To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a study in extremes. The CPU sits near the top of the desktop performance charts, while the GPU is an integrated part that ranks in the bottom tenth of all tested graphics chips. This combination ranks 2643rd out of 2991 tested combos in To The Core, placing it in the 12th percentile of all system pairings. The data suggests this is a system where the processor is entirely capable, but the graphics solution severely limits the overall experience. The ranking is not a reflection of the CPU's power, but rather a measure of the bottleneck created by the Arc B390.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 2643 out of 2991 combos places this system firmly in the lower half of the database. It outperforms only about 12% of all tested combinations, which is a remarkably low position for a CPU that scores in the 91st percentile against all other processors. The discrepancy is telling: the processor is a top-tier part, yet the system as a whole performs like a low-end machine in this game. This indicates that the GPU is the dominant factor in the final ranking, dragging down what would otherwise be a high-performing system.

Benchmark results show the CPU has an average benchmark score of 53288. Its nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 7313P, which scores 53206 (a 0.2% difference), and the Intel Xeon Phi 7290, which scores 53469 (a -0.3% difference). The Ryzen 9 7900X also sits close to the Intel Core i7-14700F, which scores 53620, making the 7900X 0.6% slower than that chip. These are all marginal differences, suggesting that in raw compute performance, the Ryzen 9 7900X is on par with enterprise and high-end desktop parts. This makes the low game ranking even more stark, as the data implies the CPU is not the limiting factor.

The Intel Arc B390, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of just 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463 score, 1.3% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460 score, 1.5% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446 score, 2.5% delta). These are all legacy or entry-level mobile parts. The Arc B390 is essentially competing with decade-old graphics solutions. This data confirms that the GPU is a severe bottleneck, and the combo's rank in To The Core is a direct consequence of this weak graphics performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. With 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines, it is a small chip by discrete GPU standards. The data shows it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which means it is technically capable of running modern game APIs. However, its raw compute power, measured at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32, is limited.

The memory subsystem is entirely system-shared. The VRAM size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," with bandwidth being "System Dependent." This is a critical detail for game performance. In To The Core, the GPU must rely on the system's DDR5 memory, which is shared with the CPU. This is a slower and more contended memory path than dedicated VRAM. The data shows that the GPU's performance is poor, ranking in the 9th percentile, which aligns with this shared-memory design. The lack of dedicated memory is likely a major reason why the average FPS in this game is so low.

The GPU's boost clock of 2500 MHz is relatively high, but it cannot compensate for the small amount of shading units and the system-shared memory. The data suggests that the Arc B390 is designed for basic display output rather than gaming. Its performance in To The Core is consistent with a chip that is not intended for demanding 3D workloads. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 power is a theoretical maximum, and the measured FPS shows that this theoretical power does not translate into playable frame rates at higher resolutions or settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 147 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 99 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 56 FPS. This is a significant drop of 33% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 43% drop from 1440p to 4K. The data indicates that the GPU is being overwhelmed as the pixel count increases. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound system, where the CPU is not the limiting factor.

On the High preset, the scaling is similar: 107 FPS at 1080p, 72 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 33%, and from 1440p to 4K it is another 43%. This consistent percentage drop across different settings suggests that the limiting component is the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain more stable when lowering the resolution, as the CPU workload would stay the same. Instead, the FPS drops proportionally with the resolution, which points directly to the graphics processor.

The 4K results are particularly telling. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 33 FPS. This is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data implies that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo in To The Core, regardless of the settings. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a reduction of over 60% in FPS on all presets. This is a strong indication that the Intel Arc B390 cannot handle the pixel throughput required at 4K, making the system's performance heavily dependent on the resolution chosen.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. With Low settings, it averages 147 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 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. These numbers show that 1080p is the most playable resolution for this system. Even on Ultra, the average FPS is above 60, which is a playable threshold for many users.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 99 FPS. Medium settings average 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. High settings average 72 FPS. Ultra settings are the first to drop below 60 FPS, averaging 58 FPS. This resolution is playable on lower settings, but the Ultra preset is borderline. The data shows a clear step down from 1080p, with the average FPS on High at 1440p being lower than the average FPS on Ultra at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. Low settings average 56 FPS. Medium settings average 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS. High settings average 41 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 33 FPS. Every setting at 4K averages below 60 FPS. The Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 41, which indicates noticeable stuttering. The data is clear: 4K is not a suitable resolution for this combo, as even Low settings cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS. The system is firmly in the territory of 1080p and, to a lesser extent, 1440p gaming.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. It has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The CPU supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Its benchmark scores are impressive: it scores 29300 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2016.5 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 19267 multi-core and 2617 single-core. These are high numbers that indicate a very capable processor for any workload.

However, in To The Core, the CPU's role is diminished by the GPU bottleneck. The game is an Idle genre title, which typically does not stress the CPU as much as other genres. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the FPS scales with resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would be more consistent across resolutions. The fact that FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K suggests the GPU is doing all the heavy lifting, and the CPU is waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

The CPU's 64 MB of shared L3 cache and 13,140 million transistors provide ample processing power. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700F, has a similar average benchmark score, yet the combo ranking is low. This reinforces the idea that the CPU is not holding the system back. The Ryzen 9 7900X is more than sufficient for this game, and its performance headroom is wasted due to the Intel Arc B390's limitations. The data indicates a severe imbalance, where the CPU is a high-end part and the GPU is a low-end part.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This preset yields an average of 124 FPS, with a minimum of 105 FPS. This provides a smooth and consistent frame rate, well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 1080p, with 107 FPS, is also a good option, but Medium offers a higher minimum FPS, which reduces the risk of stutters. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with 86 FPS, is still playable but offers diminishing returns over Medium.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the safest choice for a consistent experience, averaging 99 FPS. Medium at 1440p, with an average of 83 FPS and a minimum of 71 FPS, is also viable. The High preset at 1440p, averaging 72 FPS, is acceptable, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, which introduces some uncertainty. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with 58 FPS, is below the 60 FPS threshold and should be avoided if smoothness is a priority.

The data strongly suggests avoiding 3840x2160. Even the Low preset at 4K averages 56 FPS, which is below 60. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum FPS of 41, which would be noticeable as lag or stuttering. For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the 1080p Medium preset is recommended. It offers the highest minimum FPS relative to its average, ensuring a stable experience. The 1440p Low preset is a good alternative for users who prefer a higher resolution but are willing to sacrifice some visual fidelity.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combo in To The Core?*

A: The combo ranks 2643rd out of 2991 tested combinations, placing it in the lower 12% of all systems.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, and 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS at 1080p is 147, which is achieved with Low settings.

Q: Is 4K resolution playable with this setup?

A: No. The data shows that all 4K presets average below 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset averaging 33 FPS and the Low preset averaging 56 FPS.

Q: Which settings provide the most stable frame rate?

A: The 1080p Medium preset provides a stable experience with an average of 124 FPS and a minimum of 105 FPS, which is the highest minimum FPS among the playable presets.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the system in this game?

A: No. The CPU is a high-end part with a 91st percentile ranking, and the FPS scales with resolution, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component.