To The Core

To The Core is an idle game that, on the surface, would seem to place minimal stress on a desktop platform, yet the measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Arc B370 combination reveal a performance profile heavily dictated by the integrated graphics solution rather than the processor. The data shows a system that can handle the game at playable speeds in most scenarios, but the scaling patterns across resolutions and settings paint a clear picture of where the bottleneck resides. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS rows to explain how this specific combo behaves, how it compares to other tested configurations, and what users should expect when adjusting graphical options.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a significant, predictable drop in average frame rates across all settings, but the rate of that drop is not uniform. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 132 at 1080p to 89 at 1440p, a reduction of 43 frames, and then further to 51 at 4K, another 38-frame decline. This represents a 61% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the rendering pipeline is being saturated by the increasing pixel count. The pattern holds for Medium settings, where the average drops from 112 at 1080p to 75 at 1440p (a 37-frame loss) and then to 43 at 4K (a 32-frame loss), totaling a 62% decrease from the lowest to highest resolution.

High settings show a similar but slightly steeper curve, with averages of 97 at 1080p, 65 at 1440p, and 37 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 32 frames, and from 1440p to 4K is 28 frames, resulting in a 62% overall reduction. Ultra settings exhibit the most dramatic scaling, starting at 78 at 1080p, falling to 53 at 1440p, and bottoming out at 30 at 4K. The absolute difference between 1080p and 4K here is 48 frames, a 62% decrease, which is consistent with the other presets. The consistency of this percentage decline across all four settings strongly suggests that the limiting component is the graphics processor, as the workload scales almost linearly with the number of pixels being rendered.

The data indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary constraint in this system for To The Core. At 1080p, the processor has enough headroom to push frame rates well above 100 in Low and Medium, but as the resolution increases, the GPU’s fixed capabilities become the ceiling. The 4K results, where even Low settings only yield 51 FPS and Ultra drops to 30 FPS, show that the integrated graphics unit is struggling to fill the larger frame buffer. The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly the same percentage regardless of the preset further confirms that resolution scaling is the dominant factor, and no amount of CPU power can compensate for the GPU’s inability to process the additional pixels.

Settings Recommendations

Examining the measured rows, the most balanced experience appears to be at Medium settings across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, Medium yields an average of 112 FPS, which is only 20 frames below Low’s 132 FPS but provides a noticeable visual upgrade over the lowest preset. The minimum frame rate at this setting is 95 FPS, ensuring that even in demanding scenes, the game remains fluid. At 2560x1440, Medium produces an average of 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, which is comfortably playable for an idle game that does not require twitch reflexes. Even at 3840x2160, Medium maintains an average of 43 FPS and a minimum of 37 FPS, which, while not ideal for fast-paced action, is sufficient for the genre’s slower, management-oriented gameplay.

High settings offer a marginal improvement in visual fidelity over Medium, but the performance cost is measurable. At 1080p, High averages 97 FPS, a 15-frame reduction from Medium, while at 1440p it drops to 65 FPS, a 10-frame loss. At 4K, High falls to 37 FPS, which is 6 frames below Medium and approaches the playability threshold. Ultra settings consistently deliver the lowest frame rates, with 78 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 30 FPS at 4K. The step from Medium to Ultra at 1080p costs 34 frames per second, which is a steep price for the additional graphical effects that an idle game likely does not showcase prominently.

Given the data, Medium is the recommended preset for most users. It provides a consistent frame rate that is at least 37 FPS at 4K, 64 FPS at 1440p, and 95 FPS at 1080p, which covers all common monitor configurations. For users with 144Hz displays at 1080p, Low settings are the only way to approach the refresh rate, as it averages 132 FPS, but the visual compromise may not be worth the 20-FPS gain over Medium. Conversely, users who prioritize visual quality over smoothness might opt for High at 1440p, where the 65 FPS average is still respectable, but the 4K High preset’s 37 FPS average is likely too low for a comfortable experience. Ultra is only advisable for static scenes or screenshots, as the 30 FPS at 4K is the absolute minimum and the 53 FPS at 1440p is borderline.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is a desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture and codenamed Vermeer. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.60 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor’s benchmark scores indicate strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13184 and a Geekbench multicore score of 10779. Single-thread performance is also respectable, as shown by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1499 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3385. The processor sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs tested, and its average benchmark score of 27578 is virtually identical to the Intel Core i5-12600K, which has a deltaPct of 0.

In the context of To The Core, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU, but its capabilities ensure that it does not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rates are high enough (up to 132 FPS at Low) that the processor is likely keeping up with the GPU’s output. The 16 threads provide ample headroom for the game’s background simulation and UI updates, which are typical of the idle genre. The processor’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth also contribute to smooth data flow, preventing stutters that could arise from slower memory access.

However, the CPU’s performance does not scale with resolution in a way that would improve frame rates. As the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the frame rates drop proportionally, which indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The processor’s multi-threaded scores, such as the Passmark multithread score of 26612 and the 3dmark_16_threads score of 6858, suggest it can handle complex workloads, but the game’s rendering demands are entirely on the GPU. The fact that the combo ranks 3439 out of 3725 tested combinations further implies that the CPU is not raising the system’s performance in this specific title, as other processors with similar or lower scores might pair better with a more capable GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 3439 out of 3725 tested combos for To The Core, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This low rank is primarily attributable to the GPU, as the Intel Arc B370 has a percentile rank of 5 among all GPUs, meaning it performs worse than 95% of the graphics cards tested. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 1184, which is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (deltaPct of -0.2) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (deltaPct of -0.5). These rivals are legacy parts from a different era, highlighting the Arc B370’s position as an entry-level integrated solution.

The CPU, by contrast, is a mid-range performer that ranks in the 79th percentile, but its strength does little to offset the GPU’s weakness. The combination’s rank is dragged down by the GPU’s inability to deliver competitive frame rates in To The Core, especially at higher resolutions. The data shows that the combo’s best case scenario is 132 FPS at 1080p Low, which is acceptable, but this is far below what a system with a dedicated graphics card would achieve. The nearest rivals for the GPU, such as the AMD Radeon HD 7650M and AMD FirePro M2000, all have scores within 1.4% of the Arc B370, confirming that this combo is grouped with much older hardware.

The rank of 3439 out of 3725 indicates that a vast majority of tested combinations—over 92%—outperform this setup in To The Core. This is not a reflection of the CPU’s capability, as the Ryzen 7 5700X is a capable processor, but rather a signal of the GPU’s limitations. Users of this combo should expect to run the game at lower settings and resolutions to achieve playable frame rates, and they should not anticipate being able to max out the game’s visual options. The rank serves as a clear warning that this is a low-end configuration for this title, despite the CPU’s relative strength.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a TDP of just 25 W, making it a power-efficient solution but not a high-performance one. The GPU features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output pipelines, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32 operations and 12.29 TFLOPS for FP16, but its memory bandwidth is system-dependent, as it uses system shared memory rather than dedicated VRAM.

In To The Core, the GPU’s performance is the defining factor for the entire combo. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU’s capabilities are stretched at 4K, where even Low settings only produce 51 FPS. The GPU’s benchmark score of 1184 in 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is exceptionally low. This is corroborated by its nearest rivals, which are all ATI or AMD parts from over a decade ago, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770. The GPU’s 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs are insufficient for high-resolution rendering, leading to the steep frame rate drops observed as resolution increases.

The GPU’s reliance on system shared memory is a significant drawback, as it competes with the CPU for bandwidth on the system’s DDR4 memory. This is reflected in the frame rates, which show a clear ceiling that cannot be overcome by the CPU’s 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. The GPU’s boost clock of 2400 MHz is relatively high for an integrated part, but the low core count and limited memory bandwidth cap its real-world performance. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are theoretical maxima that are unlikely to be reached in practice, as the system shared memory becomes a bottleneck. The data indicates that this GPU is suitable only for light gaming or esports titles at 1080p, and To The Core at 4K is beyond its capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play To The Core with this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the best resolution, as it delivers average frame rates between 78 and 132 FPS depending on the settings. Even at Ultra, the 78 FPS average is playable, while 2560x1440 ranges from 53 to 89 FPS, and 3840x2160 drops to 30-51 FPS.

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

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 1184, which is within 1.4% of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168). This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this combo for To The Core?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The frame rates drop by approximately 62% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which indicates a rendering limitation. The CPU, which ranks in the 79th percentile, has sufficient performance to handle the game’s logic, but the GPU cannot keep pace at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 30 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. The next lowest is 37 FPS at 4K High, and the 4K Medium setting records a minimum FPS of 37 as well.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 5700X compare to the Intel Core i5-12600K?

A: The two processors have identical average benchmark scores of 27578, resulting in a deltaPct of 0. This means they are effectively equal in overall performance, though the Ryzen 7 5700X has a higher percentile rank of 79.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, but only at Low and Medium settings. At 1440p Low, the average FPS is 89, and at Medium it is 75. High settings average 65 FPS, which is above 60, but Ultra falls to 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 132 FPS, which is the highest recorded for any configuration. Medium settings average 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS, indicating a stable experience. High settings average 97 FPS, and Ultra settings average 78 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 54 FPS, showing that the GPU can handle the game comfortably at 1080p, even with the most demanding preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates drop across the board. Low settings average 89 FPS, which is a 43 FPS reduction from 1080p. Medium settings average 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. High settings average 65 FPS, and Ultra settings average 53 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with each setting losing between 25 and 43 FPS, and the minimum FPS at Medium (64) suggests that the game remains playable but is starting to strain the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the performance is significantly limited. Low settings average 51 FPS, which is a 38 FPS drop from 1440p. 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. The 4K results show that the GPU is at its limits, as even Low settings cannot maintain 60 FPS, and Ultra drops to a bare minimum of 30 FPS. The minimum FPS at Medium (37) is the lowest recorded for any setting, indicating that the GPU can occasionally stutter under load. The data across all resolutions and settings paints a clear picture: this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being acceptable at lower presets, and 4K reserved only for Low or Medium settings at best.