Revolution Idle

Revolution Idle presents an unusual case for hardware analysis, as its status as an idle game typically suggests minimal graphical demand. However, the measured frame rates for the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 tell a different story, revealing a configuration that is severely constrained by its graphics component. The data indicates that this combo is not capable of delivering smooth gameplay at any of the tested settings or resolutions, positioning it at the very bottom of the performance spectrum for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a dramatic and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is the primary indicator of where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 62 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average drops to 39 FPS, a reduction of 23 FPS or roughly 37%. The scaling to 4K is even more punishing, with the average FPS plummeting to 21 at 2160p Low, which is just a third of the 1080p performance.

This pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 45 FPS at 1080p to 28 FPS at 1440p, and then further down to 15 FPS at 4K. Similarly, at Medium settings, the transition from 1080p (47 FPS) to 1440p (30 FPS) and 4K (16 FPS) shows a clear and steep drop-off. The performance loss from 1080p to 4K is not linear but exponential, suggesting that the rendering pipeline is being overwhelmed by the pixel count.

The scaling behavior points directly to the GPU as the limiting component. The CPU's performance is relatively static across resolutions, but the GPU's workload increases significantly with each step up. The fact that the frame rate halves when moving from 1440p to 4K on the Low preset (39 to 21 FPS) indicates that the graphics processor is running out of capacity to fill the frame buffer. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the processor is waiting on the graphics card to complete its work. The data implies that the Intel Arc B390 is simply not powerful enough to handle the demands of 4K rendering in this game, and even 1440p presents a significant challenge.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It features a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU shows a balanced profile, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283 and a single-core score of 1451. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 12115, and its single-thread score is 2541.

For a game like Revolution Idle, which is not typically demanding on the processor, the i5-10400F's specifications should be more than sufficient. The 6 cores and 12 threads provide ample parallel processing power for game logic, background tasks, and the operating system. The boost clock of 4.30 GHz ensures responsive single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game simulation and input handling.

The benchmark data supports this assessment. The CPU's percentile ranking against all CPUs is 68, indicating it performs better than the majority of processors in general tasks. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the Intel Xeon 6756E, which is 0.2% ahead, and the AMD EPYC 7552, which is 0.5% ahead. These are enterprise-class processors, which suggests that the i5-10400F holds its own in compute-heavy workloads.

Given the resolution scaling pattern, the CPU is not the bottleneck. If the processor were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would not change significantly with pixel count. However, the data shows a massive drop in performance at higher resolutions, which means the CPU is likely idle or underutilized while waiting for the GPU. The processor is capable of feeding frames much faster than the Arc B390 can render them, making the CPU's role in this pairing a non-factor in the final performance outcome.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory and its bandwidth is dependent on the system's configuration.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark results are stark. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores just 1482 points. This places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it performs better than only 9% of its peers. Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which is 1.3% ahead, and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, which is 1.5% ahead. These are extremely old and low-end mobile graphics solutions, highlighting the Arc B390's position at the very bottom of the performance hierarchy.

The GPU's role in Revolution Idle is to render the game's visuals. The data shows that the Arc B390 is severely underpowered for this task. Even at 1080p with Low settings, it only manages an average of 62 FPS. While this is technically playable, it is far from a smooth experience. At 1080p Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 29 FPS, which is stuttery and unpleasant. The GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions is the root cause of the poor performance at higher resolutions.

The fact that the GPU has a memory configuration of "System Shared" is also a significant factor. This means the GPU is competing with the CPU for the same memory bandwidth, which can lead to performance degradation, especially at higher resolutions where more memory is required for the frame buffer. The combination of low processing power and shared memory bandwidth makes the Arc B390 a poor choice for this game, as it cannot deliver a consistent or fluid experience at any setting.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable option for a somewhat playable experience is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 62 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a frame rate that is generally considered acceptable for smooth gameplay, though it may still have occasional dips. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 47 FPS, which is borderline playable but may feel less responsive. High settings at 1080p drop to 45 FPS, and Ultra at 1080p falls to 29 FPS, making them unsuitable for a good experience.

At 1440p, the best average frame rate is 39 FPS on Low settings, which is below the threshold for a comfortable gaming experience. The Medium preset at 1440p provides an average of 30 FPS, and High drops to 28 FPS. Ultra at 1440p is unplayable at 18 FPS. At 4K, even the Low preset only achieves 21 FPS, making the game effectively unplayable at that resolution.

The data suggests that users should prioritize resolution over graphical fidelity. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 15 FPS (62 to 47), while the jump from Medium to High costs only 2 FPS (47 to 45). However, the jump from High to Ultra costs a significant 16 FPS (45 to 29). This indicates that the Ultra preset is disproportionately demanding and should be avoided. The best experience is achieved by sticking to 1080p and using Low or Medium settings, with Low being the safest choice for maintaining a higher average frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2629 out of 2986 tested combos for Revolution Idle. This places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations, confirming that it is one of the weakest systems for this game. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's poor performance, as the CPU is relatively capable. The data indicates that the system is likely limited by the graphics processor, and the overall ranking reflects this severe bottleneck.

This ranking is a clear indicator that users with this combo will have a subpar experience. While the CPU is in the 68th percentile for general performance, the GPU's 9th percentile ranking drags the entire system down. The combo's position at 2629 out of 2986 is not a surprise given the GPU's benchmark scores, which are comparable to decade-old entry-level graphics cards. The system is not suitable for this game at any resolution above 1080p, and even at 1080p, users will need to compromise heavily on settings to achieve a playable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system performs as follows:

• Low: Average 62 FPS.
• Medium: Average 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS.
• High: Average 45 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 29 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance is significantly lower:

• Low: Average 39 FPS.
• Medium: Average 30 FPS, with a minimum of 25 FPS and a maximum of 34 FPS.
• High: Average 28 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 18 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are critically low:

• Low: Average 21 FPS.
• Medium: Average 16 FPS, with a minimum of 13 FPS and a maximum of 18 FPS.
• High: Average 15 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 9 FPS.

This breakdown shows a clear pattern. The system is only capable of providing a playable experience at 1080p with Low settings. Any attempt to increase the resolution or graphical fidelity results in a rapid decline in performance, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive. The minimum FPS values are only provided for the Medium preset, suggesting that the frame times are likely inconsistent across other settings, which could lead to micro-stuttering.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Revolution Idle at 4K?

A: No, the data shows that the average frame rate at 3840x2160 ranges from 9 FPS on Ultra to 21 FPS on Low. These are all well below the playable threshold, indicating the system is not capable of running the game at this resolution.

Q: What is the best setting for this combo?

A: The best measured performance is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 62 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a frame rate suitable for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 1482 is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, indicating it is in the same performance class as those very old entry-level graphics cards.

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

A: The resolution scaling data points to the GPU as the limiting component. The frame rate drops drastically as the resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, while the CPU's performance is likely sufficient for this game.

Q: What is the system's overall rank for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2629 out of 2986 tested combinations for Revolution Idle, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F a weak processor?

A: No, the CPU's average benchmark score of 14185 places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with a multi-thread score of 12115 in PassMark. It is a capable processor, but it is held back by the graphics card in this configuration.