The Long Drive

The Long Drive pairs the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X with the Intel Arc B370, and the measured FPS data reveals a system that is severely constrained by its graphics component. Across all tested resolutions and settings, the frame rates remain low, with the combination ranking 2700th out of 2934 tested combos. The CPU, which sits in the 79th percentile among all processors, is clearly not the limiting factor; instead, the Arc B370, which ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, holds this system back. The data shows a stark reality: this is a configuration for low-resolution, low-settings gaming, and even then, it struggles to deliver smooth performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable but steep decline as resolution increases, confirming that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 86 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 56 FPS, a 35% reduction, and 4K further plummets to 31 FPS, a 64% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing capability; the workload increases dramatically with resolution, and the Arc B370's limited resources are quickly overwhelmed.

The trend holds across all settings. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 71 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p and then to 26 at 4K. High settings follow suit: 44 at 1080p, 29 at 1440p, and a measly 16 at 4K. The Ultra preset is essentially unplayable at any resolution, with averages of 31, 20, and 11 at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The consistent pattern across every preset indicates that the GPU's shading units, texture units, and raster operations pipelines are saturated. The 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs are simply not enough to handle the geometric and pixel load of higher resolutions.

What this scaling tells us is that the system is not CPU-bound at any point in this test. If the Ryzen 5 7600X were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain constant. Instead, the FPS falls proportionally with the increase in pixel count, a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. The 6-core, 12-thread CPU with a 4.70 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost clock is more than capable of feeding the GPU frames; it is the GPU that cannot render them fast enough. The data suggests that users seeking higher resolutions would need a significantly more powerful graphics card, as the current one is the definitive ceiling for performance.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where any preset achieves a playable frame rate above 30 FPS. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 86 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it averages 71 FPS. Higher resolutions like 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 consistently fall below 60 FPS even on the Low preset, making them unsuitable for fluid gameplay based on the measured results.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is a 0.2% difference. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a 0.5% difference, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a 0.7% difference. This indicates that the Arc B370's performance is essentially on par with these older, lower-tier mobile and desktop graphics solutions.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X a strong processor?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 7600X performs well in synthetic benchmarks. It scores 15236 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1965 in single-core. It also scores 13858 in Geekbench multicore and 2603 in single-core. With a percentile rank of 79 against all CPUs, it is a solid performer, placing it well above the median processor.

Q: Why is the frame rate so low in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The Arc B370 has a TDP of just 25 W and is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with system-shared memory. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU, on the other hand, is a high-end desktop part. Therefore, the GPU is unable to keep up with the CPU's output, resulting in low frame rates across all settings.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 86 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 31 FPS. This represents a significant drop of 55 FPS, or roughly 64%, when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings. The Medium preset sits in between at 71 FPS, and High follows at 44 FPS.

Q: Does the combo perform better in any specific metric for the CPU?

A: The CPU shows strong single-threaded performance relative to its multi-threaded scores. The 3DMark single-thread score is 1060, and the Passmark single-thread score is 4135. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1965 is also high, indicating that for tasks relying on one or two cores, the Ryzen 5 7600X is very capable, even if the gaming results are ultimately limited by the GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured frame rates, the optimal experience for this combo is achieved by prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. The data shows that the Ultra preset is not a viable option, as it produces an average of 31 FPS at 1080p and drops to 11 FPS at 4K. These numbers are far too low for a smooth driving simulation, where consistent motion is critical. The High preset offers some improvement, hitting 44 FPS at 1080p, but it still falls below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the standard for playable performance.

The sweet spot for this system is the Medium preset at 1920x1080. At this setting, the combo averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS. This provides a reasonably smooth and stable experience, which is essential for a game that involves driving. The minimum FPS of 60 is particularly important, as it suggests that the system can maintain a consistent frame rate without severe dips. While the Low preset at 1080p pushes the average higher to 86 FPS, the visual quality trade-off may not be worth it for the extra 15 FPS.

For users who are willing to accept lower visual quality for maximum performance, the Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration that exceeds 80 FPS. However, the Medium preset at 1080p offers the best balance between visual detail and performance, as it remains above the 60 FPS target without sacrificing all graphical features. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only one that comes close to playability with an average of 56 FPS, but it is not recommended due to the sub-60 FPS average. The 4K resolution is entirely impractical for this hardware, with even the Low preset only reaching 31 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2700th out of 2934 tested combos in The Long Drive. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, reflecting its poor gaming performance in this title. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU. The Arc B370 is a low-power integrated graphics solution with a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 1184 is comparable to very old, low-end parts, as shown by its nearest rivals, which include the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M.

In contrast, the CPU is a high performer. The Ryzen 5 7600X ranks in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and the Intel Core i5-12600K, with score deltas of only 0.2%. This disparity between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's low percentile creates a severely unbalanced system. The CPU is effectively waiting on the GPU at all times, which is why the combination ranks so poorly despite having a strong processor. The data suggests that pairing this CPU with a more capable discrete GPU would result in a dramatically better rank, as the current GPU is the sole reason for the poor showing.

The combo's rank of 2700 out of 2934 indicates that the vast majority of other tested combinations, even those with older or weaker CPUs, outperform it because they have better graphics hardware. This highlights a fundamental mismatch in this pairing. The Ryzen 5 7600X is a modern desktop processor built for high performance, while the Intel Arc B370 is a low-tier IGP intended for basic tasks. The benchmark results confirm that this is not a viable combination for serious gaming at higher resolutions or settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. It has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which are high frequencies that contribute to its strong single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1965 points in the single-core test and 15236 in the multicore test. This strong single-core performance is often beneficial for games that rely on a few heavily loaded threads. However, in The Long Drive, the measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor.

The CPU's role in this system is to prepare and send draw calls and other game logic to the GPU. With its high clock speeds and 32 MB of shared L3 cache, the Ryzen 5 7600X is well-equipped to handle this task. Its 3DMark scores show a healthy scaling from 2028 for 2 threads to 6845 for max threads, indicating that it can effectively utilize its cores. The Passmark physics score of 1824 and the 3DMark 16-thread score of 6879 further confirm its ability to handle complex calculations.

Despite the CPU's capabilities, the benchmark results show that the system's performance is entirely dictated by the GPU. The FPS drops by half when moving from 1080p to 4K, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. The data indicates that the Ryzen 5 7600X is sitting idle for significant portions of the frame time, waiting for the Intel Arc B370 to finish rendering. Therefore, while the CPU is a high-quality component, its performance is wasted in this configuration, as the GPU cannot match its output speed. The 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for the game's demands, but the graphics processing unit is not.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how the system performs across different settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 86. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of 31 FPS. This shows a clear progression from playable at Low and Medium to marginal at High and Ultra.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly. The Low preset averages 56 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, with a range of 40 to 53 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 29 FPS, and Ultra is nearly unplayable at an average of 20 FPS. None of the settings at this resolution provide a consistently smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. The Low preset only averages 31 FPS. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30. High settings average just 16 FPS, and Ultra is a slideshow at 11 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K resolution is not a viable option for this hardware combination.

The data shows that the only configuration that consistently stays above 60 FPS is 1080p with Low or Medium settings. The 1080p Medium preset, with its 60 FPS minimum, is the most stable option. All other combinations fall below this threshold, with the gap widening as resolution and settings increase. This breakdown reinforces the conclusion that the Intel Arc B370 is a severe performance bottleneck, and the system should be configured with 1080p and lower-quality presets to achieve playable frame rates.