Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and Intel Arc B390 presents a lopsided pairing: a strong 8-core desktop CPU married to an integrated-class GPU. The measured FPS data confirms this, with the Arc B390 consistently acting as the bottleneck across all tested resolutions and settings. The Ryzen 7 7700, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, provides ample headroom, but the GPU’s performance ceiling is low, ranking in the 9th percentile versus all GPUs. This analysis breaks down exactly how this combination behaves, where its limits are, and what settings deliver the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, revealing a system that is entirely GPU-bound. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo averages 179 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average falls to 118 FPS, a reduction of 61 FPS (about 34%). At 3840x2160, Low settings yield only 66 FPS, which is less than half of the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is a classic sign that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting component; the CPU is not the constraint at any resolution.

The gap between 1080p and 1440p is significant, but the jump to 4K is brutal. For example, with Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 149 at 1080p to 98 at 1440p, then plummets to 55 at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 43 FPS loss, which is larger than the 51 FPS loss from 1080p to 1440p. This suggests that the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth (which is system-dependent) are severely strained at 4K.

At High settings, the trend continues: 111 FPS at 1080p, 73 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result is below the 60 FPS threshold, making it borderline unplayable for a competitive FPS. Ultra settings are worse, with 86 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and just 32 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra score of 32 FPS is a slideshow.

For competitive play, resolution scaling shows that 1080p is the only viable option for high refresh rates. The data indicates that the Arc B390 simply does not have the raw power for 1440p or 4K gaming at acceptable frame rates, regardless of settings. The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU, as the CPU’s performance headroom is never challenged by these frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is a Zen 4 (Raphael) part on the AM5 socket, built on a 5 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB shared L3 cache. This is a modern, high-performance desktop processor, reflected in its 87th percentile ranking versus all CPUs.

In the context of Counter-Strike 2, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The Ryzen 7 7700’s single-thread performance is strong, as shown by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1049 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1930. Multi-threaded performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 18760 and a Geekbench multicore score of 15371.

However, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU is never the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 179 FPS, which is a high frame rate, but the GPU is still the limiting factor. If the CPU were the constraint, we would see diminishing returns when lowering resolution; instead, FPS scales almost linearly with pixel count, which is a GPU-bound behavior. The Ryzen 7 7700’s 65W TDP and 5.30 GHz boost clock provide more than enough headroom for this game.

The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in close competition with several rivals. Its average benchmark score of 40081 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40048, deltaPct 0.1%) and the Intel Core 5 221E (40144, deltaPct -0.2%). It is slightly behind the AMD Ryzen 9 270 (40246, deltaPct -0.4%) and Intel Core i9-13905H (40313, deltaPct -0.6%). These deltas are all under 1%, meaning the Ryzen 7 7700 performs essentially at parity with these parts in synthetic tests. For Counter-Strike 2, this level of CPU performance is sufficient to push frame rates well beyond what the Arc B390 can deliver.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear weak link. It is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake chip), built on a 3 nm process. It has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines. The boost clock is 2500 MHz, with a base clock of 300 MHz. The memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses system RAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a fundamental limitation for gaming performance.

The GPU’s benchmark data is sparse, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This places it in the 9th percentile versus all GPUs, which is extremely low. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, deltaPct 1.3%), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, deltaPct 1.5%), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, deltaPct 2.5%), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443, deltaPct 2.7%). The Arc B390 is only 2.7% faster than the GT 710, a GPU from a different era. This context is crucial: the Arc B390 is not a gaming GPU in any modern sense.

In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU’s 24 ROPs and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient for high-resolution rendering. The texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS are also low. The result is that the GPU becomes the limiting factor even at 1080p. At 1080p Low, the 179 FPS average is the best case, but it still falls short of what a dedicated GPU could achieve with this CPU.

The GPU’s TDP is 80W, which is low, but for an integrated part, this is expected. The fact that it uses system-shared memory means that performance will vary depending on the system’s RAM speed and configuration. The measured FPS data shows clear GPU-bound scaling, with performance dropping by roughly 40-50% when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and another 40-50% from 1440p to 4K. This is the signature of a GPU that runs out of pixel and texture throughput very quickly.

Settings Recommendations

Given the GPU’s limitations, the settings choice is critical. The data shows that Low settings are the only way to achieve consistently high frame rates. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo averages 179 FPS, which is the only measured configuration that exceeds 144 FPS. Medium settings at 1080p drop to 149 FPS, which is still playable, but the 30 FPS penalty is notable. High settings at 1080p yield 111 FPS, and Ultra drops to 86 FPS.

For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p is the clear recommendation. The 179 FPS average provides a smooth experience on a 144Hz monitor, and the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures minimal input lag. If visual fidelity is desired, Medium at 1080p offers 149 FPS, but the trade-off in frame rate may not be worth it in a fast-paced FPS.

At 1440p, the situation worsens. Low settings average 118 FPS, which is above 60 FPS but below 144 FPS. Medium at 1440p averages 98 FPS, and High drops to 73 FPS. Ultra at 1440p is 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. For 1440p gaming, Low settings are the only option for a reasonably smooth experience, but the frame rate is not ideal for competitive play.

At 4K, all settings are poor. Low averages 66 FPS, Medium 55 FPS, High 41 FPS, and Ultra 32 FPS. None of these are suitable for a competitive FPS, and even casual play would be frustrating at these frame rates. The recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely with this GPU.

The data suggests that the best experience per the measured rows is 1080p with Low settings. This provides the highest average FPS (179) and avoids the severe frame rate drops seen at higher resolutions. Medium at 1080p (149 FPS) is a secondary option if the user prioritizes visuals over raw frame rate. Any other configuration results in frame rates that are too low for a game like Counter-Strike 2, where high and consistent FPS is paramount.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + Intel Arc B390 combo ranks 2535 out of 2870 tested combinations in Counter-Strike 2. This is in the bottom 12% of all combos, which is unsurprising given the GPU’s low percentile ranking. The combo’s rank is dragged down entirely by the Arc B390; the CPU is in the top 13% of all CPUs, but the GPU is in the bottom 9% of all GPUs.

This rank reflects the measured FPS data. A combo that cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K High or 144 FPS at 1080p High is going to rank poorly in a game that rewards high frame rates. The 2535th rank out of 2870 combos means that the vast majority of other tested systems outperform this one. The few combos that rank lower likely have even weaker GPUs or CPUs.

The delta between the CPU and GPU performance tiers is stark. The Ryzen 7 7700’s average benchmark score of 40081 is far above the Arc B390’s 1482. This imbalance means that the system is severely underutilizing its CPU. In practical terms, this combo is a poor choice for Counter-Strike 2, as the GPU will always hold back the experience. The data indicates that any dedicated GPU, even an entry-level one, would likely rank higher due to having more than 24 ROPs and dedicated memory bandwidth.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured FPS data for Counter-Strike 2 with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and Intel Arc B390.

1920x1080:

• Low: average 179 FPS
• Medium: average 149 FPS, minimum 126 FPS, maximum 171 FPS
• High: average 111 FPS
• Ultra: average 86 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: average 118 FPS
• Medium: average 98 FPS, minimum 84 FPS, maximum 113 FPS
• High: average 73 FPS
• Ultra: average 57 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: average 66 FPS
• Medium: average 55 FPS, minimum 47 FPS, maximum 63 FPS
• High: average 41 FPS
• Ultra: average 32 FPS

The Medium settings at each resolution include minimum and maximum FPS values, which show frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range from 126 to 171 FPS indicates a spread of 45 FPS, which is reasonable. At 1440p Medium, the range is 84 to 113 FPS, a spread of 29 FPS, showing tighter frame times. At 4K Medium, the range is 47 to 63 FPS, a spread of 16 FPS, which is relatively consistent but at a low average.

The data shows a clear pattern: every increase in resolution or settings level costs a significant number of frames. The largest single drop is from 1080p Low (179 FPS) to 1440p Low (118 FPS), a 61 FPS loss. The smallest drop is from 1440p Medium (98 FPS) to 4K Medium (55 FPS), a 43 FPS loss. This confirms that the GPU's pixel fill rate is the dominant constraint, and there is no setting or resolution where the system achieves both high FPS and high visual quality. For a competitive FPS, the only sensible configuration is 1080p Low, which is the sole measured setting that exceeds 144 FPS.