Road 96

Road 96 is a stylized adventure title that places surprisingly heavy demands on the integrated graphics of the Intel Arc B390 when paired with the Intel Core i5-13400F. The benchmark data shows this combo is firmly entry-level for this game, with performance collapsing at higher resolutions and settings. The bottleneck is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU provides ample headroom that the integrated graphics cannot utilize. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the role of each component, and how this pairing stacks up against other tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and unambiguous, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting factor. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 56 FPS at 1920x1080 to 35 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to just 19 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario; the rendering load increases geometrically with pixel count, and the integrated GPU simply runs out of compute and memory bandwidth. The data indicates that 1080p is the only viable resolution for a smooth experience, while 1440p is playable only on Low settings.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all quality presets. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings reduces the average from 94 FPS to 60 FPS, a 36% drop. The jump to 4K at Low settings further reduces the average to 32 FPS. The fact that even the lowest settings cannot maintain a playable frame rate at 4K points to a hard architectural limit of the GPU rather than a settings optimization issue. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is also telling: 32 FPS versus 15 FPS. This shows that while reducing settings helps, it cannot overcome the sheer pixel throughput required at 4K.

The data suggests that the Core i5-13400F is not contributing to the frame rate drop. The CPU's 3DMark scores are strong, but the game's performance scales almost perfectly with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates at 1080p and 1440p would be much closer together. Here, the halving of performance from 1080p to 4K at every setting level indicates that the integrated GPU is working at maximum capacity even at 1080p, and the additional pixels at higher resolutions directly translate to lower FPS.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its performance profile is best described as minimal for modern gaming. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, and the nearest rivals in the database are legacy NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce GT 710, which are over a decade old. This context is crucial: the B390 is not competing with discrete graphics cards; it is competing with the most basic integrated solutions.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory. This is a significant disadvantage for gaming. The lack of dedicated VRAM means the GPU must share the memory bus with the CPU, increasing latency and reducing effective bandwidth. The fact that the memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent" reinforces this, as performance will vary based on the system's RAM speed and configuration. In a game like Road 96, which has a distinct art style, this shared memory setup likely impacts texture streaming and frame pacing, especially at higher resolutions where the demand for memory bandwidth increases.

The clock speeds of the B390 are notable: a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. While the boost clock is high, the very low base clock suggests power-saving is a priority. The GPU's TDP is 80 W, which for an IGP is substantial, but it's still constrained by the thermal and power limits of the laptop or compact desktop it's integrated into. The 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs are modest numbers, and the measured pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are low, further confirming its entry-level status. The FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is theoretical and is not reflected in real-world gaming due to the memory bottleneck.

The FPS data for Road 96 aligns perfectly with this hardware assessment. The GPU can handle the game at 1080p Low (94 FPS), but it struggles as the load increases. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 43 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to a slideshow-like 15 FPS. This is not a case of poor optimization; it is a case of insufficient hardware resources. The B390 is a capable media and productivity IGP, but the data shows it is not designed for high-fidelity or high-resolution gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Road 96, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B390 ranks at 2575 out of 2903 combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, confirming its status as a low-performance configuration for this game. The rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a modern and capable part that is being held back.

To understand the CPU's potential, we can look at its general benchmarks. The Core i5-13400F scores in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25292. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, with a deltaPct of 0 and 0.4, respectively. This shows that the 13400F is a high-performing processor. However, the combo rank is poor because the GPU's performance is in the 9th percentile. The system's overall gaming capability is dictated by its weakest link, and in this case, the B390 is a massive bottleneck.

The rank of 2575 is a holistic measure of the system's ability to run Road 96. A combo with a weaker CPU but a stronger discrete GPU would rank significantly higher. This is a clear case where the pairing is unbalanced. The data suggests that the i5-13400F is capable of feeding a much more powerful GPU, and its potential is entirely wasted when paired with the B390. The benchmark results indicate that for this specific game, the combo is at the bottom of the barrel, suitable only for 1080p gaming at the lowest settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Road 96 at 1080p?

A: Yes, it can. The measured average FPS is 94 at Low settings, 69 at Medium, and 56 at High. However, at Ultra settings, the average drops to 43 FPS, which may be less smooth but is still technically playable.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with the Intel Arc B390?

A: No, it is not a viable option. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 is 32 at Low, 23 at Medium, 19 at High, and 15 at Ultra. These frame rates are far below what is considered playable for a smooth experience.

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

A: The B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. This shows it is only marginally better than very old, entry-level discrete GPUs.

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

A: The GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The frame rates scale inversely with resolution, which is the hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario. The Intel Core i5-13400F is a high-performance CPU that is not being fully utilized.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for this combo?

A: The best experience is at 1920x1080 with Low or Medium settings. The Medium preset offers a good balance with an average of 69 FPS, while Low provides the highest average at 94 FPS for maximum smoothness.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank for Road 96?

A: It ranks 2575 out of 2903 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems, indicating it is a low-performance configuration for this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for Road 96 with the Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B390. For Medium settings, the minimum and maximum FPS are also provided.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 94 FPS average
• Medium: 69 FPS average (min 59, max 79)
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 43 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 60 FPS average
• Medium: 44 FPS average (min 37, max 50)
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 28 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 32 FPS average
• Medium: 23 FPS average (min 20, max 27)
• High: 19 FPS average
• Ultra: 15 FPS average

The data clearly shows a linear degradation in performance as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system is capable of hitting 60 FPS or above on Low and Medium settings. Pushing to 1440p sacrifices significant performance, and 4K is not a playable resolution for this game with this hardware. The frame times at Medium settings also show instability, with a noticeable gap between the average and minimum FPS, which can lead to stuttering.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor from Intel's 13th Gen Raptor Lake family. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. This is a powerful CPU for productivity and multitasking, but in this gaming scenario, its role is to feed the integrated GPU. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not a limiting factor. Its 3DMark multi-threaded score of 7314 and single-thread score of 960 are respectable, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22604 places it in the upper echelon of processors.

The CPU's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 10 cores provide ample processing power for game logic and physics calculations that Road 96 might require. The high boost clock of 4.60 GHz ensures that single-threaded tasks, which are common in game engines, are handled quickly. However, because the GPU is so weak, the CPU is frequently idle, waiting for the graphics processor to catch up. This is a classic imbalance where the CPU's potential is wasted.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 77% vs all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 25292, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, confirms that it is a high-end part. The data strongly suggests that if this CPU were paired with a discrete GPU that has even a modest performance level, the frame rates in Road 96 would be dramatically higher. The i5-13400F is not the problem; it is the solution that is being handicapped by the B390. The 65W TDP and the fact it supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory also show it is designed for mainstream performance, but the integrated graphics option negates that for gaming.