Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 demands high frame rates, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B390 presents a unique case study in system balancing. The data reveals a configuration that is heavily skewed by its graphics component, with the CPU providing a robust foundation that the GPU struggles to fully utilize at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a clear and dramatic penalty as resolution increases, pointing directly to the Intel Arc B390 as the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 179 FPS, which is a strong result that highlights the CPU's capability to feed frames quickly. However, moving to 1440p at the same settings drops the average to 118 FPS, a reduction of 61 frames or roughly 34%. The scaling continues to 4K, where the average plummets to 66 FPS, representing a 63% decrease from the 1080p baseline.

This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, but the magnitude of the drop intensifies with higher graphical loads. At High settings, the system goes from 111 FPS at 1080p to 73 FPS at 1440p (a 34% loss), and then down to 41 FPS at 4K (a 63% loss from 1080p). The Ultra preset shows the most severe degradation: 86 FPS at 1080p falls to 57 FPS at 1440p and bottoms out at 32 FPS in 4K. The data strongly implies that the GPU's rendering throughput, not the CPU's processing power, is the bottleneck. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is unlikely to be the constraint at 4K, as the frame rates are too low to be CPU-bound.

The fact that the 1080p Low setting achieves 179 FPS while 4K Low only reaches 66 FPS is a textbook example of GPU-limited scaling. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions, since the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the data shows a near-linear relationship between pixel count and frame rate loss, confirming that the Arc B390's memory bandwidth and shading resources are saturated at higher resolutions. The GPU's "System Shared" memory and "System Dependent" bandwidth further compound this issue, as the lack of dedicated VRAM means the system must allocate and manage memory dynamically, which can introduce latency and reduce throughput as the resolution demands more data.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, and it features a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large cache is particularly beneficial for gaming, as it allows the CPU to store more frequently accessed data on-die, reducing the need to fetch data from system memory. The CPU's benchmark results support its gaming pedigree: a Passmark single-thread score of 2941 and a multithread score of 20363 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and the simulation of the game world. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system reaches 179 FPS, which indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with a high number of frames per second. However, the CPU's influence diminishes as resolution increases. At 4K, the frame rates are so low that the CPU is likely idle waiting for the GPU to complete its rendering tasks. The CPU's Passmark physics score of 2282 suggests it can handle the game's simulation demands without issue, but the overall system performance is capped by the GPU.

Comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores an average benchmark of 37018, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945) and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36938), and 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093). These deltas are negligible, indicating that the 5500X3D's processing power is on par with its immediate competitors. The CPU's 96 MB L3 cache is a significant advantage over typical 5000-series parts, and this is reflected in its strong single-thread performance, which is critical for Counter-Strike 2's frame pacing and input responsiveness. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration; rather, it is a capable performer that is held back by the GPU's limitations.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts up to 2500 MHz, with a TDP of 80 W. Critically, the GPU has "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's main memory for its frame buffer, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

The GPU's benchmark performance is remarkably low, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of just 1482. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% slower), GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% slower), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% slower), and GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7% slower). These comparisons are stark, indicating that the Arc B390's raw graphics performance is comparable to entry-level discrete GPUs from over a decade ago.

In Counter-Strike 2, this GPU limitation is the primary reason for the low frame rates at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the GPU can manage 179 FPS, but this drops to 118 FPS at 1440p and 66 FPS at 4K. The GPU's 24 ROPs are likely a significant bottleneck at higher resolutions, as they are responsible for pixel output. The FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is modest, and the pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are not sufficient for demanding resolutions. The absence of dedicated VRAM exacerbates the issue, as the "System Shared" memory must compete with the CPU for bandwidth, which can cause stuttering and reduced average frame rates, particularly at 4K where the frame buffer requirements are substantial.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal balance between visual quality and frame rate for this combination is the Medium preset. At 1080p, Medium delivers 149 FPS with a minimum of 126 and a maximum of 171, which is a smooth and responsive experience for competitive play. At 1440p, Medium still provides a playable 98 FPS (minimum 84, maximum 113), offering a good balance of detail and performance. While Low settings at 1080p achieve a higher 179 FPS, the jump to Medium adds significant visual fidelity for a 30 FPS cost, which is a worthwhile trade-off.

However, the High preset is also viable at 1080p, delivering 111 FPS, but it is less forgiving at 1440p, where it drops to 73 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended for this configuration, as it only achieves 86 FPS at 1080p and falls below 60 FPS at 1440p (57 FPS), making it unsuitable for a fast-paced FPS. At 4K, all settings are below 70 FPS, with Low being the only playable option at 66 FPS, but even this is marginal for competitive play. The data suggests that for players prioritizing frame rate, Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot, while those with 1440p monitors should stick to Medium or drop to Low (118 FPS) for a more responsive experience.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2535 out of 2870 tested combos for Counter-Strike 2. This places the system in the bottom 12% of all configurations, which is a poor result for a competitive FPS. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU is a solid performer in the 85th percentile. The pairing of a high-end CPU with a very low-end GPU creates a massive imbalance, where the CPU's potential is wasted.

The combo's rank is not surprising given the GPU's 9th percentile standing. The data indicates that this system is not suitable for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p, let alone higher resolutions. While the CPU could easily support a more powerful GPU, the current configuration is severely bottlenecked. The rank of 2535 out of 2870 suggests that most other tested systems deliver better frame rates in Counter-Strike 2, making this a niche configuration that would likely underperform expectations for most users. The system's performance is closer to that of an entry-level laptop than a dedicated gaming desktop, despite the desktop-class CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the exact measured average frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Ultra | 32 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | High | 41 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Medium | 55 | 47 | 63 |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Low | 66 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 57 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 73 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 98 | 84 | 113 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 118 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 86 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 111 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 149 | 126 | 171 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 179 | - | - |

The data shows a consistent hierarchy: Low settings provide the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all resolutions, showing a 24 FPS variance at 1080p (126 to 171), a 29 FPS variance at 1440p (84 to 113), and a 16 FPS variance at 4K (47 to 63). This variance is relatively tight, suggesting that the GPU maintains a stable output without severe spikes. The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution is substantial: at 1080p, the difference is 93 FPS (179 vs 86), while at 4K it is 34 FPS (66 vs 32). This highlights the GPU's inability to handle the extra shading and texture work required by higher presets.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Counter-Strike 2 at 144Hz?

A: Only at 1080p with Low settings, which achieves 179 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 149 FPS, which is still above 144Hz, but at High settings the average falls to 111 FPS, which is below the 144Hz threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data suggests 1080p is the optimal resolution. At 1440p, only Low settings (118 FPS) exceed 100 FPS, while Medium and High drop to 98 and 73 FPS respectively. At 4K, even Low settings only reach 66 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 85th percentile. The frame rate drops by over 60% from 1080p to 4K, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the GT 710 (1443).

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low settings achieve 179 FPS, while Ultra settings achieve 86 FPS. This represents a 93 FPS difference, meaning Ultra delivers approximately 52% of the frame rate of Low.

Q: Is this configuration ranked highly for Counter-Strike 2?

A: No, it ranks 2535 out of 2870 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 12% of systems. This is primarily due to the GPU's low performance, which restricts frame rates significantly at higher resolutions and settings.