To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a unique set of results in To The Core. This combination yields a performance profile that is heavily dependent on both resolution and graphical preset, with the data indicating a clear shift in system bottleneck as workload changes. The measured frame rates provide a detailed look at how this specific hardware pairing scales.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a significant and consistent drop in frame rates as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 97 FPS at 1920x1080 to 65 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 32 FPS. The scaling continues to be steep when moving to 3840x2160, where the average drops further to 37 FPS. This represents a 60 FPS difference between the lowest and highest tested resolutions at High settings.

This pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average frame rate scales from 132 FPS at 1920x1080 down to 89 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 51 FPS at 4K. The incremental cost of each resolution step is substantial. The transition from 1080p to 1440p incurs a penalty of roughly 32-43 FPS depending on the preset, while the move from 1440p to 4K costs an additional 28-38 FPS.

The steepness of this decline indicates that the system is not purely CPU-bound, even at lower resolutions. If the CPU were the primary limiting factor, the frame rates at 1080p and 1440p would be much closer. Instead, the continuous and significant drop across all resolution steps suggests that the GPU is a major performance limiter, with its workload increasing exponentially with pixel count. The data shows that the Intel Arc B370 struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, with even the Low preset only achieving 51 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to just 30 FPS. This points to the GPU being the dominant bottleneck in this configuration for To The Core, particularly at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is a mobile-class integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. Its performance in To The Core is a key factor in the overall system's capability. The GPU's boost clock is listed at 2400 MHz, and it relies on System Shared memory for both capacity and bandwidth, with performance being "System Dependent." This shared memory configuration is critical; the GPU does not have dedicated VRAM, so it competes with the CPU for the same memory resources.

Benchmark results for the GPU show a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a low-performance part in the absolute sense. Its nearest rivals in the database include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, with the Arc B370 scoring 0.2% and 0.5% lower than these parts, respectively. It also trails the AMD Radeon HD 7650M by 0.7%, but is 1.4% ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000.

The implications for To The Core are clear. The GPU's low absolute performance and shared memory architecture are the primary constraints on frame rates, especially as resolution increases. The 4K results are particularly telling. At 4K Ultra, the system manages only 30 FPS, which is likely due to the GPU being overwhelmed by the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth demands. Even at 4K Low, the frame rate only reaches 51 FPS, suggesting that the GPU's raw processing power is insufficient for high-resolution gaming. The data suggests that the GPU's performance is the limiting factor in almost all tested scenarios, with its impact becoming more pronounced at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a high-end desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. It has a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This CPU is a strong performer, as evidenced by its benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19088 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2289. It sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35909. When compared to its nearest rivals, it is 0.3% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and 0.5% faster than both the Intel Core 7 250H and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350.

In the context of To The Core, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, but it is not negligible. The fact that frame rates drop so significantly with resolution increases suggests that the CPU is not the main bottleneck; otherwise, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. However, the CPU's performance is sufficient to drive high frame rates at lower resolutions. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 132 FPS, indicating that the CPU can feed the GPU adequately at that level.

The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads provide ample processing power for an Idle game, which likely does not have intensive multi-threaded requirements. The high single-thread performance, as shown by the Geekbench score of 2289, is also beneficial for game logic and physics. The data suggests that while the CPU is not the primary limiter, its strong performance prevents it from being a significant drag on the system's overall capability. The bottleneck is firmly on the GPU side, especially when resolution and graphical demands increase.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B370 in To The Core results in a combo rank of 2750 out of 2991 tested combinations. This places the pairing in the lower 8th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's low performance, which holds back the otherwise capable CPU.

This ranking is somewhat paradoxical given the CPU's high standing (85th percentile) and the GPU's low standing (5th percentile). The data shows that a powerful CPU cannot compensate for a weak GPU in a graphically demanding scenario. The combo's rank is dragged down by the Arc B370's inability to deliver high frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions. The fact that the CPU is capable of much higher frame rates is evident from the 1080p results, but the GPU's limits cap the overall performance.

The ranking suggests that this configuration is not well-balanced for To The Core. While the CPU is a top-tier part, the GPU is a major limiting factor, preventing the system from achieving frame rates that would be expected with such a processor. The system's overall position in the database is more reflective of the GPU's performance than the CPU's, demonstrating that in this game, the graphics card is the decisive component for overall system ranking.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend heavily on the user's target resolution and preference for frame rate stability. The data provides a clear picture of the trade-offs between visual quality and performance.

For 1920x1080, the High preset provides an excellent experience with an average of 97 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Low preset offers a significant boost to 132 FPS, but the visual compromise may not be worth it for most users. The Medium preset sits in between at 112 FPS, offering a good balance. The Ultra preset, at 78 FPS, is also playable but represents a noticeable drop from High for what may be a marginal visual gain. For most users at this resolution, the High preset is the recommended choice as it provides a high frame rate without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset still delivers a solid 65 FPS. The Medium preset offers 75 FPS, which is a better balance for smoother motion. The Low preset at 89 FPS is the best for maximum performance, but again, visual quality is reduced. The Ultra preset drops to 53 FPS, which begins to approach the lower limit for comfortable play. For 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a good balance of visual quality and a frame rate that is comfortably above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more challenging. The High preset only manages 37 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 30 FPS, which is likely not a smooth experience. The Medium preset achieves 43 FPS, while the Low preset is the only one to break the 50 FPS barrier, at 51 FPS. To achieve a playable frame rate at 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option. The data clearly indicates that this GPU is not well-suited for 4K gaming in To The Core, and users should either lower their expectations to Low settings or reduce their resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :------ | :------ | :------ |

| 3840x2160 | High | 37 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 51 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 43 | 37 | 50 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 30 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 65 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 89 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 75 | 64 | 87 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 53 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 97 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 132 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 112 | 95 | 129 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 78 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy in performance. The Low settings consistently deliver the highest frame rates at every resolution, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the most demanding. The delta between Low and Ultra is substantial. At 1080p, the gap is 54 FPS; at 1440p, it is 36 FPS; and at 4K, it is 21 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's performance headroom is limited, and the cost of higher settings is significant. The Medium preset provides the only recorded min/max FPS data, showing a range of 37-50 FPS at 4K, 64-87 FPS at 1440p, and 95-129 FPS at 1080p.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the most suitable resolution. At this resolution, the High preset achieves 97 FPS, and even the Ultra preset maintains 78 FPS, providing a smooth experience across all settings.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in To The Core?*

A: The benchmark results indicate that 4K gaming is not a smooth experience. The highest average frame rate at 3840x2160 is 51 FPS on the Low preset, while the High preset only reaches 37 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 30 FPS.

Q: Which graphics preset provides the best balance of quality and performance at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the most balanced, offering an average of 75 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the High preset's 65 FPS, while the Low preset's 89 FPS comes with a more noticeable reduction in visual quality.

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

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770. It also trails the AMD Radeon HD 7650M by 0.7%, but it is 1.4% ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The consistent and significant drop in frame rates as resolution increases indicates that the graphics processor's workload is the limiting factor. The CPU's high benchmark scores and the high frame rates at 1080p support this conclusion.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 132 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 78 FPS. This represents a 54 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset is substantially more demanding on the GPU.