To The Core

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a playable but not exceptional experience in To The Core, with the combo ranking in the 2750th position out of 2991 tested combinations. The data indicates this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it delivers smooth frame rates across all settings, while 4K resolution pushes it to the edge of playability. The Arc B370, functioning as an integrated graphics solution with system-shared memory, is the primary bottleneck in this pairing, limiting performance despite the CPU’s strong multi-threaded capabilities.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, with average frame rates ranging from 78 FPS at Ultra to 132 FPS at Low. This is the only resolution where all four settings presets exceed the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The average FPS drops to 37 at High, 43 at Medium, and only 30 at Ultra. Even at Low settings, the average is just 51 FPS, indicating that 4K is not a viable option for smooth gameplay.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the average frame rate decreases by 36 FPS when moving from Low (89 FPS) to Ultra (53 FPS). The High preset sits in between at 65 FPS, while Medium achieves 75 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a high-performing CPU relative to other processors?

A: Yes, the CPU holds a 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 69355 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 9115, which scores 69288, a delta of only 0.1%.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score of 1184 places it just below the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), with deltas of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively. It scores 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset?

A: The measured minimum FPS for Medium settings are 37 at 4K, 64 at 1440p, and 95 at 1080p. These minimums show that frame pacing is more consistent at lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, featuring a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This configuration provides substantial multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and Geekbench multi-core score of 20767. In To The Core, an idle genre game, this CPU horsepower is more than sufficient to handle game logic and background tasks, ensuring that the processor is not the limiting factor in the measured frame rates.

The CPU’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache contribute to its strong single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2160 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4472. This is relevant for To The Core because even in an idle game, the primary game thread must be processed quickly to maintain a consistent frame pacing. The data shows the CPU ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 69355 is statistically tied with the AMD EPYC 9115 (69288) and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515), indicating that it is a top-tier processor.

However, the benchmark results across resolutions reveal that the CPU’s capability is not fully utilized. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 132 FPS, but this drops to 78 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics processor’s workload increases with settings, while the CPU has ample headroom. The processor’s 10 nm process node and 125 W TDP mean it is a power-hungry desktop part, but this does not translate to better gaming performance when paired with a weak integrated GPU. In summary, the i7-14700K provides an excellent foundation, but the measured FPS in To The Core are constrained by the graphics solution rather than the CPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with 1280 shading units and 40 texture mapping units. Critically, its memory is marked as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system’s RAM rather than dedicated VRAM, and its bandwidth is described as "System Dependent." This architecture explains its low performance ceiling, as the GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU’s performance is a significant bottleneck in this combo. Its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190) and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186), with deltas of -0.5% and -0.2% respectively. The Arc B370’s 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are modest figures, and its 25 W TDP indicates it is designed for efficiency rather than high-end gaming. In To The Core, this results in a maximum average FPS of 132 at 1080p Low, which is the only resolution/settings combination where the system truly excels.

The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the GPU’s limitations become more pronounced. At 1440p, the average FPS ranges from 89 (Low) to 53 (Ultra), while at 4K, the range falls to 51 (Low) to 30 (Ultra). The GPU’s lack of dedicated memory is likely a contributing factor, as the shared memory system must compete with the CPU for bandwidth. For an idle game like To The Core, which may not be graphically demanding, the Arc B370 manages to provide decent performance at lower resolutions, but it cannot handle the pixel count of 4K. The GPU’s support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 shows it is modern in feature set, but its raw throughput is not enough for high-resolution gaming.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this combo. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, but the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium setting delivers an average of 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without the significant frame rate drop seen at Ultra (78 FPS). While Low achieves 132 FPS, the jump to Medium only costs 20 FPS while likely providing a substantial visual improvement.

For users with 2560x1440 monitors, the Medium preset is also the recommended choice. It achieves an average of 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play. The High preset at 65 FPS is acceptable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes, while Ultra drops to 53 FPS, which may result in noticeable stuttering. Low at 89 FPS is smooth but likely sacrifices too much visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that no setting provides a consistently smooth experience. The best option is Low, which averages 51 FPS but still dips below 60 FPS. Medium averages 43 FPS, and High drops to 37 FPS, while Ultra is effectively unplayable at 30 FPS. For 4K users, the recommendation is to either lower the resolution or accept reduced visual quality. Overall, the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p provides the best experience per the measured rows, offering high average frame rates with acceptable minimums.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2750th out of 2991 tested combos in To The Core, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU’s poor performance, as the CPU alone would rank much higher. The combo’s position is a direct reflection of the Arc B370’s 5th percentile GPU ranking, which drags down the overall system capability.

The data shows that this combo is not competitive with higher-end systems. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, have similar average scores, but the combo’s rank is determined by the GPU. The Arc B370’s nearest rivals are all legacy GPUs from the early 2010s, indicating that this is not a gaming-oriented part. In the context of To The Core, the combo’s rank of 2750 means that the vast majority of other tested systems will outperform it, especially at higher resolutions.

However, the rank also shows that this is a functional, if modest, gaming system. It is not the worst combo possible, and it can handle the game at 1080p with respectable frame rates. For users who prioritize CPU performance for non-gaming tasks and are willing to play at lower resolutions, this combo may be acceptable. But for a game like To The Core, the GPU bottleneck is the defining characteristic, and the ranking accurately reflects that limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in To The Core is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 51 FPS average
• Medium: 43 FPS average, with a minimum of 37 FPS and maximum of 50 FPS
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 30 FPS average

At 4K, the system cannot maintain 60 FPS on any setting. The Low preset comes closest at 51 FPS, but even that falls short. The Medium preset’s minimum of 37 FPS indicates significant frame drops, making gameplay feel inconsistent. Ultra is essentially unplayable at 30 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 89 FPS average
• Medium: 75 FPS average, with a minimum of 64 FPS and maximum of 87 FPS
• High: 65 FPS average
• Ultra: 53 FPS average

At 1440p, the system becomes more viable. Low and Medium both exceed 60 FPS, with Medium providing a solid 75 FPS average and a minimum of 64 FPS. High is just above the threshold at 65 FPS, while Ultra dips below at 53 FPS. This resolution is playable with the right settings.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 132 FPS average
• Medium: 112 FPS average, with a minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 129 FPS
• High: 97 FPS average
• Ultra: 78 FPS average

At 1080p, the system performs best. All presets exceed 60 FPS, with Low reaching 132 FPS and Medium at 112 FPS. High is still smooth at 97 FPS, and even Ultra maintains a respectable 78 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 95 FPS ensures consistent performance, making this the sweet spot for the combo.

The data reveals a clear performance scaling: moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by roughly 30-40%, and moving to 4K cuts it by another 40-50%. This pattern is consistent across all settings, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor. The Arc B370’s system-shared memory and low pixel rate are unable to keep up with higher resolutions, while the i7-14700K’s powerful 20-core configuration has no trouble feeding the GPU at any setting.