To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a fascinating study in hardware bottlenecks. This is an idle game, yet the measured frames per second (FPS) reveal a system that is surprisingly capable at 1080p but struggles to maintain fluidity at 4K. The data suggests a clear division of labor: the six-core CPU provides a solid foundation, while the integrated GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution increases. This analysis will dissect the measured performance of this combo in To The Core, interpreting the numbers to explain how each component influences the final experience.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix. With a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, it offers a modern foundation for gaming. In the context of To The Core, an idle game, the CPU's role is less about raw multi-threaded muscle and more about maintaining consistent single-thread performance to feed the game's logic and frame pacing. The benchmark data supports this interpretation.

Looking at the processor's synthetic scores, the single-thread performance is a strong point. It scores 951 points in 3dmark_single_thread and 296 in cinebench_r15_singlecore. This is critical because even in an idle game, the main thread often handles the simulation and UI updates. The 3dmark_2_threads score of 1874 indicates that even when the game utilises a second core, the performance remains robust. This suggests the CPU is rarely the limiting factor, especially when compared to the GPU.

The multi-threaded scores, such as cinebench_r23_multicore at 20851 and passmark_multithread at 24389, show a capable processor for general tasks. However, in this specific game, the CPU's high single-core performance is the more relevant metric. The data shows the 8400F sits in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a strong performer overall. Its nearest rivals, like the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, have a delta of only 0.2%, meaning they are effectively identical in average benchmark score. This reinforces that the CPU is a well-established, mainstream part that provides a stable platform for the GPU.

The relationship between the CPU and the game's results becomes clearer when we look at the FPS data. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 147 FPS. This high frame rate is likely where the CPU's capability is fully realised, as the GPU is not yet the primary bottleneck. The 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient to handle the game's logic at this level. The CPU's 16 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (83.2 GB/s bandwidth) further ensure that data can be fed to the cores quickly, preventing stutters. The CPU is a robust anchor for this system, and its performance is not the reason for frame rate limitations seen at higher resolutions.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is a different story. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, part of the Panther Lake chip. Its performance class is undeniably low, as indicated by its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 1482 in 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12. This is a graphics solution designed for basic display output and light workloads, not high-end gaming. The data confirms this, as its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which are legacy entry-level parts.

The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. While the boost clock is respectable, the architecture is constrained by its 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs. More importantly, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main DDR5 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means it will be significantly lower than a discrete GPU's dedicated memory. This shared memory setup is a major bottleneck for gaming, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

In To The Core, the GPU's role is to render the game's visuals. The data shows a clear performance ceiling imposed by the B390. At 1080p with Low settings, the GPU manages 147 FPS, but this is the absolute peak. As we increase the resolution or settings, the FPS drops dramatically. The GPU's low pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s mean it simply cannot process the increased number of pixels at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 33 FPS is a clear indicator that the GPU is overwhelmed. The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is not enough to maintain fluid frame rates at demanding resolutions.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario as resolution increases. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is steep and tells a clear story about which component is holding the system back. Let's examine the Medium settings, which have the most complete data, to see the trend.

At 1920x1080, the Medium preset yields an average of 124 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, that number drops to 83 FPS, a decrease of 41 FPS (or about 33%). This is a substantial drop, but the game remains playable. However, the jump to 3840x2160 is catastrophic for this GPU. The average FPS plummets to 48, a further drop of 35 FPS (or about 42%) from the 1440p result. This non-linear scaling is a hallmark of a GPU that is running out of pixel processing power and memory bandwidth.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. For example, at High settings, the FPS goes from 107 (1080p) to 72 (1440p) to 41 (4K). The CPU's performance is relatively constant across resolutions, as its workload is not significantly affected by pixel count. Therefore, the only explanation for this dramatic FPS drop is that the Intel Arc B390's rendering capabilities are being saturated. The 4K results, ranging from 33 FPS on Ultra to 56 FPS on Low, show that even the lowest settings cannot save the experience at that resolution. The data strongly implies that the Intel Arc B390 is the definitive bottleneck, and its performance dictates the playable resolution ceiling.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the "best" experience is a trade-off between visual quality and frame rate fluidity. The data provides a clear answer for each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the sweet spot. It delivers an average of 107 FPS, which is a smooth and responsive experience for an idle game. While the Low preset offers a higher 147 FPS, the visual fidelity difference is likely more noticeable than the frame rate gain, as 107 FPS is already well above the threshold for smoothness. The Ultra preset, at 86 FPS, is still playable, but the performance drop from High might not be worth the marginal visual improvements.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset becomes the optimal choice. It averages 83 FPS, which is still fluid. The High preset drops to 72 FPS, which is acceptable but starting to feel less smooth. The Low preset at 99 FPS is fast, but again, the Medium preset offers a better balance of quality and speed. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is at the edge of what could be considered comfortable, but the drop from Medium is significant.

At 3840x2160, the situation is difficult. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 56 FPS. However, this is likely to feel inconsistent. The Medium preset at 48 FPS and High at 41 FPS are below the ideal threshold for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 33 FPS is not recommended. Therefore, for 4K, the Low preset is the only recommendation, and even then, users should expect a compromised experience. In summary, the data recommends 1080p High for the best overall experience, with 1440p Medium as a strong alternative if a higher resolution is preferred.

FAQ

*Q: Is this computer system good enough to run To The Core at 4K resolution?*

A: The data suggests that a smooth 4K experience is not achievable. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 33 FPS on Ultra to 56 FPS on Low. Only the Low preset comes close to playable frame rates, and it is likely to be inconsistent.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset achieves 86 FPS, while the High preset offers a very smooth 107 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25005. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, has a score of 24964, which is a negligible 0.2% difference. This indicates they are essentially equal in performance.

Q: Why is the performance at 4K so much lower than at 1080p?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU with "System Shared" memory. The data shows a steep performance drop when increasing resolution, indicating the GPU is the limiting component. It lacks the raw pixel processing power and dedicated memory bandwidth required for higher resolutions.

Q: What is the performance ranking of the Intel Arc B390 compared to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which are very old, entry-level graphics chips.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU more responsible for the frame rate in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU has strong single-thread performance and can maintain high frame rates at 1080p Low (147 FPS). However, as resolution increases, the GPU's performance drops dramatically, showing it is the component that limits the FPS at higher settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is the complete set of measured average FPS data for this combination in To The Core.

1920x1080

• Low: 147 FPS
• Medium: 124 FPS (min 105, max 143)
• High: 107 FPS
• Ultra: 86 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 99 FPS
• Medium: 83 FPS (min 71, max 96)
• High: 72 FPS
• Ultra: 58 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: 56 FPS
• Medium: 48 FPS (min 41, max 55)
• High: 41 FPS
• Ultra: 33 FPS

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for To The Core, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B390 ranks at 2643 out of 2991 total combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems. This low ranking is overwhelmingly due to the GPU's performance. The CPU is a strong performer, sitting in the 77th percentile, but it is paired with a GPU in the 9th percentile. This massive disparity between the CPU's capability and the GPU's output is the defining characteristic of this setup. The data confirms that while the processor is more than adequate for this game, the integrated graphics solution severely limits the overall experience, dragging the combo's rank down to the bottom tier.