Pc Building Simulator

Pc Building Simulator is a simulation title that stresses system assembly and configuration rather than fast-paced rendering, yet the measured frame rates for the Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveal a clear performance ceiling. The data shows this combo is heavily limited by the integrated graphics solution, with playable frame rates only achievable at lower resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down how the combo scales across resolutions, where it ranks among tested configurations, and what settings provide the best experience based strictly on the measured results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo averages 125 FPS, which drops to 79 FPS at 1440p and further to 41 FPS at 4K. That represents a 37% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 48% reduction from 1440p to 4K at Low settings. The pattern is consistent across all settings presets, indicating that the Intel Arc B390’s rendering capabilities are the primary bottleneck rather than the CPU.

Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 88 FPS, which falls to 56 FPS at 1440p and 29 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, and from 1440p to 4K is 48%. High settings show 62 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K, with reductions of 37% and 46% respectively. Ultra settings follow the same trend: 59 FPS at 1080p, 38 FPS at 1440p, and 20 FPS at 4K, representing a 36% drop to 1440p and a 47% drop to 4K.

These numbers indicate that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The Intel Core i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which is more than sufficient for a simulation game like this. The Arc B390, however, is an integrated graphics processor with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and it shares system memory. Its benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, which is extremely low. The nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463 with a deltaPct of 1.3%, meaning the Arc B390 is only marginally faster than a decade-old entry-level mobile GPU.

The scaling behavior confirms that the CPU is not the constraint. If the i5-12400 were the bottleneck, we would expect frame rates to remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU workload in Pc Building Simulator is likely tied to simulation logic rather than pixel count. Instead, the measured FPS drops by roughly half when going from 1080p to 4K at every settings level, which is classic GPU-bound behavior. The 125 FPS at 1080p Low versus the 20 FPS at 4K Ultra is a 84% reduction, highlighting that the Arc B390 simply cannot handle the pixel fill rate demands of higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this pairing in Pc Building Simulator is 2650 out of 3002 tested combinations. That places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations, which aligns with the GPU’s low percentile ranking. The Intel Arc B390 sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, and this is reflected in the overall combo performance. For context, the CPU alone has a percentile rank of 72 among all CPUs, meaning the i5-12400 is a solid mid-range processor. The disparity between the CPU’s strong standing and the GPU’s weak standing is the reason this combo ranks so poorly.

The nearest rivals for the GPU are all NVIDIA entry-level parts from years ago. The GeForce GT 520MX has an average score of 1463, the GeForce 800M scores 1460, the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443. The Arc B390’s 1482 score is just 1.3% higher than the GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the GT 710. This means that in terms of raw GPU compute, the Arc B390 is competing with hardware that was considered low-end over a decade ago. In a game like Pc Building Simulator, which does not have demanding graphics, this still results in playable frame rates at lower settings, but the performance ceiling is very low.

The CPU’s nearest rivals tell a different story. The AMD EPYC 7643 has an average score of 18697, which is 0.1% lower than the i5-12400’s 18683. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, 0.3% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, 0.7% higher. The Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% lower. These deltas are all within 1% of each other, indicating that the i5-12400 is squarely in the middle of a tightly grouped set of CPUs. This further emphasizes that the processor is not the issue; the GPU is dragging down the entire combo.

In Pc Building Simulator specifically, the combo’s rank of 2650 out of 3002 means that 352 other combinations perform worse. That is a small margin, and it suggests that only truly ancient or severely mismatched hardware would be slower. The data indicates that this combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming at Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are modest compared to what a discrete GPU would offer.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve in Pc Building Simulator?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 125, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. No other settings or resolution combination comes close to this figure.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 or the Intel Arc B390 the bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting component. The Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The FPS drops consistently as resolution increases, which is a sign of GPU limitation.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 (1.3% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% lower). The Arc B390 is the fastest of this group, but only by a small margin.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 2650 out of 3002 tested combinations in Pc Building Simulator, putting it in the bottom 12% of all tested pairings.

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings with an average of 41 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 29 FPS, at High settings to 21 FPS, and at Ultra settings to 20 FPS. None of these 4K results are particularly smooth, and only Low settings approach playability.

Q: What is the CPU’s core and thread configuration, and does it matter here?

A: The i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In this game, the CPU is not the bottleneck, as evidenced by the fact that the GPU’s low percentile rank (9) is far below the CPU’s percentile rank (72). The CPU’s performance is sufficient for the simulation workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings, which delivers an average of 125 FPS. This is the only configuration that exceeds 100 FPS, and it provides a smooth experience for a simulation game where frame timing is less critical than in fast-action titles. If you want slightly better visuals, Medium settings at 1080p still deliver a respectable 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS. This is likely the sweet spot for most players, as it balances visual quality with a frame rate that remains well above 60 FPS.

High settings at 1080p drop to 62 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that might have menu animations or system-building interactions. Ultra settings at 1080p average 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel slightly less smooth. The data shows that the jump from Low to Medium costs 37 FPS (from 125 to 88), while the jump from Medium to High costs 26 FPS (from 88 to 62), and High to Ultra costs only 3 FPS (from 62 to 59). This suggests that Medium settings provide the best value in terms of FPS per visual quality increase, as the drop from Medium to High is much steeper than the drop from High to Ultra.

At 1440p, the situation is more constrained. Low settings average 79 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 56 FPS. High is 39 FPS, and Ultra is 38 FPS. If you have a 1440p monitor, Low settings are the only option that keeps the average above 60 FPS. At 4K, only Low settings (41 FPS) approach playability, and even then, the frame rate is below 60 FPS. For a game like Pc Building Simulator, which is not a fast-paced shooter, 41 FPS might be acceptable for some users, but the recommendation is to stick with 1080p for the best experience.

The measured data shows that Medium settings at 1080p offer the best combination of visual quality and performance, with an average of 88 FPS and a minimum of 75 FPS. This ensures that the game remains smooth even during complex scenes with many components on screen. Low settings at 1080p are the only way to achieve a triple-digit frame rate, but the visual compromise may not be worth it for a game that is primarily about menus and 3D models rather than fast motion.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the measured average FPS across settings is as follows: Low settings deliver 125 FPS, Medium settings deliver 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS, High settings deliver 62 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 59 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 66 FPS, which represents a 53% reduction in frame rate. This is a significant drop, but it shows that even at the highest settings, the game remains technically playable, though not smooth.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the averages are 79 FPS for Low, 56 FPS for Medium (with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS), 39 FPS for High, and 38 FPS for Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 41 FPS, or 52%. Interestingly, the difference between High and Ultra is only 1 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset adds very little visual benefit for the performance cost. The minimum FPS of 47 at Medium settings is notable, as it suggests occasional dips below the average, which could be noticeable in gameplay.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the averages are 41 FPS for Low, 29 FPS for Medium (with a minimum of 25 FPS and a maximum of 34 FPS), 21 FPS for High, and 20 FPS for Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 21 FPS, or 51%. None of these frame rates are ideal for smooth gameplay, but Low settings at 4K might be tolerable for a simulation game that does not require rapid reflexes. The Medium settings range of 25 to 34 FPS shows that the frame rate can fluctuate, which might cause stuttering.

Comparing across resolutions, the data shows that going from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings reduces the average from 125 FPS to 79 FPS, a 37% decrease. Going from 1440p to 4K at Low settings reduces it from 79 FPS to 41 FPS, a 48% decrease. For Medium settings, the drops are 36% (88 to 56) and 48% (56 to 29). For High settings, the drops are 37% (62 to 39) and 46% (39 to 21). For Ultra settings, the drops are 36% (59 to 38) and 47% (38 to 20). This consistency across settings confirms that the resolution scaling is uniform, with roughly half the performance lost when moving from 1440p to 4K.

The minimum and maximum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the range is 75 to 102 FPS, at 1440p it is 47 to 64 FPS, and at 4K it is 25 to 34 FPS. These ranges indicate that the frame rate is relatively stable, with the maximum being about 36% higher than the minimum at 1080p, 36% higher at 1440p, and 36% higher at 4K. This stability is good news for players, as it means the game is unlikely to have sudden drops that would cause stuttering.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen series, based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. The CPU’s cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode and features PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730, but the Arc B390 is the primary graphics solution in this combo.

In terms of raw CPU performance, the i5-12400 has a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257. Its Geekbench multicore score is 8564, and its single-core score is 1848. The PassMark multithread score is 18747, with a single-thread score of 3456. These numbers place the CPU at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683. The nearest rivals are all within 1% of this score, including the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697, -0.1%), Intel Core i7-1355U (18730, -0.3%), AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18811, -0.7%), and Intel Core i3-14100F (18519, 0.9%). This indicates that the i5-12400 is a well-rounded mid-range CPU that performs consistently across various workloads.

In Pc Building Simulator, the CPU’s role is to handle the simulation logic, which includes tracking component compatibility, power draw, and thermal calculations. The 6 cores and 12 threads are more than adequate for this type of workload, and the boost clock of 4.40 GHz ensures responsive single-thread performance for menu interactions. However, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it at the 9th percentile, which is dramatically lower than the CPU’s 72nd percentile. This mismatch means that upgrading the GPU would yield significant FPS gains, while upgrading the CPU would have little to no effect on this game’s performance.

The Arc B390’s specifications further illustrate this point. It has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units, with 12 ray tracing cores. Its boost clock is 2500 MHz, and it has a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, and the FP16 performance is 15.36 TFLOPS. Despite these numbers, the GPU’s benchmark score is very low because it shares system memory and has no dedicated VRAM, making it unsuitable for demanding workloads. In a game like Pc Building Simulator, which likely has modest graphics requirements, the Arc B390 can still produce playable frame rates at lower settings, but it cannot take advantage of the i5-12400’s strong CPU performance.

The data suggests that for this specific game, the CPU is effectively a bystander in terms of frame rate. The i5-12400’s 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for the simulation, but the Arc B390’s integrated nature and low memory bandwidth create a hard ceiling. Players considering this combo for Pc Building Simulator should know that the CPU is capable of much more, but the GPU will limit them to 1080p at Low or Medium settings for a smooth experience.