Pc Building Simulator

# Pc Building Simulator: Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + Intel Arc B390 — Benchmark Analysis

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a playable but constrained experience in Pc Building Simulator, with the integrated GPU acting as the clear performance bottleneck across all resolutions. The combination ranks 2650th out of 3002 tested configurations in this game, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems. Benchmark data shows the CPU is exceptionally capable — sitting at the 96th percentile against all processors — but the Arc B390's integrated graphics, which rank at just the 9th percentile among GPUs, limit frame rates to sub-60 averages at 4K in every preset tested. The data indicates this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve smooth triple-digit frame rates at lower settings, while higher resolutions demand compromises that push the experience toward unplayable territory.

Settings Recommendations

The measured frame rate data points decisively toward the Low preset at 1080p as the optimal experience for this configuration. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces an average of 125 FPS, which is more than double the 59 FPS average seen at Ultra settings at the same resolution. This dramatic gap — a 112% improvement — demonstrates that the Arc B390 benefits enormously from reduced graphical workload, and the resulting frame rate is smooth enough for any gameplay scenario in a simulation title.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity, the Medium preset at 1080p offers the best balance in the measured data. The 88 FPS average at Medium settings represents a 42% reduction from Low but still maintains a comfortably playable experience above 60 FPS. The frame time data supports this choice, with Medium showing a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS, indicating consistent performance without major stutters. High settings at 1080p drop to 62 FPS average, which is technically playable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes, while Ultra at 59 FPS sits right at the edge of acceptable smoothness.

At 1440p, the data shows that only the Low preset delivers a fully smooth experience. The 79 FPS average at 2560x1440 with Low settings is the only 1440p configuration above 60 FPS. Medium at 1440p drops to 56 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS, which will produce noticeable frame pacing issues during complex build sequences. High and Ultra at 1440p fall to 39 FPS and 38 FPS respectively, both below the threshold for comfortable gameplay.

At 4K resolution, the data reveals no settings preset that achieves a playable frame rate. The best 4K result is 41 FPS at Low settings, while Medium manages 29 FPS, High achieves 21 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 20 FPS. None of these configurations reach the 60 FPS target, and even the 41 FPS Low result falls short of the 45 FPS minimum many players consider acceptable. The recommendation from the measured data is clear: play at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, with Low being the safest choice for consistent high frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 serves as the primary limiting factor in this configuration, and the benchmark data quantifies exactly how severe that limitation is. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1463 (1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 at 1443 (2.7% slower). This positioning firmly establishes the Arc B390 as an entry-level integrated graphics solution.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared" across size, type, and bus width, with bandwidth listed as "System Dependent." This means the Arc B390 relies entirely on the host system's DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM, which directly impacts performance in Pc Building Simulator. The shared memory architecture creates additional latency and bandwidth contention with CPU operations, though the game's simulation-focused gameplay may not stress memory bandwidth as heavily as fast-paced action titles.

Clock speeds for the Arc B390 show a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. This 8.3x boost range indicates the GPU aggressively scales its clock based on thermal and power headroom. The 80 W TDP for this integrated solution is remarkably low, allowing sustained boost clocks without significant thermal throttling in typical desktop chassis. The 3 nm Intel process node contributes to this efficiency, though the performance ceiling remains firmly in entry-level territory.

The GPU's architectural capabilities include 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s provide theoretical throughput that the measured FPS data shows is insufficient for demanding resolutions. The FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and FP16 of 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1) contextualize the GPU's compute abilities, but Pc Building Simulator's rendering demands clearly exceed what this integrated solution can deliver at higher settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a stark resolution scaling pattern that confirms the GPU as the performance bottleneck. Moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K produces frame rate drops that far exceed what would be expected if the CPU were the limiting factor. At Low settings, the progression is 125 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p (a 37% drop), and 41 FPS at 4K (a 67% drop from 1080p). This scaling closely tracks the pixel count increases — 1440p has 1.78x the pixels of 1080p, and 4K has 4x the pixels — indicating that the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity are being saturated.

The Medium settings data shows a similar pattern with more granular frame time information. At 1080p Medium, the system averages 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS and maximum of 102 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 56 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS and maximum of 64 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 29 FPS with a minimum of 25 FPS and maximum of 34 FPS. The frame time consistency degrades noticeably with each resolution increase, with the 4K Medium configuration showing a range of 9 FPS between minimum and maximum, indicating less stable performance.

High settings scaling shows the same trend: 62 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p (37% drop), and 21 FPS at 4K (66% drop). Ultra settings follow with 59 FPS at 1080p, 38 FPS at 1440p (36% drop), and 20 FPS at 4K (66% drop). The consistent ~37% drop from 1080p to 1440p and ~66% drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings presets strongly suggests that the Arc B390's rendering pipeline becomes the sole constraint as resolution increases, with the CPU's 24 cores and 24 threads providing ample headroom that never becomes a factor.

The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, Low to Ultra represents a 53% performance difference (125 vs 59 FPS). At 1440p, this gap grows to 52% (79 vs 38 FPS), and at 4K it reaches 51% (41 vs 20 FPS). This consistent proportional gap indicates that the GPU handles settings complexity and resolution scaling independently, with neither factor dominating the other.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080

The 1080p results provide the only configurations where this system achieves fully playable frame rates. At Low settings, the average of 125 FPS represents the best performance in the entire measured dataset, offering a buttery-smooth experience that would handle even the most complex build simulations without perceptible stutter. Medium settings at 1080p deliver 88 FPS average, with the measured range of 75 to 102 FPS indicating solid frame pacing and minimal variance. High settings at 1080p drop to 62 FPS average, which remains above the 60 FPS target but offers less headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra settings at 1080p produce 59 FPS average, marginally below the 60 FPS threshold, making it a borderline choice for players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate stability.

2560x1440

The 1440p results show a significant performance cliff compared to 1080p. Low settings at 1440p achieve 79 FPS average, which is still comfortably playable and represents the only 1440p preset above the 60 FPS line. Medium settings at 1440p fall to 56 FPS average, with the minimum of 47 FPS and maximum of 64 FPS revealing occasional dips below playable thresholds during intense scenes. High settings at 1440p produce 39 FPS average, and Ultra settings at 1440p yield 38 FPS average — both configurations are below the 40 FPS threshold that many simulation players consider minimum acceptable, making them poor choices for actual gameplay.

3840x2160

The 4K results confirm that this resolution is not viable for this configuration. Low settings at 4K achieve 41 FPS average, which is the highest 4K result but still falls short of smooth gameplay. Medium settings at 4K produce 29 FPS average, with the minimum of 25 FPS and maximum of 34 FPS showing severe frame time inconsistency. High settings at 4K drop to 21 FPS average, and Ultra settings at 4K bottom out at 20 FPS average. None of these 4K configurations approach playable frame rates, and the data strongly indicates that 4K should be avoided entirely with this hardware combination.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system in Pc Building Simulator?

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 with Low settings provides the best experience at 125 FPS average. For better visuals while maintaining smoothness, 1080p Medium at 88 FPS is the recommended alternative, with a minimum of 75 FPS ensuring consistent performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Pc Building Simulator?

A: No. All 4K configurations fall below 45 FPS, with the best result being 41 FPS at Low settings. Medium achieves 29 FPS, High achieves 21 FPS, and Ultra achieves 20 FPS — none are playable for a smooth experience.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, ranking at the 9th percentile. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is definitively the bottleneck. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus ranks at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, while the Arc B390 ranks at just the 9th percentile among GPUs. Resolution scaling shows FPS drops of ~37% from 1080p to 1440p and ~66% from 1080p to 4K, which is consistent with GPU saturation rather than CPU limitation.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows 56 FPS average at 2560x1440 Medium settings, with a minimum of 47 FPS and maximum of 64 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS target and may produce noticeable frame dips during complex build sequences.

Q: How does the system's overall ranking in Pc Building Simulator compare to other configurations?

A: This combination ranks 2650th out of 3002 tested configurations, placing it in the bottom 12% of systems for this game. The high CPU percentile (96th) does not compensate for the low GPU percentile (9th) in this GPU-bound title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is an exceptionally powerful processor that provides far more compute capability than this game requires, making it a non-factor in the performance equation. The CPU features 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. This configuration delivers benchmark scores that place it at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84003. The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K at 83807 (0.2% slower), the AMD EPYC 4584PX at 83090 (1.1% slower), and the AMD EPYC 9135 at 82980 (1.2% slower), while the AMD EPYC 7F72 leads at 85072 (1.3% faster).

The CPU's cache hierarchy is substantial, with 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This large cache configuration helps reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data, which benefits simulation games that often involve repetitive calculations. The memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface provides ample throughput for the system's needs, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for long gaming sessions.

The 3 nm TSMC process node and 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die demonstrate the CPU's manufacturing sophistication, though these specifications have minimal direct impact on Pc Building Simulator performance. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU provides a secondary display output capability, but in this configuration, the separate Arc B390 GPU handles all rendering duties.

The CPU's benchmark results show exceptional multi-threaded performance that far exceeds game requirements. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and single-core score of 7303 both rank in the top percentiles, while PassMark tests show strong results across the board: 60860 for multithread, 4823 for single-thread, 214760 for floating point math, and 166194 for integer math. These scores indicate that the CPU would easily handle Pc Building Simulator's simulation logic, physics calculations, and asset management without becoming a bottleneck.

The data confirms that the CPU's role in this system is to provide a stable, high-performance foundation that never constrains the GPU. At every resolution and settings combination, the measured FPS aligns with GPU capability expectations rather than CPU limits. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 9th percentile ranking creates a massive imbalance, but this imbalance is invisible in the game's performance because the GPU is so thoroughly the limiting factor. For players who might upgrade the GPU in the future, this CPU provides enormous headroom that would allow significant performance gains without any processor upgrade needed.