The Long Drive

The Long Drive pairs the Intel Core i5-10400F with the Intel Arc B570, a combination that lands near the middle of the pack for this driving simulation. The measured data places this pairing at rank 2342 out of 2934 tested configurations, meaning roughly 20% of setups deliver higher average frame rates in this title. The Arc B570, built on Xe2-HPG architecture with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, and the six-core Comet Lake processor produce a playable but not exceptional experience, with results that vary sharply depending on resolution and quality preset. The percentile rankings reflect this: the CPU sits at the 68th percentile against all processors, while the GPU reaches the 65th percentile against all graphics cards. These are mid-pack performers, and the frame rate data confirms that neither component dominates the other across all settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS reveals a steep and consistent penalty as resolution climbs. At 1080p with Low settings, the system averages 146 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 96 FPS, a reduction of 50 FPS or roughly 34%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 53 FPS, which is 93 FPS below the 1080p result and 43 FPS below the 1440p result. The pattern holds across every preset, but the absolute losses are largest at the lower quality levels because the starting frame rates are higher.

For Medium settings, the scaling is slightly less punishing in percentage terms but still significant. The 1080p Medium average is 120 FPS, 1440p Medium is 79 FPS, and 4K Medium is 44 FPS. That is a 41 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p and another 35 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K. The High preset follows a similar trajectory: 75 FPS at 1080p, 49 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K. Ultra is the most demanding, starting at 52 FPS in 1080p, falling to 34 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 19 FPS in 4K.

These numbers indicate that the GPU becomes the primary limiter as resolution increases. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is large for every preset, and the gap between 1440p and 4K is even larger. At 4K, even Low settings only produce 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target most builders consider smooth. The data suggests that this pairing is not suited for 4K gaming in The Long Drive, regardless of quality settings. The 1440p results are more viable, with Low and Medium both exceeding 75 FPS, but High drops below 50 FPS.

At 1080p, the configuration shows its best behavior. Low settings hit 146 FPS, Medium reaches 120 FPS, and High still manages 75 FPS. Only Ultra falls below 60 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the system is most balanced, with the CPU and GPU both contributing meaningfully to the final frame rate. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear; it accelerates, which is typical when a GPU runs out of memory bandwidth or raw shading throughput. The Arc B570 has 10 GB of VRAM and 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is adequate for 1080p but strained at higher pixel counts.

The 4K results highlight the GPU bottleneck most clearly. The difference between 4K Low (53 FPS) and 4K High (27 FPS) is 26 FPS, while the difference between 1080p Low (146 FPS) and 1080p High (75 FPS) is 71 FPS. At lower resolution, the CPU has more headroom to push higher frame rates, and the GPU can keep up. At 4K, both are maxed out, but the GPU is the one that gives out first.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a six-core, twelve-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz and boost clock is 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU’s benchmark scores show a solid mid-range performer: Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 10283 and singlecore hits 1451. Passmark multithread scores 12115, while single thread is 2541. These are not top-tier numbers, but they are enough to keep a driving simulation like The Long Drive moving, especially at lower resolutions.

In the measured data, the CPU’s influence is most visible at 1080p with Low settings, where the system reaches 146 FPS. That is a high frame rate that requires both fast single-thread performance and enough multi-thread capacity to handle game logic, physics, and AI. The 3DMark scores support this: single thread is 688, 2 threads is 1350, 4 threads is 2560, 8 threads is 3929, and 16 threads is 4748. The scaling from 2 to 4 threads is nearly 90%, and from 4 to 8 threads it is about 53%, indicating that the game can use multiple cores but does not scale perfectly beyond four.

The CPU’s 12 threads likely help in The Long Drive, which is a driving simulation with persistent world elements. The benchmark data does not break down per-core usage, but the fact that 1080p Low reaches 146 FPS while 4K Low only hits 53 FPS suggests that at 1080p the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough frames, while at 4K the GPU cannot keep up. The CPU’s single-thread score of 688 in 3DMark is modest, but it is paired with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which helps in lightly threaded scenarios.

Compared to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, the i5-10400F is essentially tied. The Intel Xeon 6756E scores 14163, just 0.2% lower. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232, 0.3% higher. The AMD EPYC 7552 scores 14115, 0.5% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14277, 0.6% higher. None of these differences are meaningful in real-world gaming. The i5-10400F is a stable, predictable CPU for this game, and the measured FPS suggests it is not the primary bottleneck except at the very lowest resolution and quality settings.

The CPU’s memory support is DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. That is not a limiting factor for The Long Drive, which is not memory-bandwidth sensitive in the same way as some other titles. The PCIe Gen 3, 16 Lanes interface is sufficient for the Arc B570, which uses PCIe 4.0 x8, but the older standard does not appear to hurt performance in this game based on the FPS numbers.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the more interesting component in this pairing. It is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture at TSMC’s 5 nm node, with 19,600 million transistors on a 272 mm² die. The GPU runs at a fixed 2500 MHz base and boost clock, with 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. Memory is 10 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus, delivering 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The FP32 throughput is 11.52 TFLOPS, and the pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s.

These specs place the Arc B570 in the same performance class as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20534 in the average benchmark, just 0.1% lower. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 20480, 0.4% lower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662, 0.5% higher. The GPU’s percentile rank is 65, meaning it is faster than about two-thirds of all GPUs in the database.

In The Long Drive, the GPU’s role becomes dominant as resolution increases. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 19 FPS, which is unplayable. Even 4K High is only 27 FPS. These numbers are well below what a smooth experience requires. The GPU’s 10 GB VRAM is not the issue at these settings; rather, the shading throughput and memory bandwidth are simply insufficient for 4K with high-quality effects.

At 1440p, the GPU performs better. Low settings hit 96 FPS, Medium reaches 79 FPS, and High still manages 49 FPS. These are playable numbers for most users, though High is borderline. The 1440p Medium average of 79 FPS with a min of 67 and max of 91 shows that the GPU can hold a decent frame rate with some variation. The 1080p results are even stronger: 146 FPS at Low, 120 FPS at Medium, and 75 FPS at High. The GPU has enough headroom at 1080p to handle the game’s demands without dropping below 60 FPS except at Ultra.

The GPU’s compute scores are respectable. Passmark G3D scores 14195, and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test scores 2649. Geekbench OpenCL scores 83514 and Vulkan scores 96844. These numbers do not directly translate to game FPS, but they indicate a GPU that is capable of handling modern workloads. The Arc B570 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6, which covers the API requirements of The Long Drive.

The GPU’s power draw is rated at 150 W with a suggested PSU of 450 W, but those numbers are not reflected in the FPS data. The measured results show that the GPU is used heavily at higher resolutions, which is expected. The fixed clock of 2500 MHz means there is no boost variability; the GPU runs at the same speed regardless of load, which simplifies expected performance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for settings. At 1080p, Medium is the sweet spot. The average is 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 and maximum of 138. That is smooth, responsive, and leaves headroom for dips. High is also playable at 75 FPS, but the drop from Medium to High is 45 FPS, which is significant for a single quality tier. Low at 146 FPS is unnecessary unless the user has a 144 Hz or higher refresh rate monitor and wants to maximize frame rate. Ultra at 52 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold, so it is not recommended.

At 1440p, Low is the best choice for smooth gameplay, hitting 96 FPS. Medium is also acceptable at 79 FPS, with a min of 67, which is still above 60. High drops to 49 FPS, which is playable for some but not ideal for a driving game where smoothness matters. Ultra at 34 FPS is too low. For most users, 1440p Medium offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, but those who prioritize smoothness should use Low.

At 4K, none of the settings produce a great experience. Low is the only option above 50 FPS, at 53 FPS. Medium is 44 FPS, High is 27 FPS, and Ultra is 19 FPS. If the user insists on 4K, Low is the only viable preset, and even then it is borderline. The data suggests that 4K is not a realistic target for this pairing in The Long Drive.

The overall recommendation is to play at 1080p Medium for the best experience. The 120 FPS average with a 102 FPS minimum ensures consistent performance. For users with 1440p monitors, Medium is the recommended preset, as it stays above 60 FPS in the measured data. High settings are only advisable at 1080p, and even then the frame rate is not as stable as Medium. The data shows a clear pattern: each quality tier costs a significant number of frames, so choose the preset that keeps the average above 60 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combination in The Long Drive?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1080p is the best resolution. Low settings hit 146 FPS, Medium reaches 120 FPS, and High manages 75 FPS. At 1440p, only Low and Medium exceed 60 FPS, with 96 and 79 FPS respectively. At 4K, even Low only reaches 53 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K in The Long Drive?

A: The data shows that 4K is not recommended. Low settings average 53 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS, High averages 27 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. Only Low is close to playable, but it still dips below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-10400F compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU is virtually tied with its nearest competitors. It scores 14185 on average, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Xeon 6756E (14163), 0.3% lower than the Intel Core 7 160UL (14232), 0.5% higher than the AMD EPYC 7552 (14115), and 0.6% lower than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277).

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570 a bottleneck in this game?

A: At 1080p, the GPU is not a bottleneck, as Low settings produce 146 FPS and Medium produces 120 FPS. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, with frame rates dropping sharply. For example, 4K High is only 27 FPS, which is far below the 1080p High result of 75 FPS.

Q: What preset should I use for a 144 Hz monitor?

A: At 1080p, Low settings (146 FPS) or Medium settings (120 FPS) can take advantage of a 144 Hz display. High settings at 75 FPS will not reach 144 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (96 FPS) approaches 144 Hz, but it still falls short.

Q: How much does Ultra settings cost in frame rate compared to Low?

A: At 1080p, Ultra averages 52 FPS, which is 94 FPS lower than Low’s 146 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra averages 34 FPS, 62 FPS lower than Low’s 96 FPS. At 4K, Ultra averages 19 FPS, 34 FPS lower than Low’s 53 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists every measured FPS data point from the FACT PACK. All numbers are taken directly from the measured rows.

1920x1080:

• Low: average 146 FPS
• Medium: average 120 FPS, minimum 102 FPS, maximum 138 FPS
• High: average 75 FPS
• Ultra: average 52 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: average 96 FPS
• Medium: average 79 FPS, minimum 67 FPS, maximum 91 FPS
• High: average 49 FPS
• Ultra: average 34 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: average 53 FPS
• Medium: average 44 FPS, minimum 37 FPS, maximum 50 FPS
• High: average 27 FPS
• Ultra: average 19 FPS

The 1080p Medium row is the only one that provides min/max values besides 1440p and 4K Medium. The 1080p Medium min of 102 FPS and max of 138 FPS indicates a stable frame rate with limited fluctuation. The 1440p Medium min of 67 FPS and max of 91 FPS shows more variance, and the 4K Medium min of 37 FPS and max of 50 FPS reveals even wider swings. This suggests that lower resolutions produce more consistent frame times, which is expected when the GPU is not fully saturated.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Medium is consistent across resolutions. At 1080p, Low is 26 FPS higher than Medium. At 1440p, the gap is 17 FPS. At 4K, it is 9 FPS. This narrowing gap indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor at higher resolutions, and the quality setting has diminishing impact on frame rate. Conversely, the gap between High and Ultra is 23 FPS at 1080p, 15 FPS at 1440p, and 8 FPS at 4K. Ultra is consistently the worst-performing preset, and its penalty grows relative to the total frame rate as resolution increases.

The rank of 2342 out of 2934 combos places this pairing firmly in the lower-middle tier for The Long Drive. The measured data confirms that the system is capable of smooth 1080p gaming and adequate 1440p gaming, but it is not suited for 4K. The CPU and GPU are well-matched at 1080p, with neither component obviously holding back the other. At higher resolutions, the GPU’s limitations become clear, and the CPU’s extra headroom cannot compensate for the lack of shading power and memory bandwidth. For a driving simulation that benefits from consistent frame rates, the recommended configuration is 1080p Medium, which delivers a measured average of 120 FPS with a minimum above 100 FPS.