To The Core

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D, a 12-core, 24-thread desktop processor from the 9000 series built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge, 4 nm process), paired with the Intel Arc B390, an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake, 3 nm process), produces a highly specific set of benchmark results in the idle game To The Core. This combination, which ranks 2643 out of 2991 tested combos, delivers playable frame rates across most tested settings, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling dictated by the GPU rather than the CPU. The measured FPS rows, which include averages and some minimum/maximum values, show a consistent scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, with the CPU’s substantial compute potential remaining largely untapped due to the integrated graphics’ limitations.

FAQ

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

A: The combo ranks 2643 out of 2991 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower portion of the tested field, roughly in the 11th percentile of tested configurations.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54762. Its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, scores 55093, which is a delta of -0.6% (meaning the Intel chip is slightly ahead). Conversely, the AMD chip is 1.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (which scores 54053), 2% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6505P (53701), and 2.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700F (53620).

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect at 1920x1080 resolution?

A: At 1080p, the measured results show an average of 147 FPS on Low settings, 124 FPS on Medium, 107 FPS on High, and 86 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset also recorded a minimum of 105 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS.

Q: Is this combo more capable at lower resolutions?

A: Yes, the data shows a clear inverse relationship between resolution and average FPS. At 1920x1080, the average FPS across settings ranges from 86 to 147. At 2560x1440, this range drops to 58 to 99. At 3840x2160, the range further falls to 33 to 56.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile compared to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482 from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. This places it among the lower-performing parts in the database.

Q: Does the CPU have a high single-threaded performance score?

A: Yes, the CPU’s benchmarks show strong single-thread capability, including a 3DMark single-thread score of 1269, a Geekbench single-core score of 3041, and a Passmark single-thread score of 4646. The 3DMark 2-thread score is 2512.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 2643 out of 2991 tested combinations puts it in the bottom 12% of all tested configurations for To The Core. This is a low position, but it is essential to interpret this rank in the context of the components involved. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a high-end desktop processor, as evidenced by its 91st percentile ranking against all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 54762. However, the Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a 9th percentile ranking against all GPUs and an average benchmark score of only 1482. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a low-tier integrated GPU creates a massive bottleneck, and the game’s performance is almost entirely limited by the graphics solution.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in the overall benchmark database underscore its high-end positioning. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF is essentially a peer, with a delta of -0.6%, meaning the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is nearly identical in average score. The other rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, Intel Xeon 6505P, and Intel Core i7-14700F, are all slightly behind, with deltas of 1.3%, 2%, and 2.1% respectively. This shows that the processor itself is a top performer. The fact that the in-game combo rank is so low, despite the CPU’s strength, directly points to the GPU as the limiting factor. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the game’s frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which are GPU-bound workloads.

In the context of To The Core, an idle game, the high rank number (2643) indicates that most other tested systems deliver better performance. The data suggests that for this specific game, the CPU’s power is irrelevant to the final outcome because the integrated GPU cannot push enough frames to stress the processor. The measured results show that even at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 147, which is high, but the GPU’s 9th percentile standing means that more demanding scenarios or higher settings will quickly expose its limits. The rank is a reflection of the whole system’s capability, and in this case, the weakest link is clearly the graphics processor.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. It has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its memory is designated as "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system’s main DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This architecture is the primary reason for the performance ceiling observed in the measured FPS data.

In To The Core, the GPU’s role is to render each frame, and its capabilities directly determine the average FPS at each resolution and settings preset. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS on Ultra is 33, which is barely playable, and on High it is 41. Dropping to Medium raises the average to 48, and Low yields 56. These numbers illustrate the GPU’s struggle at 4K. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with an FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS. These specs are modest for modern gaming, especially at high resolutions.

The GPU’s benchmark performance is documented by a single test: 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, where it scored 1482. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, delta 1.3%), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460, delta 1.5%), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, delta 2.5%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (score 1443, delta 2.7%). These rivals are all entry-level or legacy parts, confirming the Arc B390’s low standing. The integrated nature of this GPU means that it shares memory bandwidth with the CPU, which can be a further bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is more capable at 1920x1080, where it achieves an average of 147 FPS on Low, but this drops significantly as resolution increases, illustrating the GPU’s limited fill rate and memory subsystem.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend on your performance target. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 33 FPS, which is generally considered too low for a smooth experience. The High preset at 4K averages 41 FPS, which is borderline. The Medium preset at this resolution provides an average of 48 FPS with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 55, making it the best balance for 4K, as it offers a noticeable improvement over High while staying more consistent than the lower presets. The Low preset averages 56 FPS, which is the highest at 4K, but the visual quality trade-off may be significant.

At 2560x1440, the situation is more comfortable. The Ultra preset averages 58 FPS, which is playable. High averages 72 FPS, and Medium averages 83 FPS with a minimum of 71 and a maximum of 96. Low averages 99 FPS. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, the High preset is a solid choice, as it provides a 14 FPS improvement over Ultra. The Medium preset, with its recorded minimum of 71 FPS, offers a safer margin for maintaining frame rates above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for those who prioritize frame time consistency.

At 1920x1080, all presets are highly playable. The Ultra preset averages 86 FPS, High averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 124 FPS with a minimum of 105, and Low averages 147 FPS. The data indicates that the Medium preset is the sweet spot, as it delivers a high average FPS and a minimum of 105, which ensures no significant dips. High is also excellent, offering a 21 FPS average increase over Ultra. For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1080p provides a near-perfect blend of performance and visual fidelity, while the High preset is also a strong contender if you prefer higher visual quality and can accept an average of 107 FPS. The measured data suggests avoiding Ultra at 4K unless a 33 FPS experience is acceptable, and instead favoring Medium at 4K or High at 1440p for a more balanced outcome.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are as follows: Low preset is 56 FPS, Medium preset is 48 FPS (with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 55), High preset is 41 FPS, and Ultra preset is 33 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline in average FPS, with a total drop of 23 FPS between the lowest and highest settings. The Medium preset’s recorded minimum of 41 FPS indicates potential for frame dips, which could be noticeable in scenes with more on-screen activity. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, representing a 41% decrease in average FPS.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are significantly higher. The Low preset averages 99 FPS, Medium averages 83 FPS (with a minimum of 71 and a maximum of 96), High averages 72 FPS, and Ultra averages 58 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 41 FPS, which is a 41% drop, similar in percentage to the 4K results. The Medium preset’s minimum of 71 FPS shows that even at this resolution, the GPU can cause frame times to vary, but the overall experience is much smoother than at 4K. The step from High to Ultra at 1440p results in a 14 FPS average decrease, which is the largest single-step drop among the presets at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are the highest in the dataset. The Low preset averages 147 FPS, Medium averages 124 FPS (with a minimum of 105 and a maximum of 143), High averages 107 FPS, and Ultra averages 86 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 61 FPS, representing a 41% decrease, which is consistent with the other resolutions. The Medium preset’s minimum of 105 FPS is notable, as it shows that the GPU can maintain frame rates well above 100 FPS even in more demanding moments. The High preset, at 107 FPS average, offers a smooth experience, and the Ultra preset at 86 FPS is still well within playable territory. The measured data shows a clear pattern: each resolution step down (from 4K to 1440p to 1080p) yields a roughly 70-80% increase in average FPS across all settings, with the exact figures varying slightly by preset.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, and manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a TDP of 120 W. The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it includes 128 MB of L3 cache. Its integrated graphics are listed as "Radeon Graphics," but the primary GPU in this combo is the Intel Arc B390. The CPU’s benchmark scores are extensive, with a 3DMark max threads score of 13795 and a 16-thread score of 12490. In Cinebench R23, it scores 47737 in multicore and 6739 in single-core. Geekbench results show 22884 for multicore and 3041 for single-core. Passmark tests show a multithread score of 56154 and a single-thread score of 4646.

In To The Core, an idle game, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, simulation, and any background tasks. The measured FPS data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The proof lies in the scaling of frame rates with resolution. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 147, which is a high frame rate, but the GPU’s performance ceiling is still the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across different resolutions, as the CPU’s workload would remain constant. Instead, the data shows a clear decline in FPS as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. For instance, at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 147 at 1080p to 99 at 1440p and 56 at 4K. This 91 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K cannot be attributed to the CPU, as its workload in an idle game is unlikely to change with resolution.

The CPU’s high core and thread count, along with its substantial L3 cache, provide ample headroom for any computational demands To The Core might present. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2512 and 4-thread score of 4885 show strong performance even in lightly threaded workloads, which are common in idle games. The CPU’s 91st percentile ranking against all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 54762, place it well above the performance level required for this game. The data suggests that the CPU is effectively idle in terms of game performance, with the Intel Arc B390’s integrated graphics unable to generate enough frames to stress the processor. Therefore, while the CPU is a top-tier component, its impact on the measured FPS in To The Core is negligible compared to the GPU. The system’s overall rank of 2643 is a direct result of the GPU’s limitations, not the CPU’s capabilities.