The Long Drive

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a severely GPU-bound experience in The Long Drive, with performance metrics that place this combination in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations. The data shows a clear pattern where the discrete-class CPU is completely overshadowed by an integrated-class GPU, resulting in frame rates that are only playable at the lowest settings and resolutions. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, the roles of each component, and the practical implications for anyone considering this hardware pairing for this specific driving simulation.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU+GPU combo in The Long Drive?*

A: The combo ranks 2700 out of 2934 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom percentile of all systems tested for this game. This indicates that the pairing is not well-suited for achieving high frame rates.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in terms of raw 3DMark scores?

A: The Intel Arc B370 scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. This is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), but slightly ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, +1.4% delta).

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 86, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset. This is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS threshold, providing a playable experience.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700X a high-performing CPU compared to others in the database?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 7 9700X has an average benchmark score of 37943 and sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14901E and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with score deltas of only 0.1%.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average FPS of 56, while the Ultra preset drops to 20 FPS. This represents a 36 FPS difference, showing a dramatic performance cost associated with higher graphical fidelity.

Q: Does the game's performance scale linearly with resolution, or is there a significant bottleneck?

A: The performance scaling is not linear and indicates a severe GPU bottleneck. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 44 at 1080p to 29 at 1440p and further to 16 at 4K, showing a steep decline that highlights the GPU's limitations.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the primary performance limiter in this configuration. This GPU, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on Intel's 3 nm process, is classified as an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 25 W TDP. Its integrated nature is reflected in its memory configuration, where it uses "System Shared" memory with a "System Dependent" bandwidth, meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a critical factor in its performance profile.

The GPU's clock speeds are modest, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. This combination of low power and shared memory severely limits its fill-rate and compute capabilities, as evidenced by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of just 1184. This score places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, making it comparable to legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. In the context of The Long Drive, these specifications translate directly into the low average FPS figures observed across all tested settings and resolutions.

The data shows that the GPU's performance ceiling is the deciding factor in every benchmark. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo manages 86 FPS. However, this is the absolute peak; any increase in graphical load, whether through resolution or settings, causes a precipitous drop in frame rates. The GPU's 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs are simply insufficient for the demands of higher presets at higher resolutions. The 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power and the 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are theoretical maximums that are never realized in practical gameplay due to the memory bandwidth constraints of the shared system memory.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, confirming that the Intel Arc B370 is the bottleneck. The scaling is not smooth; instead, it shows a severe drop-off that suggests the GPU is overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count. For example, at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p, a 35% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K at Low settings sees a further drop from 56 FPS to 31 FPS, a 45% reduction.

This scaling behaviour indicates a memory bandwidth limitation. As resolution increases, the demand on the "System Shared" memory grows exponentially. The "System Dependent" bandwidth cannot keep pace, causing the frame rate to crater. The gap between resolutions widens at higher settings, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. At Ultra settings, the average FPS is 31 at 1080p, 20 at 1440p, and 11 at 4K. The relative performance drop from 1080p to 4K is 65%, which is more severe than the 64% drop at Low settings, showing that the combination of high resolution and high graphical fidelity is particularly punishing.

The data suggests that this combo is only viable for 1080p gaming. The 1440p results are borderline, with only the Low preset achieving a playable average of 56 FPS. At 4K, the performance is universally poor, with even the Low preset failing to break 31 FPS. The scaling pattern is a textbook example of a GPU that is out of its depth beyond its native comfort zone, as the CPU's ample power cannot compensate for the GPU's lack of memory bandwidth and processing power.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the performance ranges from unplayable to playable. The Ultra preset averages 31 FPS, which is not smooth. The High preset improves to 44 FPS, but still falls short of the 60 FPS ideal. The Medium preset is the first to approach playability, with an average of 71 FPS and a minimum of 60 FPS, as shown in the min/max data. The Low preset is the most effective, achieving an average of 86 FPS, which is the only result in the entire dataset that provides a consistently smooth experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly across the board. The Ultra preset averages just 20 FPS, making it unusable for any serious gameplay. The High preset averages 29 FPS, which is still below acceptable thresholds. The Medium preset averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS, placing it in a playable but not ideal range. The Low preset is the only viable option at this resolution, with an average of 56 FPS that borders on playable but may not be consistently smooth.

At 3840x2160, the performance is abysmal. The Ultra preset averages just 11 FPS, which is essentially a slideshow. The High preset is not much better, with an average of 16 FPS. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS, which is still far from playable. The Low preset is the only one that approaches a playable state, with an average of 31 FPS, but this is still well below the standard for a smooth driving game. This breakdown shows that the combo is only realistically suited for 1080p gaming with the Medium or Low presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's ranking of 2700 out of 2934 tested combinations places it firmly in the bottom tier of performance for The Long Drive. This rank is a direct consequence of the massive performance disparity between the CPU and GPU. The Ryzen 7 9700X is a high-end desktop processor, but it is paired with a GPU that performs at the level of integrated graphics from over a decade ago. This creates a situation where the CPU's potential is completely wasted, as it sits idle waiting for the GPU to render each frame.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 5th out of all GPUs is the primary driver of this poor overall ranking. Its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, are parts from a much older generation. The combo's rank reflects this reality, as it is effectively a modern CPU paired with a legacy-class graphics solution. The data suggests that this pairing is not a viable gaming configuration for The Long Drive, as the GPU bottleneck is so severe that it negates any potential benefits from the high-performance CPU. The rank is a clear indicator that users should not expect to run this game at high settings or high resolutions with this setup.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a formidable processor that is entirely underutilized in this configuration. It features 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its 65 W TDP and 4 nm process node contribute to its efficiency. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 20485 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2211 in single-core, with an average benchmark score of 37943, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs.

Given the GPU's limitations, the CPU's role in The Long Drive is to provide a stable foundation without becoming a bottleneck itself. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the frame rates are consistently low regardless of the settings. For example, the 3DMark 16-thread score of 9824 and the 8-thread score of 8184 demonstrate that the CPU has plenty of headroom to feed frames to the GPU. The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth are more than sufficient for this game's demands.

The CPU's performance is so far ahead of the GPU that it has no practical impact on the measured FPS. The bottleneck is purely on the graphics side. This is supported by the fact that the performance scaling with resolution and settings follows the GPU's expected behavior, not the CPU's. The CPU's high single-thread score of 3023 in Geekbench and 4654 in Passmark suggests that even if the GPU were faster, the CPU would be able to handle the game's physics and simulation logic without issue. In this specific test, the CPU's role is to be a silent partner, waiting for the GPU to catch up.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that provides a consistently playable experience is 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset, which achieves an average of 86 FPS. This is the recommended starting point for any user with this hardware combination. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers a playable experience, with an average of 71 FPS and a minimum of 60 FPS, making it a viable option for users who want slightly better visuals without sacrificing too much performance.

For users willing to accept lower frame rates, the Low preset at 2560x1440 is the only option at that resolution, with an average of 56 FPS. However, this is on the edge of playability and may result in noticeable stuttering. All other settings at 1440p and all settings at 4K are not recommended, as they all fall below 46 FPS, with most below 31 FPS. The Ultra preset is completely non-viable at any resolution, as it maxes out at 31 FPS at 1080p and drops to 11 FPS at 4K.

The data strongly suggests that users should prioritize resolution over settings. At 1080p, the Low and Medium presets offer a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate. If a user prefers higher resolutions, they must be willing to accept the Low preset, and even then, the experience will be suboptimal. The High preset is a poor choice, as it only provides a marginal visual improvement over Medium while costing a significant number of frames. The optimal experience with this combo is to stick to 1080p and use the Medium preset, as it provides the best compromise between the 86 FPS of Low and the 44 FPS of High, landing at a solid 71 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS.