Road 96

Road 96 with the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B390 presents a specific performance profile that is heavily dictated by resolution and settings. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern where the integrated-class GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, while the CPU's capabilities remain largely underutilized. This analysis breaks down the data to show how each component contributes to the final experience across the tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a steep performance drop as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, indicating that the Intel Arc B390 is the dominant bottleneck in this pairing. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 94 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 60 FPS, a reduction of 34 FPS. At 4K, the average falls further to 32 FPS. This scaling behavior shows that the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity are being saturated quickly; the 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions.

The relative performance loss from 1080p to 4K is substantial. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 56 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p to 19 at 4K. This means the 4K result is roughly one-third of the 1080p result. Similarly, at Medium settings, the averages are 69, 44, and 23 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The pattern is consistent: each step up in resolution costs about 30-40% of the frame rate. This steep decline is a classic sign that the GPU is rendering at its absolute limit, and the CPU is not the constraining factor in these tests.

The data suggests that for a playable experience, users must consider 1080p as the primary target. The 1440p Low setting achieves 60 FPS, but the Ultra preset at that resolution drops to 28 FPS, showing a narrow window of usability. At 4K, even the Low preset only manages 32 FPS, which is below typical smoothness thresholds. The resolution scaling analysis points to a system where the GPU's memory bandwidth, being "System Dependent" and shared, further exacerbates the performance drop at higher resolutions, as the integrated GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process. Its role in this game is pivotal, as the measured FPS is almost entirely dictated by its capabilities. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, which are modest numbers. The boost clock is 2500 MHz, and the base clock is 300 MHz. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s provide a theoretical ceiling that the Road 96 benchmarks seem to hit quickly.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared" with a bus width that is also "System Shared," meaning it relies on the CPU's DDR4 memory. This is a significant limitation, as the bandwidth is "System Dependent" and not dedicated. For a game like Road 96, which is an Adventure title, the shared memory architecture can lead to stutter or reduced performance when the game needs to stream assets. The benchmark data shows that the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463, the GeForce 800M at 1460, the GT 625 OEM at 1446, and the GT 710 at 1443. The Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than the GT 520MX, which highlights its low-end positioning.

In practical terms, the GPU's performance in Road 96 is consistent with its low benchmark percentile. The 1080p Low setting yielding 94 FPS shows that the GPU can handle light loads, but the 4K Ultra setting at 15 FPS demonstrates its total inability to cope with high pixel counts and intense graphical effects. The 80 W TDP and "IGP" slot width indicate this is a power-efficient but performance-limited part. The DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 API support does not translate into high raw performance, as the architecture is designed for mobile or low-power scenarios, not for high-end gaming.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G provides the processing foundation for this combo. It is a Zen 2 architecture part with 6 cores and 12 threads, base clock of 3.70 GHz, and boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The CPU's benchmarks show a solid mid-range performance profile. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 13593, and the single-core score is 1919. The Geekbench multicore score is 6637, and the single-core score is 1460. The Passmark multithread score is 15992, and the single-thread score is 2653. These numbers place the CPU in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a capable processor for general tasks.

However, in the context of Road 96 with the Arc B390, the CPU's role is secondary. The measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Low, the system hits 94 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 32 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. The fact that FPS scales so dramatically with resolution confirms that the GPU is the constraining element. The CPU's 8 MB of shared L3 cache and 6 cores are more than enough to feed the GPU's modest demands in this title.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE with an average score of 17482, the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE at 17614, the Intel Core 7 150U at 17395, and the Intel Core i3-14100T at 17648. The Ryzen 5 4600G has an average benchmark score of 17507, which is 0.1% higher than the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE and 0.6% higher than the Intel Core 7 150U. This shows the CPU is well-matched against its peers. In Road 96, the CPU's 4.20 GHz boost clock ensures that single-threaded game logic is handled efficiently, but the frame rates are still capped by the GPU's performance level. The CPU is essentially waiting on the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings. Starting at 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 94 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 79. The High preset averages 56 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 43 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy at 1080p, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 51 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 60 FPS, which is a playable level. The Medium preset averages 44 FPS with a range of 37 to 50. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 28 FPS. At this resolution, the system is starting to struggle to maintain 60 FPS even on Low settings. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is 34 FPS, indicating a significant performance penalty.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable for smooth gaming. The Low preset averages 32 FPS, the Medium preset averages 23 FPS with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27, the High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 15 FPS. This data shows that 4K is not a viable option for this combo, as even the lowest settings cannot reach 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has a narrow FPS range, but the average is still well below the threshold for a responsive experience.

The data also shows the impact of settings at each resolution. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium costs 25 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 13 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 13 FPS. This indicates diminishing returns as settings increase. The 4K data shows a similar pattern, but the absolute numbers are so low that the differences are less meaningful. The overall picture is that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a stretch goal for Low or Medium settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2575 out of 2903 tested combos in Road 96. This places it in the lower 11% of all tested configurations, which is consistent with the low GPU percentile and the modest CPU performance. The rank indicates that this combo is not competitive for high-end gaming, but it is not the absolute worst either. The data suggests that many other CPU-GPU pairings can produce higher frame rates in this game.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's limited capabilities. While the CPU is in the 71st percentile, the GPU is in the 9th percentile, which drags the overall combo performance down. The rank of 2575 out of 2903 means that 328 combos perform worse than this one. This is a small margin of improvement over the bottom tier. The combo's performance in Road 96 is likely to be similar to its performance in other light-to-moderate titles, but it will struggle with more demanding games.

The rank also reflects the balance of the system. A more powerful GPU would significantly improve the rank, but the CPU would then be the limiting factor. In this case, the GPU is the clear weak link. The data shows that the combo's FPS is always below the CPU's potential, as evidenced by the fact that the CPU can handle the 94 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU cannot maintain that at higher resolutions. The rank is a useful metric for potential buyers to understand where this combo stands relative to other options.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Road 96?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves playable frame rates across most settings. At 1080p, the Low preset averages 94 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 43 FPS. At 1440p, the Low preset averages 60 FPS, but the High and Ultra presets drop to 35 and 28 FPS respectively.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: No, the measured FPS at 3840x2160 shows that even the Low preset only averages 32 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset averages just 15 FPS, making 4K gaming impractical.

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

A: The Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's score of 1463 and 2.7% higher than the GT 710's score of 1443. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G a strong CPU?

A: The CPU is in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17507. It is 0.1% faster than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE and 0.6% faster than the Intel Core 7 150U, showing it is a competent mid-range processor.

Q: What is the frame rate range for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo averages 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. This shows a relatively stable performance window.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most consistent performance?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p provides a balanced experience with an average of 69 FPS and a range of 59 to 79 FPS. This is the only preset with a recorded min and max that stays within a 20 FPS window while maintaining a high average.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the Medium preset appears to be the best all-around choice. It averages 69 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS mark, and the minimum of 59 FPS ensures that there are no major dips below the playable threshold. The High preset at 1080p averages 56 FPS, which is also acceptable, but the Medium preset offers a higher average with a known stable range. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 43 FPS, which is still playable but may feel less responsive in fast-paced scenes.

For users who prefer higher visual fidelity at 1080p, the High preset is a reasonable compromise, as it sacrifices 13 FPS compared to Medium but likely provides better graphical quality. The Low preset at 1080p achieves 94 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play or for users with high refresh rate monitors, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. If the user is targeting 1440p, the Low preset is the only option that maintains a 60 FPS average. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 44 FPS, which is playable but may require adjusting expectations. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended as they drop to 35 and 28 FPS, respectively.

At 4K, the data strongly suggests avoiding this resolution for a smooth experience. The highest average FPS at 4K is 32 on the Low preset, which is below the 60 FPS target. Users who must play at 4K should use the Low preset, but they should expect a subpar experience. The Medium preset at 4K averages 23 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 15 FPS, both of which are too low for comfortable gameplay. The recommended approach is to stick to 1080p with Medium or High settings for the best balance of performance and visuals, or 1440p with Low settings for a slightly higher resolution with a similar frame rate. The data indicates that the Medium preset at 1080p is the safest recommendation for a consistent and playable experience.