Ready Or Not

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a striking example of CPU-over-GPU dominance in a tactical shooter. The 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake processor, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, is a mid-range desktop part with a 65 W TDP. Its benchmark profile—including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257—places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. This is a processor with ample headroom for gaming workloads, especially given its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5.

The Arc B390, however, is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture on a 3 nm process. Its 1536 shading units and 12 ray tracing cores are complemented by a boost clock of 2500 MHz, but its memory bandwidth is system-dependent since it uses shared system memory. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, putting it in the company of entry-level discrete parts. The mismatch between the CPU's strong synthetic scores and the GPU's low percentile ranking is the defining characteristic of this combo.

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

The data suggests that in "Ready Or Not," the Core i5-12400 is not the limiting factor; the Arc B390's integrated graphics are the bottleneck. The CPU’s architecture, with 6 physical cores and 12 threads, is well-suited for modern game engines that can utilize multiple threads for AI, physics, and game logic. The processor's performance in multi-threaded tests, such as its Passmark multithread score of 18747 and Geekbench multicore score of 8564, demonstrates a capability far beyond what the GPU can render. For a tactical shooter like "Ready Or Not," which often involves complex squad-based AI and environmental interactions, the CPU must handle a significant amount of simulation work.

The single-threaded performance of the i5-12400 is also robust, as evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 3456 and Cinebench R20 single-core score of 947. This is critical for frame pacing and maintaining consistent frame times, which are vital in a game where precision aiming and situational awareness are paramount. While the boost clock of 4.40 GHz is not the highest on the market, the combination of strong IPC (instructions per clock) from the Alder Lake architecture and the 4.40 GHz boost ensures that the CPU will not stall the GPU. The benchmark results indicate that the processor is ready to feed frames far faster than the Arc B390 can produce them.

In essence, the CPU role here is to provide a stable, high-performance platform. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 5873 and the 3dmark_max_threads score of 5890 show that the processor scales well when all cores are active, which is typical for a modern game. The measured FPS results show a clear pattern: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 125 FPS, but this is likely the ceiling of the GPU, not the CPU. The CPU is capable of far more, as its benchmark scores are competitive with the AMD EPYC 7643, which has an average score of 18697, a delta of -0.1%. In a scenario where the GPU is the bottleneck, the CPU’s performance headroom means that any FPS drops are attributable to the graphics solution, not the processor.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for a high frame rate?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution provides the highest frame rates, with the Low preset yielding an average of 125 FPS and the High preset achieving 99 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops significantly, with the Low preset at 79 FPS, indicating that the integrated GPU struggles to keep up with higher pixel counts.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12400 compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7643, which has an average benchmark score of 18697, a delta of -0.1%. This means the i5-12400's average benchmark score of 18683 is effectively identical to the EPYC 7643, showing that the CPU's compute performance is comparable to that of a high-end server part in these specific tests.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 capable of running "Ready Or Not" at Ultra settings?

A: The data shows that Ultra settings at 1920x1080 produce an average of 69 FPS, which is playable. However, at 2560x1440 Ultra, the average drops to 44 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Ultra, it falls to 23 FPS. The Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, and even then, the frame rate is lower than what the Low or Medium presets offer.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested configurations?

A: The combo rank in game is 2611 out of 2947 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 12th percentile of all configurations, indicating that while it can run the game, it does not perform well relative to most other CPU and GPU pairings.

Q: Does the GPU have a high performance ceiling?

A: No, the Intel Arc B390's percentile versus all GPUs is 9, and its average benchmark score is 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, has a score of 1463, a delta of 1.3%. This shows that the GPU is in the entry-level performance tier and is the primary constraint on the system's gaming capability.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance relate to gaming?

A: The CPU’s single-thread performance, with a Geekbench single-core score of 1848, indicates strong performance for tasks that require low latency, such as game logic and input handling. This is beneficial for maintaining frame consistency, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in rendering.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a steep decline as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound system. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 99. Moving to 2560x1440 with the same settings, the average drops to 62 FPS, a decrease of 37 FPS. When scaling to 3840x2160, the average plummets to 33 FPS, which is a 66% reduction from the 1080p figure. This pattern indicates that the Arc B390's rendering capabilities are being overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count, while the CPU remains underutilized.

The scaling is even more dramatic when comparing the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 125 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 79 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 41 FPS. The consistent and substantial drop at each resolution step suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the bottlenecks. The GPU's pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, but these figures are insufficient for high-resolution rendering in a modern title. The fact that the FPS does not scale linearly with resolution, but instead drops more steeply, points to the GPU's limited ROPs (24) and TMUs (48) being saturated.

This data demonstrates that the limiting component is unequivocally the Intel Arc B390. The CPU's performance is not affected by resolution, as its workload remains roughly constant regardless of pixel count. The benchmark results indicate that the i5-12400 could handle far more demanding graphics loads, but the integrated GPU's performance ceiling is reached quickly. For a player, this means that reducing resolution is the most effective way to improve frame rates, while lowering graphical settings has a secondary but still significant impact. The data shows that the 1080p resolution is the only viable option for a smooth experience, and even then, the Ultra preset is only marginally playable.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i5-12400 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2611 out of 2947 tested combinations in "Ready Or Not." This puts the configuration in the bottom 11.4% of all tested systems, a poor ranking that reflects the GPU's severe performance limitations. The rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capabilities, but rather a consequence of pairing a strong processor with a weak integrated graphics solution. The data suggests that this combo is at the extreme low end of the performance spectrum for this game.

The GPU's percentile versus all GPUs is 9, meaning it performs better than only 9% of all graphics cards. This is a critically low score, and it aligns with the combo's overall rank. The nearest rival to the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, has a score of 1463, a delta of 1.3%, which shows that the Arc B390 is only slightly ahead of a very old entry-level discrete GPU. The CPU's percentile is 72, which is a solid mid-range score, but it does not help the combo's ranking when the GPU is so weak.

This rank indicates that the system is not suitable for high-settings or high-resolution gaming. The combo is likely to struggle in any modern title, and its performance in "Ready Or Not" is no exception. The data shows that the bottleneck is so pronounced that even at 1080p Low, the system only achieves 125 FPS, which is a fraction of what the CPU could theoretically support with a better GPU. For a benchmark database, this combo serves as a cautionary example of how an unbalanced system can underperform.

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

Given the GPU's limitations, the choice of settings is critical for achieving a playable frame rate. The measured data shows that at 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 125 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. The Medium preset at the same resolution produces an average of 109 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS, which is also acceptable. The High preset drops to 99 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to 69 FPS. For a tactical shooter where frame consistency is more important than graphical fidelity, the Low preset is the best choice for maximizing performance.

At 2560x1440, the data shows that no preset provides a truly smooth experience. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, but this is a significant drop from 1080p. The Medium preset averages 69 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution are not recommended, as their averages of 62 FPS and 44 FPS, respectively, are too low for a competitive shooter. The 4K resolution is not viable for this combo, as even the Low preset only averages 41 FPS.

The best experience, based on the data, is to play at 1920x1080 with the Low or Medium preset. The Medium preset offers a better visual experience than Low with only a 16 FPS penalty, and the minimum FPS of 92 is still high enough to avoid major stuttering. The Ultra preset, while visually appealing, should be avoided due to its lower average and potential for frame drops. The data suggests that players should prioritize frame rate over visual quality with this hardware.

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

1920x1080

• Low: Average FPS is 125, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the highest performance setting for this resolution.
• Medium: Average FPS is 109, with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 125. This offers a good balance between visuals and performance.
• High: Average FPS is 99, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is a playable setting but shows a noticeable drop from Medium.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 69, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the most demanding setting and is only marginally playable.

2560x1440

• Low: Average FPS is 79, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the only setting that approaches a playable frame rate at this resolution.
• Medium: Average FPS is 69, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 79. The minimum FPS indicates potential for stuttering in intense scenes.
• High: Average FPS is 62, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 44, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is not recommended for a playable experience.

3840x2160

• Low: Average FPS is 41, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is too low for a playable frame rate.
• Medium: Average FPS is 36, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 41. The minimum FPS is at the edge of playability.
• High: Average FPS is 33, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is not a viable setting.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 23, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is a slideshow and should be avoided entirely.

The data clearly shows a linear degradation in performance as settings and resolution increase. The 1080p resolution is the only one where the combo can deliver a consistently smooth experience, and even then, the Ultra preset is the weakest link. The 1440p and 4K resolutions are not recommended for this hardware, as the integrated GPU simply does not have the raw power to render the game at those pixel counts with acceptable performance.