Road 96

Road 96 is a stylized adventure title where the visual experience matters as much as the narrative, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution. The CPU is a high-end desktop part with substantial multi-threaded muscle, but the integrated graphics in the Arc B390 are positioned at the entry level, creating a stark imbalance that dictates the playable settings at every resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, indicating that the Intel Arc B390 is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 94 FPS, which is the only clearly playable frame rate in the entire dataset. Moving to 1440p Low reduces that average to 60 FPS, a 36% decline. At 4K Low, the average plunges to 32 FPS, which is a 66% reduction from the 1080p Low baseline. This pattern confirms that the rendering load is overwhelming the GPU well before the CPU's capabilities become relevant.

The scaling becomes even more punishing as settings increase. At 1080p High, the system manages 56 FPS, but at 1440p High it drops to 35 FPS, and at 4K High it falls to 19 FPS. The gap between 1080p and 4K at the same preset is consistently more than half the frame rate, which is a classic symptom of a GPU that has run out of pixel throughput. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck; the i7-13700K can feed frames far faster than the Arc B390 can render them, as evidenced by the fact that even at 1080p Low, the system cannot break the 100 FPS barrier, a threshold that a modern discrete GPU would easily cross.

The transition from Medium to Ultra settings at any resolution results in a linear, steep drop-off. At 1440p, moving from Medium (44 FPS) to High (35 FPS) to Ultra (28 FPS) shows a consistent loss of roughly 20% per step. This indicates that the GPU's shading units and ROPs are saturated, and each incremental increase in visual fidelity directly taxes the limited processing power. The Arc B390's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are simply not enough to handle the higher texture filtering and pixel output required at higher resolutions and presets, making the 4K Ultra setting (15 FPS) a slideshow-like experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Road 96, this pairing sits near the very bottom. The combo rank is 2575 out of 2903 total tested combinations, placing it in the 11th percentile. This means that roughly 89% of all other CPU and GPU pairings tested in this game deliver better performance. The ranking underscores that while the CPU is a top-tier performer in its own right, the integrated GPU drags the entire experience down to an entry-level tier.

The data suggests that this is not a combination intended for high-refresh-rate gaming. The i7-13700K is in the 89th percentile for all CPUs, but the Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile for all GPUs. This massive discrepancy between the two components is the defining characteristic of the system's performance profile. The benchmark results indicate that the combo is effectively limited to 1080p gaming at low-to-medium settings, and even then, it cannot guarantee a locked 60 FPS at Medium settings, where the average is 69 FPS.

Compared to other combos, this rank implies that most users with a dedicated graphics card, even an older or lower-end model, would see better results. The CPU's potential is completely untapped in this scenario. The rank is not a reflection of the CPU's ability but rather a direct consequence of the GPU's position in the performance hierarchy. For a game like Road 96, which is not graphically demanding by modern standards, this combo still fails to provide a smooth 4K experience, confirming that the GPU is a severe bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: Can this system play Road 96 at 4K resolution?

A: Technically yes, but the experience is poor. The average frame rate at 4K Medium is 23 FPS, and at 4K High it drops to 19 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average is just 15 FPS, which is far below the threshold for smooth, playable gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for a consistent 60 FPS experience?

A: The only setting that achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher is 1080p with Low settings, which yields 94 FPS. At 1440p Low, the average drops to exactly 60 FPS, which is borderline. For a more stable experience, 1080p Low is the safest option.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881. This is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which has an average score of 46971, a difference of -0.2%. It is also within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and the Intel Xeon w3-2535.

Q: Is the GPU more comparable to a modern entry-level card or an older legacy card?

A: The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile for all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, with scores of 1463 and 1460, respectively. This indicates it is closer to a legacy entry-level solution than any modern gaming GPU.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded in the benchmark data?

A: The only recorded minimum FPS values are for the Medium settings preset. At 1080p Medium, the minimum was 59 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum was 37 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum was 20 FPS. No minimum values were provided for Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Q: Does the CPU's high core count help in this game?

A: The benchmark data does not show a direct correlation between the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads and the game's frame rates. The performance is consistently low across all settings, which indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, and the CPU's multi-threading capabilities are not being utilized to overcome that bottleneck.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities across different resolutions and quality presets. The table below summarizes the average frame rates, with minimum and maximum values where available.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 94 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo and is the only preset that provides a significant headroom above 60 FPS.
• Medium: Average 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. This is playable but can dip below 60 FPS on occasion.
• High: Average 56 FPS. This is a noticeable step down from Medium, making it less ideal for smooth gameplay.
• Ultra: Average 43 FPS. This preset is not smooth enough for a consistent experience, as the frame rate drops below the 60 FPS target.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 60 FPS. This hits the 60 FPS target exactly, but there is no headroom for dips in performance.
• Medium: Average 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. This shows that the GPU is struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate.
• High: Average 35 FPS. This is a significant drop from Medium and is not a comfortable gaming experience.
• Ultra: Average 28 FPS. This preset is too demanding for the GPU at this resolution.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 32 FPS. This is below the playable threshold for most users.
• Medium: Average 23 FPS, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS. The low minimum FPS indicates severe frame pacing issues.
• High: Average 19 FPS. This is a slideshow-like experience.
• Ultra: Average 15 FPS. This is the worst performing preset in the dataset and is unplayable.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) built on the Xe3-LPG architecture and a 3 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The benchmark data shows that this GPU is severely underpowered for gaming at high resolutions. Its average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, which are legacy parts.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a significant disadvantage for gaming, as the memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and typically much slower than dedicated GDDR memory. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, which are modest numbers that explain its low fill rate and texture processing capabilities. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, which are insufficient for driving a 4K display at high settings.

The data shows that the GPU's performance is the sole determinant of the in-game results. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is not enough to handle the demands of Road 96 at high resolutions. While the GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, its raw computational power is the limiting factor. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 is a low result, confirming its entry-level status. This is a classic case where a capable CPU is paired with a GPU that cannot keep up, resulting in a system that is only suitable for 1080p gaming at the lowest settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's preference for frame rate versus visual quality. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable option for this system, as even the Low preset only achieves a 32 FPS average. Similarly, 1440p is only playable at the Low preset, where it hits an average of 60 FPS, but with no headroom for demanding scenes.

For the best overall experience, the 1080p Low preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 94 FPS, which provides a smooth and responsive experience. This setting is ideal for users who prioritize frame rate and gameplay fluidity. If visual fidelity is more important, the 1080p Medium preset is a viable alternative, offering an average of 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS. This is a good balance between smoothness and improved graphics, though it is more sensitive to performance dips.

The High and Ultra presets at 1080p are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as they drop to 56 FPS and 43 FPS, respectively. These settings are better suited for static screenshots or for players who can tolerate lower frame rates for better visuals. At 1440p, the Medium preset yields 44 FPS, which may be acceptable for a slower-paced adventure game like Road 96, but it is below the standard for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that the system's sweet spot is 1080p with the Low or Medium preset, where the Arc B390 can provide a playable frame rate without being completely overwhelmed.