The Long Drive

The Long Drive, a driving simulation released in 2019, presents a unique challenge for the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the Intel Arc B370. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on how the CPU and GPU interact to produce the observed frame rates, and provides guidance on the optimal way to experience the game with this hardware combination.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the most balanced experience for this combination is the Low preset at 1920x1080, which delivers an average of 86 FPS. This is the only preset across all tested resolutions that approaches a high-refresh-rate experience. While the Medium preset at 1080p also yields a playable 71 FPS average, the Low preset provides a significant performance headroom that could be beneficial for maintaining stability in more demanding driving scenarios.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only viable option for smooth gameplay, producing an average of 56 FPS. This is a substantial drop from the 1080p Low result, indicating that the GPU is the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 46 FPS, which may be acceptable for some users, but the Low preset offers a more comfortable margin above the 30 FPS threshold.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution. The data shows averages of 31 FPS at 1080p, 20 FPS at 1440p, and 11 FPS at 4K. These figures fall below what is generally considered a minimum standard for a driving game, where smooth and responsive controls are critical. The High preset, while better than Ultra, still struggles to maintain playability, with averages of 44 FPS at 1080p and 29 FPS at 1440p. For an optimal experience, the Low preset at 1080p is the clear choice, with the Low preset at 1440p serving as a secondary option if a higher resolution is required.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its role in The Long Drive is the primary limiting factor. The GPU's benchmark score is 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This low standing is reflected in its nearest rivals, which include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770. These are legacy parts, and the Arc B370's performance is comparable to them, with delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.5%, respectively, relative to its own score.

The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which implies that performance can vary based on the system's memory configuration. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance rated at 6.144 TFLOPS.

In The Long Drive, the GPU's limited capabilities are evident in the low frame rates at all settings. The fact that the Low preset at 1080p yields 86 FPS while the Ultra preset at 4K yields only 11 FPS indicates that the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and complex graphical effects. The system-shared memory architecture means that the GPU is competing with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can further exacerbate performance issues in a game with a large, open world. The data suggests that the Arc B370 is best suited for lower resolutions and less demanding graphical presets.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and consistent drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, across all settings presets. This pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics card's processing power is the limiting factor.

At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p, a reduction of 30 FPS. Moving to 4K, the average falls further to 31 FPS. This represents a 64% decrease in performance from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is not linear; the drop from 1440p to 4K is proportionally larger, suggesting that the GPU's memory bandwidth and shading capabilities are severely strained at 4K.

At the Medium preset, the averages are 71 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25 FPS, and from 1440p to 4K is 20 FPS. The High preset shows a similar trend, with averages of 44, 29, and 16 FPS, respectively. The Ultra preset exhibits the most dramatic decline, with averages of 31, 20, and 11 FPS.

These results indicate that the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600KF, is not the limiting factor in this game at higher resolutions. The consistent FPS drop with increasing resolution points directly to the GPU. The CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU, but the GPU cannot keep up with the increased pixel count and shading workload. The resolution scaling confirms that for this combination, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, and users should prioritize lower resolutions to achieve playable frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS values for each resolution and settings preset combination.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 86 FPS average. This is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset.
• Medium: 71 FPS average, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS. This preset offers a solid margin of playability.
• High: 44 FPS average. This is acceptable for a driving game, but may feel less smooth during fast maneuvers.
• Ultra: 31 FPS average. This is borderline playable, but the low average suggests frequent dips below 30 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 56 FPS average. This is the only preset at 1440p that provides a consistently smooth experience.
• Medium: 46 FPS average, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. The minimum FPS is concerning, as it may cause noticeable stutters.
• High: 29 FPS average. This falls below the 30 FPS threshold and is not recommended.
• Ultra: 20 FPS average. This is not a playable experience.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 31 FPS average. This is technically playable, but the frame rate is low.
• Medium: 26 FPS average, with a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS. The low minimum indicates significant frame time spikes.
• High: 16 FPS average. This is not a playable experience.
• Ultra: 11 FPS average. This is a slideshow and not a viable option.

The data clearly shows that the Medium preset provides a stable frame rate range, as indicated by the min and max values, but the Low preset offers the best overall performance for this GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the Intel Arc B370 is ranked 2700 out of 2934 tested combos in The Long Drive. This places the configuration in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's performance, as the CPU is a high-end part with a percentile rank of 90 among all CPUs.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 49394, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, with a score of 49228 and a delta of 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, with a score of 49796 and a delta of -0.8%. These are all modern, high-performance processors, and the i5-14600KF is competitive with them. In contrast, the GPU's nearest rivals are much older and less capable parts, reinforcing the notion that the GPU is the bottleneck.

The combo rank of 2700 out of 2934 suggests that while the CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates in other applications, the GPU severely limits the overall gaming performance in The Long Drive. To improve the ranking, a more powerful discrete GPU would be necessary, as the current integrated graphics solution is not designed for high-end gaming workloads.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The CPU's cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

In terms of synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14600KF demonstrates strong performance. It scores 32544 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4594 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 17085 multi-core and 2445 single-core. These scores place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, are separated by less than 1% in average score.

In The Long Drive, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics calculations, and the simulation of the open world. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this specific configuration. The FPS drops are consistently tied to increases in resolution and settings, which are GPU-intensive workloads. Even at the lowest resolution and settings (1080p Low), the GPU is still the limiting factor, as the CPU has more than enough power to feed the GPU. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 4594 Cinebench R23 score, is likely sufficient for the game's simulation logic. The 14 cores and 20 threads provide ample multi-threading capability, but the game's performance is ultimately capped by the GPU's throughput.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The Low preset at 1920x1080 provides the best experience, with an average of 86 FPS. This is the only configuration that offers a frame rate well above 60 FPS.

Q: Can this configuration run The Long Drive at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the best average FPS is 31 on the Low preset. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS, High averages 16 FPS, and Ultra averages 11 FPS. While 4K is technically playable on Low, the frame rate is low and may not provide a smooth experience.

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

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The FPS drops consistently as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU has a high benchmark score and is not the cause of the low frame rates.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2700 out of 2934 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of systems tested for The Long Drive.

Q: What is the average FPS on the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. The minimum FPS indicates the potential for occasional stutters.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile compared to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1184, which is similar to legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770.