To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a performance profile in To The Core that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics preset, with the data indicating a system that scales predictably from high-refresh 1080p play to more demanding 4K scenarios. This combination, which ranks 2380th out of 2991 tested configurations in this specific title, demonstrates that while the CPU provides ample headroom, the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 165 FPS at 1080p to 111 FPS at 1440p, representing a 32.7% reduction. Moving further to 4K, the average falls to 64 FPS, which is a 42.3% decrease from the 1440p result and a 61.2% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling curve is steep, indicating that the rendering load is scaling significantly with pixel count.

Examining the Low preset reveals an even more dramatic scaling behavior. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 225 FPS, which drops to 152 FPS at 1440p and then to 87 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 32.4% from 1080p to 1440p and 42.8% from 1440p to 4K. This near-linear relationship between resolution and frame rate strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B570's pixel throughput is the limiting factor. When the settings are lowered, the CPU is not the bottleneck; instead, the GPU's raw fill rate and memory bandwidth dictate performance across all resolutions.

The scaling from Medium to High to Ultra settings at each resolution follows a similar trend, but the resolution scaling itself is the dominant variable. For instance, at 1440p, the Medium preset (128 FPS) is 15.3% faster than High (111 FPS), while at 4K, Medium (73 FPS) is 14.1% faster than High (64 FPS). This consistency suggests that the performance penalty for increasing resolution is uniform regardless of the preset, pointing to a GPU-bound scenario where the Ryzen 7 9700F's processing power is sufficient to feed the graphics card even at lower resolutions.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the system is likely CPU-limited at the Low preset, given the 225 FPS result, but still capable of high refresh rates. However, the steep drop-off at 1440p and 4K confirms that the Intel Arc B570's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are the primary constraints for this idle game, which appears to have moderate graphical demands that scale heavily with render resolution.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture with the BMG-G21 chip, is the central component in determining this combo's frame rates. With a boost clock of 2500 MHz and 2304 shading units, the GPU's theoretical FP32 performance is 11.52 TFLOPS. The 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical factor for the resolution scaling observed in the measured data.

At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 51, which is the lowest measured result across all configurations. This indicates that the GPU is heavily saturated at this setting. The difference between 4K Ultra (51 FPS) and 4K Low (87 FPS) is 41.2%, showing that the GPU's ability to handle higher graphical fidelity is limited. The Medium preset at 4K (73 FPS) with a minimum of 62 FPS and maximum of 84 FPS shows some variance, but the average remains well below the 1440p results.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals is notable. In the PassMark G3D benchmark, the Arc B570 scores 14195, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc A750, has an average score of 20582, which is 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, a 0.1% difference, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662, a 0.5% difference. These deltaPct values are minuscule, indicating that the Arc B570 performs nearly identically to these competing cards in synthetic tests, which aligns with the measured FPS results in To The Core.

The GPU's memory configuration is a key differentiator. The 10 GB frame buffer is sufficient for the resolutions tested, but the 160-bit bus width and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth limit the fill rate at higher pixel counts. This is evident in the 4K results, where the average FPS drops below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay at Ultra settings. The GPU's pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s, which are moderate figures that explain why the scaling from 1080p to 4K is so steep.

The data shows that for this game, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at 4K and 1440p. The CPU's performance is not a limiting factor, as evidenced by the consistent FPS drops across all presets when resolution increases. The Arc B570's 150 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest it is a capable mid-range card, but for an idle game like To The Core, the GPU's raw pixel processing power is what determines the final frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, with 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, provides a strong foundation for this gaming configuration. With a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, the CPU's single-threaded performance is substantial, scoring 4691 in the PassMark single-thread test. This places it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier performance for gaming workloads.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are also significant, with a PassMark multithread score of 36470. This is supported by a data compression score of 421988 and an integer math score of 120788, which show strong processing power for non-gaming tasks. However, in To The Core, an idle genre game, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, and the data suggests it does this without becoming a bottleneck until very high frame rates.

At 1080p Low, the system achieves 225 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's limit for this game. The difference between 1080p Low (225 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (133 FPS) is 69.2%, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher settings. The CPU's relative performance against its nearest rivals is close, with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scoring 69875 (0.2% lower), the Intel Core i7-14700KF scoring 70163 (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scoring 69515 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core i7-14700K scoring 69355 (0.9% lower). These deltaPct values are within 1%, meaning the Ryzen 7 9700F's performance is effectively identical to these high-end processors.

The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth are adequate for the game's demands. The 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier indicate an efficient and overclockable chip, but the data does not suggest that overclocking would significantly improve To The Core performance, as the GPU is the bottleneck at most settings. The CPU's PassMark physics score of 2122 and find prime numbers score of 183 indicate moderate compute performance, but these are not relevant to the game's FPS results.

The data shows that the CPU is not the constraining factor in this combo. At 1440p High (111 FPS) and 4K High (64 FPS), the GPU is clearly limiting performance. Only at 1080p Low (225 FPS) does the CPU potentially become a factor, but even then, the system maintains a high frame rate. The Ryzen 7 9700F's strong single-thread performance ensures that it can handle the game's logic without causing frame drops, allowing the Intel Arc B570 to operate at its full potential.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this combo in To The Core?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 225, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is the only configuration where the frame rate exceeds 220 FPS, indicating that the CPU is reaching its limit at this setting.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 51. This is the lowest measured result and falls below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that the GPU is fully saturated and the experience may not be smooth for all users.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1440p High?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck at 1440p High, where the average FPS is 111. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (4691 in PassMark) is sufficient to feed the GPU, and the frame rate is primarily limited by the Arc B570's rendering capabilities.

Q: What is the difference in performance between 1080p and 4K at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 191, while at 4K Medium, it drops to 73. This represents a 61.8% reduction in performance, highlighting the significant impact of resolution on the GPU's workload.

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

A: The Arc B570's PassMark G3D score is 14195, which is within 0.5% of its nearest rivals. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582 (0.1% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534 (0.1% lower), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662 (0.5% lower).

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 9700F's performance vary significantly from its nearest rivals?

A: No, the Ryzen 7 9700F's average benchmark score is 69996, which is within 0.9% of its nearest rivals. The Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70163 (0.2% higher), while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515 (0.7% lower).

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 133 FPS, which is sufficient for high-refresh monitors, but the High preset at 165 FPS offers a better balance for competitive play. The Low preset at 225 FPS is only recommended for users with 240 Hz displays who prioritize frame rate over visual quality.

For 2560x1440, the High preset (111 FPS) provides a smooth experience for most users, while the Medium preset (128 FPS) offers a slightly higher frame rate with minimal visual compromise. The Ultra preset (89 FPS) is still playable but may not sustain the highest refresh rates. The Low preset (152 FPS) is the best option for users seeking maximum performance at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the High preset (64 FPS) is the most balanced choice, providing a playable experience just above 60 FPS. The Medium preset (73 FPS) offers a small performance boost and is recommended for users who prioritize frame rate stability, as the data shows a minimum of 62 FPS and maximum of 84 FPS. The Ultra preset (51 FPS) is not recommended for 4K, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in noticeable stuttering. The Low preset (87 FPS) is viable for users who prefer higher frame rates at 4K, but the visual quality reduction is significant.

The data suggests that the Medium preset provides the best overall experience across all resolutions, as it offers a substantial frame rate increase over High (14.1% at 4K, 15.3% at 1440p, 15.8% at 1080p) while maintaining acceptable visual fidelity. For users with variable refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset's minimum FPS values (62 at 4K, 109 at 1440p, 162 at 1080p) ensure a more consistent experience than other presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 225 FPS, the Medium preset averages 191 FPS with a minimum of 162 and maximum of 219, the High preset averages 165 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 133 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 92 FPS, demonstrating the GPU's significant workload increase with higher graphical settings.

At 2560x1440, performance drops notably but remains high. The Low preset averages 152 FPS, the Medium preset averages 128 FPS with a minimum of 109 and maximum of 147, the High preset averages 111 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 89 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across presets, ranging from 32.4% at Low to 33.1% at Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset averages 87 FPS, the Medium preset averages 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 and maximum of 84, the High preset averages 64 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 51 FPS. The performance drop from 1440p to 4K is steep, with reductions ranging from 42.8% at Low to 42.7% at Ultra.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the most playable resolution, 1440p offers a good balance of visual quality and performance, and 4K is only viable at lower presets. The Medium preset consistently provides the most stable frame rates, as evidenced by the minimum FPS values being highest relative to the average.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2380th out of 2991 tested configurations in To The Core. This places it in the 20.4th percentile of all combos, indicating that it performs below the median for this game. This ranking is surprising given the individual components' strong benchmark scores, but it reflects the game's specific performance characteristics.

The CPU's high percentile ranking (94th) and the GPU's moderate percentile (65th) suggest that the combo's performance is limited by the GPU. The data confirms this, as the frame rates are heavily influenced by resolution and settings, with the GPU being the primary bottleneck. The ranking of 2380th out of 2991 means that approximately 611 other combos perform better in this game, likely due to more powerful GPUs.

Despite the low ranking, the combo still achieves playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The 4K performance is marginal, but the system can handle the game at lower settings. The ranking indicates that for users seeking maximum performance in To The Core, a stronger GPU would be necessary, but the Ryzen 7 9700F provides a solid foundation that does not hold back the Arc B570 in most scenarios.

The combo's performance relative to other configurations is consistent with the GPU's synthetic benchmark results. The Arc B570's PassMark G3D score of 14195 places it in the 65th percentile, which aligns with the observed frame rates. The CPU's performance is not a limiting factor, as its nearest rivals show comparable scores within 0.9%, yet the combo's ranking is determined by the GPU's ability to render the game at various resolutions and settings.