Road 96

Road 96 is a narrative-driven adventure where the visual workload is modest, but the data for the Intel Core i7-13700K + Intel Arc B370 combination reveals a configuration that is severely constrained by the graphics processor. This benchmark set, consisting of measured FPS at four presets and three resolutions, shows a system that struggles to achieve playable frame rates at higher settings, while also providing a clear look at how a low-power integrated GPU behaves under varying loads. The following analysis breaks down the scaling, component roles, and specific performance metrics from the FACT PACK.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 85 FPS at 1920x1080 to 54 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 31 FPS, or roughly 36%. Moving to 3840x2160 at Low settings, the average drops further to 29 FPS. This steep decline indicates that the rendering resolution has a massive impact on performance.

This pattern is consistent across all presets. At Medium settings, the average frame rate scales from 62 FPS at 1080p down to 40 FPS at 1440p and finally to 21 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 19 FPS loss, which is a 47.5% reduction in performance. For High settings, the numbers are 50 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most severe scaling, starting at 39 FPS at 1080p, falling to 25 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 13 FPS at 4K.

The data suggests that the integrated GPU is the limiting factor at every resolution. The consistent and large percentage drops when moving to higher resolutions indicate that the GPU is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The fact that even at 1080p with Low settings the frame rate is only 85 FPS, rather than a much higher number, suggests that the system is never truly CPU-bound in this title. The scaling behavior is characteristic of a graphics solution that is saturated by the increasing pixel count, not a system where the CPU is the primary constraint.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture on a 3 nm process. Its specifications paint a picture of a low-power solution, with a TDP of 25 W and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," with the bus width and bandwidth also listed as "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This means the GPU relies on the main system memory, which is a significant factor in its performance characteristics.

In the benchmarks, the Arc B370 achieves an average score of 1184 in the 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 test. This score places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is near the bottom of the performance spectrum. Its nearest rivals according to the data are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190. The deltaPct values are very small, at -0.2% and -0.5% respectively, showing that the Arc B370 performs essentially identically to these legacy parts in this specific test.

This GPU role is clearly the dominant factor in the Road 96 results. The 3DMark score of 1184 is a strong indicator of raw graphics compute capability, and the in-game frame rates align with that low expectation. The GPU's 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs are likely insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering, even in a game with the visual simplicity of Road 96. The "System Shared" memory is a bottleneck as well, as the GPU must contend with the CPU for memory access, which explains why the frame rates are so sensitive to resolution changes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end desktop processor with 16 cores and 24 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a TDP of 125 W. Its benchmark results are strong, with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 12412 and a 3dmark_single_thread score of 1136. In Cinebench R23, it scores 30745 in multi-core and 2116 in single-core tests. These scores place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, showing that it is a formidable processor.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 46881, which is very close to its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, a deltaPct of -0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022, a deltaPct of -0.3%. This puts the i7-13700K in a dead heat with these competitors, with a performance difference of less than half a percent.

In the context of Road 96, the CPU is not the limiting component. The frame rates are far too low for a processor of this caliber to be the bottleneck. The data shows that the i7-13700K has more than enough compute power to handle the game's logic and physics, but the GPU simply cannot keep up with the rendering demands. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, and with a top-tier processor like this, it is likely that the GPU is starved for work at lower resolutions but becomes the absolute wall at higher ones. The 3dmark_2_threads score of 2262 and 3dmark_4_threads score of 4469 indicate strong single and multi-threaded performance, which is more than sufficient for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive look at the performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the configuration delivers an average of 85 FPS on Low settings, 62 FPS on Medium, 50 FPS on High, and 39 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS, indicating some variance but a generally stable experience at that setting.

At 2560x1440, performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 54 FPS, Medium averages 40 FPS (with a min of 34 and max of 46), High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. At this resolution, the frame rates are becoming less consistent, with the Medium preset showing a larger gap between the minimum and maximum.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Low settings still manage an average of 29 FPS, but Medium drops to 21 FPS (min 18, max 24), High falls to 17 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 13 FPS. The frame rates at 4K are all below the threshold for a smooth experience, and even the minimum FPS at Medium (18) is well below what is generally considered acceptable.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where the system can achieve a consistently playable experience, and then only at Low or Medium settings. The jump to 1440p cuts performance nearly in half for most presets, and 4K is simply out of reach for the Arc B370 in this title.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Road 96 at 4K smoothly?

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 29 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are significantly lower, at 17 FPS and 13 FPS respectively. These frame rates are not smooth and indicate the GPU is overwhelmed at this resolution.

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

A: The only resolution where the configuration achieves a high level of performance is 1920x1080. At this resolution, the Low preset hits 85 FPS and the Medium preset hits 62 FPS, both of which are playable. The 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 resolutions all result in average frame rates below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic tests?

A: In the 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 test, the Arc B370 scores 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is a deltaPct of -0.2%. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a deltaPct of -0.5%. This indicates the Arc B370 is virtually tied with these older GPUs in this benchmark.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K the reason for the low frame rates?

A: No. The i7-13700K is a high-performing processor with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 12412 and a percentile rank of 89. The frame rates in Road 96 are far too low for a CPU of this capacity to be the bottleneck. The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 85 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 39 FPS. This represents a significant drop of 46 FPS, or roughly 54%, when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset is the only one where minimum frame rate data is available for all resolutions. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 53 FPS. At 2560x1440, it drops to 34 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 18 FPS. This shows that even the "middle" setting can become inconsistent at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this configuration is at 1920x1080. The Low preset delivers an average of 85 FPS, which is the best performance available. However, this is an adventure game where visual fidelity might be desired. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a balanced option, with an average of 62 FPS, a minimum of 53 FPS, and a maximum of 72 FPS. This provides a smooth and stable frame rate while presumably offering a better visual experience than Low.

At 2560x1440, the results are less favorable. The Low preset averages 54 FPS, which is just on the edge of playability. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, which is less than ideal for a smooth experience. For a consistent 60 FPS target, 1440p is not a viable option for this hardware in Road 96.

The 3840x2160 resolution should be avoided entirely. All presets fail to reach 30 FPS on average, with the highest being Low at 29 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is a slideshow at 13 FPS.

The best experience per the measured rows is achieved with the Medium preset at 1920x1080. It provides a 62 FPS average, which is well within the playable range, and the minimum of 53 FPS ensures that there are no significant hitches. While the Low preset offers more headroom for frame rate, the Medium preset strikes a better balance between performance and visual quality for a narrative-driven title like Road 96. If the user prioritizes a higher frame rate over visual detail, the Low preset at 1080p is the fallback, but the Medium preset is the recommended starting point for this specific CPU-GPU combination.