To The Core

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a playable but strictly entry-level experience in To The Core, with the integrated GPU acting as the definitive performance ceiling. The data shows this combination ranks in the bottom 12th percentile of all tested combinations, making it suitable only for low-to-medium settings at 1080p, where it can approach or exceed 60 FPS. The CPU is a top-tier desktop part, but its capabilities are entirely masked by the B390's integrated graphics, which benchmarks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a high-end desktop processor built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh. It operates on a 10 nm process node and features a substantial 20 cores and 28 threads, a configuration designed to handle heavily multithreaded workloads. Its base clock is listed at 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This clock speed, combined with the core count, places the CPU in the 94th percentile of all processors, indicating it is far more powerful than what is required for an idle game like To The Core.

The processor's cache hierarchy is robust, featuring 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 33 MB of L3 cache. This substantial cache helps reduce latency in repetitive tasks, which can be relevant for the constant calculations found in idle games. The CPU supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility, and it has a 125 W TDP, which is a moderate power draw for a processor with this core count. It also includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, though the system uses the separate Intel Arc B390 for display output.

In the context of To The Core, the CPU's role is largely passive. The benchmark results show that even at the lowest tested settings (1080p Low), the frame rate is 147 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combination. This suggests that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at this resolution. The processor's strength is also evident in its synthetic benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 33440.5 and a Geekbench multicore score of 20767. These numbers place it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which has an average score of 69515, a delta of -0.2% from the i7-14700K's average of 69355. This shows that the CPU is performing exactly as expected, with its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 9115, being just 0.1% faster in average benchmark score.

Because To The Core is an idle game, its logic is likely single-threaded or lightly threaded. The i7-14700K's single-core performance is also excellent, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2160 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4472. However, the measured FPS data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor. When moving from 1080p to 4K, the frame rate drops dramatically, which is a classic sign of GPU saturation. The CPU has more than enough headroom to feed the GPU, but the B390 cannot process the frames fast enough to utilize the CPU's potential. The data confirms that the CPU is not the constraint; it is merely present and ready, but the integrated graphics hold the system back.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, part of the Arc Graphics-M generation for Panther Lake. It is fabricated on a 3 nm process node by Intel. Its performance profile is extremely modest, as evidenced by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a fundamental indicator of its capability; it is designed for basic computing tasks, not for gaming.

The GPU's memory configuration is entirely "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory (DDR4 or DDR5) for video memory. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This reliance on shared system memory is a significant bottleneck in gaming scenarios, as it introduces higher latency and lower bandwidth compared to dedicated VRAM. The GPU's memory clock is also listed as "System Shared," further confirming it has no dedicated video memory of its own.

In terms of raw compute, the Arc B390 has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 render output units (ROPs). It also includes 12 ray tracing cores, which is a feature not typically found in entry-level integrated graphics. Its clock speeds are set at a 300 MHz base and a 2500 MHz boost, with a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, which sounds significant on paper, but the shared memory architecture severely limits real-world gaming performance.

The benchmark results for To The Core reflect this limitation. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves an average of 147 FPS, which is playable. However, this is the peak performance. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 86, showing a significant impact from settings. The GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are extremely old or low-end parts, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (delta 1.3%), the GeForce 800M (delta 1.5%), and the GeForce GT 625 OEM (delta 2.5%). This comparison highlights that the Arc B390 is competing with hardware from a decade ago in terms of raw 3D rendering power.

The GPU's 80 W TDP is low, and it requires no power connectors, confirming its integrated nature. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so it is feature-complete, but the hardware is simply not fast enough to utilise these APIs for high-end gaming. In To The Core, the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, frame rates tank, indicating that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are exhausted. The CPU is not the issue; the Arc B390 is.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo scales with resolution, and it unequivocally points to the GPU as the bottleneck. At 1080p Low settings, the system delivers an average of 147 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 Low, the average drops to 99 FPS, a 33% reduction. At 4K (3840x2160) Low, the average plummets to 56 FPS, a 62% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is a classic symptom of GPU-limited performance, as the rendering workload increases with pixel count.

The scaling is consistent across all settings. At Medium settings, the averages are 124 FPS at 1080p, 83 FPS at 1440p, and 48 FPS at 4K. At High settings, the averages are 107 FPS at 1080p, 72 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. Finally, at Ultra settings, the averages are 86 FPS at 1080p, 58 FPS at 1440p, and 33 FPS at 4K. The pattern is uniform: each step up in resolution costs a significant amount of performance, regardless of the quality preset.

This data indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload (game logic, AI, physics) does not change with resolution. Instead, we see a linear decline in FPS as resolution increases, which means the GPU's rendering capabilities are being saturated. The CPU is capable of far higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 147 FPS at 1080p Low, but it is held back by the GPU's inability to render frames faster.

Furthermore, the settings scaling within each resolution also points to the GPU. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra costs 61 FPS (147 to 86). At 4K, moving from Low to Ultra costs 23 FPS (56 to 33). The absolute delta is smaller at higher resolutions, but the percentage drop is significant, and the 4K Ultra frame rate of 33 FPS is barely playable. For a smooth experience, users would need to stick to 1080p with medium settings or lower, where the system can maintain over 60 FPS. The data strongly suggests that the i7-14700K is waiting for the GPU, which is unable to keep up.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the global ranking of tested combinations for To The Core, the Intel Core i7-14700K + Intel Arc B390 combo ranks 2643rd out of 2991 total combinations. This places it in the bottom 11.6% of all systems tested, which is a poor showing for a system with a high-end CPU. This ranking is heavily skewed by the GPU's low performance. The CPU alone is in the 94th percentile, but the GPU is in the 9th percentile, dragging the overall combo down.

The rank of 2643 out of 2991 is a definitive verdict: this is a low-performing combo for this game. It means that a vast majority of other tested systems, likely those with any discrete GPU, will outperform it. The system is only able to achieve playable frame rates at lower resolutions and settings, which aligns with its low percentile ranking. The data shows that while the CPU is a top-tier part, it is completely wasted in this configuration for gaming purposes.

The combination of a 94th percentile CPU with a 9th percentile GPU creates a massive imbalance. The CPU is not the limiting factor, but it also cannot compensate for the GPU's lack of power. The benchmark results suggest that the i7-14700K is capable of much higher frame rates, but the Arc B390 is the bottleneck. This is a classic case of a system being only as strong as its weakest link. For To The Core, the weakest link is the integrated graphics, and the combo ranking reflects this reality. Users should expect this combo to perform like an entry-level integrated graphics solution, not like a high-end desktop gaming PC.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run To The Core at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 56, which is playable. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 48 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 33 FPS. The data indicates that 4K High (41 FPS) and 4K Ultra (33 FPS) are not ideal for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1080p Low delivers 147 FPS, 1080p Medium delivers 124 FPS, and 1080p High delivers 107 FPS. All of these are above 60 FPS. 1080p Ultra drops to 86 FPS, which is still playable, but the lower presets offer a higher frame rate headroom.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390 in this game?

A: No. The CPU is in the 94th percentile of all processors, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 33440.5. The frame rate drops are consistent with GPU limitation, and the CPU has far more performance headroom than the GPU can utilise. The GPU is the bottleneck.

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

A: In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the Arc B390 scores 1482. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463, a delta of 1.3%. The GeForce 800M is 1.5% slower, and the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% slower. These are all very low-end parts.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the Intel Arc B390, and does it affect performance?

A: The Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM. The memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent". This shared memory architecture is a significant performance limitation compared to dedicated graphics memory.

Q: What is the overall performance percentile of the GPU and CPU in this combo?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This massive gap highlights the imbalance in this configuration, with the GPU being the primary performance limiter.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i7-14700K + Intel Arc B390 combination in To The Core. The data is measured across three resolutions and four quality presets.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 56 FPS.
• Medium: Average 48 FPS, with min 41 and max 55 FPS.
• High: Average 41 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 33 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 99 FPS.
• Medium: Average 83 FPS, with min 71 and max 96 FPS.
• High: Average 72 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 58 FPS.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 147 FPS.
• Medium: Average 124 FPS, with min 105 and max 143 FPS.
• High: Average 107 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 86 FPS.

This breakdown confirms that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo consistently delivers high frame rates across all settings. At 1440p, the system is still playable, but the Ultra preset drops to 58 FPS. At 4K, the system is only suitable for Low settings, where it achieves 56 FPS. The data shows a linear deterioration in performance as resolution increases, which is directly attributable to the Intel Arc B390's limited rendering capabilities. The CPU's influence on these numbers is negligible, as it provides ample headroom for the GPU to work.