Counter-Strike 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Arc B390 pairing in Counter-Strike 2 presents a dataset defined by a stark contrast between a robust mid-range processor and a low-power integrated graphics solution. The measured frame rates reveal a system heavily constrained by the GPU at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s 6-core, 12-thread configuration proves sufficient to push very high frame rates at 1080p. The data indicates that this combo, ranking 2535th out of 2870 tested combinations, is positioned for lower-resolution competitive play rather than high-fidelity 4K output.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. This CPU holds a 75th percentile ranking against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21771. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (score 21749, delta 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U (score 21874, delta -0.5%), and the Intel Core i7-11700 (score 21891, delta -0.5%), placing it in a highly competitive performance tier.

In Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's role is to feed the render pipeline with game state updates and draw calls. The 5600X’s single-threaded performance is a key asset here; its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1541 and 3DMark single-thread score of 917 indicate strong per-core capability. The game’s engine benefits from this, allowing the CPU to maintain high frame throughput when the GPU is not the bottleneck. The multi-threaded results, such as the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11838, ensure that background tasks and the game's various worker threads do not cause stutters.

The measured FPS data shows the CPU’s influence clearly. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches an average of 179 FPS, a figure that is far beyond the GPU’s capabilities at higher resolutions. This high frame rate is a direct result of the CPU’s ability to process the game logic quickly. However, the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing. When comparing the 1080p Low result of 179 FPS to the 1440p Low result of 118 FPS, the drop of 61 FPS (or about 34%) is almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s pixel-pushing limitations, not the CPU. The 5600X is effectively waiting on the Arc B390 to complete its work at resolutions above 1080p.

The data suggests that the Ryzen 5 5600X is overqualified for the Intel Arc B390 in this specific title. The CPU’s 32 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth provide ample headroom for the game’s data streams. The processor’s 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier (with a launch MSRP of $299) indicate it is a mainstream part, but its performance in this test is constrained by the GPU. The benchmark results show that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 32, a figure that is well within the CPU’s capability to generate, proving the GPU is the sole bottleneck. The CPU's role here is to deliver a stable platform that does not artificially cap the frame rate; it succeeds in this regard, but the GPU prevents the system from exploiting the processor's full potential.

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 Panther Lake chip, and manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. A critical specification is its memory: the VRAM size, type, and bus width are all defined as "System Shared", with bandwidth noted as "System Dependent". This means the GPU relies on the system's DDR4 memory, which is a significant factor in its performance. The GPU's compute power is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32, with a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s.

This GPU has a very low percentile ranking, sitting at only the 9th percentile versus all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 1482, based on the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals in that benchmark are all older, low-end discrete parts: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, delta 1.3%), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460, delta 1.5%), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, delta 2.5%), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (score 1443, delta 2.7%). This places the Arc B390 in a performance class that is typical of entry-level integrated graphics, not a dedicated gaming card.

In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU’s limitations are immediately apparent in the measured FPS data. The Arc B390’s shared memory architecture is a major handicap; the system-dependent bandwidth means that as resolution increases, the demand for memory bandwidth grows, and the GPU struggles to keep up. The 4K High setting yields an average of 41 FPS, while dropping to 4K Low only raises this to 66 FPS. This shows that the GPU is not just fill-rate limited, but also heavily dependent on the settings that affect memory pressure and shader complexity.

The GPU's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are modest for rendering at high resolutions. The 1536 shading units are adequate for 1080p, but the 2,500 MHz boost clock is not enough to compensate for the lack of dedicated memory bandwidth. The data shows that at 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 149, which is a playable level for competitive gaming. However, at 1440p, the average FPS drops to 98 on Medium, and at 4K, it plummets to 55. The Ultra preset at 4K is nearly unplayable at 32 FPS. This pattern indicates that the Arc B390 is a 1080p-centric part; its performance degrades exponentially with resolution due to the shared memory bottleneck and the increase in fragment work.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: The measured data shows an average of 179 FPS at Low settings and 86 FPS at Ultra settings at 1920x1080. This is a drop of 93 FPS, or approximately 52%, when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The data indicates that 4K is not a viable option for smooth gameplay. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 66 FPS on Low settings, but this falls to 41 FPS on High and 32 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset yields 55 FPS, which is below the typical 60 FPS target for smooth play.

Q: How does the CPU's synthetic benchmark performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600X has an average benchmark score of 21771. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, scores 21749, which is a delta of 0.1%. The Intel Core i7-11700 scores 21891, a delta of -0.5%, indicating the 5600X is statistically on par with these parts in general compute workloads.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high refresh rate?

A: Based on the measured rows, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 100 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the average is 149 FPS, and at Low, it is 179 FPS, making 1080p the target for high-refresh displays.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 a discrete graphics card?

A: No. The data describes it as an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width of "IGP" and a bus interface of "IGP". Its memory is also "System Shared", confirming it is an integrated solution, not a dedicated add-in board.

Q: How does the GPU's 3DMark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, a delta of 1.3%, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, a delta of 2.7%. This places the Arc B390 slightly ahead of these older parts, but in the same low-performance tier.

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

At 1920x1080, the data shows a clear performance hierarchy across the four settings presets. The Low preset delivers the highest average at 179 FPS. The Medium preset averages 149 FPS, with a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 171 FPS. The High preset averages 111 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, averaging 86 FPS. This spread of 93 FPS between Low and Ultra demonstrates a significant sensitivity to graphical fidelity settings at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates drop across the board. The Low preset averages 118 FPS, which is a substantial reduction from the 1080p result. The Medium preset averages 98 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS. The High preset averages 73 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 57 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 61 FPS, showing that the GPU's performance ceiling is being reached, as the absolute numbers are lower than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal for most presets. The Low preset averages 66 FPS. The Medium preset averages 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. The High preset averages 41 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 32 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra here is 34 FPS. The data shows that even on Low settings, the 4K resolution pushes the Arc B390 to its limits, resulting in a frame rate that is not competitive for fast-paced FPS play.

The data also reveals the scaling between presets at each resolution. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium costs 30 FPS, from Medium to High costs 38 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 25 FPS. At 1440p, the transitions are: Low to Medium costs 20 FPS, Medium to High costs 25 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 16 FPS. At 4K, the transitions are: Low to Medium costs 11 FPS, Medium to High costs 14 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 9 FPS. This pattern indicates that the absolute FPS cost of higher settings is reduced at higher resolutions because the GPU is already saturated with pixel work.

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

The resolution scaling behavior is a textbook example of a GPU-limited system. Starting from the 1080p Low preset at 179 FPS, the frame rate drops to 118 FPS at 1440p and then to 66 FPS at 4K. This represents a 34% drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 44% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K on Low settings is 113 FPS, or roughly 63%. This massive decline is characteristic of a GPU that is overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count.

On the Medium preset, the scaling is similar. The 1080p average is 149 FPS, which falls to 98 FPS at 1440p (a 34% drop) and then to 55 FPS at 4K (a 44% drop from 1440p). The High preset shows 111 FPS at 1080p, 73 FPS at 1440p (a 34% drop), and 41 FPS at 4K (a 44% drop). The consistency of these percentage drops across different presets is significant. It confirms that the bottleneck is purely the GPU's rendering throughput, not the CPU or memory bandwidth, as the relative cost of increasing resolution is independent of the settings.

The data for the Ultra preset shows a slightly different pattern. The 1080p average is 86 FPS, dropping to 57 FPS at 1440p (a 34% drop) and then to 32 FPS at 4K (a 44% drop). The absolute FPS values are lower, but the relative scaling is the same. This indicates that even when the GPU is heavily loaded with Ultra settings, the additional load from resolution scaling remains the dominant factor. If the CPU were the limiting component, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU workload would be similar. The data shows a steep decline, proving that the Intel Arc B390 is the constraining component in this pairing.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For the best playable experience, the data points strongly to the 1080p resolution. Among the presets at 1080p, the Medium setting offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. With an average of 149 FPS, a minimum of 126 FPS, and a maximum of 171 FPS, this preset provides a high frame rate that is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common in competitive monitors. The 126 FPS minimum ensures that the experience remains smooth even in intense firefights, avoiding the dips that could be noticeable on the High preset, which averages 111 FPS.

The Low preset at 1080p yields the highest average of 179 FPS, but the visual downgrade may be significant for some users. The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 86 FPS, is a viable option for players who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate, but it does not fully utilize the CPU's potential. The Medium preset is the recommended choice because it provides a substantial frame rate buffer over the 60 FPS baseline, while still offering a reasonable level of graphical detail compared to Low.

At higher resolutions, the data does not support a recommendation for competitive play. The 1440p Medium preset averages 98 FPS, which is playable but less ideal for high-refresh monitors. The 4K presets are not recommended, as even the Low preset at 66 FPS is below the threshold for smooth, competitive FPS play, and the Ultra preset at 32 FPS is a slideshow. For players with a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only option that approaches competitive frame rates, averaging 118 FPS. However, the 1080p Medium preset stands out as the optimal compromise between the game's visual presentation and the frame rates needed for a responsive experience in Counter-Strike 2.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Arc B390 is ranked 2535th out of 2870 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places the pairing in the bottom 12% of all tested systems. This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows that the system is only capable of high frame rates at the lowest resolution and settings. The rank reflects the overall performance across all tested scenarios, and the poor high-resolution performance drags the combo down significantly.

This low ranking is not due to the CPU, which is a capable performer in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. Instead, it is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations. The Intel Arc B390, ranking in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, is the anchor on this system's performance. The combo's rank in the game is a reflection of the weakest link in the chain; the powerful CPU is held back by the integrated GPU's inability to render the game at high resolutions with high settings. The data shows that while the combo can generate 179 FPS at 1080p Low, it cannot maintain that performance as the resolution increases, resulting in a low overall rank.

The delta between the CPU and GPU performance tiers is stark. The CPU's average benchmark score of 21771 places it in the upper echelon of processors, while the GPU's score of 1482 places it in the lowest performance class. This imbalance is the defining characteristic of the combo's rank. In the context of Counter-Strike 2, a game that is often played at high frame rates on low settings, the combo can achieve a satisfactory experience at 1080p, but its inability to scale to higher resolutions limits its versatility and contributes to its poor ranking against other systems that feature discrete graphics cards.