The Long Drive

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a performance profile in The Long Drive that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics preset. The measured data reveals a system that can handle high refresh rates at 1080p with reduced settings but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra. The combination of a high-end 16-core CPU with a mid-range GPU creates a clear bottleneck dynamic, where the Arc B570 becomes the limiting factor as pixel count and graphical fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand the scaling behavior, the role of each component, and the optimal settings for this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and indicates a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 146 at 1920x1080 to 96 at 2560x1440, a 34% reduction, and then plummets to 53 at 3840x2160, which is a further 45% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline is characteristic of a graphics card that lacks the raw pixel throughput to feed a 4K display without significant compromises.

The trend continues across all settings. For High preset, the average FPS goes from 75 at 1080p to 49 at 1440p (a 35% decrease) and then to 27 at 4K (a 45% decrease from 1440p). The similar percentage drops across different presets suggest that the scaling penalty is tied to resolution primarily, rather than being amplified by specific graphical features. The data implies that the Arc B570’s memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s and its 160-bit bus are sufficient for 1080p but become overwhelmed as the pixel count demands more data throughput.

The most telling data point is at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS collapses to 19. This is a playability disaster, showing that the combination of maximum settings and 4K resolution is far beyond the capabilities of the Intel Arc B570. The gap between 4K Low (53 FPS) and 4K High (27 FPS) is nearly 2x, demonstrating that the GPU’s shading units and texture units are not just bandwidth-limited but also compute-limited. The scaling from Medium to High at 4K is a 39% performance hit (44 to 27 FPS), which is a significant cost for the visual upgrade, suggesting that the game’s High preset introduces effects that are particularly taxing on this architecture. The evidence strongly suggests that the limiting component at 1440p and above is the GPU, as the CPU’s performance headroom is not being utilized.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, putting it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs tested. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. This kind of computational power is typically more than enough for a driving simulation like The Long Drive, which is unlikely to be heavily multithreaded to that extent. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 146 FPS, which is likely near the ceiling of what the game engine allows or what the CPU can feed to the GPU in a non-GPU-bound scenario.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, have almost identical average benchmark scores (46971 and 47022 vs. 46881), with deltas of -0.2% and -0.3% respectively. This indicates that the i7-13700K is in a performance tier with these chips, and none of them would be the reason for a frame rate bottleneck in this title. The fact that the FPS drops so dramatically when moving from 1080p to 4K, even at Low settings, points away from the CPU being the constraint. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rate would remain relatively constant regardless of resolution.

The passmark single-thread score of 4333 and the 3dmark single-thread score of 1136 suggest that the i7-13700K has excellent single-core performance, which is crucial for game logic and physics simulation. However, the measured FPS data does not show any signs of the CPU holding back the system until possibly the very highest frame rates. At 1080p Low (146 FPS), there is a chance the CPU is nearing its limit, but the 120 FPS at 1080p Medium and 75 FPS at 1080p High are well within the CPU’s capability to deliver. The data implies that the i7-13700K is a stable foundation that provides consistent performance without being a source of frame time spikes, allowing the GPU to be the primary variable in performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the clear limiting factor in this configuration. With a 10 GB GDDR6 memory buffer on a 160-bit bus and a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s, it is positioned in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 20556 places it right alongside the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750, with deltas of 0.1% and -0.1% respectively. This tells us that the Arc B570’s raw compute power is comparable to those cards, but its performance in The Long Drive is what matters here.

The GPU’s clock speeds are unusual, with a base and boost clock both set to 2500 MHz. This suggests that the card is designed to run at a fixed frequency, which can lead to more consistent performance but also means it will hit its thermal and power limits quickly under sustained load. The 150 W TDP and the 1x 8-pin power connector confirm that this is not a high-power card, and the data reflects that. At 4K Ultra, the 19 FPS average is a clear sign that the 2304 shading units and 80 ROPs are insufficient for the workload.

The measured FPS at 1440p Medium (79 FPS) is playable, but the jump to High (49 FPS) shows a 38% performance penalty, which is substantial. This implies that the game’s High settings might include effects like higher-resolution shadows or more complex lighting that heavily tax the GPU’s texture units (144 TMUs) and pixel rate (200.0 GPixel/s). The Arc B570’s performance at 1080p is much more respectable, with 120 FPS at Medium and 146 FPS at Low, indicating that the card is well-suited for 1080p gaming. The data suggests that the 10 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor at these settings, as the frame rate drops are consistent with compute and bandwidth limitations rather than memory capacity issues.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal balance of performance and visual quality for this combo is the Medium preset at 1920x1080. The data shows an average of 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, which provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The jump from Low to Medium is a 21% performance hit (146 to 120 FPS), but it is worth it for the visual improvements, and the frame rates remain excellent.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is also the best choice, yielding 79 FPS average with a minimum of 67 FPS. This is a playable experience, though not as fluid as 1080p. The High preset at 1440p drops to 49 FPS, which is acceptable for a driving sim but might feel less responsive. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it produces a 52 FPS average at 1080p and a 34 FPS average at 1440p, showing that the visual fidelity gains do not justify the massive performance cost. The data indicates that Low is too much of a visual compromise, while Ultra is too demanding for the Arc B570.

For 4K, the only playable option is Low, which achieves 53 FPS. This is playable but requires significant graphical sacrifices. The Medium preset at 4K (44 FPS) is borderline, but the minimum FPS of 37 suggests it will be prone to stuttering. The data strongly suggests that this system is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where the Medium preset offers the best experience per the measured rows, balancing frame rate and graphical fidelity. Pushing to High at 1440p might be acceptable for those who prioritize visuals over smoothness, but it is not the optimal choice.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the Intel Arc B570 ranks 2342 out of 2934 tested combos in The Long Drive. This places it in the bottom 20% of all configurations, which is a surprising result given the CPU’s high percentile. The ranking is heavily dragged down by the GPU’s performance at higher resolutions, as the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck. The data indicates that this combo is held back by the Arc B570’s inability to handle the game’s demands at 1440p and 4K.

The rank suggests that most other combos in the database are better suited for this game, likely featuring more powerful GPUs. The i7-13700K is a top-tier processor, but its pairing with a mid-range GPU results in a system that is unbalanced for a game like The Long Drive, which appears to be graphically intensive. The combo’s performance at 1080p would likely rank much higher, but the entire dataset is averaged across all resolutions and settings. The 2342 rank is a clear signal that users looking for high-fidelity 4K gaming should avoid this specific pairing, as the CPU’s potential is wasted when the GPU cannot keep up. The data shows that the combo is best viewed as a 1080p or entry-level 1440p machine.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS of 146. This is the highest measured frame rate for this combo and shows the system’s raw potential when the GPU is not heavily taxed.
• Medium: Average FPS of 120, with a minimum of 102 and a maximum of 138. This is the recommended setting for a high-refresh-rate experience.
• High: Average FPS of 75. This is a 37.5% drop from Medium, indicating a significant cost for the visual upgrade.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 52. While playable, this is a steep drop from High and suggests that the Ultra preset is too demanding.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS of 96. This is a solid frame rate and shows that the GPU can handle 1440p with reduced settings.
• Medium: Average FPS of 79, with a minimum of 67 and a maximum of 91. This is the best balance for 1440p, offering a smooth gameplay experience.
• High: Average FPS of 49. This is a noticeable drop and is only suitable for users who prefer visual quality over smoothness.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 34. This is a poor experience and is not recommended for competitive or fast-paced driving.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS of 53. This is barely playable and requires significant graphical compromises.
• Medium: Average FPS of 44, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50. The minimum FPS is concerning and suggests potential stuttering.
• High: Average FPS of 27. This is not suitable for a playable experience.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 19. This is a slideshow and demonstrates the GPU’s hard limits.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run The Long Drive at 4K 60 FPS?*

A: No. The measured data shows the highest average FPS at 4K is 53 on Low settings. The Medium preset drops to 44 FPS, and High and Ultra are far below 60 FPS, at 27 and 19 respectively.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a 144Hz monitor?

A: The only way to get close to 144 FPS is at 1080p with Low settings, which achieves 146 FPS. For a more balanced visual experience, 1080p Medium is recommended, which hits 120 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to the Intel Arc A750 in this context?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the B570 scoring 20556 and the A750 scoring 20582, a delta of -0.1%. This suggests similar raw performance, but the measured FPS is specific to this game and combo.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in this game?

A: The data suggests no. The frame rates drop significantly with resolution, which is a sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU’s high benchmark scores indicate it has ample headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS is 67. This provides a good safety margin above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating a stable experience.

Q: Is it better to use Low or High settings at 1080p?

A: High settings at 1080p achieve 75 FPS, which is a 49% drop from Low’s 146 FPS. While High is playable, the Medium preset provides a better balance at 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, making it the superior choice for smoothness.