The Long Drive

The Long Drive pairs an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X with an Intel Arc B390, a combination that yields a stark performance profile. The data shows a system heavily constrained by its graphics component, where the CPU’s robust multi-threading capabilities are largely left untapped. Benchmark results indicate that this pairing is best suited for lower resolutions and modest settings, as the GPU struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher loads. The measured FPS across the board reveals a clear hierarchy of performance, with the gap between Low and Ultra settings widening dramatically as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, indicating a graphics-bound system where the GPU is the primary limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 95 FPS, which is a playable figure. However, moving to 1440p at the same settings reduces the average to 63 FPS, a 34% decrease. The most dramatic fall occurs when pushing to 4K, where the average plummets to 35 FPS, which is a 63% drop from the 1080p result. This steep curve suggests that the Intel Arc B390’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are saturated as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern becomes even more telling at higher settings. At Medium settings, the averages are 78 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 43%. This shows that the performance penalty per pixel is not linear; it accelerates as resolution climbs. The Ultra preset exacerbates this, with averages of 34 FPS at 1080p, 22 FPS at 1440p, and just 12 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is essentially unplayable, and the data implies that the GPU’s fill rate and shader processing are insufficient for such a workload.

What does this imply for the limiting component? The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is unlikely to be the bottleneck at these frame rates. The fact that the FPS scales almost directly with the number of pixels being rendered points squarely at the GPU. The Arc B390’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, confirming its position as a low-end part. The resolution scaling data suggests that this combo is only viable for 1080p gaming, and even then, only at Low or Medium settings to maintain a stable experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a capable processor with a 65W TDP and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its architecture, Zen 2 on a 7 nm process, provides 8 cores and 16 threads, which is a solid foundation for modern games. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 2092 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 in single-core. It also achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 8899 and a single-core score of 1593. These numbers indicate a processor that can handle complex simulation logic, which is relevant for a game like The Long Drive that involves persistent world states and physics.

However, the measured FPS data suggests that the CPU’s potential is not being fully realized. At 1080p Low, where the GPU is less stressed, the combo hits 95 FPS. This is the highest result in the entire dataset, hinting that the CPU can keep up with the game’s logic at this level. The PassMark multi-thread score of 22458 supports this, showing strong parallel processing capability. Yet, as the resolution increases, the FPS drops, which would not happen if the CPU were the primary bottleneck.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 with a deltaPct of 0.1% and the Intel Core i5-13450HX with a deltaPct of -0.2%. These are closely matched in average benchmark scores, suggesting the 3700X is still competitive in raw compute. The data implies that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo. Instead, the game’s frame rate is governed by the GPU’s ability to render frames, as evidenced by the resolution scaling. The CPU's 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are adequate for feeding the GPU, but they cannot compensate for the GPU’s lack of raw power.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process by Intel. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth is dependent on the host system’s RAM. This is a critical limitation, as dedicated VRAM is often necessary for high-resolution textures and complex scenes. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, which sounds respectable on paper, but the benchmark scores tell a different story.

The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct 1.3%), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (deltaPct 1.5%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (deltaPct 2.7%). These are all entry-level or legacy parts, confirming the Arc B390’s low-end positioning. The measured FPS data aligns with this, as the GPU struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1080p Medium, achieving 78 FPS on Low but dropping to 49 FPS on High.

The GPU’s role as the bottleneck is clear from the data. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 12, which is a slideshow. The system-shared memory is likely a major contributor, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for bandwidth. The 80W TDP and integrated nature of the part suggest it is designed for efficiency rather than performance. The data implies that the Arc B390 is only suitable for light gaming at reduced resolutions and settings, and it is severely outclassed by even modest dedicated graphics cards.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested configurations, this combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2594 out of 2934 combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, indicating a below-average gaming experience. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU’s poor performance, as the CPU is a mid-range part that scores in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The discrepancy between the CPU’s percentile (84) and the GPU’s percentile (9) highlights the imbalance of this pairing.

The combo’s rank suggests that there are many other combinations that deliver better frame rates in The Long Drive. The data shows that this system is not competitive for high-resolution gaming, as it ranks near the bottom of the pile. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, are all significantly older and slower, yet this combo still struggles to differentiate itself. The rank implies that for a game like this, which may have moderate graphics demands, the integrated GPU is a severe handicap.

Given the CPU’s strong multi-threaded scores, one might expect better results, but the GPU nullifies this advantage. The combo’s rank is a direct reflection of the GPU’s limitations, and the data suggests that pairing the 3700X with a more powerful dedicated GPU would yield a much higher ranking. As it stands, the system is only suitable for low-demand scenarios, and the rank confirms that it is not a recommended configuration for gaming beyond 1080p Low.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a playable frame rate?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can achieve an average above 60 FPS, specifically 95 FPS at Low settings. At 2560x1440, the highest average is 63 FPS at Low settings, which is borderline. At 3840x2160, the highest average is 35 FPS at Low settings, which is not playable.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). This indicates it is only marginally faster than these very old entry-level parts.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has a high multi-thread score of 22458 in PassMark, but the FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which would not happen if the CPU were the bottleneck. The GPU’s low 9th percentile ranking confirms it is the weak link.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 95 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 34 FPS. This is a 64% reduction in performance, showing that the Ultra preset is too demanding for this GPU.

Q: Does the CPU's 8-core, 16-thread configuration provide any benefit in this game?

A: While the CPU is capable, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 8899, the game’s frame rate is limited by the GPU. The CPU’s capabilities are underutilized, as the GPU cannot render frames fast enough to stress the CPU.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2594 out of 2934 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems, indicating it is a below-average configuration for gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the performance is uniformly poor. The Low preset yields an average of 35 FPS, which drops to 29 FPS on Medium (with a range of 24 to 33 FPS). The High preset averages 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 12 FPS. No setting at this resolution provides a playable experience, as even the minimum FPS at Medium is below 30.

At 2560x1440, the results are marginally better. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that approaches playability. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS (with a range of 44 to 59 FPS), while the High preset averages 32 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 22 FPS. This shows that 1440p is only viable at Low settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its best performance. The Low preset averages 95 FPS, which is smooth. The Medium preset averages 78 FPS (with a range of 66 to 90 FPS), which is also acceptable. The High preset averages 49 FPS, which is borderline. The Ultra preset averages 34 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold for smooth gameplay. The data indicates that the system is best used at 1080p with Low or Medium settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which yields an average of 78 FPS and a minimum of 66 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and smoothness, as the minimum FPS stays above 60, ensuring a consistent experience. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 95 FPS, but the visual fidelity is reduced.

At 2560x1440, the only viable option is the Low preset, which averages 63 FPS. However, this is close to the edge, and any demanding scene may cause dips. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 51 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but the minimum of 44 FPS indicates potential stuttering. For 4K, the data suggests that no setting is recommended, as the highest average is 35 FPS at Low, which is not smooth enough for a driving simulation that requires responsive controls.

Given the GPU’s limitations, the best overall experience is to stick to 1080p. The High preset at 1080p averages 49 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Ultra preset should be avoided, as the 34 FPS average is not conducive to a good experience. Ultimately, the data points to 1080p Medium as the sweet spot, offering a playable frame rate with a reasonable visual upgrade over Low. This configuration maximizes the system’s potential while avoiding the severe performance penalties of higher resolutions and presets.