Outriders

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache. In Outriders, this CPU provides substantial headroom for the GPU to operate, but the benchmark data reveals that the integrated Intel Arc B370 graphics solution becomes the primary bottleneck at nearly every resolution and settings combination. The CPU's performance percentile of 96 versus all CPUs indicates it is a top-tier part, yet its capabilities are largely untapped in this configuration because the GPU is the limiting factor across the board.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus brings 24 cores and 24 threads to the table, a configuration that is far beyond what Outriders, a looter shooter from 2021, typically requires for smooth gameplay. The processor's high boost clock of 5.80 GHz on a single core ensures that the game's primary game logic thread is well-served, while the 24-core count handles any background tasks and the game's engine overhead without strain. The CPU's L3 cache of 36 MB shared across all cores helps keep frequently accessed data close at hand, which can reduce latency in CPU-bound scenarios, though this is not a major factor in the measured results.

Benchmark data for the CPU shows strong synthetic performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. The PassMark multithread score of 60860 and single-thread score of 4823 further confirm that this processor is a high-end part. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 83807 on average, which is just 0.2% lower than this processor's 84003 average benchmark score, indicating they are essentially equivalent in raw compute power. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 trail by 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively, while the EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% ahead.

In the context of Outriders, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and process game state updates. With such a powerful CPU, the frame rate should not be limited by processor performance, even at low settings where the GPU workload is lighter. The data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 104 FPS, which is the highest measured in any configuration, but this is still a modest result for a high-end CPU paired with a weak GPU. The CPU is clearly not the constraint; even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is overwhelmed, the CPU has enough headroom to handle the game's demands. The fact that the CPU's average benchmark score is 84003 and its percentile is 96 means it outperforms the vast majority of other processors, yet the frame rates in Outriders are low, directly pointing to the GPU as the limiting component.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process by Intel. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. The GPU has 10 ray tracing cores, but its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 memory for VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical limitation for a game like Outriders, which features detailed environments and effects that demand dedicated video memory bandwidth.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest, with a FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s. These specifications place the Arc B370 in the lower tier of graphics solutions, as evidenced by its 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1184, which is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%). The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (-0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4%). This puts the Arc B370 in the same performance class as decade-old discrete GPUs, which explains its struggles in Outriders.

In practice, the GPU's shared memory architecture and low compute throughput mean that it cannot sustain high frame rates at demanding settings. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the system hits 104 FPS, but this drops to 57 FPS at 1080p High. At 1440p, the frame rates fall to 65 FPS on Low and 36 FPS on High. At 4K, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed, with only 34 FPS on Low and 19 FPS on High. The GPU's boost clock of 2400 MHz is reasonably high for an integrated part, but it does not compensate for the lack of dedicated VRAM bandwidth, which is a major factor in the performance degradation at higher resolutions. The 25 W TDP also indicates that this is a power-efficient but low-performance part, further confirming that it is not designed for gaming at high settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which strongly indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck. At Low settings, the system achieves 104 FPS at 1080p, 65 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K. This represents a drop of 37.5% from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47.7% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is roughly inverse to the pixel count increase, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering workload scales directly with resolution.

At High settings, the pattern is similar but with lower absolute numbers: 57 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 36.8% from 1080p to 1440p and 47.2% from 1440p to 4K. This consistent scaling across different settings confirms that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting and that the CPU is not interfering with frame delivery. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates to be more consistent across resolutions, as the CPU workload does not increase significantly with resolution. Instead, the FPS drops sharply as resolution rises, leaving no doubt that the Arc B370 is the limiting component.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (104 FPS) and Ultra (41 FPS) is 63 FPS. At 1440p, the gap between Low (65 FPS) and Ultra (26 FPS) is 39 FPS. At 4K, the gap between Low (34 FPS) and Ultra (13 FPS) is 21 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is hitting its absolute limits, and even reducing settings cannot fully compensate for the lack of raw power. The fact that the system cannot achieve playable frame rates at 4K Ultra (13 FPS) or even 4K High (19 FPS) highlights the GPU's severe limitations.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 104 FPS, which is the highest measured value and is smooth for most gaming scenarios. However, the Medium preset offers 75 FPS, which is still very playable and provides better visual quality than Low. The High preset at 57 FPS is acceptable for those who prefer visuals over frame rate, but the Ultra preset at 41 FPS begins to feel less responsive, especially in a fast-paced looter shooter where aiming and reaction time matter. For 1080p, the Medium preset strikes the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, offering a 75 FPS average with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS, ensuring consistent frame pacing.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset yields 65 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to 48 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS, which may be borderline for some players. The High preset at 36 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, and the Ultra preset at 26 FPS is nearly unplayable. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only sensible choice if a playable frame rate is the priority, as it is the only one above 60 FPS. At 4K, the data is grim: the Low preset achieves 34 FPS, Medium drops to 25 FPS, High falls to 19 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 13 FPS. None of these are suitable for a responsive gaming experience, so 4K is not a viable resolution for this configuration.

The recommended approach is to use the Low preset at 1440p for a playable experience, or the Medium preset at 1080p for a better balance of quality and performance. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it offers diminishing returns in visual quality while causing a significant frame rate penalty. The data shows that the step from Medium to High at 1080p costs 18 FPS (from 75 to 57), while the step from High to Ultra costs another 16 FPS (from 57 to 41), making Ultra the least efficient setting in terms of FPS per visual upgrade.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Outriders at a stable 60 FPS?

A: At 1080p with the Low preset, the system achieves 104 FPS on average, which is well above 60 FPS. At 1440p Low, the average FPS is 65, which is also above 60. However, at 1080p Medium, the average drops to 75 FPS, and at 1080p High, it falls to 57 FPS, which is below 60. For a stable 60 FPS, the Low preset at 1080p or 1440p is required.

Q: What is the best resolution for this configuration?

A: The data shows that 1080p is the most practical resolution, with all presets except Ultra achieving at least 57 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low preset (65 FPS) is comfortably playable, while Medium (48 FPS) is borderline. At 4K, the highest FPS is 34 on Low, which is not smooth for action gameplay. Therefore, 1080p is the recommended resolution.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to Medium in terms of FPS?

A: At 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS, which is 34 FPS lower than the Medium preset's 75 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra averages 26 FPS versus Medium's 48 FPS, a difference of 22 FPS. At 4K, Ultra averages 13 FPS versus Medium's 25 FPS, a 12 FPS difference. The Ultra preset is not worth the performance cost.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has a benchmark percentile of 96, indicating it is a top-tier processor, while the GPU has a percentile of 5, indicating it is in the bottom 5% of all GPUs. The FPS scaling with resolution, where higher resolutions cause sharp FPS drops, confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck.

Q: What is the FPS range for the Medium preset at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p has an average FPS of 75, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. This indicates a relatively stable frame rate, though there is a potential 23 FPS swing between minimum and maximum.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This is essentially identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%). The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (-0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4%). This places the Arc B370 in the same performance tier as these older parts.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data for Outriders with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B370 is presented below, organized by resolution and settings preset. All values are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 104 FPS average. This is the highest FPS recorded in the entire dataset, making it the only setting that provides a truly smooth experience at this resolution.
• Medium: 75 FPS average, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. This is a playable setting that offers a good balance between performance and visual detail.
• High: 57 FPS average. This is borderline playable, but the frame rate is not consistently smooth for a fast-paced game.
• Ultra: 41 FPS average. This is below the threshold for smooth gameplay and should be avoided.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 65 FPS average. This is the only 1440p setting that achieves a frame rate above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for this resolution.
• Medium: 48 FPS average, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS. This is playable but may feel less responsive during intense action.
• High: 36 FPS average. This is not recommended for smooth gameplay.
• Ultra: 26 FPS average. This is nearly unplayable.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 34 FPS average. This is the best result at 4K, but it is still below the threshold for smooth gameplay.
• Medium: 25 FPS average, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS. This is not suitable for action gameplay.
• High: 19 FPS average. This is not playable.
• Ultra: 13 FPS average. This is the worst result in the dataset and is unplayable.

The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the FPS drops significantly at every settings preset. The best experience is achieved at 1080p Low (104 FPS) or 1080p Medium (75 FPS), while 4K is not a viable option for this hardware combination. The overall combo rank for this CPU-GPU pair in Outriders is 2679 out of 2913 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, which reflects the GPU's severe performance limitations.