Overpower

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a peculiar case in the Overpower benchmark database. This combination, which places in the 2638th position out of 2980 tested combos, illustrates a stark imbalance between CPU capability and GPU throughput. The data shows a system that can manage respectable frame rates at lower resolutions but quickly buckles under the demands of 4K and higher graphical presets. The Arc B390, despite its modern architecture, functions as the primary bottleneck, limiting the overall gaming experience in this action title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, a trend that points directly at the GPU as the limiting component. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 72 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average drops to 64 FPS, a reduction of 8 FPS or roughly 11.1% from the 1080p figure. The climb to 3840x2160 at Low settings further reduces the average to 54 FPS, which is 18 FPS below the 1080p result, representing a 25% loss in performance. This scaling behavior is typical of a system where the graphics processor is struggling to fill the increasing number of pixels.

The trend becomes more pronounced when examining higher quality settings. At Medium settings, the average frame rate falls from 45 FPS at 1920x1080 to 40 FPS at 2560x1440, and then to 34 FPS at 3840x2160. The gap between 1080p and 4K at Medium is 11 FPS, a 24.4% decrease. For High settings, the progression is from 42 FPS at 1080p, down to 37 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 32 FPS at 4K. This represents a 10 FPS drop from the lowest to the highest resolution tested, or a 23.8% reduction. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are predictably lower, starting at 35 FPS for 1080p, dropping to 31 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 26 FPS for 4K.

The consistent and significant frame rate reductions across all settings as resolution scales indicate that the rendering pipeline is saturated. The CPU, an Intel Core i5-12400, is more than capable of handling the increased pixel count from a processing standpoint. The fact that performance degrades so steeply suggests that the Intel Arc B390, with its System Shared memory and relatively low benchmark scores, cannot keep up with the fill rate demands of higher resolutions. The data does not show a plateau or a point where scaling becomes negligible, which would be the case if the CPU were the bottleneck. Instead, the linear and steep decline across all settings is a textbook example of GPU-bound performance. The system is fundamentally limited by the graphics solution, and any resolution increase directly translates to a proportional drop in frame rate, making 4K gaming a suboptimal experience outside of the lowest settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The processor has an 18 MB shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 15989 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2257 in single-core, demonstrating solid all-around processing power. Its 3DMark scores range from 910 in single-thread to 5890 in max-thread tests, and it achieves a Passmark multithread score of 18747.

In the context of Overpower, the CPU's role appears to be largely supportive, as the frame rates are not constrained by processor throughput. The benchmark data for this combo shows that at 1080p Low, the system can reach 72 FPS, which is a reasonable figure for a CPU of this class. However, the fact that the frame rate does not increase dramatically at lower resolutions compared to higher ones suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiter. For instance, the jump from 4K Low (54 FPS) to 1080p Low (72 FPS) is an 18 FPS improvement, but this is still a modest gain when considering the massive reduction in pixel count. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a much larger difference, possibly pushing towards higher triple-digit frame rates at 1080p, which the data does not show.

The Core i5-12400's performance profile, which sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, is more than adequate for modern gaming. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD EPYC 7643, which is 0.1% slower, and the Intel Core i7-1355U, which is 0.3% slower. The Intel Core i3-14100F is a close competitor, being 0.9% faster. This indicates that the i5-12400 is a mid-range to upper-mid-range processor that should easily handle the computational demands of Overpower, including game logic, physics, and AI. The CPU's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 6715 and Geekbench multi-core score of 8564 further attest to its capability. Given this, the benchmark results for this combo strongly imply that the CPU is leaving performance on the table, held back by the GPU's inability to render frames fast enough. The processor is not the bottleneck, and its potential is largely untapped in this configuration.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is a mobile-oriented graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process node. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. A critical detail is that its memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system's RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. Its memory bandwidth is also marked as "System Dependent," which typically results in lower performance compared to dedicated graphics memory.

The benchmark data for the Arc B390 paints a clear picture of its capabilities. Its only recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, indicating that the GPU is not designed for demanding gaming workloads. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which is 1.3% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, which is 1.5% faster. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM and GT 710 are also close, being 2.5% and 2.7% faster respectively. These are all older, entry-level mobile GPUs, confirming that the Arc B390's performance class is far below what is expected for modern AAA gaming.

In Overpower, this GPU limitation is the dominant factor. The frame rates across all settings and resolutions are low, with the highest average being 72 FPS at 1080p Low. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 45 FPS, and at 1080p High, it falls to 42 FPS. The GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates is further evidenced by the 4K results, where even at Low settings, the average is just 54 FPS, and at Ultra, it plummets to 26 FPS. The 4K Medium result shows an average of 34 FPS with a minimum of 29 FPS and a maximum of 39 FPS, indicating inconsistent performance. The GPU's System Shared memory configuration likely contributes to these poor results, as the lack of dedicated VRAM can cause significant performance penalties in texture-heavy scenes. The low FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and the limited pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s further underscore its limitations. The data clearly shows that the Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck in this combo, unable to provide the necessary graphics horsepower for a smooth gaming experience at anything other than the lowest settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a comprehensive view of its performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves an average of 72 FPS with Low settings. This is the only configuration where the frame rate can be considered acceptable for fast-paced action. Moving to Medium settings at 1080p, the average drops to 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. High settings at 1080p yield an average of 42 FPS, while Ultra settings reduce the average further to 35 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 37 FPS, a 51.4% reduction in performance, which indicates that the graphical settings have a substantial impact on the GPU's workload.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases across the board. Low settings produce an average of 64 FPS, which is a notable drop from the 72 FPS seen at 1080p. Medium settings at 1440p average 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 46 FPS. High settings average 37 FPS, and Ultra settings average 31 FPS. The step from Low to Ultra at 1440p is a 33 FPS difference, a 51.6% decrease. When comparing the same settings between 1080p and 1440p, the losses are consistent: Low loses 8 FPS, Medium loses 5 FPS, High loses 5 FPS, and Ultra loses 4 FPS. This pattern shows that the GPU is struggling more as resolution increases, but the relative impact of settings remains similar.

The 3840x2160 results are the most demanding and reveal the combo's severe limitations. At Low settings, the average is 54 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium settings at 4K average 34 FPS, with a minimum of 29 and a maximum of 39 FPS, showing significant frame pacing issues. High settings average 32 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 26 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 28 FPS, a 51.9% reduction. Comparing 1080p to 4K at the same settings shows substantial losses: Low drops by 18 FPS, Medium by 11 FPS, High by 10 FPS, and Ultra by 9 FPS. The fact that the absolute FPS loss is smaller at higher settings (Ultra loses 9 FPS while Low loses 18 FPS) is due to the already low frame rates at 4K, not because the GPU handles Ultra better. The data indicates that the only way to achieve a playable experience at 4K is to use Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is only 54 FPS, which may not be sufficient for all players.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and the Intel Arc B390 is ranked 2638 out of 2980 tested combos in Overpower. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of all systems tested, which is a poor showing. The low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU, as the CPU is a solid performer. The i5-12400's average benchmark score of 18683 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, a respectable position. In contrast, the Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a very low position. The massive discrepancy between the CPU's and GPU's percentile rankings highlights the imbalance in this pairing.

The combo rank of 2638 means that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU combinations tested in this game outperform it. This is not surprising given the GPU's performance class. The Arc B390's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the GeForce 800M, are ancient, low-end parts that would not be expected to run a modern action game smoothly. The fact that the Arc B390 is comparable to these GPUs in benchmark scores is a clear indicator of its limitations. The data shows that the i5-12400 is being held back significantly by the GPU. In a more balanced system, the i5-12400 would likely be paired with a mid-range or high-end GPU, which would allow it to achieve much higher frame rates and a much better combo rank. As it stands, the rank of 2638 reflects a system that is fundamentally unbalanced, with a capable processor wasted on a severely underpowered graphics solution. The performance is limited by the GPU in nearly all scenarios, and the CPU's potential remains largely untapped.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For 1920x1080, the only setting that guarantees a consistently smooth experience is Low, which achieves an average of 72 FPS. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that provides a frame rate high enough for fluid, fast-paced action. Medium settings at 1080p, with an average of 45 FPS, may be acceptable for some players, but the minimum of 38 FPS could result in noticeable stutters during intense scenes. High and Ultra settings at this resolution, which average 42 FPS and 35 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a game requiring quick reactions, as the lower frame rates could impact gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the situation is more challenging. Low settings produce an average of 64 FPS, which is still playable, but the drop from 1080p is noticeable. This is the recommended setting for 1440p if a smooth experience is the goal. Medium settings at 1440p average 40 FPS, which is borderline, and High and Ultra average 37 FPS and 31 FPS respectively, making them unsuitable for competitive play. The data shows that to maintain a playable frame rate at this resolution, users must stick to Low settings.

For 3840x2160, the options are very limited. Even with Low settings, the average FPS is only 54, which is below the ideal threshold for a smooth action game. Medium settings at 4K average 34 FPS, which is too low for a game like Overpower. High and Ultra settings, with averages of 32 FPS and 26 FPS respectively, are unplayable. Therefore, 4K gaming is not recommended with this combo. If a user insists on 4K, Low settings are the only viable option, but the experience will be suboptimal due to the low frame rate and potential for stutter, as evidenced by the 4K Medium minimum of 29 FPS.

In summary, the best experience with this hardware is found at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which provides the highest average frame rate of 72 FPS. For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, 1080p Medium at 45 FPS is the maximum compromise, but it requires accepting lower performance. At higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and users will need to sacrifice graphical fidelity to achieve playable frame rates. The data clearly indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming at the lowest settings, and any attempt to push higher resolutions or settings will result in a degraded experience. There is no configuration in the measured data that provides a high-quality, high-frame-rate experience; users must choose between lower settings or lower resolutions to get acceptable performance.