The Long Drive

The Long Drive, a driving simulation from 2019, presents a unique challenge for the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B390 combination. The measured FPS data reveals a system where the integrated graphics solution is the primary bottleneck, with the CPU's substantial processing power largely untapped. This analysis breaks down the performance characteristics, scaling, and component roles based strictly on the provided benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is severe and indicates a GPU-bound scenario at every resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 95 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 63 FPS, a 34% reduction, and at 4K it falls to 35 FPS, a 63% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve is characteristic of a system where the rendering pipeline is saturated by the graphics processor, not the CPU.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. For Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 78 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p (a 35% decrease) and then to 29 at 4K (a 63% decrease from 1080p). High settings show a similar trajectory: 49 FPS at 1080p, 32 at 1440p, and 18 at 4K. The consistency of these percentage drops across different presets confirms that the resolution is the dominant variable limiting frame rates.

This scaling behavior points directly to the Intel Arc B390 as the limiting component. The GPU's performance metrics, such as its 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate, are modest figures that are quickly overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count. The data shows that as resolution increases, the frame rate collapses, a classic sign of pixel fill-rate limitations.

The jump from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing. At High settings, the frame rate nearly halves from 32 FPS to 18 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's rendering resources are exhausted at 4K, making it an impractical resolution for this combination in The Long Drive. The only playable scenarios at 4K are with Low settings, which still only muster 35 FPS.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its performance profile is the defining constraint for this system. With a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, it has a theoretical peak of 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The benchmark results place this GPU in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a low-performance part.

The GPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710. The Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which is 1.3% higher than the GT 520MX's 1463 and 2.7% higher than the GT 710's 1443. While these deltas are small, they show the B390 is at the very bottom of the performance hierarchy.

Memory is a critical factor here, as the GPU uses "System Shared" memory. This means it relies on the system's DDR5 RAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent". This architecture is a significant disadvantage for gaming, as the shared memory bus must handle both CPU and GPU data traffic. The lack of dedicated VRAM likely contributes to the steep performance drop at higher resolutions, where memory bandwidth demand increases substantially.

The GPU's specifications, including 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, are consistent with a low-end integrated solution. The texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s are the theoretical limits that the measured FPS data shows being hit. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is just 12, which aligns with a GPU that is completely saturated.

CPU Role

In stark contrast to the GPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a capable desktop processor with a 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs. This 6-core, 12-thread part based on Zen 4 (Phoenix) architecture has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its multi-threaded performance is robust, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 24389.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, which is 0.2% faster, and the Intel Core i7-13620H, which is 0.4% faster. The Ryzen 5 8400F also compares closely to the AMD EPYC 9474F, which it trails by 0.4%. These small deltas show that the 8400F is well within the performance envelope of its direct competitors, offering strong computational capabilities.

However, in The Long Drive, the CPU's role is largely secondary. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would have the most influence, the frame rate is 95 FPS. This is likely below the CPU's maximum potential, given its strong benchmark scores. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU, as evidenced by the fact that lowering the resolution from 4K to 1080p more than doubles the frame rate at every settings level.

The CPU's 16 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support are more than adequate for this game. The fact that the system is not CPU-limited is further suggested by the consistent frame rate drops when increasing resolution. If the CPU were the limit, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions. The data shows the opposite, confirming that the Ryzen 5 8400F is waiting on the Intel Arc B390 to finish its rendering tasks.

Settings Recommendations

Given the severe GPU bottleneck, the choice of settings is critical for achieving a playable frame rate. The data provides a clear hierarchy of performance across the four presets. At 1080p, Low settings yield 95 FPS, Medium yields 78 FPS, High yields 49 FPS, and Ultra yields 34 FPS. For a smooth experience, Low or Medium are the only viable options at this resolution.

At 1440p, the performance drops significantly. Low settings produce 63 FPS, which is playable, while Medium produces 51 FPS. High settings fall to 32 FPS, and Ultra is unplayable at 22 FPS. The recommendation for 1440p is to use Low or Medium settings, accepting a lower visual fidelity for a playable frame rate.

At 4K, the situation is dire. Only Low settings manage to exceed 30 FPS, with an average of 35 FPS. Medium settings drop to 29 FPS, and High and Ultra are not viable at 18 FPS and 12 FPS, respectively. The data indicates that 4K gaming is not a practical option for this combination, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p.

The Medium preset at 1080p appears to be the best balance, offering 78 FPS with a minimum of 66 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold while offering better visuals than Low. For those prioritizing frame rate above all, 1080p Low at 95 FPS is the maximum performance available. The Ultra preset, at 34 FPS, should be avoided due to its poor performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2594th out of 2934 tested combos for The Long Drive. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested, confirming its status as a low-performance configuration for this game. The ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a high-performer in its own right.

This low rank is consistent with the GPU's 9th percentile standing among all GPUs. The Arc B390 is simply not designed for demanding gaming workloads, and The Long Drive, despite being a simulation, is enough to push it to its limits. The system's performance is firmly entry-level, and it will struggle with most modern 3D titles.

The combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capabilities. The Ryzen 5 8400F's 77th percentile ranking shows it is a solid mid-range part. In a system with a dedicated graphics card, this CPU would likely perform much better. However, when paired with the Arc B390's integrated graphics, the system's overall gaming performance is dragged down to the bottom tier.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1080p is the only resolution where the system can consistently maintain playable frame rates above 60 FPS, with Low settings achieving 95 FPS and Medium achieving 78 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: No. At 4K, the average FPS only exceeds 30 with Low settings (35 FPS). Medium settings drop to 29 FPS, while High and Ultra are unplayable at 18 FPS and 12 FPS, respectively.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck?

A: The GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390's low performance, evidenced by its 9th percentile ranking and 1482 3DMark score, causes frame rates to drop sharply as resolution increases, while the CPU's high benchmark scores remain underutilized.

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

A: In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the Arc B390 scores 1482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's 1463 and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710's 1443, indicating it is slightly faster than these low-end parts.

Q: What is the lowest frame rate recorded?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 12 FPS, which occurs at 4K resolution with Ultra settings. The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 24 FPS, which occurs at 4K with Medium settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 8400F's CPU performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25005. This is 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F's 24964 and 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i7-13620H's 24911, but 0.4% higher than the AMD EPYC 9474F's 25103.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination. Minimum and maximum FPS are included where available.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | High | 18 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 35 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 29 | 24 | 33 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 12 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 32 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 63 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 51 | 44 | 59 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 22 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 49 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 95 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 78 | 66 | 90 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 34 | - | - |

The data shows a clear performance hierarchy. At 1080p, the system goes from a playable 95 FPS at Low to a stuttering 34 FPS at Ultra. At 1440p, the range narrows, with Low at 63 FPS and Ultra at 22 FPS. At 4K, all presets are below 35 FPS, confirming that this resolution is beyond the capability of the Intel Arc B390. The Medium preset consistently offers the best balance between the Low and High presets, with the 1080p Medium result of 78 FPS being the highest frame rate above 60 FPS that includes a minimum FPS reading.