To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a fascinating case study in bottleneck dynamics within the game To The Core. This combination of a high-performance desktop CPU with a low-power integrated-class GPU yields a dataset that clearly illustrates where the performance ceiling lies. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, yet the Ryzen 5 5500X3D’s strong cache configuration ensures that frame pacing remains consistent across the board, even when the GPU is saturated.

Resolution Scaling

The most telling data point from this benchmark set is how the frame rate scales as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 132 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 89 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 51 FPS. This is a steep decline: the jump from 1080p to 1440p represents a 32.5% drop, and moving from 1440p to 4K represents another 42.7% drop. The scaling is not linear, and the curves show an increasing performance penalty as pixel count rises.

This behavior is the classic signature of a GPU-limited scenario, especially considering the Intel Arc B370's specifications. With a boost clock of 2400 MHz and only 1280 shading units, the graphics processor has a finite amount of pixel throughput, and the 4K resolution (3840x2160) simply overwhelms its capabilities. The ROPs (20) and TMUs (40) are tasked with filling and texturing these massive frames, and the data suggests they are the limiting factor. The CPU, in contrast, is a 6-core, 12-thread part with a 96 MB L3 cache and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, which is more than capable of feeding the GPU frames at these lower settings.

The implication for a builder is clear: this is not a 4K gaming rig. The 51 FPS average at 4K Low is playable but not comfortable for fast-paced action, and the Ultra preset at 4K dips to 30 FPS, which is at the edge of playability for any genre. The ideal resolution for this combination is 1080p, where the data shows the CPU and GPU are better balanced. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the 97 FPS average indicates the GPU is still working hard, but the CPU is no longer being starved of data. The frame drops from the 1080p Low (132 FPS) to the 1080p Ultra (78 FPS) suggest that the GPU rasterization load is the primary variable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B370 ranks at position 3439 out of 3725 tested combos in To The Core. This places it in the 92nd percentile of all tested combinations, meaning that over 92% of the combos tested perform better than this one. This is a very low ranking, but it is not a reflection on the CPU. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average benchmark score of 37018, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and it sits in a tightly packed group of rivals: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945 (a delta of +0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093 (a delta of -0.2%), the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 36938 (a delta of +0.2%), and the Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112 (a delta of -0.3%). The CPU is clearly capable, with a strong multithreaded score of 20363 in the PassMark test.

The low combo rank is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B370. This GPU has a very low benchmark score of 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad test, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older, lower-end cards: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (a delta of -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (a delta of -0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (a delta of -0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (a delta of +1.4%). The data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting factor for this combo, and the CPU is rarely the bottleneck. The ranking data is a stark reminder that even a top-tier CPU cannot compensate for a GPU that is in the bottom 5% of its class.

GPU Card: Intel Arc B370

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear bottleneck in this configuration. It is built on Intel's 3-nanometer process and uses the Xe3-LPG architecture, a mobile-first design. The chip has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, but the latter is only a theoretical maximum. In practice, the card is limited by its memory architecture. It uses System Shared memory with a bus width of System Shared. The bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which means the performance is tied directly to the system's DDR4 memory speed. This is a fundamental design choice for an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor), and it directly impacts performance in To The Core.

The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 20 render output units (ROPs). The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. This is a low-end configuration, and the numbers confirm it. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is the only benchmark data available for this GPU, and it places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is not a card designed for high-end gaming; it is an integrated solution meant for basic desktop tasks and very light gaming. The fact that it can achieve any playable frame rates in To The Core confirms the CPU's capability to handle the game's logic.

The GPU's DirectX support (12 Ultimate) and Vulkan support (1.4) are up to date, but the raw hardware throughput is the limiting factor. The 20 ROPs are the primary bottleneck at high resolutions. At 4K, the GPU is filling a massive pixel count with a relatively low pixel fill rate. The data shows that the Ultra preset at 4K yields only 30 FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU's inability to handle the pixel load. In contrast, at 1080p, the pixel fill rate is more manageable, and the GPU can push out a 132 FPS average at Low settings. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, and the CPU is not the issue.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 132 FPS, which is excellent for a fast-paced game. The Medium preset at 1080p still delivers a strong 112 FPS average, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS. This is a solid choice if you want a mix of visuals and performance. The High preset at 1080p drops to 97 FPS, still very playable, and the Ultra preset yields 78 FPS, which is acceptable.

If the user is using a 1440p monitor, the data shows that the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the best bet. It produces an average of 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. This is a better experience than High (65 FPS) or Ultra (53 FPS) at that resolution. The Low preset at 1440p, at 89 FPS, is also good for those who prefer competitive gaming over visuals. 4K is the least optimal scenario. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 30 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most. The Medium preset at 4K gives 43 FPS (min 37, max 50), which is borderline. The Low preset at 4K is the best option for 4K, at 51 FPS. However, the data suggests that the ideal setup is a 1080p or 1440p monitor with Medium or High settings to balance visual quality and frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Here is the exact data from the benchmark runs:

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: 132 FPS average
• Medium: 112 FPS average (min 95, max 129)
• High: 97 FPS average
• Ultra: 78 FPS average
• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: 89 FPS average
• Medium: 75 FPS average (min 64, max 87)
• High: 65 FPS average
• Ultra: 53 FPS average
• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: 51 FPS average
• Medium: 43 FPS average (min 37, max 50)
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 30 FPS average

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings results in a significant drop. For example, High settings go from 97 FPS at 1080p to 65 FPS at 1440p, a 33% drop. Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings drops it from 65 FPS to 37 FPS, another 43% reduction. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 37 FPS, which is the same as the average for High at 4K, indicating the GPU is struggling. The data also shows that the Ultra preset at 4K has a minimum of 30 FPS, which is the lowest measured value. The frame pacing is also an issue; the minimums are often close to the averages, suggesting that the GPU is not stuttering but is hitting a consistent performance wall.

FAQ

*Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B370 in To The Core?*

A: No. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a high-end CPU with an 85th percentile rank, while the Intel Arc B310 is a low-end GPU with a 5th percentile rank. The benchmark data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the frame rates scale inversely with resolution, which is a GPU characteristic.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo if I want a stable 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Medium or High settings is the only way to achieve a stable 60 FPS experience. The 1080p Medium preset averages 112 FPS, and 1080p High averages 97 FPS. At 1440p, the Low preset averages 89 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 75 FPS. 4K cannot maintain a 60 FPS average at any preset.

Q: Why does the game stutter or have low frame rates at 4K?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a low pixel fill rate and only 20 ROPs. The 4K resolution (3840x2160) requires the GPU to process a massive number of pixels. The data shows that the Ultra preset at 4K drops to 30 FPS, which points to the GPU's rasterization limits being reached.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad test. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, a delta of -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, a delta of -0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, a delta of -0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, a delta of +1.4%). All of these rivals are within a 1.4% score range, confirming the Arc B370 is a low-end GPU.

Q: Is the CPU's performance worth considering for this combo?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average benchmark score of 63, and it outperforms its closest rivals in the PassMark tests. It has a 6-core, 12-thread configuration with a 96 MB L3 cache. The data suggests that the CPU is capable of high frame rates, but the GPU can't deliver them. If you were to pair this CPU with a more powerful GPU, the CPU would likely not be a bottleneck in this game.

Q: What is the difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 132 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 78 FPS. This represents a 40.9% drop in frame rate. The Medium preset sits in between at 112 FPS. The High preset is at 97 FPS. The data shows that the Ultra preset is the most demanding, and the GPU's performance scales directly with the visual quality settings.

*Q: How many combinations are better than this one in To The Core?*

A: This combo ranks 3439 out of 3725 combinations. This means that 286 combinations are worse, and 3438 combinations are better. The ranking is a direct result of the GPU's low performance percentile.