To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B370 combination delivers a playable but constrained experience in To The Core, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the graphics processor as the primary bottleneck. The data reveals a system that handles the game’s CPU demands with ease while the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, a pattern that points directly at the Intel Arc B370 as the limiting factor. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 97 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 65 FPS, a reduction of 32 FPS or roughly 33%. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average falling to 37 FPS, which is a further 28 FPS drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling behavior is classic GPU-bound behavior; if the CPU were the constraint, the frame rate would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU work per frame stays largely constant.

The trend is consistent across all settings. For Low settings, the average FPS goes from 132 at 1080p, to 89 at 1440p, and down to 51 at 4K. Medium settings follow suit, with averages of 112, 75, and 43 FPS across the three resolutions. Even at Ultra, the pattern holds, with averages of 78, 53, and 30 FPS. The consistent percentage drops across settings—roughly a 30-35% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and another 40-45% reduction from 1440p to 4K—reinforce that the Arc B370’s rendering throughput is the bottleneck. The 4K results, in particular, are telling: the GPU’s fill rate and shading power simply cannot keep up with the pixel count, dragging performance below the 60 FPS threshold even at Low settings.

What this implies is that the Ryzen 5 5500 is not the limiting component in this pairing. The CPU’s six cores and 12 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture, are more than adequate for an idle game like To The Core. The frame rate collapses as resolution climbs, which is the signature of a GPU that is saturated. The data suggests that for 1080p gaming, the combo is reasonably balanced, but at 1440p and especially 4K, the GPU becomes the clear weak link, holding back what the CPU could otherwise deliver.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 97. This represents a solid, playable frame rate for most users, indicating the combo handles the game well at this resolution and preset.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B370 bottleneck the system at 4K?

A: Yes, the data strongly suggests this. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 30, and even at 4K Low, it only reaches 51 FPS. This severe drop from 1080p performance indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: How does the combo's overall rank compare to other tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2750 out of 2991 tested combos in this game. This places it in the lower percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it can run the game, its performance is below average compared to the broader database of results.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the average FPS for Low settings is 89, while Ultra settings yield an average of 53 FPS. This is a 36 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU, resulting in a 40% performance penalty.

Q: What is the boost clock of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500?

A: The boost clock is 4.20 GHz. This is the maximum single-core frequency the CPU can achieve under load, which is relevant for tasks that are not heavily multi-threaded.

Q: Is the frame rate consistent at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The average FPS is 112, but the minimum FPS is 95 and the maximum is 129. This indicates some frame time variance, but the minimum is still well above the 60 FPS mark, so the experience should remain smooth.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz and it boosts up to 4.20 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU shows a strong multi-threaded capability, scoring 16,429 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 6,900 in Cinebench R20 multicore. Single-thread performance is also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,319 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1,730. These numbers indicate a processor that is well-suited for a wide range of tasks, including gaming.

For To The Core, an idle game, the CPU’s role is likely minimal. Idle games typically rely on simple logic loops and timers, which do not stress multi-core processors heavily. The Ryzen 5 5500’s 12 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks and the game’s main loop. The fact that the measured FPS scales so dramatically with resolution—from 132 FPS at 1080p Low to 51 FPS at 4K Low—is strong evidence that the CPU is not the bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting, the frame rate would be similar across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload would remain constant.

The CPU’s 16 MB of L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core are generous for a processor in this class, and the 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is standard for a dual-channel DDR4 setup. The processor’s performance percentile of 73 compared to all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,593, places it in the upper quarter of processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 and Intel Core i5-12500, have average scores within 0.7% of this chip, confirming that it is a competitive mid-range option. In this specific game, the CPU’s capabilities are more than sufficient, allowing the GPU to become the deciding factor in overall performance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best experience for this combo. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 112 FPS, which is only 20 FPS less than Low (132 FPS) but likely provides a significantly better visual experience. The minimum FPS at Medium is 95, ensuring that the frame rate rarely drops below the 90 FPS mark, which is excellent for smooth gameplay. High settings at 1080p still offer a strong 97 FPS average, but the jump to Medium from Low provides a better balance of visual quality and performance headroom. Ultra at 1080p drops to 78 FPS, which is still playable, but the 34 FPS difference between Medium and Ultra suggests that the visual gains may not justify the performance loss on this GPU.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more nuanced. Medium settings provide an average of 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this resolution, as it maintains an average above the 60 FPS threshold while offering better visual fidelity than Low (89 FPS). High settings at 1440p drop to 65 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for frame rate dips in busy scenes. Ultra at 1440p averages 53 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stuttering. For 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it balances visual quality and performance effectively.

For 4K, the data suggests that the GPU is severely limited. Even Low settings only achieve an average of 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings drop to 43 FPS, and High falls to 37 FPS. Ultra at 4K is nearly unplayable, with an average of 30 FPS. Given these results, the only viable option for 4K is the Low preset, and even then, the experience will not be perfectly smooth. The data implies that this combo is not suitable for 4K gaming in To The Core at acceptable frame rates. The best overall experience, considering the balance of visual quality and performance, is the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p, depending on the user’s display resolution and preference for frame rate over fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2750 out of 2991 tested combos in To The Core, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems in the database. This is a low ranking, and the reasons are clear from the performance data. The GPU, Intel Arc B370, is a low-power integrated graphics solution with a 25 W TDP, and its performance percentile of 5 compared to all GPUs places it in the bottom 5% of graphics processors. Its average benchmark score of 1,184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test is remarkably low, and its nearest rivals include legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770, which are over a decade old.

The CPU, by contrast, is a competent mid-range processor, ranking in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. This creates a significant imbalance in the system. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data, but the GPU cannot translate that into high frame rates, especially at higher resolutions. The combo’s low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s limited rendering power. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the system only achieves 132 FPS, which is good, but the GPU’s inability to scale to higher resolutions and settings caps the overall experience. In the context of the database, this combo is a low-end solution that is best suited for 1080p gaming at lower settings. The ranking reflects this, showing that while the system is functional, it is far from competitive with the majority of tested configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system’s performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 132, providing a very smooth experience. Medium settings reduce the average to 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS, indicating good consistency. High settings yield an average of 97 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 78 FPS. All 1080p results are above the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution the most suitable for this combo.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 89 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings average 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS, keeping the experience above 60 FPS on average. High settings average 65 FPS, which is borderline but acceptable for many users. Ultra settings average 53 FPS, dipping below the 60 FPS target and potentially causing noticeable frame pacing issues. The 1440p results show that the GPU is starting to struggle, with a significant drop from 1080p performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. Low settings average 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings average 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. High settings average 37 FPS, and Ultra settings average 30 FPS. These results are generally not suitable for smooth gameplay, with the exception of Low settings, which may be tolerable for less demanding users. The 4K data highlights the GPU’s severe limitations, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS. The 1080p Medium and High presets offer the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, while 4K should be avoided if smooth performance is a priority.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel’s 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it utilizes system shared memory for both VRAM and bandwidth, making its memory performance dependent on the system’s RAM. The GPU has 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output pipelines, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical peak performance is 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, and its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s.

In the context of To The Core, the GPU’s role is the dominant factor in determining frame rates. The data shows that performance scales directly with the GPU’s workload, as increasing resolution and settings consistently reduces FPS. The GPU’s low performance percentile of 5, with an average benchmark score of 1,184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, confirms its weak standing. Its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, are older, low-end parts, indicating that the Arc B370 is not a high-performance solution.

The GPU’s 25 W TDP and integrated nature mean it relies on shared system memory, which can be a bottleneck in bandwidth-intensive scenarios. However, for an idle game like To The Core, the primary limitation appears to be raw shading and fill rate power. The 4K Ultra result of 30 FPS suggests the GPU is completely saturated, unable to process the pixel load. The 1080p Low result of 132 FPS shows that the GPU can perform adequately when the load is light, but it lacks the headroom to handle higher settings or resolutions. The GPU is the clear performance limiter in this combo, and its capabilities define the system’s overall gaming potential in To The Core.