The Long Drive

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a playable experience at 1080p with Low settings, but the combination struggles significantly as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. The data shows a clear pattern: the integrated graphics solution becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the capable 12-core processor ensures that frame pacing remains stable even when overall throughput drops. The measured FPS across the three resolutions and four settings presets paints a picture of a system that is strictly limited by its GPU component, with the CPU rarely, if ever, being the constraining factor in this driving simulation.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals the severe limitations of the Intel Arc B390 at higher pixel counts. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 95 at 1920x1080 to 63 at 2560x1440, representing a 34% decrease. The drop continues to 35 FPS at 3840x2160, which is a 63% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve indicates that the GPU is being overwhelmed by the pixel throughput required at 4K, as the rendering workload scales nearly linearly with the number of pixels.

The scaling behavior is even more pronounced at Medium settings. The system manages 78 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 51 FPS at 1440p and further down to 29 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 4K here is 63%, mirroring the Low preset drop. This consistency suggests the GPU is hitting a hard computational ceiling rather than a memory or bandwidth wall. The 4K Medium result also shows a minimum FPS of 24 and a maximum of 33, indicating noticeable frame time variance even within a single run.

High settings produce a similar downward trajectory, with 49 FPS at 1080p dropping to 32 FPS at 1440p and finally 18 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result is effectively unplayable, and the scaling pattern confirms that the Arc B390 cannot maintain a consistent frame rate when pixel count increases. The Ultra preset is the worst offender, with 34 FPS at 1080p falling to 22 FPS at 1440p and a mere 12 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra score of 12 FPS is the lowest recorded value in the entire dataset, showing that the GPU is completely saturated.

The resolution scaling data strongly indicates that the limiting component is the GPU. The Intel Core i7-12700K, with its high boost clock and multiple cores, has ample headroom to process game logic and physics at these frame rates. The fact that FPS drops so precipitously from 1080p to 4K—regardless of the settings preset—points directly to the Arc B390's inability to handle pixel shading and fill rate demands. A CPU-bound scenario would show less variation across resolutions, but here the scaling is steep and consistent, solidifying the GPU as the bottleneck.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K brings 12 cores and 20 threads to this pairing, along with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This is a high-end desktop processor from the Alder Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. In the context of The Long Drive, a driving simulation that tends to favor single-threaded performance for game logic, the 12700K's strong single-core capabilities are more than sufficient for the frame rates observed in the measured data.

Benchmark results for the CPU show a single-thread score of 1043 in 3dmark and a passmark single-thread score of 4013. These figures indicate robust per-core performance that can easily drive the simulation's update loop. Even at the lowest frame rate recorded—12 FPS at 4K Ultra—the CPU is not likely to be the constraint, as the GPU is clearly struggling to produce frames. The CPU's multi-threaded scores, such as the cinebench r23 multicore result of 19784, further confirm that it has significant headroom for any background tasks or additional simulation threads.

The 12700K's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core provide low-latency access to frequently used data, which is beneficial for the dynamic world of a driving game. The processor's percentile rank of 84 among all CPUs places it well above the majority of tested hardware, indicating that it is a high-performing component. In this specific game, the CPU role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and process the driving physics, and the data suggests it performs this role without presenting a bottleneck at any of the tested settings or resolutions.

Comparing the 12700K to its nearest rivals, it sits nearly identical in average benchmark score to the Intel Core i5-13600T, with a deltaPct of -0.1%. It is also within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-13700T and the Intel Core 5 213PE. This tight grouping shows that the 12700K is competitive with these alternatives, though none of them would change the fundamental GPU-bound nature of this particular combo. The CPU's performance is effectively a non-issue; the measured FPS is dictated almost entirely by the Arc B390.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 95 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches high refresh rate territory, providing a smooth and responsive experience for a driving simulation where reaction times matter. The Low preset at 1080p is the clear recommendation for any user seeking fluid gameplay, as it avoids the frame rate dips seen at higher settings.

For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, 1080p Medium is a viable alternative, with an average of 78 FPS and a minimum of 66 FPS. This maintains playability while offering improved graphical fidelity over Low. The frame time data shows a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 90, suggesting some variance but generally stable performance. Moving to High at 1080p drops the average to 49 FPS, which is still technically playable but starts to feel less smooth, especially in a game that may involve rapid camera movements.

The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended for this combo. At 1080p, it averages only 34 FPS, and at 1440p it falls to 22 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 12 FPS is essentially a slideshow and should be avoided entirely. Similarly, 1440p High at 32 FPS and 1440p Medium at 51 FPS are borderline, with the Medium preset being the only reasonable choice at that resolution for those who cannot use 1080p.

At 4K, the data shows that only the Low preset, with an average of 35 FPS, is marginally playable, though it will feel stuttery. The Medium preset at 29 FPS and High at 18 FPS are not recommended for active gameplay. The best experience per the measured rows is unequivocally 1080p Low, with 1080p Medium as a secondary option for those willing to accept a 17 FPS drop for better visuals. The data suggests that users should prioritize resolution and settings to stay above the 60 FPS threshold, which only the 1080p Low preset achieves.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested hardware combinations for The Long Drive, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Arc B390 ranks at position 2594 out of 2934 total combos. This places it in the lower 12th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that the integrated GPU significantly drags down the overall ranking despite the high-performing CPU. The combo rank of 2594 reflects the poor gaming performance relative to other pairings, most of which include discrete graphics cards with far greater rendering power.

The rank is particularly surprising given the CPU's strong standing, where it ranks in the 84th percentile versus all CPUs. This discrepancy underscores the imbalance of this particular configuration. The data shows that the combo's performance is heavily skewed by the GPU, and the CPU's capabilities are largely wasted in this gaming scenario. The Arc B390's percentile rank of 9 versus all GPUs places it in the bottom tier, and this is clearly reflected in the combo's overall position.

When looking at the GPU's nearest rivals, the Arc B390 sits close to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, with a deltaPct of 1.3%, and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, with a deltaPct of 1.5%. These are very old, low-end mobile and OEM parts, which contextually highlights how underpowered the Arc B390 is for modern gaming. The fact that this combo ranks near the bottom of the database is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance tier. The CPU's high scores on benchmarks like passmark multithread (34404) and geekbench multicore (15790) do not translate to a better rank because the frame rate is entirely GPU-limited.

The high combo rank number (2594) with a low "ofCombos" total (2934) means this system is near the bottom of the pile. It outperforms only 340 other tested combinations, which is a stark indicator of its limitations. Any user considering this combo for gaming should note that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the integrated graphics solution holds the entire system back to a level comparable with decade-old discrete GPUs. The ranking data makes it clear that this is not a balanced gaming system, despite the processor's pedigree.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and manufactured on a 3 nm process. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with a TDP of 80 W. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with memory bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This shared memory setup is a primary factor in its poor gaming performance, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

In the 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This low score is directly reflected in the game's measured FPS. The GPU's shading units number 1536, along with 48 texture mapping units and 24 render output units, which are modest figures for handling the pixel fill rate demands of 4K rendering. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, but these theoretical limits are clearly insufficient for the resolution scaling observed.

The GPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct 1.3%), GeForce 800M (deltaPct 1.5%), GT 625 OEM (deltaPct 2.5%), and GT 710 (deltaPct 2.7%). These are all extremely low-end parts, reinforcing that the Arc B390 is at the very bottom of the performance spectrum. The GPU's role in this combo is to be the limiting factor, and the measured FPS data confirms this. At 1080p Low, the 95 FPS average is likely near the practical limit for this IGP, and any increase in resolution or settings immediately causes performance to collapse.

The Arc B390's boost clock of 2500 MHz is relatively high for an integrated solution, but it cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated memory and the low number of execution units. The game "The Long Drive" is not particularly demanding, yet this GPU still struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher settings. The data indicates that the GPU is the sole reason for the combo's poor rank, and its performance characteristics—shared memory, low ROPS, and minimal shading power—are the direct causes of the low FPS figures across the board.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest tested resolution, the combo shows its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 95, which is the highest recorded figure in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce an average of 78 FPS, with a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 90. High settings drop the average to 49 FPS, and Ultra settings further reduce it to 34 FPS. This progression shows a clear 22% drop from Low to Medium, a 37% drop from Medium to High, and a 31% drop from High to Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. Low settings average 63 FPS, which is a 34% reduction from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 59. High settings average 32 FPS, and Ultra settings average 22 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 41 FPS, showing that the GPU struggles more as both resolution and settings increase. The 1440p Medium result of 51 FPS is the only preset at this resolution that approaches playability, while the Ultra preset at 22 FPS is borderline.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Low settings average 35 FPS, which is the only 4K preset that breaks the 30 FPS mark. Medium settings average 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 33. High settings average 18 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 12 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is severe: Low drops from 63 to 35 FPS (44% decrease), Medium from 51 to 29 FPS (43% decrease), High from 32 to 18 FPS (44% decrease), and Ultra from 22 to 12 FPS (45% decrease). This consistent ~44% reduction across all presets confirms that the GPU is purely pixel-bound at 4K.

The min and max FPS data is only available for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the range is 66 to 90 FPS, a spread of 24 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 44 to 59 FPS, a spread of 15 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 24 to 33 FPS, a spread of 9 FPS. This narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU becomes more consistently saturated, leaving less room for frame time variation as it is constantly maxed out. The 4K Medium average of 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24, indicates that the system is operating at the edge of its capabilities, with occasional dips that would be noticeable during gameplay.