To The Core

To The Core, an idle game released in February 2024, presents an unusual test case for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics. The benchmark data reveals a configuration firmly anchored at the lower end of the performance spectrum for this title, ranking 2643rd out of 2991 tested combos. The results suggest a system where the integrated GPU is the primary bottleneck, yet the CPU’s architecture provides a stable foundation that keeps the experience playable at lower settings, offering a curious look at what a modern, power-efficient desktop platform can achieve without a discrete graphics card.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases, a classic indicator of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 107 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops the average to 72 FPS, a 33% reduction. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average falling to 41 FPS, which is only 38% of the 1080p score. This scaling pattern is the clearest evidence that the Intel Arc B390’s rendering capabilities are the limiting factor; the workload per frame increases geometrically with pixel count, and the integrated GPU's fixed shading units, TMUs, and ROPs are quickly overwhelmed.

The scaling is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, at Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 124 FPS at 1080p to 83 FPS at 1440p and then to 48 FPS at 4K. Even at Low settings, which reduce the pixel shading burden, the trend holds: 147 FPS at 1080p, 99 FPS at 1440p, and 56 FPS at 4K. The fact that even the lowest quality preset cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K strongly implies that the fill rate and compute throughput of the Arc B390 are saturated, not the CPU's ability to feed it data. The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1440p is the practical ceiling for this integrated solution, with 1080p being the optimal target for higher refresh rates.

How This Combo Ranks

With a combo rank of 2643 out of 2991, this system places in the bottom 12% of all tested configurations for To The Core. This is a low standing, but it must be contextualized by the hardware involved. The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP), and its benchmark percentile of 9% against all GPUs places it in the very lowest tier of graphics solutions. The data shows it performing on par with legacy discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which is just 2.7% faster, and the GeForce GT 625 OEM, which is 2.5% faster. This confirms that while the combo is ranked low, it is not an outlier for its class; it is performing exactly where the GPU's raw power dictates.

The CPU, however, tells a different story. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46062. This places it in a dead heat with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which scores a nearly identical 46030 (a 0.1% delta), and it is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900HX. This contrast is stark: a top-tier CPU is harnessed to a bottom-tier GPU. The rank of 2643 reflects the GPU's limitation, not the CPU's. In games that are more CPU-dependent, this pairing would likely rank much higher, but in To The Core, the graphics workload dominates, dragging the overall combo ranking down.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390’s role in this combo is to provide basic graphical output, and its specifications outline a modest capability. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its pixel rate is listed at 60.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate at 120.0 GTexel/s. These figures are low by modern standards, and the FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS further cements its position as an entry-level solution. The GPU’s benchmark score from 3DMark Steel Nomad is 1482, which is just 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, illustrating its very limited 3D rendering power.

Crucially, the GPU uses "System Shared" memory, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent." This means the graphics processor relies on the main system's DDR5 memory, rather than having its own dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width is also system shared, which can be a significant bottleneck for graphics workloads. The data shows that this shared memory configuration is a limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions where larger framebuffers and more texture data are required. The 3nm process node and Xe3-LPG architecture are efficient, but they do not compensate for the lack of dedicated memory bandwidth. In practical terms, the GPU's low pixel rate and system-dependent memory bandwidth conspire to cap performance in To The Core, as evidenced by the sub-60 FPS results at 4K across all settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the data shows that High settings provide an average of 107 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium settings at this resolution yield 124 FPS, and Low settings reach 147 FPS. Given that the game is an idle genre title, which typically does not require twitch reflexes, prioritizing visual quality is reasonable. Therefore, at 1080p, High settings are the best recommendation, as they offer a substantial visual upgrade over Low with only a 27% performance penalty compared to the lowest preset.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. High settings average 72 FPS, which is playable, but Medium settings offer a safer margin at 83 FPS with a wider range between minimum and maximum (71 to 96 FPS). Low settings at 1440p produce 99 FPS, but the visual compromise is likely too steep for most users. The data suggests Medium is the sweet spot for 1440p, balancing a stable frame rate with acceptable visual fidelity. At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The highest average is just 56 FPS on Low settings, which falls below the ideal 60 FPS target. Ultra settings at 4K are unplayable, averaging only 33 FPS. For a consistent experience at 4K, Low settings are the only viable option, but the data implies that this resolution is not recommended for this integrated graphics solution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full dataset provides a clear picture of performance across all tested configurations.

1080p Resolution:

• Low: Average 147 FPS.
• Medium: Average 124 FPS, with a range of 105 to 143 FPS.
• High: Average 107 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 86 FPS.

1440p Resolution:

• Low: Average 99 FPS.
• Medium: Average 83 FPS, with a range of 71 to 96 FPS.
• High: Average 72 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 58 FPS.

4K Resolution:

• Low: Average 56 FPS.
• Medium: Average 48 FPS, with a range of 41 to 55 FPS.
• High: Average 41 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 33 FPS.

This breakdown shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, all presets are playable, with even Ultra maintaining an 86 FPS average. At 1440p, Ultra dips below 60 FPS, but the other presets remain fluid. At 4K, only the Low preset comes close to 60 FPS, and the experience degrades sharply with each step up in quality. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings across all resolutions shows that frame pacing is consistent, with the lowest recorded value at 4K being 41 FPS, which is not a severe stutter but indicates a performance floor.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3nm process. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 24 MB shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache. Its benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The Passmark multithread score of 37816 and single-thread score of 4516 further confirm its strong processing capabilities. This is a high-end desktop CPU, and its role in this combo is to ensure that the game logic and any CPU-bound tasks are handled with ease.

In To The Core, an idle game, the CPU’s workload is typically light, involving timers, resource calculations, and UI updates rather than complex physics or AI. The data suggests the CPU is never the bottleneck. The FPS scaling with resolution is purely a function of the GPU's pixel throughput. The CPU's high percentile ranking (89th) and its competition with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% delta) show that it is more than capable of driving any discrete GPU, but here it is paired with an IGP. The 14 cores and 14 threads provide ample headroom, and the dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth is a strong foundation, even if the GPU's "System Dependent" bandwidth limits its effectiveness in graphics tasks. The CPU’s performance is effectively untapped in this scenario, as the frame rates are governed entirely by the integrated graphics.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the data, 1080p is the best resolution. At High settings, it averages 107 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p, High settings drop to 72 FPS, and at 4K, even Low settings only achieve 56 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, indicating it is slightly faster than these older entry-level discrete GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. FPS drops sharply with increasing resolution (e.g., 107 FPS at 1080p High to 41 FPS at 4K High), which is a classic symptom of GPU saturation. The CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

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

A: Not effectively. The highest average FPS at 4K is 56 on Low settings, which is below the standard 60 FPS target. Ultra settings at 4K average only 33 FPS, making the game feel sluggish.

Q: What are the core specifications of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235?

A: It has 14 cores and 14 threads, with a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. It features a 24 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: How does this combo rank overall for this game?

A: It ranks 2643rd out of 2991 tested combos. This low ranking is primarily due to the integrated GPU's limited performance, as the CPU itself is in the 89th percentile of all processors.