Undisputed

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a fascinating case study in performance bottlenecks within the game Undisputed. This combination, ranking in the 2491st position out of 2813 tested combos, shows a clear division of labor where the graphics processor struggles to keep pace with the CPU's capabilities. The data reveals that this is a configuration dominated by its graphics component, and the results across various resolutions and settings paint a specific picture of its limitations and strengths.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1080p to 4K in Undisputed shows a steep and predictable decline in frame rates, but the magnitude of the drop tells a critical story about what is limiting performance. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 76 FPS at 1920x1080 to 55 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to a playable-but-marginal 35 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 55% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, a significant hit that points directly at the GPU as the primary constraint.

The pattern is even more exaggerated when looking at the lower settings presets. With Low settings, the average frame rate at 1080p is a robust 127 FPS, dropping to 92 FPS at 1440p and then to 58 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 37% reduction, indicating that the sheer pixel count at 4K is overwhelming the Intel Arc B390. The data suggests that the GPU's rendering throughput is the bottleneck, as even reducing the graphical fidelity does not prevent a significant performance penalty at higher resolutions.

This scaling behavior implies that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at all resolutions, as the frame rate drops are proportional to the increase in pixel workload. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU has less work to do. Instead, the consistent downward trend across all settings indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is saturated at 4K, and its performance ceiling is being reached. The measured data shows that moving from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings results in a drop from 91 FPS to 42 FPS, a 54% decrease, reinforcing that the resolution scaling is severe and heavily GPU-bound.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive component in this system's Undisputed performance, and its specifications explain why it ranks so low. With a 3nm process node and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, the GPU's architecture is modern, but its memory configuration is its Achilles' heel. The memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," meaning the GPU relies on shared system memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a fundamental limitation for gaming performance, as bandwidth is "System Dependent" and likely insufficient for high-resolution textures and complex scenes.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are present, with 1536 shading units and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, but the data shows it is not enough for demanding titles. The benchmark results for the GPU are sparse, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This score places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, putting it in the company of very old, low-end parts. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce GT 710, which are legacy components from a different era, highlighting the Arc B390's position at the bottom of the performance stack.

The GPU's 80W TDP and "IGP" slot width suggest it is an integrated graphics solution, further emphasizing its limited power. The measured FPS data aligns with this profile. At 4K Ultra settings, the system only manages an average of 22 FPS, which is far from a smooth experience. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is just 49 FPS, indicating that the GPU cannot handle the highest settings at any resolution. The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is not enough to keep up with the demands of modern game engines, and the data confirms that the Arc B390 is the primary reason for the low frame rates observed.

CPU Role

In contrast to the GPU, the Intel Core i5-12600KF is a high-performing processor that is not the limiting factor in this configuration. With 10 cores and 16 threads, this Alder Lake-S architecture CPU has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, and its benchmark scores are strong. For instance, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391 and a single-core score of 3302, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 27799, which is nearly identical to rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and Intel Core i9-10900K, with a negligible performance delta of -0.3%.

The CPU's ample resources mean it can easily handle the physics and AI calculations required by Undisputed, a sports simulation game. The fact that frame rates are consistently high at 1080p, particularly at Low settings where the CPU has more influence, suggests that the i5-12600KF is not being stressed. For example, the jump from 127 FPS at 1080p Low to 92 FPS at 1440p Low is a 28% drop, which aligns with the GPU's increased workload, not a CPU limitation. The CPU's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide a solid foundation for game logic.

The bottleneck is clearly the GPU. The i5-12600KF is a capable desktop processor with a launch MSRP of $264, and its performance in synthetic benchmarks shows it is more than adequate for gaming. The measured FPS data indicates that when the GPU is not overwhelmed, such as at 1080p Low, the system can achieve very high frame rates, proving the CPU's capability. This is a classic case of a CPU that has years of headroom, while the GPU is already at its limits. The CPU's 3DMark scores, such as 7956 for 16 threads and 1016 for single-thread, further confirm its strong performance, which is wasted in this pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Given the data, the optimal experience in Undisputed for this combo depends on the user's resolution and tolerance for visual fidelity versus frame rate. At 4K, no setting provides a consistently smooth 60 FPS experience. The High preset yields an average of 35 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a fast-paced sports title. The Low preset at 4K offers a more stable 58 FPS average, which is close to the target but requires a significant visual downgrade. For a balanced experience at 4K, the Medium preset's 42 FPS average is a compromise, but it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the options improve. The Low preset achieves an excellent 92 FPS average, making it the best choice for high refresh rate monitors. The High preset at 55 FPS is also viable for smooth gameplay, and the Medium preset at 66 FPS provides a good balance between quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 35 FPS is not recommended, as the visual gains do not justify the performance hit. The data suggests that 1440p Low or Medium is the sweet spot for this configuration, offering high frame rates without pushing the GPU to its breaking point.

For 1080p, the system can handle most settings well. The Low preset delivers a very high 127 FPS average, ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset at 91 FPS is also excellent, and the High preset at 76 FPS remains smooth. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is the only one that dips below the 60 FPS mark, so it should be avoided unless visual quality is the absolute priority. Based on the measured rows, the best experience is achieved with the Low or Medium preset at 1440p, or the Medium or High preset at 1080p, as these combinations provide the highest frame rates while maintaining reasonable graphical quality.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Undisputed with this combo?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the most reliable resolution, with all settings except Ultra averaging above 76 FPS. However, 2560x1440 at Low settings provides a 92 FPS average, making it a strong choice for higher detail.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Undisputed?*

A: The data shows that 4K is possible but not optimal. At 4K High, the average FPS is 35, and at 4K Low, it is 58. No setting achieves a consistent 60 FPS at this resolution, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF bottlenecking the GPU?

A: No, the data suggests the opposite. The CPU has strong benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391, and the frame rates scale with resolution changes, indicating the GPU, an Intel Arc B390, is the performance bottleneck.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a benchmark score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, which perform within 1.5% of it, indicating it is a very low-end graphics solution.

Q: What settings should I use for the highest frame rates?

A: For the highest average FPS, use the Low preset. At 1080p, this yields 127 FPS, and at 1440p, it yields 92 FPS. For a balance of quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p (91 FPS) is also recommended.

Q: Why is the performance so low at Ultra settings?

A: The Ultra preset demands more from the GPU than it can deliver. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 49, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 22 FPS, showing that the Arc B390's compute and memory resources are insufficient for the highest fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Arc B390 combination in Undisputed is as follows.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: average 127 FPS
• Medium: average 91 FPS (min 78, max 105)
• High: average 76 FPS
• Ultra: average 49 FPS

At 2560x1440:

• Low: average 92 FPS
• Medium: average 66 FPS (min 56, max 76)
• High: average 55 FPS
• Ultra: average 35 FPS

At 3840x2160:

• Low: average 58 FPS
• Medium: average 42 FPS (min 36, max 48)
• High: average 35 FPS
• Ultra: average 22 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy, with lower settings and lower resolutions yielding the highest frame rates. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, showing a typical frame time variance of around 12 FPS at each resolution. The pattern is consistent: the Intel Arc B390 cannot maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions or settings, and the system's overall performance is capped by the GPU's limitations.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scope of tested hardware combinations for Undisputed, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Arc B390 sits at rank 2491 out of 2813 total combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, which is a poor showing for a modern CPU and a recent GPU. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's low benchmark score, as the CPU is a high performer.

The CPU alone ranks in the 79th percentile of all processors, making it a top-tier component. In contrast, the GPU's percentile rank is 9th, which is near the bottom of the pile. The combination of a strong CPU and a very weak GPU results in a system that is severely imbalanced. The combo's rank is dragged down entirely by the graphics card, as the CPU's performance is more than sufficient for this game.

The data implies that this is not a gaming-focused build. The Intel Arc B390, with its system-shared memory and integrated graphics design, is not meant for high-end gaming workloads. While the CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, the GPU's inability to process frames quickly enough limits the entire system. The rank of 2491 out of 2813 is a direct reflection of this bottleneck, and it indicates that users of this combo would need to make significant compromises in resolution and settings to achieve playable frame rates. The system is fundamentally held back by its graphics solution, and the benchmark results confirm that it is not competitive with more balanced configurations.