Revolution Idle

Revolution Idle is not a typical stress test, yet the measured frame rates for this combination of an Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B370 reveal a clear performance hierarchy. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, with the CPU appearing to have ample headroom. The Arc B370, functioning as an integrated GPU based on the Panther Lake architecture, delivers playable results only at 1080p, while higher resolutions push it to its limits and beyond.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent drop as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 41 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that average falls to 26 FPS, a reduction of 15 FPS. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average plummeting to 13 FPS. This pattern is repeated across all settings presets, indicating that the rendering load is scaling directly with pixel count.

The scaling behavior provides insight into the limiting component. When the resolution increases from 1080p to 1440p, the FPS drops by roughly 37%. Scaling from 1440p to 4K results in a further 50% drop. This is not a linear progression; it is an exponential decline that points directly at the GPU's fill rate and shading power. The Intel Arc B370, with its 20 ROPs and 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, is simply overwhelmed by the pixel throughput required at 4K. The CPU, which would be the bottleneck in a poorly optimized game, is not the issue here, as the frame rate is falling far too quickly for a 6-core processor to be the cause.

The data suggests that the integrated GPU is the primary constraint at every resolution above 1080p. While the 1080p results are playable, the 1440p and 4K results are not. This makes the resolution scaling behavior a direct reflection of the Arc B370's memory bandwidth limitations, which are "System Dependent" and shared with the CPU, and its modest compute capabilities. For any user expecting to run this game at high resolutions, the measured frames clearly indicate that the experience will be subpar, with the 4K Ultra preset delivering a dismal 9 FPS average.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the dominant factor in these results, and its specifications from the fact pack explain why. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, which are typical for an integrated solution. More critically, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means it is a bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where memory access demands increase.

The GPU's performance percentile of 5 versus all GPUs puts it in the very low end of the spectrum, and its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770. This comparison is stark. The Arc B370 is competing with hardware from a bygone era, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is only slightly above the AMD FirePro M2000's 1168. This is not a gaming GPU; it is a basic display adapter that happens to be integrated into a chip.

The VRAM situation is critical. With "System Shared" memory, the GPU has no dedicated high-speed cache. This means that every texture fetch and frame buffer operation contends with the CPU for memory access. At 4K, the frame buffer alone is massive, and the shared memory bus becomes a severe bottleneck. The 25 W TDP further confirms that this is a power-efficient, low-performance part. The data implies that the GPU's role in this combo is to provide basic functionality, not high-fidelity gaming. The 1280 shading units and 40 TMUs are simply insufficient for the demands of modern gaming at high resolutions, and the measured FPS reflects this limitation.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in Revolution Idle?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 56, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 41 at 1920x1080 to 13 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 28 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 or the Intel Arc B370 the limiting factor?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops dramatically with resolution, which is a hallmark of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings shows a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 31 FPS, with an average of 27 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Its average benchmark score of 1184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and slightly lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), indicating it is comparable to those older parts.

Q: Does the game run smoothly at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is only 9 FPS, which is far below a playable threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Arc B370 is ranked 2736 out of 2986 tested combos for Revolution Idle. This puts it in the bottom 8% of all systems, which is a poor result. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU is a more capable part. The i5-9400's percentile of 47 versus all CPUs is much more respectable than the Arc B370's 5th percentile.

This ranking tells a story of a mismatched pair. The CPU is a mid-range desktop part from 2018 with 6 cores and 6 threads, capable of boosting to 4.10 GHz. The GPU, however, is an integrated solution with a 25 W TDP that performs like a discrete card from over a decade ago. The data shows that this combo is not well-suited for this game, and its rank reflects that. The i5-9400 is being held back by the Arc B370, which cannot deliver the frame rates necessary for a good experience at any resolution above 1080p.

The rank of 2736 out of 2986 is a clear indicator that users of this specific hardware pairing should not expect high performance. While the CPU has the potential to drive higher frame rates, the GPU's limitations cap the system's overall capability. This places the combo in the lower echelon of all possible configurations, making it a poor choice for anyone who prioritizes gaming performance in Revolution Idle.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data provides a thorough picture of this combo's capabilities. At 3840x2160, the results are uniformly poor. The Low preset yields an average of 19 FPS, while Medium drops to 14 FPS (with a min of 12 and max of 16). High settings average 13 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 9 FPS. None of these are playable.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains marginal. The Low preset averages 36 FPS, which is near playable, but High (26 FPS), Medium (27 FPS, with min 23 and max 31), and Ultra (16 FPS) all fall below a smooth 30 FPS threshold. The results are more consistent than at 4K, but still not ideal.

The 1920x1080 results are the only ones that offer a decent experience. The Low preset averages 56 FPS, which is smooth. The High preset averages 41 FPS, and Medium averages 43 FPS (with min 36 and max 49). The Ultra preset drops to an average of 26 FPS, which is borderline. The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is the only viable resolution, and even then, only at lower settings. The spread between min and max FPS at Medium settings (36-49 at 1080p, 23-31 at 1440p, 12-16 at 4K) also suggests some frame time inconsistency, which could be noticeable during gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution. The data shows that the Low preset provides the highest average FPS at 56, which is the only setting that consistently delivers a frame rate above 50. For users who desire better visual quality, the High preset at 1080p is a reasonable choice, with an average of 41 FPS, which is still playable.

The Medium preset at 1080p offers a similar average FPS of 43, but with a slightly lower minimum of 36 FPS, making High the better choice between the two for visual fidelity and similar performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p should be avoided, as its 26 FPS average is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only one that approaches playability with a 36 FPS average, but it is still inconsistent. At 4K, no setting is viable. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p and choose between Low and High settings based on their preference for frame rate versus visual quality. The High preset appears to be the sweet spot, offering a solid balance of performance and graphical fidelity.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400's role in this combo is to provide sufficient processing power without becoming a bottleneck. With 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 2.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, it is a capable mid-range processor. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6629 and single-core score of 935 indicate that it has enough power to handle game logic and physics calculations. In Revolution Idle, which is not a demanding title, the CPU is likely not the limiting factor.

The CPU's benchmark performance is closely matched with its nearest rivals. Its average benchmark score of 2254 is within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246) and within 0.3% of the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248). This shows that the i5-9400 is a solid performer in its class. The fact that the FPS drops so dramatically with resolution, while the CPU's load would remain relatively constant, is strong evidence that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The GPU is.

The data implies that the i5-9400 is fully capable of supporting a much more powerful GPU. If paired with a stronger graphics card, this CPU could likely deliver much higher frame rates in this game. However, in its current configuration with the Arc B370, its potential is unrealized. The CPU is ready to work, but the GPU cannot keep up with the demands of the game at higher resolutions, making the CPU's role a supporting one that is never fully utilized.