To The Core

# To The Core with AMD Ryzen 5 2600 + Intel Arc B390

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a combination that ranks 2643rd out of 2991 tested system configurations in To The Core, placing it in the lower half of the database. This ranking reflects a system that can deliver playable frame rates at most settings, though it is clearly not optimized for maximum performance in this idle-genre title. The combo's position is driven by a CPU that sits well above average in general benchmarks—at the 75th percentile among all processors—paired with a GPU that languishes at the 9th percentile among all graphics cards. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings tell a consistent story: this is a configuration where the graphics component is the primary constraint, and the CPU's relative strength cannot fully compensate for the GPU's limitations.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2643 out of 2991 tested combinations places this system in the 88th percentile of performance in To The Core, meaning roughly 88 percent of tested configurations deliver higher frame rates. This is a significant gap from the top, but the data shows the system is still functional across all tested settings and resolutions. The ranking reflects the fundamental imbalance in this pairing: the Ryzen 5 2600 is a competent desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which sits just 1.3 percent above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7 percent above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 in the GPU benchmark hierarchy.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 21484 places it nearly even with several notable rivals. The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V scores 21440, a mere 0.2 percent lower, while the Intel Core i9-11900H scores 21367, 0.5 percent behind. The AMD EPYC 9454 scores 21223, trailing by 1.2 percent, and the Intel Xeon D-1746TER scores 21635, leading by 0.7 percent. This tight grouping indicates the Ryzen 5 2600 is a well-balanced processor for its generation, but in To The Core, that CPU strength does not translate into top-tier frame rates because the Arc B390's 3DMark score of 1482 places it in a performance tier with decade-old discrete GPUs, not modern integrated solutions. The measured FPS data confirms this: at 1080p Ultra, the system manages 86 FPS, which is playable but far from the high refresh rates that more balanced combinations achieve.

Settings Recommendations

For each resolution, the measured data points to a clear optimal settings level. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 147 FPS average, which is the highest measured for this system. However, the Medium preset at 124 FPS average (with a range of 105 to 143 FPS) provides a substantial improvement in visual quality while still maintaining frame rates well above 60 FPS. The High preset at 107 FPS is also viable, but the step from Medium to High costs 17 FPS on average. The Ultra preset drops to 86 FPS, which is still playable but represents a 31 percent reduction from Medium. For 1080p, Medium is the sweet spot: it offers a 26 percent improvement over High in average FPS while keeping the minimum frame rate above 100.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern emerges with lower absolute numbers. Low delivers 99 FPS, Medium drops to 83 FPS (ranging from 71 to 96), High manages 72 FPS, and Ultra falls to 58 FPS. The Medium setting here provides the best balance, with a minimum of 71 FPS that keeps gameplay smooth. The High preset at 72 FPS is only 11 percent slower than Medium on average, but the minimum frame rate is not recorded, so Medium's documented 71 FPS floor is a safer choice. At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low averages 56 FPS, Medium averages 48 FPS (ranging from 41 to 55), High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra drops to 33 FPS. For 4K, Low is the only preset that consistently stays above 50 FPS, making it the recommended choice despite the visual trade-offs.

The overall recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1080p and 1440p, and Low settings at 4K. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it incurs frame rate penalties of 30 to 36 percent compared to High while offering diminishing returns in visual fidelity for an idle game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in To The Core?

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 with Medium settings provides 124 FPS average with a range of 105 to 143 FPS, which is the highest frame rate with a documented minimum above 100. At 2560x1440, Medium delivers 83 FPS average (71 to 96 FPS range), and at 3840x2160, Low is the only preset above 50 FPS at 56 FPS average.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in benchmark performance?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This is 1.3 percent higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5 percent higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5 percent higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7 percent higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). The GPU sits at the 9th percentile among all tested graphics cards.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390 in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks at the 75th percentile among all processors with an average benchmark score of 21484, while the GPU is at the 9th percentile. Frame rates scale almost linearly with resolution changes, which is characteristic of GPU-limited scenarios. The CPU's single-thread score of 2239 in PassMark and 157.3 in Cinebench R15 single-core are sufficient for the game's demands.

Q: What frame rate can this system achieve at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 86 FPS. This is 41 percent lower than the Low preset at 147 FPS and 31 percent lower than Medium at 124 FPS. The Ultra preset does not have a recorded minimum FPS, but the average suggests occasional dips below 60 are possible.

Q: Does the Arc B390's shared memory configuration affect its performance in To The Core?

A: The GPU uses System Shared memory with a System Dependent bandwidth, meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The Ryzen 5 2600 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. This shared memory architecture is typical for integrated graphics and contributes to the GPU's low percentile ranking, though the exact impact on To The Core's frame rates is not separately quantified in the data.

Q: How does this combo's ranking compare to the CPU's overall percentile?

A: The combo ranks 2643rd out of 2991 tested combinations, which is roughly the 88th percentile from the bottom. The CPU alone sits at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, meaning the CPU is above average, but the system's overall performance is dragged down by the GPU's 9th percentile ranking. This discrepancy confirms that the graphics component is what holds this combination back in To The Core.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest performance. The Low preset averages 147 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate for this combo. Medium averages 124 FPS with a documented range of 105 to 143 FPS, showing good consistency. High averages 107 FPS, and Ultra averages 86 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 23 FPS, from Medium to High costs 17 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 21 FPS. The scaling between presets is relatively linear, with each tier representing approximately a 15 to 20 percent reduction in average FPS.

At 2560x1440, the same preset hierarchy holds with reduced absolute numbers. Low averages 99 FPS, Medium averages 83 FPS (71 to 96 FPS range), High averages 72 FPS, and Ultra averages 58 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by 33 percent at Low (147 to 99 FPS), 33 percent at Medium (124 to 83 FPS), 33 percent at High (107 to 72 FPS), and 33 percent at Ultra (86 to 58 FPS). This consistent percentage reduction suggests the resolution scaling is predictable and not introducing unexpected bottlenecks.

At 3840x2160, the system reaches its limits. Low averages 56 FPS, Medium averages 48 FPS (41 to 55 FPS range), High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 33 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more severe: Low falls by 43 percent (99 to 56 FPS), Medium by 42 percent (83 to 48 FPS), High by 43 percent (72 to 41 FPS), and Ultra by 43 percent (58 to 33 FPS). This steeper decline at 4K indicates the GPU is being pushed beyond its comfortable operating range, with the Ultra preset at 4K delivering less than half the frame rate of the same preset at 1080p.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, delivering a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, 24 raster output units, and 12 ray tracing cores. Its FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio). The TDP is 80 W, and it uses no power connectors, reflecting its integrated nature.

The GPU's memory configuration is entirely System Shared, meaning it draws from the host system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is System Dependent, which in this case is tied to the Ryzen 5 2600's dual-channel memory support with 46.9 GB/s maximum bandwidth. This shared memory setup is a significant constraint for a game like To The Core, which benefits from consistent memory throughput. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places the Arc B390 at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3 percent slower), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5 percent slower), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5 percent slower), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7 percent slower). These rivals are all entry-level discrete GPUs from years ago, illustrating the modest performance tier of this integrated solution.

In To The Core, the GPU's limitations become evident at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data shows that the system can handle 1080p Low at 147 FPS, but the frame rate drops to 86 FPS at 1080p Ultra, a 41 percent reduction. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The GPU's boost clock of 2500 MHz is relatively high for an integrated part, but the shared memory bandwidth and limited ROP count (24) constrain its ability to handle the pixel throughput demands of 4K rendering.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 2000 series, based on the Zen architecture (specifically Zen+ with Pinnacle Ridge codename). It operates at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. The CPU features a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.

The CPU's benchmark results show strong multi-threaded performance. It scores 1248 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 157.3 in single-core, 5648 in Geekbench multi-core and 1154 in single-core, and 13160 in PassMark multi-thread. The PassMark single-thread score is 2239. The average benchmark score of 21484 places it at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, with rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V (21440, 0.2 percent lower), Intel Core i9-11900H (21367, 0.5 percent lower), Intel Xeon D-1746TER (21635, 0.7 percent higher), and AMD EPYC 9454 (21223, 1.2 percent lower). This indicates the Ryzen 5 2600 is competitive with much newer processors in general compute tasks.

In To The Core, the CPU's role is secondary given the GPU's limitations. The measured FPS data shows consistent frame rates across presets at each resolution, which suggests the CPU is not causing stuttering or bottlenecking. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 147 FPS, which is high enough that CPU overhead could become a factor, but the lack of minimum FPS data makes it impossible to confirm any CPU-related frame dips. The CPU's boost clock of 3.90 GHz and 6 physical cores are sufficient for an idle game, which typically has modest CPU demands. The 75th percentile ranking means the processor is more than capable of feeding the Arc B390, and the frame rate patterns in the measured data align with GPU-bound scaling rather than CPU limitations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data reveals a clear pattern of frame rate scaling across resolutions. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 reduces average FPS by approximately 33 percent across all four settings presets. For example, Low drops from 147 to 99 FPS, Medium from 124 to 83 FPS, High from 107 to 72 FPS, and Ultra from 86 to 58 FPS. This consistent 33 percent reduction corresponds to the 78 percent increase in pixel count from 1080p (2.07 million pixels) to 1440p (3.69 million pixels), indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting factor and that the scaling is proportional to pixel throughput demands.

Moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 produces a steeper decline of approximately 42 to 43 percent across all presets. Low drops from 99 to 56 FPS, Medium from 83 to 48 FPS, High from 72 to 41 FPS, and Ultra from 58 to 33 FPS. The pixel count increase from 1440p to 4K is 2.25 times (3.69 million to 8.29 million pixels), so a 42 percent frame rate reduction is actually less severe than the pixel count increase would suggest. This suggests that at 4K, the system is not purely pixel-bound; other factors such as memory bandwidth or draw call processing may be introducing additional efficiency.

The resolution scaling data points to the GPU as the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would show less variation with resolution changes, because the CPU workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) remains constant regardless of resolution. Instead, frame rates drop substantially at higher resolutions, which is the signature of a GPU-bound system. The Arc B390's System Shared memory and System Dependent bandwidth mean that higher resolutions require more memory traffic, and the shared DDR4 bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s becomes a constraint. The CPU's strong benchmark scores relative to the GPU confirm this interpretation: the Ryzen 5 2600 has ample headroom, while the Arc B390's 9th percentile GPU ranking means it is the weakest link in the chain. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 147 FPS, which is good for the GPU's tier, but the rapid decline at 4K—dropping to 56 FPS at Low and 33 FPS at Ultra—shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for the lowest settings if playable frame rates are required.