Road 96

Road 96, an adventure title from 2021, presents a unique challenge for the Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B370. The benchmark data indicates this combination produces a playable but constrained experience, heavily reliant on settings and resolution adjustments. The measured FPS figures reveal a system where the integrated graphics solution is the primary bottleneck, with the capable six-core processor often waiting on the GPU to render each frame. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics across resolutions and settings to provide a methodical look at what this hardware can deliver for this specific game.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, clearly demonstrating that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component in this configuration. At 1080p with High settings, the system achieves an average of 50 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average FPS falls to 32, a reduction of 18 frames or 36%. The transition to 4K at High settings is even more dramatic, with the average FPS plummeting to 17, which is a 66% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern of significant frame rate loss with each resolution increase points directly to the GPU struggling to fill the increasing number of pixels.

The scaling behavior across the entire settings spectrum reinforces this conclusion. At Low settings, performance drops from 85 FPS at 1080p, to 54 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 29 FPS at 4K. The frame rate at 4K Low is barely more than a third of the 1080p Low result. When the resolution quadruples, the pixel count quadruples, and the GPU's workload scales accordingly. The fact that the frame rate drops by more than half at each major resolution step indicates that the Arc B370's pixel throughput is the hard ceiling. The CPU, with its six cores and 12 threads, is not the constraint here; if it were, the frame rates would remain more consistent across resolutions.

The data suggests that 1080p is the only viable resolution for a smooth experience, and even then, the Ultra preset pushes the system down to an average of 39 FPS. The 1440p resolution offers a marginal improvement over 4K but still falls below the 60 FPS threshold on all settings, with the highest average being 54 FPS at Low. The 4K resolution is effectively non-playable for this title, with frames per second in the teens across all settings. The average FPS of 17 at High and 13 at Ultra are well below what is generally considered the minimum for a fluid interactive experience. This data shows a system that is strictly limited by its graphics processor, where users must trade resolution for performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores show a solid level of performance that is well above average for a desktop CPU. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, it scores 12380 points, and its single-core score is 1680. These scores indicate a CPU that is more than capable of handling the logical and physics-based tasks that a game like Road 96 would present. The CPU's percentile ranking of 73 against all CPUs further confirms it is not a weak link in this pairing.

In the context of the measured FPS data, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. The dramatic frame rate drops observed when increasing resolution are characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one. If the Core i5-12400F were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a performance plateau where increasing the resolution or settings has little effect on the frame rate. Instead, we see a consistent and steep decline in FPS as the graphical load increases, which is the signature of the Intel Arc B370 being the primary constraint.

The processor's specifications, such as its 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock, provide ample headroom for the game's engine. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache helps ensure data is readily available for the cores. The benchmark data shows the CPU is capable of a high level of multithreaded performance (Passmark multithread score of 19433), which is useful for modern games that utilize multiple cores. In this specific case, the CPU is ready to deliver frames, but it is being starved by the GPU's inability to render them quickly enough.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS for this combination at 1080p with Medium settings is 62. The frame rate fluctuates between a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 72 FPS.

Q: Is this system capable of running Road 96 at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates that 4K is not a playable resolution for this setup. The highest average FPS recorded at 3840x2160 is 29 on Low settings, while the High and Ultra presets yield only 17 and 13 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12400F compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047, representing a delta of 0%. This indicates their overall synthetic performance is nearly identical.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Low settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 resolution, the average FPS on High settings is 32. Switching to Low settings increases the average FPS to 54, a significant jump of 22 frames per second.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370's performance compare to that of the ATI Radeon HD 5770?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184, while the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190. The deltaPct is -0.5%, indicating the Arc B370 is slightly slower in this synthetic test.

Q: What is the best possible average FPS this system can achieve?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 85, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the data set that approaches a high-refresh-rate experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The performance of this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B370 in Road 96 is ranked 2680 out of 2903 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all hardware configurations tested for this game. This ranking is a stark indicator that this system is not designed for high-end gaming performance. The low rank is primarily attributable to the GPU, which itself only ranks in the 5th percentile against all GPUs in the database.

This rank is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows the system struggling to maintain smooth frame rates at higher resolutions and settings. The combination of a mid-range CPU with a very low-performance integrated graphics processor creates a significant imbalance. While the CPU is capable of feeding a much more powerful GPU, the Arc B370 is a severe bottleneck. This is not a pairing that will compete with dedicated gaming desktops or even high-end laptops with discrete graphics cards.

The ranking effectively communicates that while the system is functional, it is not built for this kind of workload. It is better suited for basic productivity tasks or media consumption rather than demanding 3D gaming. For a title like Road 96, users would need to make significant compromises in visual fidelity and resolution to achieve a playable frame rate. The 2680th place ranking out of 2903 combos serves as a concise summary of its overall gaming capability, which is very limited.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data provides a clear matrix of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best results. The Low preset yields an average of 85 FPS. The Medium preset provides a more balanced experience at 62 FPS, with a recorded range of 53 to 72 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops it further to 39 FPS. This shows that even at the lowest resolution, the Ultra preset is not able to maintain a 60 FPS average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit across the board. The Low preset is the only one to remain above 50 FPS, with an average of 54. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, with a range of 34 to 46. High settings average 32 FPS, while Ultra falls to an average of 25 FPS. These figures indicate that 1440p requires significant compromises, and the system cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS on any preset.

At 3840x2160, the performance is effectively non-playable. The Low preset is the only one to break the 20 FPS barrier, with an average of 29. The Medium preset averages 21 FPS, with a range of 18 to 24. High settings drop to an average of 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset yields a very low average of 13 FPS. The data shows a consistent and predictable decline in performance as both resolution and graphical settings are increased, clearly illustrating that the Intel Arc B370 is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination is found at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the Medium preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance, delivering an average of 62 FPS. This is the only setting at 1080p that reliably stays above the 60 FPS mark, with a minimum recorded of 53 FPS. This makes the game feel smooth and responsive without excessively compromising on the visual presentation.

For users who prioritize a higher frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p is the only option that provides a significant performance headroom, averaging 85 FPS. This would be the recommended setting for a competitive or high-refresh-rate display. The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 50 FPS, is playable but may not feel as fluid, especially in scenes with more action. The Ultra preset, at 39 FPS, is not recommended as it introduces a noticeable drop in smoothness without a commensurate increase in visual fidelity for this style of game.

The data clearly shows that 1440p and 4K resolutions should be avoided. At 1440p, even the Low preset only manages 54 FPS, and the Medium preset falls to 40 FPS. The performance at 4K is far too low to be considered for actual gameplay. Therefore, the only sensible recommendation is to run the game at 1080p with the Medium preset for the best overall experience, or the Low preset if maximum frame rate is the primary goal. This setup provides the most consistent and enjoyable way to play Road 96 with this hardware.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. Its performance is the primary determinant of the gaming experience in this system. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a very low-performance part. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 is a direct measure of its limited rendering capabilities. This low level of performance is the core reason for the low frame rates observed in the game data.

The GPU's specifications, such as its 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, are modest. Its boost clock of 2400 MHz is respectable, but the low number of execution units limits its overall throughput. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are also indicative of its entry-level positioning. The fact that it shares system memory for its VRAM, as indicated by "System Shared" for its memory size and type, further constrains its performance. This means it is competing with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which is a significant bottleneck in demanding scenarios.

The GPU's 25W TDP and "IGP" slot width confirm its role as a power-efficient, integrated solution. Its performance relative to rivals, such as being 0.5% slower than an ATI Radeon HD 5770 in synthetic benchmarks, puts its age and capability into perspective. In Road 96, this translates directly to the sub-60 FPS averages at 1080p High and the inability to handle higher resolutions. The GPU is unequivocally the limiting factor in this system, and its performance dictates that the game must be run at low resolutions and with moderate settings to achieve a playable frame rate.