Ready Or Not

Ready Or Not is a tactical shooter that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and this particular pairing of an Intel Core i7-14700KF with an Intel Arc B390 produces a specific bottleneck profile that dictates how you should configure the game. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor, especially at higher resolutions, but which still has enough processing headroom to deliver playable frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings to explain exactly where the limits are and how to get the most out of this hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 99 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 62 FPS, a significant 37% reduction. Pushing further to 4K at High settings yields only 33 FPS, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p figure. This pattern indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting component; the rendering load increases dramatically with pixel count, and the GPU simply cannot maintain the same throughput.

The scaling is not perfectly linear, which provides insight into the GPU's architecture. The jump from 1080p to 1440p reduces performance by 37%, while the jump from 1440p to 4K reduces it by another 47%. This shows that the graphics card's fillrate and memory bandwidth are being saturated progressively. The fact that the 4K Ultra setting falls to just 23 FPS, while 4K Low manages 41 FPS, reinforces that the GPU is the bottleneck; reducing the graphical workload has a massive impact on performance, whereas the CPU's ability to feed frames is not the limiting factor here.

The difference between settings at a given resolution also points to the GPU's limitations. At 1080p, the spread from Low (125 FPS) to Ultra (69 FPS) is 56 FPS. At 1440p, the spread from Low (79 FPS) to Ultra (44 FPS) is 35 FPS. At 4K, the spread from Low (41 FPS) to Ultra (23 FPS) is only 18 FPS. This compression of the performance range at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is running out of raw compute and memory resources. When the pixel count is low, the GPU can still leverage its capabilities to differentiate between settings, but at 4K, even Low settings stress the hardware to its limits.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated-class part with a 3 nm process node and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating entry-level performance. The benchmark results show it is capable of playable frame rates in this title, but only at lower resolutions and settings. The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory, which is a major factor in its performance profile. This shared memory architecture likely contributes to the significant performance drops at higher resolutions, as the memory subsystem becomes a bottleneck.

The GPU's rivals, according to the data, are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% faster). This places the Arc B390 in a very specific performance tier, one that is suited for 1080p gaming at moderate settings rather than high-refresh or high-resolution play. The measured FPS in Ready Or Not aligns with this positioning; the card can push past 100 FPS only at 1080p Low, and it drops below 60 FPS when moving to 1440p High.

The GPU's architecture, Xe3-LPG, has 12 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate. However, the raw performance numbers indicate that enabling ray tracing or pushing to Ultra settings will quickly overwhelm the hardware. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is modest, and the 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The data shows that this GPU is best treated as a 1080p solution for this game, and even then, users should be prepared to adjust settings to maintain a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, capable of boosting up to 5.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235. It ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 70163 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (0.2% faster) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.9% slower). This is a CPU with substantial headroom for gaming.

In the context of Ready Or Not, the data shows that this CPU is not the bottleneck in this pairing. The FPS drops from 1080p to 1440p to 4K are entirely consistent with a GPU limitation. The CPU is capable of delivering far more frames than the Arc B390 can render. This is evident in the 1080p Low result of 125 FPS, which is likely near the practical limit for the game engine with this setup, but the CPU's processing power is not the constraint.

The high core count and thread count of the i7-14700KF are not directly leveraged by this game in a way that would show a difference at these frame rates. The CPU's single-thread performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 2618, is more than adequate for the game's logic and draw calls. The data suggests that if the GPU were upgraded, the CPU would be able to support significantly higher frame rates without becoming a limiting factor. This is a combo where the CPU is clearly waiting on the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3300 out of 3714 tested combos for Ready Or Not. This puts it in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which is a direct result of the GPU's low performance. The CPU is a top-tier part, but the GPU's 9th percentile standing drags the entire combo down.

This ranking is a clear indication that the GPU is the weak link. The data shows a system with a massive imbalance: a CPU in the 94th percentile paired with a GPU in the 9th percentile. This is not a balanced build for this game. The measured FPS results, which show 33 FPS at 4K High and only 69 FPS at 1080p Ultra, are consistent with a combo that ranks poorly against the broader field.

For context, the GPU's nearest rivals are all low-end parts from previous generations. The fact that the Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than a GT 520MX in a synthetic benchmark, and its actual game performance is similarly constrained, explains why this combo sits so low in the rankings. The CPU's performance is effectively wasted in this configuration for this title, as the GPU cannot translate that processing power into higher frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo play Ready Or Not at 4K?

A: Yes, but not comfortably. The data shows an average of 33 FPS at 4K High settings and 23 FPS at 4K Ultra. Only by dropping to Low settings does it reach 41 FPS, which is still below the 60 FPS target most players prefer.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The data clearly indicates 1080p is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, the combo achieves 99 FPS on High settings and 125 FPS on Low, which are playable and smooth frame rates. At 1440p, only Low settings exceed 60 FPS, while 4K consistently falls below 45 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF holding back the Intel Arc B390?

A: No. The data shows the CPU is not the limiting factor. The FPS drops when increasing resolution are purely a GPU limitation. The i7-14700KF ranks in the 94th percentile of CPUs, while the Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of GPUs, indicating the GPU is the bottleneck.

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

A: The benchmark data shows it is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, and 2.5% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM. This places it in a very low performance tier.

Q: What is the impact of changing settings from Low to Ultra at 4K?

A: The impact is severe. The average FPS drops from 41 at Low to 23 at Ultra, a 44% reduction. This shows that the GPU is heavily stressed at 4K and cannot handle the increased graphical load of higher presets.

Q: Should I use the Medium preset for a balance of quality and performance?

A: At 1080p, the Medium preset provides 109 FPS, which is a good balance. At 1440p, Medium offers 69 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, Medium drops to 36 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a tactical shooter.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution. The High preset provides an average of 99 FPS, which is a solid, playable experience for a tactical shooter where frame consistency matters. If you have a high-refresh-rate monitor, the Low preset at 1080p is the only way to get close to 125 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a good middle ground at 109 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense firefights.

For users who insist on 1440p, the data suggests using the Low preset to achieve 79 FPS, as the High preset at 62 FPS and Medium at 69 FPS are playable but will feel less smooth. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as it drops to 44 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for this genre. At 4K, none of the presets provide a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset at 41 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, but it is still a compromise.

The data suggests that the best experience per the measured rows is to prioritize resolution over graphical fidelity. The CPU has the power to handle the game's simulation, but the GPU needs the lower pixel count to render the scenes effectively. Therefore, the recommended configuration is 1080p with the High or Medium preset. This provides a balance of visual quality and performance that stays well above the 60 FPS mark, making it the most practical choice for this hardware combination.