The Long Drive

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a playable experience in The Long Drive only at lower resolutions and settings, with the integrated graphics acting as the primary performance limiter. Benchmark results show a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, and the combo ranks in the bottom percentile of tested systems, making it a niche option for this driving simulation.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and dramatic scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions: 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 95 FPS at 1080p to 63 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 32 FPS, and then further to 35 FPS at 4K, a total drop of 60 FPS from the 1080p baseline. This represents a 63% decrease in performance from the lowest to the highest tested resolution at the same preset. The pattern is consistent across all settings, indicating that the rendering resolution is the dominant factor.

At Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 78 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p, and then to 29 at 4K. The High preset shows a similar trajectory: 49 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, starts at 34 FPS at 1080p, drops to 22 FPS at 1440p, and plummets to 12 FPS at 4K. The scaling is not linear; the gap between 1440p and 4K is consistently larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p, suggesting that the GPU is being overwhelmed by the pixel count at higher resolutions.

The data strongly indicates that the limiting component is the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics. The CPU, an AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with 6 cores and 12 threads, has a PassMark single-thread score of 3494 and a multithread score of 25047, positioning it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. In contrast, the GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, which are entry-level parts from previous generations. The GPU’s pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are simply insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K, regardless of the CPU’s capability.

The frame time data from the Medium preset further supports this conclusion. At 1080p, the minimum FPS is 66 and the maximum is 90, showing a relatively stable experience. At 1440p, the range narrows to 44-59 FPS, and at 4K, it drops to 24-33 FPS. The minimum frame rates are consistently low, indicating that there are occasional stutters or hitches, but the average remains the primary indicator of overall performance. The scaling pattern, where higher resolutions cause proportionally larger FPS drops, is classic behavior for a GPU-bound scenario. A CPU-bound scenario would show less variation across resolutions, as the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU would become less utilized. Here, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested CPU and GPU combinations for The Long Drive, this pairing ranks 2594 out of 2934 combos, placing it in the bottom 11.6% of all tested systems. This is a low ranking, but it is not the absolute worst, indicating that some combinations perform even less adequately. The data is measured, not estimated, which lends credibility to the results. The ranking reflects the GPU’s weak performance profile, which drags down the overall experience despite the CPU’s strong showing.

The CPU itself is a high-performing part, as evidenced by its 89th percentile ranking against all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the PassMark benchmark include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, which scores 44466 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i5-14600, which scores 44889 (0.7% higher). The Ryzen 5 7500X3D’s average benchmark score of 44573 is competitive with these parts, showing that it is not the source of the combo’s poor ranking. The problem is squarely with the GPU, which has an average benchmark score of 1482 and ranks in the 9th percentile. Its nearest rivals, like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446 score, 2.5% lower) and the GeForce GT 710 (1443 score, 2.7% lower), are all similarly low-performing parts.

The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile (89) and the GPU’s low percentile (9) is stark. In this combo, the GPU’s limitations dominate the gaming experience, and the CPU’s potential is largely untapped. The ranking of 2594 out of 2934 reflects the overall system performance, which is a combination of both parts, but the GPU’s weakness is the deciding factor. For a driving simulation like The Long Drive, which likely has modest graphical demands, the GPU still fails to deliver smooth frame rates at higher settings or resolutions. The data suggests that this combo is only suitable for older or less demanding titles, and even then, only at lower settings.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in The Long Drive?*

A: The highest average FPS measured is 95, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only test point that exceeds 90 FPS, and it is the clear outlier in the dataset.

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 12 at Ultra settings to 35 at Low settings. The Medium preset averages 29 FPS with a minimum of 24 FPS, which may be borderline playable for some users, but the overall experience is not smooth.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44573. It is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44466) and 0.5% slower than the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44342), but it is 0.7% faster than the Intel Core i5-14600 (44889). These differences are minimal, indicating that the CPU is well within the performance range of its direct competitors.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile, and what does it mean?

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms only about 9% of the GPUs in the database. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), showing that it is in the same performance class as very old, low-end dedicated graphics cards.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS at Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset produces a minimum FPS of 66 and a maximum of 90, with an average of 78. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 44 and the maximum is 59, with an average of 51. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 24 and the maximum is 33, with an average of 29. These ranges show that frame pacing becomes less consistent as resolution increases.

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

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The GPU’s 9th percentile ranking and low benchmark scores contrast sharply with the CPU’s 89th percentile ranking. The resolution scaling pattern, where FPS drops significantly with higher pixel counts, is characteristic of a GPU-bound system.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 95 FPS. This is the highest score in the entire dataset and suggests that the game is quite playable at this setting. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 78 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. This is still a very smooth experience, and the minimum frame rate is high enough to avoid major stutters. The High preset drops the average to 49 FPS, which is acceptable for a driving simulation but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages only 34 FPS, which is noticeably less smooth and may be distracting to some players.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is still playable but a significant step down from the 95 FPS at 1080p. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS. This is a borderline experience, as the average is below the 60 FPS target, and the minimum frame rate can dip into the low 40s. The High preset averages 32 FPS, which is starting to feel sluggish. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages only 22 FPS, which is barely playable and would likely cause frustration.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal. The Low preset averages 35 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that approaches playability. The Medium preset averages 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 FPS and a maximum of 33 FPS. This is a sub-30 FPS experience, which is generally considered the threshold for playability in many games. The High preset averages 18 FPS, which is a slideshow-like experience. The Ultra preset at 4K averages only 12 FPS, which is essentially unplayable for any practical purpose.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution costs a significant number of FPS, and each step up in settings also costs a significant number of FPS. The Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration that delivers a truly smooth experience above 90 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p is the second-best option, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance. All other configurations have average FPS below 80, with many falling below 60 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum FPS values are also worth noting; at 1080p, the minimum is 66, which is good, but at 1440p and 4K, the minimums drop to 44 and 24 respectively, indicating that the frame pacing degrades significantly at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 7000 series, based on the Raphael codename and Zen 4 architecture. It has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a TDP of 65 watts. The processor is built on a 5 nm process node by TSMC and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. It has a large 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is a significant feature for gaming performance. The CPU’s PassMark scores are robust: 25047 for multithread, 3494 for single-thread, and 43594 for floating-point math. These scores place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance.

Given these specifications, the CPU is more than capable of handling the physics and game logic of The Long Drive, a driving simulation that is unlikely to be heavily CPU-bound. The data supports this, as the resolution scaling shows that FPS drops are directly related to pixel count, which is a GPU workload. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions, as the CPU would be the limiting factor regardless of the GPU’s workload. Instead, we see FPS drop dramatically as resolution increases, from 95 FPS at 1080p Low to 35 FPS at 4K Low. This is a clear sign that the GPU is saturated.

The CPU’s high single-thread score of 3494 ensures that it can feed the GPU with draw calls and other instructions without lagging behind. The 12 threads also provide ample multi-threading capability for any background tasks or game engine threads that might be in use. In this specific combo, the CPU’s role is to keep up with the GPU’s demands, and it does so without issue. The bottleneck is the GPU, which has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 and a 9th percentile ranking. The GPU’s 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs are simply not enough to handle the rendering load at higher resolutions, especially with the game’s graphical settings set to High or Ultra.

The CPU’s 96 MB of L3 cache is a notable asset, as it can reduce memory latency and improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads. In a driving simulation, this could help with game world streaming and object interactions. However, the GPU’s limitations prevent the CPU’s strengths from being fully realized in this game. The data shows that the combo ranks 2594 out of 2934, which is a low ranking that reflects the GPU’s weakness. The CPU is not the problem; it is the GPU that holds the system back.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s priorities. For a smooth, high-frame-rate experience, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the clear choice, delivering an average of 95 FPS. This is the only configuration that comfortably exceeds 90 FPS, and it provides the most responsive gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p is the next best option, with an average of 78 FPS and a minimum of 66 FPS. This offers better visual quality than Low while still maintaining a high frame rate, making it the best balance of performance and fidelity.

If the user is playing on a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 63 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 51 FPS, which may be acceptable for some players, but the minimum of 44 FPS could cause noticeable hitches. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as their averages of 32 and 22 FPS, respectively, are too low for a smooth experience. At 4K, the Low preset averages 35 FPS, which is borderline playable, but the Medium preset’s average of 29 FPS is below the 30 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for playability. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are effectively unplayable, with averages of 18 and 12 FPS.

The data suggests that the best overall experience is the Medium preset at 1080p. This configuration provides an average FPS of 78, a minimum of 66, and a maximum of 90, which indicates a stable and smooth performance profile. The visual quality at Medium is likely a significant improvement over Low, and the frame rate is still high enough for a driving simulation. For users who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p is the only choice, but the Medium preset offers a better balance. At higher resolutions, users will need to sacrifice settings significantly to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset at 1440p is the best option there, while the Low preset at 4K is the only remotely playable option, but even then, the average of 35 FPS is not ideal. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it produces unplayable frame rates at all resolutions, ranging from 34 FPS at 1080p down to 12 FPS at 4K.