Road 96

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 4 Raphael architecture. It runs at a 3.70 GHz base clock and boosts up to 5.00 GHz, which puts it in the upper tier for single-threaded responsiveness. The chip carries 32 MB of shared L3 cache plus 1 MB of L2 per core, and it supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This is the kind of CPU that does not usually become the bottleneck in a game like Road 96, which is an adventure title with modest threading demands.

Benchmark data supports that impression. In Cinebench R23, the 7500F scores 22,799 points in multi-core and 3,218 in single-core. The single-core result is particularly relevant here, because adventure games often rely on one or two main threads for gameplay logic, AI, and scene transitions. The CPU’s 3DMark scores reinforce this: 974 in single-thread, 1,902 in 2-thread, and 3,621 in 4-thread tests. These scores indicate that the processor has strong per-core performance, which should keep frame pacing stable even when the GPU is the limiting factor.

Looking at the nearest rivals, the 7500F sits in a tight cluster. Its average benchmark score is 24,964, which is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F (25,005), 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-11850H (24,935), 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13620H (24,911), and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core 5 210H (24,872). These are negligible differences in synthetic tests, meaning the 7500F is not a standout in raw compute but also not a weak link. The CPU ranks in the 77th percentile among all tested processors, which puts it comfortably above average for a modern desktop chip.

In Road 96 specifically, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with frames and handle the game’s dynamic story beats without stutter. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 85 FPS average. That is high enough that the CPU is clearly keeping up; if the processor were struggling, we would expect to see frame dips or an inability to reach that level even at low settings. The 6-core/12-thread configuration is more than adequate for this genre, and the 5.00 GHz boost clock ensures that even the most demanding single-threaded tasks within the game engine are handled quickly.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP and 5 nm process node (TSMC) mean it runs efficiently, which matters for sustained performance in longer play sessions, though this is a qualitative benefit rather than something directly measured in the FPS data. The launch MSRP is $179, and the chip uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform with PCIe Gen 5 lanes. For a game like Road 96, the CPU is not the component to worry about; it has ample headroom for the GPU to be the deciding factor in frame rates.

# GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel’s 3 nm process. It has 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU runs at a 300 MHz base clock and boosts to 2,400 MHz, delivering 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel fill rate. Critically, the memory is System Shared, meaning it uses the system’s DDR5 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is therefore system dependent, and the bus width is also system shared.

This is a very low-power part, with a TDP of just 25 W, and it sits in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test is 1,184. For context, the nearest rivals show how limited this GPU is: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1,186 (0.2% higher), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1,190 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1,192 (0.7% higher), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1,168 (1.4% lower). These are all older or entry-level parts, so the Arc B370 is positioned at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

In Road 96, the GPU is unambiguously the limiting component. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 85 FPS average, which is playable, but that number drops quickly as settings increase. At 1080p Medium, the average falls to 62 FPS (with a min of 53 and max of 72), and at 1080p High it drops to 50 FPS. At 1080p Ultra, the average is just 39 FPS. This pattern shows that the GPU’s limited shading and texture throughput is being saturated even at 1080p, and the lack of dedicated VRAM means it has to rely on system memory bandwidth, which can cause further bottlenecks in texture-heavy scenes.

The ray tracing cores exist, but with only 10 of them and a 25 W power budget, they are not going to provide meaningful RT performance in this game. Similarly, the 12.29 TFLOPS FP16 performance is a theoretical figure that does not translate into real-world gains here, since Road 96 is not a compute-heavy title. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility mean it can run modern APIs, but the raw hardware is too weak to take advantage of them at high settings.

For a game like Road 96, which is a narrative-driven adventure with stylized visuals, the Arc B370 can deliver acceptable frame rates only at lower settings and resolutions. The data shows that the GPU’s performance ceiling is around 85 FPS at 1080p Low, and everything above that setting requires significant compromises. The system-shared memory is a particular concern, as it competes with the CPU for bandwidth, and with the Ryzen 5 7500F’s 83.2 GB/s DDR5 bandwidth, the GPU is effectively starved in memory-intensive scenarios.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of degradation as resolution increases, which highlights the GPU as the primary bottleneck. Starting at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 85 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 54 FPS, a 36% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 29 FPS, which is a 66% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel fill rate and compute throughput.

The settings scaling tells a similar story. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 46 FPS (85 to 39), which is a 54% drop. At 1440p, the drop from Low to Ultra is 29 FPS (54 to 25), a 54% reduction. At 4K, the drop is 16 FPS (29 to 13), a 55% reduction. The consistency of these percentage drops across resolutions indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at every setting tier; if the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller absolute differences at higher resolutions because the GPU would be waiting longer per frame.

Looking at the medium settings specifically, which have both min and max FPS data, the scaling is informative. At 1080p Medium, the average is 62 FPS with a min of 53 and max of 72. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 40 FPS with a min of 34 and max of 46. At 4K Medium, the average is 21 FPS with a min of 18 and max of 24. The min-to-max spread shrinks as resolution increases, going from 19 FPS at 1080p to 12 FPS at 1440p to 6 FPS at 4K. This tightening suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that it cannot vary much in frame delivery; it is consistently working at its limit.

The CPU’s role in this scaling is minimal. The Ryzen 5 7500F has enough single-thread and multi-thread headroom to keep up with the GPU at all settings, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS drops are proportional to resolution and settings changes. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see a plateau at higher resolutions where the FPS stops dropping because the CPU is the limiting factor. That does not happen here; the FPS continues to fall steadily from 1080p to 4K, confirming that the Arc B370 is the component holding back performance.

The practical takeaway is that this combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming in Road 96, and even then, only at Low or Medium settings for a smooth experience. At 1440p, the frame rates dip below 60 FPS even at Low settings, and at 4K, the game becomes nearly unplayable at any setting. The system-shared memory and low GPU clock speeds (300 MHz base) compound the issue, as the GPU cannot compensate for the increased pixel count at higher resolutions.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2,680 out of 2,903 tested combos in Road 96. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations tested for this game. The rank reflects the GPU’s severe performance limitations, as the CPU is clearly capable of much higher frame rates if paired with a stronger graphics solution.

To put this in perspective, the CPU alone ranks in the 77th percentile among all processors, but the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. The combination of a mid-to-high-tier CPU with an entry-level integrated GPU creates a massive imbalance. The CPU is effectively wasted in this configuration, as it can deliver far more frames than the GPU can render. In Road 96, which is not a demanding title, the combo still struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings, which underscores how far behind the Arc B370 is relative to discrete GPUs.

The rank of 2,680 out of 2,903 means there are only 223 combos that perform worse in this game. Those would be configurations with even older or weaker GPUs, or possibly CPUs that are also very old. For a modern system with a 2023-released CPU and a 2026-released GPU, this rank is disappointing. The data suggests that the GPU is the sole reason for the low ranking; if the same CPU were paired with a discrete GPU from the same era, the combo would likely rank much higher.

Comparing to the nearest rivals of the GPU, the Arc B370’s performance is on par with GPUs from the early 2010s, like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. That puts this combo in a historical context where it is roughly equivalent to a gaming PC from over a decade ago. In a game like Road 96, which was released in 2021, this is insufficient for a high-quality experience. The combo rank is a clear indicator that this configuration is not intended for gaming, at least not at the settings and resolutions most players would prefer.

The data also shows that the FPS measurements are actual measured results, not estimates, so the rank is based on real-world performance. This makes the rank more meaningful, as it reflects what users can expect when running this hardware combination. The gap between the CPU’s capability and the GPU’s output is the defining characteristic of this combo, and it is reflected in the low rank.

# FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve in Road 96?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 85, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is this combo capable of 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: No. The highest average FPS at 2560x1440 is 54, which is below 60, and it only occurs at Low settings. All other 1440p settings produce lower averages.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in terms of benchmark score?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1,186), 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1,190), 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1,192), and 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1,168).

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking and how does it compare to the Intel Core i7-13620H?

A: The Ryzen 5 7500F ranks in the 77th percentile among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 24,964, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-13620H’s 24,911.

Q: At 4K Ultra settings, what is the expected average FPS?

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 13 FPS. This is not playable for most users.

Q: Does the combo perform better at 1080p Medium or 1440p Low?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 62 (with min 53 and max 72). At 1440p Low, the average FPS is 54. The 1080p Medium setting provides a higher average frame rate.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo in Road 96 are 1080p with Low or Medium settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 85 FPS average, which is smooth and well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS, which is still playable but has occasional dips below 60. The min FPS of 53 is acceptable for an adventure game, where frame pacing is less critical than in fast-paced shooters.

For a more visually pleasing experience, 1080p Medium is the best compromise. The 62 FPS average is close to the 60 FPS target, and the min of 53 FPS suggests that stutters will be infrequent. The max of 72 FPS indicates that the GPU has some headroom in less demanding scenes. This setting likely improves texture quality and shadow detail over Low, which matters in a narrative-driven game where visual atmosphere contributes to the experience.

At 1080p High, the average drops to 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may feel less responsive. The drop from Medium to High is 12 FPS (62 to 50), which is a 19% reduction. This is a significant cost for what is likely a modest visual improvement. We do not recommend High settings, as the frame rate penalty outweighs the visual benefit.

Ultra settings at 1080p produce a 39 FPS average, which is too low for a smooth experience. The 23 FPS drop from Medium to Ultra (62 to 39) is a 37% reduction, and the resulting frame rate is below what most players would consider playable for this genre. We recommend avoiding Ultra settings entirely.

For 1440p, the best option is Low settings, which yields 54 FPS average. This is playable but not ideal, and the visual quality will be noticeably reduced. Medium at 1440p drops to 40 FPS, which is marginal. At 4K, no settings are recommended, as even Low produces only 29 FPS average, and Medium drops to 21 FPS with a min of 18 FPS.

The data clearly shows that this combo is best used at 1080p. For the best experience, we recommend 1080p Medium settings, which balances visual fidelity with a playable frame rate. If a higher frame rate is desired, 1080p Low provides the smoothest experience at 85 FPS average. Players who prioritize visual quality over smoothness should still avoid High and Ultra, as the frame rate drops are too severe. The 1080p Medium setting is the sweet spot for this hardware configuration in Road 96.