The Long Drive

# How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B580 lands at rank 2811 out of 3725 tested combos in The Long Drive. That places this configuration in the bottom quarter of all tested pairings, which is a surprisingly modest result given the individual components' benchmark standings. The combo's rank reflects a fundamental imbalance: the CPU is a high-end part sitting in the 89th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 68th percentile against all GPUs. This pairing produces a system where the processor is clearly capable of far more than the graphics card can deliver in this driving simulation.

The rank becomes more telling when you consider what it means for actual gameplay. At rank 2811, this combo sits behind roughly 75% of all other tested configurations in The Long Drive. The data suggests that the Arc B580 is the limiting factor in nearly every scenario, as the CPU's substantial headroom goes unused. Benchmark results indicate that this is not a balanced pairing for this particular title, and users should expect the GPU to be the bottleneck across all resolutions and settings tested.

# GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 brings 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base and boost clocks are identical at 2670 MHz, with memory running at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The GPU's 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs provide the raw throughput that determines frame rates in this title. With 20 ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, the card is architecturally modern, but its 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute sets a hard ceiling on performance.

In The Long Drive, the GPU's role is decisive. The measured frames show a clear pattern: this card struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher quality presets, particularly at 4K. The GPU's 68th percentile ranking against all GPUs places it near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (0.6% ahead) and just behind the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (0.2% behind). However, the Arc B580's 12 GB VRAM is generous for a card in this performance class, which helps at higher resolutions where memory capacity can become a factor.

The GPU's 190 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate a mid-range power envelope, but the performance data shows it behaving like an entry-level 4K card. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3068 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 109672 confirm that this is not a high-end part, and The Long Drive's measured results align with those synthetic benchmarks. The card's PassMark G3D score of 15748 further corroborates its mid-tier standing.

# Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals where this combo's strengths and weaknesses lie. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 85 FPS at 1920x1080 to 56 FPS at 2560x1440, then to 31 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 63.5% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which indicates a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. The CPU has ample headroom — its 16 cores and 24 threads, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, are more than sufficient for this driving simulation even at 4K.

The Low settings scaling tells a similar story but with different magnitudes. At Low, the combo delivers 165 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result being exactly 60 FPS suggests a hard cap or a v-sync-like limit, or possibly the GPU hitting its practical ceiling. The step from 1080p to 1440p at Low costs 56 FPS (34%), while the step from 1440p to 4K costs 49 FPS (45%). This non-linear scaling is typical of a GPU that is progressively overwhelmed by pixel count.

Ultra settings show the most dramatic collapse: 59 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 21 FPS is essentially unplayable, and even 1440p Ultra at 39 FPS is marginal. The data clearly shows that resolution scaling in this title is heavily dependent on GPU workload, and the Arc B580's performance drops off sharply as pixel count increases. The CPU's contribution to frame rates is minimal at higher resolutions, confirming that the limiting component is the GPU.

# Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to Medium settings as the best balance for this combo. At 1080p Medium, the system delivers 136 FPS average with a minimum of 116 FPS and maximum of 156 FPS. This is a smooth, playable experience that maintains high frame rates while providing better visual quality than Low. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 90 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, which is still respectable for most displays. The Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot where the GPU can keep up without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

For 4K gaming, the recommendation shifts to Low settings. The 4K Low result of 60 FPS is the only 4K preset that achieves a playable frame rate. Medium at 4K drops to 50 FPS average with a minimum of 42 FPS, which may be acceptable for some users but is below the 60 FPS target. High at 4K is marginal at 31 FPS, and Ultra at 21 FPS is not viable for gameplay.

At 1080p, High settings are also viable at 85 FPS average, but the jump from Medium to High costs 51 FPS (37.5%) while delivering only incremental visual gains. For users with 1440p displays, Medium is the clear choice, as High at 56 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and Ultra at 39 FPS is too low for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that users should prioritize Medium settings for the best experience, reserving Low for 4K and High for those who prefer visual quality over frame rate headroom.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 165 FPS average
• Medium: 136 FPS average, 116 FPS minimum, 156 FPS maximum
• High: 85 FPS average
• Ultra: 59 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo shows its strongest performance. Low achieves 165 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium maintains a solid 136 FPS with a tight frame time distribution (116-156 FPS). High drops to 85 FPS, still playable but a significant step down. Ultra at 59 FPS is just below the 60 FPS target, making it a borderline choice.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 109 FPS average
• Medium: 90 FPS average, 76 FPS minimum, 103 FPS maximum
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 39 FPS average

At 1440p, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low still delivers 109 FPS, which is smooth. Medium provides 90 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, ensuring no major stutters. High drops to 56 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold. Ultra at 39 FPS is playable but not smooth, with noticeable frame pacing issues likely.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 60 FPS average
• Medium: 50 FPS average, 42 FPS minimum, 57 FPS maximum
• High: 31 FPS average
• Ultra: 21 FPS average

At 4K, the combo is clearly GPU-limited. Low achieves exactly 60 FPS, which is the minimum for a playable experience. Medium at 50 FPS is tolerable but with a minimum of 42 FPS that could cause visible drops. High at 31 FPS is not suitable for action, and Ultra at 21 FPS is essentially a slideshow. The 4K data confirms that this pairing is not designed for 4K gaming beyond Low settings.

# FAQ

Q: Is this combo better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming in The Long Drive?

A: The data shows strong performance at both 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p Medium, the combo delivers 136 FPS, while at 1440p Medium it achieves 90 FPS. Both are playable, but 1080p offers higher frame rates with more headroom.

Q: Why does the 4K Low setting show exactly 60 FPS?

A: The measured data lists 60 FPS average for 4K Low. This could indicate a frame rate cap or the GPU reaching its practical limit at that resolution and settings combination.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 23021 places it 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP and 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080. It is also 0.7% behind the RTX 3080 and 1% behind the NVIDIA P106-100.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p display?

A: Medium is the recommended preset at 1440p, delivering 90 FPS average with a minimum of 76 FPS. High at 56 FPS is below the 60 FPS target, and Ultra at 39 FPS is too low for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 68th percentile. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with GPU-bound performance.

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

A: Only at Low settings, where it achieves 60 FPS. Medium at 4K drops to 50 FPS, High to 31 FPS, and Ultra to 21 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, 4K is limited to Low settings.