To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a compelling mid-range combination for To The Core, an idle game that clearly scales with both resolution and visual presets. The measured data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly capable at 1080p, comfortably smooth at 1440p, and still playable at 4K, with the GPU acting as the definitive bottleneck as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K shows a steep and consistent decline across all settings, which is the primary indicator that the Intel Arc B570 is the limiting component in this pairing. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 165 at 1920x1080 to 111 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 54 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average falls further to 64 FPS, meaning the 4K figure is only 38.8% of the 1080p performance. This pattern is nearly identical at Medium settings, where the average dips from 191 FPS at 1080p to 128 FPS at 1440p, and then to 73 FPS at 4K. The scaling between 1080p and 1440p is less severe than between 1440p and 4K, suggesting that the GPU has enough headroom to handle the initial pixel increase but becomes increasingly saturated as the pixel count doubles again.

The data implies that the CPU, an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 2 part, is not the primary constraint at any resolution. If the Ryzen 7 3700X were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, as the CPU workload stays constant while the GPU workload grows. Instead, the FPS drops dramatically with every resolution step, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 225 FPS, a figure high enough to suggest the CPU is still capable of pushing frames but is likely nearing its practical limit for this game, as the GPU is not heavily taxed at this low resolution and preset. However, the fact that the FPS scales so predictably with resolution confirms that the Arc B570 is the component determining the performance ceiling in this benchmark set.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570’s specifications directly explain its performance profile in To The Core. With 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, it provides 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for the demands of this title, even at 4K where the average FPS never drops below 51. The GPU’s boost clock is locked at 2500 MHz, and its FP32 compute is rated at 11.52 TFLOPS. These figures align with a mid-range graphics card, and the measured results show it performing as such. The GPU’s benchmark percentile of 65 places it above the median of all tested GPUs, and its nearest rival in average benchmark score is the Intel Arc A750, with a deltaPct of -0.1, indicating the B570 is essentially on par with its predecessor in synthetic tests.

In this specific game, the GPU’s role is clear: it is the primary driver of performance scaling. The 4K Medium result of 73 FPS with a minimum FPS of 62 shows that even at the highest resolution tested, the card can maintain a playable frame rate with some consistency. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is 36 FPS (87 down to 51), which is a substantial range that gives users control over the visual fidelity versus performance trade-off. The GPU’s 10 GB memory buffer is not shown to be a limiting factor here, as there are no anomalies or stutters indicated in the data that would suggest memory capacity issues. The card’s performance in this game is robust, and the benchmark results indicate that it is well-matched for this title, providing a solid experience at 1440p and a respectable one at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal balance between visual quality and performance is achieved at Medium settings for most resolutions. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 128 FPS with a minimum of 109 FPS, which provides a smooth experience with a significant improvement in visual fidelity over Low. The jump from Low to Medium costs 24 FPS (152 down to 128), but the increase in graphical detail is likely worth the trade-off for most users. At 3840x2160, Medium is also the recommended choice, as it delivers a 73 FPS average, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS of 62 at this setting indicates that the system will rarely drop below a playable level.

For users prioritizing maximum frame rate, the Low preset is the clear winner. At 1080p, Low achieves 225 FPS, and at 1440p, it hits 152 FPS. These figures are ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. However, the High preset offers a middle ground, providing 165 FPS at 1080p and 111 FPS at 1440p, which is still exceptionally smooth. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, and while it produces 133 FPS at 1080p and 89 FPS at 1440p, the 51 FPS average at 4K is below the ideal threshold for consistent smoothness. Therefore, the data suggests that Medium is the best overall choice for a 4K experience, while High is a strong alternative for 1440p users who want more detail without sacrificing much performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset provides a clear picture of the system’s capabilities. At 1920x1080, the performance is as follows: Low settings yield an average of 225 FPS, Medium yields 191 FPS (with a min of 162 and max of 219), High yields 165 FPS, and Ultra yields 133 FPS. This shows a linear progression where each preset step costs roughly 30 FPS, indicating the GPU is not hitting a hard ceiling at this resolution. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 152 FPS for Low, 128 FPS for Medium (min 109, max 147), 111 FPS for High, and 89 FPS for Ultra. The relative gap between presets narrows slightly, but the overall performance remains high.

At 3840x2160, the system’s limits become more apparent. Low settings produce an average of 87 FPS, Medium drops to 73 FPS (min 62, max 84), High falls to 64 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 51 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 36 FPS, which is the largest absolute spread across any resolution, highlighting the GPU’s sensitivity to the increased pixel workload. The minimum FPS data, only provided for Medium settings, shows that the system can sustain its frame rate without major dips, as the 1080p min of 162 FPS is only 29 FPS below the average, and the 4K min of 62 FPS is only 11 FPS below its average. This consistency suggests stable performance under load.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global ranking of tested CPU and GPU combinations for To The Core, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B570 holds the 2380th position out of 2991 total combos. This places it in the 79.6th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly four out of every five tested systems in this specific game. While this is not a top-tier ranking, it is a respectable position for a mid-range setup, especially considering the game’s idle genre, which may not be as demanding as other titles. The ranking suggests that while many higher-end combinations exist, this pair offers a performance level that is firmly above average.

The combo’s rank is more heavily influenced by the GPU’s performance than the CPU’s, given the resolution scaling analysis. The Ryzen 7 3700X has a percentile rank of 84 against all CPUs, while the Arc B570 has a rank of 65 against all GPUs. The fact that the combo ranks at 79.6% indicates that the CPU’s higher relative standing helps pull the overall performance up, but the GPU’s lower standing prevents it from achieving a top-tier rank. This is a logical outcome for a pairing where the GPU is the bottleneck. The combo’s position in the middle-to-upper tier of the rankings is consistent with the measured FPS, which show excellent 1080p performance and good 1440p performance, but less impressive 4K results.

FAQ

*Q: Is this combination capable of running To The Core at 4K?*

A: Yes, the data shows it is playable. At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 73, with a minimum of 62 FPS. Even at Ultra settings, the average stays at 51 FPS, which is still technically playable, though not ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The sweet spot appears to be 2560x1440. At Medium settings, it achieves an average of 128 FPS, and at High settings, it still produces 111 FPS. This provides a high frame rate while offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The data shows that the Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, while its closest rival, the Intel Arc A750, has an average score of 20582. The deltaPct is -0.1, indicating that the B570 is essentially on par with the A750, trailing by a negligible 0.1%.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X a limiting factor in this game?

A: No, the benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the bottleneck. The FPS scales consistently with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 225 FPS, suggesting the CPU has enough headroom to support high frame rates.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces an average of 152 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 89 FPS. This represents a 63 FPS difference, or a 41.4% reduction in performance when moving to the highest visual quality preset.

Q: Does the GPU have enough memory for this game?

A: The GPU is equipped with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory. The measured data shows no signs of memory-related performance issues, such as severe frame drops or stuttering, even at 4K resolution. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 62, which is close to the average, indicating stable performance.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are solid for its generation, with a multi-core Geekbench score of 8899 and a single-core score of 1593. The CPU’s Passmark multithread score of 22458 and single-thread score of 2656 further illustrate its balanced capabilities. In the context of To The Core, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with sufficient data, and the data suggests it does so effectively. The fact that the system can achieve 225 FPS at 1080p Low demonstrates that the CPU is not holding back performance at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 84 against all CPUs places it well above average, and its nearest rival in average benchmark score is the Intel Core i5-13450HX, with a deltaPct of -0.2. This indicates that the 3700X is performing as expected for its class. In this game, the CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient, as the workload is likely not highly threaded. The benchmark results show that even at 4K, where the GPU is the clear bottleneck, the CPU is able to maintain a consistent frame rate without introducing stutters, as evidenced by the minimum FPS figures. The CPU’s 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support at 51.2 GB/s provide ample bandwidth for this title. Therefore, the Ryzen 7 3700X serves as a stable and capable foundation, ensuring that the Intel Arc B570 is the sole determinant of visual performance scaling in this pairing.