To The Core

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a playable, though not overpowering, experience in To The Core. The data shows a system where the integrated GPU is the primary constraint, with the CPU’s strong multi-threaded capabilities providing a solid foundation that never becomes the limiting factor. Across all measured settings, the combo ranks 2643rd out of 2991 tested combinations, placing it in the lower tier of performance, yet the frame rates achieved at 1080p and 1440p indicate that the game remains accessible for this hardware. The Arc B390, as an integrated part of the Panther Lake platform, delivers results that are surprisingly competitive for its class, but the scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear ceiling that users should understand before adjusting settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, which points directly at the GPU as the bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system averages 147 FPS, which is a very fluid experience. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 99 FPS, a reduction of 48 FPS or roughly 33% fewer frames. Pushing further to 3840x2160 on Low yields 56 FPS, which is 91 FPS lower than the 1080p result, representing a 62% performance loss. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, with the gap between 1080p and 4K widening as the graphical load increases.

For High settings, the drop from 107 FPS at 1080p to 72 FPS at 1440p is a 35 FPS decrease, and then from 1440p to 4K the average falls to 41 FPS, another 31 FPS loss. The Medium preset shows similar behavior: 124 FPS at 1080p, 83 FPS at 1440p, and 48 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings, which are the most demanding, start at 86 FPS on 1080p, drop to 58 FPS on 1440p, and end at 33 FPS on 4K. The trend is unmistakable — the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is steep, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe, indicating that the GPU’s rendering capacity is exhausted long before the CPU becomes relevant.

This resolution scaling behavior suggests that the limiting component is the Intel Arc B390. The i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads boosting up to 4.40 GHz, has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 147 FPS average shows the CPU can handle high frame rates, but as pixel count rises, the GPU’s fixed shading units (1536) and 24 ROPs struggle to maintain throughput. The data implies that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, where the GPU can keep up with the CPU’s output. At 1440p, performance remains acceptable for most gameplay, but 4K is only viable on Low or Medium settings, and even then, the average FPS hovers near or below the 60 FPS threshold.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this system’s To The Core performance. This integrated GPU, built on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a 3 nm process, operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning the VRAM size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This reliance on shared memory is a critical detail, as it ties the GPU’s performance to the system’s memory bandwidth, which can vary. The GPU’s benchmark results reinforce its position: it scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts, with the GeForce GT 520MX being just 1.3% ahead, the GeForce 800M 1.5% ahead, the GeForce GT 625 OEM 2.5% ahead, and the GeForce GT 710 2.7% ahead. This places the Arc B390 in a very low performance tier, but within that tier, it is competitive.

The GPU’s clock speeds play a notable role in the measured results. The 2500 MHz boost clock allows for bursts of performance, but the low base clock of 300 MHz suggests that sustained loads may cause the GPU to throttle back under thermal or power constraints, given its 80 W TDP. In To The Core, an idle game, the frame rates are not particularly high, but the scaling from Low to Ultra settings shows how the GPU’s compute resources are utilized. At 1080p, the jump from Low (147 FPS) to Ultra (86 FPS) represents a 41.5% reduction in average FPS, which is a substantial hit. The same pattern holds at 1440p (99 FPS to 58 FPS, a 41.4% drop) and 4K (56 FPS to 33 FPS, a 41.1% drop). This consistent percentage drop across resolutions indicates that the GPU’s shading units (1536) and texture mapping units (48) are being fully taxed by the higher settings, with the pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s being the physical limits.

The Arc B390’s FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is modest, and its FP16 capability of 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1) does not help in this scenario, as To The Core likely relies on standard FP32 rendering. The 12 ray tracing cores are present, but the game’s idle genre probably does not utilize them heavily. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution, as evidenced by the FPS drops being nearly uniform in percentage terms when moving from Low to Ultra. The system-shared memory means there is no dedicated VRAM pool, which can cause performance dips if the system memory bandwidth is insufficient, but the measured FPS does not show severe stuttering, indicating the memory system is adequate for this load.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 plays a supporting role in this combo, and the benchmark data shows it is more than capable of keeping up with the Arc B390. This Alder Lake-S processor features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU’s benchmark scores are strong for its class, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257. Its average benchmark score is 18683, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i7-1355U (0.3% slower), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (0.7% slower), and the Intel Core i3-14100F (0.9% faster). This means the i5-12400 sits in a highly competitive band, with its multi-threaded performance being a strong asset for any game that uses more than a few cores.

In To The Core, the CPU’s role is evident from the FPS scaling at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 147 FPS, which is a high frame rate that requires the CPU to process game logic and draw calls quickly. The i5-12400’s 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost clock provide sufficient single-thread and multi-thread performance to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The 3DMark scores further illustrate this: the single-thread score is 910, but the 2-thread score jumps to 1692, and the 4-thread score is 3012, showing good scaling. The 8-thread score of 4745 and max-thread score of 5890 indicate that the CPU can handle concurrent workloads without significant degradation. The PassMark multi-thread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 confirm that this is a balanced processor.

However, the CPU’s performance is not the limiting factor in this system. As resolution increases, the FPS drops in a manner that is consistent with GPU limitations, not CPU ones. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the system only manages 33 FPS, but this is not due to the CPU being unable to issue draw calls; rather, the GPU cannot render the frames fast enough. The CPU’s high benchmark scores, such as the Geekbench multi-core score of 8564 and single-core score of 1848, suggest that it would be able to push higher frame rates if paired with a more powerful GPU. The fact that the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly proportional across all settings (around 62% reduction on Low) indicates that the CPU is not the constraint, as a CPU bottleneck would show a smaller FPS drop at higher resolutions where GPU load increases. The data supports the conclusion that the i5-12400 is a capable partner that leaves performance on the table due to the GPU’s limitations.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in To The Core?*

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At 1080p, even Ultra settings achieve an average of 86 FPS, and Low settings reach 147 FPS. At 1440p, the averages range from 58 FPS on Ultra to 99 FPS on Low, which is playable but less comfortable. At 4K, only Low settings (56 FPS) approach acceptable frame rates, with Ultra dropping to 33 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, is 1.3% faster, while the GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% faster. This places the B390 at the bottom of a very low-performance tier.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck in this system?

A: No, the data shows the i5-12400 is not the bottleneck. The CPU has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257, which are strong results. The FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with GPU limitations, and the CPU’s high benchmark scores indicate it could support higher frame rates with a more powerful GPU.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce an average of 99 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 58 FPS. This is a 41 FPS difference, or a 41.4% reduction in performance when moving from Low to Ultra. Medium settings sit in between at 83 FPS, and High settings at 72 FPS.

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

A: 4K gaming is possible but limited. At 3840x2160, Low settings achieve 56 FPS, Medium settings achieve 48 FPS, High settings achieve 41 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 33 FPS. Only Low settings provide a frame rate above 60 FPS, and none reach the 60 FPS threshold comfortably for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the GPU’s shared memory affect performance?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses system-shared memory, meaning the VRAM size, type, and bus width are all system-dependent, and the bandwidth is described as "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system’s memory bandwidth, which can vary based on the platform. The measured FPS does not show severe stuttering, suggesting the memory system is adequate for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the performance is strong across the board. Low settings deliver an average of 147 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. Medium settings average 124 FPS, with a minimum of 105 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS, indicating some variance. High settings average 107 FPS, and Ultra settings average 86 FPS. The 1080p results show that this system can handle the game at high refresh rates, with even the most demanding preset staying above 85 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably but remains playable. Low settings average 99 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS. 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 drop to 58 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that users can expect a smooth experience on Low and Medium, but High and Ultra presets may show occasional dips below 60 FPS, especially in the case of Ultra where the average is already below that threshold.

At 3840x2160, the performance is marginal. Low settings average 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target but still playable for an idle game. 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 average 33 FPS. The 4K results show that this combo is not suited for high-end 4K gaming, as even Low settings cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS. The minimum FPS values for Medium at 4K (41 FPS) and 1440p (71 FPS) and 1080p (105 FPS) provide insight into frame time consistency, with the 4K Medium showing the most significant dips.

Across all resolutions, the Low settings preset consistently delivers the highest average FPS, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra in that order. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial: at 1080p, the difference is 61 FPS (147 vs. 86), at 1440p it is 41 FPS (99 vs. 58), and at 4K it is 23 FPS (56 vs. 33). This data suggests that the GPU’s capabilities are stretched thin by Ultra settings, and the returns on visual quality diminish as resolution increases.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice. The average FPS of 86 is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the visual enhancements from Ultra settings are worth the performance cost. Even with the frame rate drop from Low (147 FPS) to Ultra (86 FPS), the game remains smooth, and users with 60 Hz or 75 Hz monitors will not notice a difference. For those with higher refresh rate displays, High settings (107 FPS) or Medium settings (124 FPS) offer a better balance, but Ultra is still very playable.

For 2560x1440, the recommendation is High settings. The average FPS of 72 is above 60, and it provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. Medium settings (83 FPS) are also a solid choice if users prefer a higher frame rate buffer, but High does not sacrifice too much. Ultra settings (58 FPS) dip below 60 FPS on average, which may cause visible stuttering or a less smooth experience, so it is not recommended unless the user is tolerant of lower frame rates. Low settings (99 FPS) are unnecessary unless the user wants maximum performance, but the visual downgrade is significant for an idle game where the graphics are part of the appeal.

For 3840x2160, the data shows that only Low settings (56 FPS) come close to a playable experience, but they fall short of 60 FPS. Medium settings (48 FPS) are playable but may feel sluggish, and High (41 FPS) and Ultra (33 FPS) are too demanding for this GPU. The recommendation for 4K is to use Low settings if 4K is a hard requirement, but the better experience is to drop to 1440p and use High or Ultra settings. The 1440p Ultra preset (58 FPS) is actually more stable than 4K Low (56 FPS), and it offers significantly better visuals.

In summary, the data indicates that 1080p Ultra is the best overall experience for this combo, delivering 86 FPS with full visual fidelity. If 1440p is preferred, High settings at 72 FPS is the sweet spot. For 4K, users should accept Low settings at 56 FPS or consider lowering the resolution to maintain smoother frame rates. The measured results show that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a viable secondary option, and 4K reserved for those who prioritize resolution over frame rate.