The Long Drive

The Long Drive, a driving simulation from 2019, presents a unique stress test for the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the Intel Arc B390. The measured data reveals a system where the graphical component is the overwhelming bottleneck, resulting in performance that struggles to keep pace with modern gaming demands. The combination of a high-end 12-core CPU and a low-power integrated GPU creates a stark imbalance, leading to frame rates that are often below playable thresholds, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to understand the scaling behavior, the distinct roles of each component, and what the numbers imply for the overall gaming experience.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear and dramatic performance penalty as resolution increases, which is the primary indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 results in a drop from 95 FPS to 63 FPS, a reduction of approximately 34%. Moving further to 3840x2160, the frame rate falls to 35 FPS, representing a 63% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, with the gap between 1080p and 4K widening at higher graphical loads.

For instance, at Medium settings, the average frame rate plummets from 78 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 1440p, and then to 29 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most severe degradation, with 34 FPS at 1080p, 22 FPS at 1440p, and a barely interactive 12 FPS at 2160p. This steep, linear decline in performance with increasing pixel count is the classic signature of a system where the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is not the constraint here; if it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU workload would be similar regardless of output resolution.

The data implies that the Intel Arc B390, with its 1536 shading units and a 3nm process node, is simply overwhelmed by the pixel throughput required at higher resolutions. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not a smooth curve but a precipitous drop, suggesting that the GPU's fillrate and memory bandwidth (which is "System Shared" and "System Dependent") are exhausted quickly. The B390's benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 and GT 625 OEM, which are entry-level parts from a bygone era. This context makes the observed FPS drops unsurprising; the GPU is fundamentally not designed for high-resolution gaming.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390's specifications paint a clear picture of a component with limited gaming capabilities, which directly explains the measured results. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system's main memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical weakness for a game like The Long Drive, which may require rapid texture streaming and data access. The lack of dedicated video memory means the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, a bottleneck that becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions where larger textures and buffers are used.

The GPU's clock speeds are also telling. The base clock is 300 MHz, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. While the boost clock is respectable, the vast difference between base and boost suggests a power-constrained design that may not sustain high clocks under sustained load. The GPU's TDP is only 80 W, and it uses a "None" power connector, confirming its design as an integrated graphics processor (IGP). This low power envelope limits its performance ceiling. The 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are modest figures that further constrain its ability to fill pixels and apply textures, directly impacting FPS at higher settings.

The relationship between the GPU's specs and the game's results is evident in the 4K Ultra preset, where the average FPS is just 12. This is a scenario where the B390's limited pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are completely saturated. Even at 1080p Low, the 95 FPS is likely the peak performance this GPU can deliver, and it is achieved only by severely reducing the graphical workload. The data suggests that the B390 is a capable solution for basic computing tasks or very light gaming, but it is not suited for a modern 3D driving simulation at playable frame rates, especially when paired with a processor as powerful as the Ryzen 9 7900X.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and Intel Arc B390 ranks at 2594 out of 2934 combos for The Long Drive. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, a ranking that reflects the significant bottleneck imposed by the GPU. The combination's rank is a direct consequence of the Arc B390's low standing in the GPU hierarchy; its 9th percentile performance drags down an otherwise top-tier CPU, which sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs.

The data indicates that the combo's overall performance is not a sum of its parts but is instead dictated by its weakest link. A high-ranking CPU like the Ryzen 9 7900X, with an average benchmark score of 53288 and rivals such as the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD EPYC 7313P, cannot compensate for a GPU that performs at the level of a GeForce GT 710. The rank of 2594 suggests that the vast majority of other CPU and GPU combinations tested provide a better experience in this game. This is a critical insight for anyone considering such a pairing: the substantial investment in the 12-core CPU is effectively wasted for gaming purposes when married to this particular GPU.

The disparity in performance between the two components is stark. The CPU's multi-threaded might, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29300, is irrelevant when the GPU is unable to render frames quickly enough. The combo's rank is a measure of the end-user experience, and the data shows that this experience is poor. The low ranking serves as a quantifiable warning that the Arc B390 is a severe performance limiter, making this specific combination a poor choice for playing The Long Drive, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves its best results. The Low preset yields an average of 95 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that approaches a high-refresh-rate experience. Moving up the quality ladder, Medium averages 78 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. High drops to 49 FPS, and Ultra falls to 34 FPS. These numbers show that even at 1080p, the system is only comfortable at the lowest settings; anything above Medium results in sub-60 FPS averages.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a significant hit across all presets. Low is the only playable option, with an average of 63 FPS. Medium averages 51 FPS, with a range of 44 to 59 FPS, indicating an inconsistent experience. High drops to 32 FPS, and Ultra becomes nearly unplayable at 22 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, reinforcing the GPU's inability to handle the increased pixel count. The 1440p Medium results, with its min FPS of 44, suggest that even mid-range settings will cause noticeable stutters.

The 3840x2160 results are uniformly poor. Low is the only preset to break the 30 FPS barrier, with an average of 35 FPS. Medium averages 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 33, showing a tight but low range. High averages 18 FPS, and Ultra is a slideshow at 12 FPS. None of these 4K results are suitable for smooth gameplay. The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: the Arc B390 is only capable of providing a playable experience at 1080p with Low settings, and even then, the margin for error is thin. Every other combination of resolution and settings results in frame rates that are below the standard for a smooth driving simulation.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is an exceptionally powerful processor that plays a minimal role in the measured FPS results, serving primarily as an idle observer to the GPU's struggles. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 4 architecture, and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, the CPU has more than enough processing power for a driving simulation. Its synthetic benchmarks, such as a Geekbench multicore score of 19267 and a Passmark multithread score of 51406, place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is among the top tier of consumer processors.

In the context of The Long Drive, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and AI, none of which appear to be a bottleneck, given the low frame rates. The data suggests that the CPU is nowhere near its limits. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most likely to become a limiting factor due to the high frame rate, the system still achieves 95 FPS, a figure that a 12-core processor can handle with ease. The CPU's impressive single-thread performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4238 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2016.5, ensures that even the main game thread is not a constraint.

The pairing is a study in imbalance. The CPU's capabilities are vastly underutilized, as the GPU cannot generate enough frames to challenge it. The 7900X's 64 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support are irrelevant when the GPU's shared memory architecture is the primary source of data bottlenecks. The benchmark results indicate that the processor is not a factor in this game's performance; the GPU is the sole determinant. If a different, more capable GPU were used, the 7900X would likely enable much higher frame rates, but with the Arc B390, its potential is locked away.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 95, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this combination run The Long Drive at 4K resolution smoothly?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 35 on Low settings. All other presets at this resolution fall below 30 FPS, with Ultra at 12 FPS, making the game unplayable.

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

A: The Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463, putting the B390 1.3% ahead. It also outperforms the GeForce 800M by 1.5%, the GT 625 OEM by 2.5%, and the GT 710 by 2.7%.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X a bottleneck in this system?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor. Its benchmark scores are in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and the FPS drops are consistent with a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks 2594 out of 2934 tested combos for The Long Drive, placing it in the bottom 12% of systems.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated video memory?

A: No. The Intel Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's main memory for graphics data, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent."

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience is 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which yields an average of 95 FPS. This is the clear recommendation for any user who prioritizes a fluid frame rate over visual fidelity. While the Medium preset at 1080p offers a higher quality image at 78 FPS, the drop of 17 FPS is significant, and the minimum FPS of 66 suggests potential for stutter, but it remains a viable option for those seeking a balance.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, with a measured 63 FPS. This is the recommended resolution for users who want a sharper image and can tolerate a slight reduction in frame rate. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 51 FPS and a minimum of 44 FPS, is borderline and may not be suitable for all users due to potential dips below 60 FPS.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that this resolution should be avoided entirely. Even the Low preset only manages an average of 35 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in most titles. The Medium preset's 29 FPS and the High preset's 18 FPS are not recommended. The Ultra preset is unusable at 12 FPS. The analysis indicates that the best experience is found by prioritizing a lower resolution and sticking to the Low or, at most, Medium settings presets. The performance cost of increasing settings is far too high for the visual benefit this GPU can provide.