To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a highly specific performance profile in To The Core, one that is defined by the GPU's position as a low-power integrated solution. The measured data shows a system that can handle the game at playable framerates, but the margins between settings and resolutions reveal a clear bottleneck. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS rows to explain how the CPU and GPU interact, where the limits lie, and which settings offer the most practical experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable but steep decline as resolution increases, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting component in this pairing. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces an average of 147 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings drops that average to 99 FPS, a reduction of 48 FPS or roughly 32.7%. Scaling further to 3840x2160 at Low settings yields just 56 FPS, a drop of 43 FPS from the 1440p result and a total reduction of 91 FPS from the 1080p baseline.

This pattern of diminishing returns is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The frame rate scales almost linearly with pixel count, which means the CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads are not the constraining factor at any resolution tested. The data suggests that the Arc B390's shading units, texture mapping units, and render output units — 1536, 48, and 24 respectively — are saturated well before the Ryzen 7 9700X’s processing capacity is reached. The GPU's boost clock of 2500 MHz and pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s are simply too low to maintain high framerates as the pixel workload increases.

The difference between 1080p and 4K is stark. At 1080p High, the average is 107 FPS, while at 4K High, it falls to 41 FPS. This is a 66 FPS difference, indicating that the GPU is working at its absolute limit at the highest resolution. The 4K results, ranging from 33 FPS at Ultra to 56 FPS at Low, suggest that this combination is only suitable for 4K gaming if the user is willing to accept lower visual fidelity and framerates that hover near the edge of playability. The scaling behavior points to a system where resolution has a far greater impact on performance than any CPU-related variable.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by Intel. Its performance in To The Core is modest, as reflected by its benchmark scores. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 1482, and its percentile ranking against all GPUs is just 9. This places it in the lower echelon of graphics hardware, a fact that is consistent with the measured FPS results in this game.

The GPU’s memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system’s DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a crucial detail, as the memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent." In To The Core, this shared memory arrangement likely contributes to the performance ceiling, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2500 MHz, which shows a wide dynamic range but does not compensate for the low overall compute throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS FP32.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Arc B390 performs slightly better than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which has an average score of 1463, a 1.3% difference. It also edges out the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% delta). However, these are all legacy or entry-level parts, and the data shows the Arc B390 is only 2.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). This benchmark context makes it clear that the GPU is not designed for high-end gaming, and its role in To The Core is to provide a baseline experience that prioritizes playability over visual extremes.

The 4K Ultra setting, which produces an average of 33 FPS, is a direct result of the GPU's limitations. The 12 RT cores and DirectX 12 Ultimate support do not translate into high framerates when the shader load increases. The data shows that the GPU’s 24 ROPs, which handle pixel output, are a significant bottleneck at high resolutions and settings. This is why the framerate drops from 56 FPS at 4K Low to 33 FPS at 4K Ultra, a 23 FPS decrease that highlights the GPU's inability to process complex scenes efficiently.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a desktop processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with a 4 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. This is a powerful CPU, as evidenced by its benchmark scores and its percentile ranking of 86 against all CPUs.

In To The Core, the CPU's role is largely supportive. The measured FPS data shows no signs of a CPU bottleneck, as the framerates scale consistently with resolution and settings changes that affect the GPU. The Ryzen 7 9700X’s multi-threaded performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20485 and a Geekbench multicore score of 17906. These scores suggest that the CPU can handle any background tasks or game logic demands without issue. The single-thread performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2211 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4654.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14901E, which has an average score of 37911, representing a 0.1% delta from the Ryzen 7 9700X’s average benchmark score of 37943. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is similarly close at 37904 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core 5 211E trails at 37829 (0.3% delta). These comparisons show that the Ryzen 7 9700X is at the top of its performance class, but this power is untapped in To The Core because the GPU cannot keep up.

The data implies that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this game. Even at the lowest resolution and settings, where the framerate reaches 147 FPS, the CPU's 8 cores are likely idling relative to their potential. The GPU's shared memory architecture and low compute throughput create a ceiling that the CPU cannot overcome. This is a classic case of a high-end CPU being paired with an entry-level GPU, resulting in a system where GPU upgrades would yield significant performance gains without requiring a CPU change.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 147, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's score of 1463.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The FPS scales significantly with resolution, dropping from 147 FPS at 1080p Low to 56 FPS at 4K Low, while the CPU's performance is more than sufficient for the game's demands.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only rows with min and max data are at Medium settings. At 1080p, the min is 105 FPS and the max is 143 FPS. At 1440p, the min is 71 FPS and the max is 96 FPS. At 4K, the min is 41 FPS and the max is 55 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: This combo ranks 2643 out of 2991 tested combinations in To The Core.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 99 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 58 FPS, a difference of 41 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a complete picture of performance scaling.

At 1920x1080, the results are the strongest. Low settings produce an average of 147 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings reduce the average to 124 FPS, with a minimum of 105 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS. High settings yield 107 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 86 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 61 FPS decrease, indicating that the GPU's fill rate and shader processing are heavily taxed by higher quality presets.

At 2560x1440, the framerates are notably lower. Low settings produce an average of 99 FPS, which is a 48 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. High settings average 72 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 58 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 41 FPS, which is slightly less than at 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower, making the experience less fluid at higher settings.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high framerates. Low settings produce an average of 56 FPS, which is the only 4K result above 50 FPS. Medium settings average 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS. High settings average 41 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 33 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 23 FPS, which is the smallest absolute difference across all resolutions, but it results in the least playable experience overall.

The data shows that the 1080p resolution is the only one where the combo can consistently exceed 60 FPS across all settings. At 1440p, only Low and Medium settings exceed 60 FPS. At 4K, no setting achieves a 60 FPS average. This breakdown suggests that users should prioritize resolution over settings if they want a smoother experience, or vice versa, depending on their preference for visual fidelity.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's performance expectations.

For users with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset is the recommended starting point. It produces an average of 107 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset, at 86 FPS, is also viable if the user desires maximum visual quality, as it still maintains a high framerate. Low and Medium settings are unnecessary at this resolution, as they yield 147 FPS and 124 FPS respectively, offering diminishing returns in visual quality for framerates that exceed the refresh rate of most monitors.

For users with a 2560x1440 display, the Medium preset offers the best balance of performance and visual fidelity. It produces an average of 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS, ensuring that the framerate remains above 60 FPS even in demanding scenes. The Low preset, at 99 FPS, is also a strong choice for competitive play or if the user prefers higher framerates. The High preset, at 72 FPS, is playable but leaves less headroom for frame drops. The Ultra preset, at 58 FPS, dips below the 60 FPS threshold, so it is only recommended for users who prioritize visual quality over a consistent framerate.

For users with a 3840x2160 display, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a consistently playable experience, with an average of 56 FPS. The Medium preset, at 48 FPS, is borderline, but the minimum of 41 FPS may result in noticeable stuttering. High and Ultra presets, at 41 FPS and 33 FPS respectively, are not recommended for general play, as the low framerates will significantly impact the gameplay experience. The data suggests that this combo is not ideal for 4K gaming, and users should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested combinations for To The Core, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2643 out of 2991 combos. This places it in the lower percentile of tested systems, indicating that the GPU's performance significantly drags down the overall ranking despite the CPU's high standing.

The CPU, on its own, is a top-tier performer. Its average benchmark score of 37943 places it in the 86th percentile against all CPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14901E and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, are separated by less than 0.1% in average score. This suggests that the CPU is capable of much higher performance in games that are less GPU-dependent.

The GPU, however, is the weak link. Its average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile against all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all low-end or legacy parts. The delta between the Arc B390 and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 is only 2.7%, which shows that the GPU is at the entry level of performance. This is reflected in the combo's ranking, which is near the bottom of the list.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU rankings is stark. The data shows a system where the CPU is underutilized, and the GPU is overmatched for the game's demands at higher settings. This combo ranks poorly because the integrated GPU cannot leverage the CPU's capabilities. Users looking at this ranking should understand that the bottleneck is firmly on the graphics side, and any upgrade to a discrete GPU would likely result in a substantial improvement in both framerates and the combo's overall rank.