset is also viable with an average of 83 FPS, but it has a lower minimum of 71 FPS.

*Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming in Outriders?*

A: Yes, but only on Low settings, which average 72 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, and the High and Ultra presets are significantly lower at 40 FPS and 29 FPS respectively.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F the bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS scales directly with resolution and settings, which are GPU workloads. The CPU’s high benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,122, suggest it has ample headroom that is not being utilized.

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

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the Arc B390 scored 1,482. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 1.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M. It is 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

*Q: What is the highest FPS recorded for this combo in Outriders?*

A: The highest average FPS is 115, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The maximum FPS recorded across all tests is 96, which occurs at 1080p with Medium settings.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at any resolution?

A: No. The Ultra preset yields average FPS of 45 at 1080p, 29 at 1440p, and 15 at 4K. All of these are well below acceptable playability thresholds.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,582 out of 2,913 tested combos in Outriders. This places it in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which is consistent with the GPU’s performance characteristics. The Arc B390 itself is at the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1,482. Its nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark are all legacy NVIDIA parts, with the GeForce GT 520MX being 1.3% slower and the GeForce GT 710 being 2.7% slower.

The low combo rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU. The CPU, by contrast, is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, indicating a massive mismatch in capability. This pairing is heavily imbalanced, with the processor being capable of far more than the graphics solution can deliver. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the system only achieves 115 FPS, which is a modest result for a CPU that scores 35,122 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The rank of 2,582 out of 2,913 is a direct consequence of the GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482, which places it in the company of entry-level parts from over a decade ago.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU’s boost clock is 2500 MHz, and its memory is system shared, meaning it relies on the CPU’s memory bandwidth for performance. Its theoretical pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with an FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS.

In Outriders, the GPU’s role is the primary bottleneck. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 115, which is the highest of any configuration, but it drops precipitously as resolution increases. At 1440p Low, the FPS falls to 72, and at 4K Low, it falls to 38. This scaling indicates that the GPU is unable to maintain its fill rate at higher resolutions. The system shared memory configuration is a likely contributor, as it shares bandwidth with the CPU, but the data does not isolate this factor. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482 places it far below any discrete gaming solution, and its performance in Outriders reflects that. The texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s are not sufficient to drive high-resolution rendering in a modern looter shooter.

The data shows that the GPU’s limitations manifest most clearly at 4K, where even the Low preset only averages 38 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K averages 28 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS, indicating severe frame pacing issues. The GPU is the sole reason this combo ranks poorly, as the CPU has demonstrated it can handle far more demanding workloads.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 3840x2160 (4K), the High preset averages 21 FPS, Low averages 38 FPS, Medium averages 28 FPS (minimum 23, maximum 32), and Ultra averages 15 FPS. None of these are playable.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the High preset averages 40 FPS, Low averages 72 FPS, Medium averages 53 FPS (minimum 45, maximum 61), and Ultra averages 29 FPS. Only the Low preset exceeds 60 FPS, with the Medium preset falling below but staying above 45 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the High preset averages 63 FPS, Low averages 115 FPS, Medium averages 83 FPS (minimum 71, maximum 96), and Ultra averages 45 FPS. The Low and Medium presets are the only ones that provide a consistently playable experience, with the High preset being borderline at 63 FPS.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low is the fastest, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The delta between Low and Ultra is significant. At 1080p, the difference is 70 FPS (115 vs 45). At 1440p, it is 43 FPS (72 vs 29). At 4K, it is 23 FPS (38 vs 15). This suggests that the settings have a compounding effect on the GPU’s workload, with Ultra dramatically increasing the render cost.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and reveals a GPU-bound system. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 115 at 1080p to 72 at 1440p, a 37% reduction, and then to 38 at 4K, a 67% reduction from 1080p. At Medium settings, the drop is from 83 at 1080p to 53 at 1440p (36% reduction) and then to 28 at 4K (66% reduction). At High settings, the drop is from 63 at 1080p to 40 at 1440p (37% reduction) and then to 21 at 4K (67% reduction).

The consistent percentage reductions across all settings indicate that the limiting component is the GPU’s pixel throughput. The number of pixels at 4K (3840x2160) is exactly four times that of 1080p (1920x1080), and the measured FPS at 4K is roughly one-quarter to one-third of the 1080p value. For example, at Low settings, 115 FPS at 1080p drops to 38 FPS at 4K, which is almost exactly a 4x reduction. This is the classic signature of a fill-rate-limited GPU.

The data also shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would not scale as cleanly with resolution. The fact that the FPS drops proportionally with pixel count confirms that the Intel Arc B390 is the sole constraint. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,958, is irrelevant because the GPU cannot deliver frames fast enough to saturate it. The resolution scaling analysis unequivocally points to the GPU as the critical weakness in this combination.