Counter-Strike 2

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for this CPU and GPU combo at 1920x1080 with Low settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 275 at 1920x1080 with Low settings, making it the highest-performing preset in the dataset for this pairing.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700?

A: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 39,768, which is 0.8% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 7700's average score of 40,081. The deltaPct is -0.8, indicating a slight deficit.

Q: What is the GPU's VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Arc B570 features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering 380.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo achieve its lowest average FPS?

A: The lowest average FPS is 49, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Q: What is the CPU's boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does the CPU have?

A: The CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) on the AMD Socket AM5.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is a defining characteristic for gaming workloads, particularly in a CPU-intensive title like Counter-Strike 2, where frame pacing and low-latency access to game state data are critical.

The CPU's benchmark scores show a strong single-thread and multi-thread profile. In Cinebench R23, it scores 2,080 in single-core and 23,230 in multi-core. The 3DMark results reveal scaling from 1,212 in single-thread to 10,067 in max-threads, indicating that the processor effectively utilizes its 16 threads. In PassMark, it achieves 4,430 in single-thread and 40,009 in multi-thread tests. These metrics suggest that the CPU can feed the GPU with data efficiently, a key factor in Counter-Strike 2 where high frame rates depend on the processor's ability to handle game logic and entity updates quickly.

The CPU's percentile ranking is 87th among all tested CPUs, placing it in the upper tier. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS (39,603, deltaPct +0.4), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40,048, deltaPct -0.7), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40,081, deltaPct -0.8). The 9800X3D's performance is within a narrow 1.5% band of these competitors, demonstrating that while it is a high-end part, the benchmark average does not show a dominant lead over these specific alternatives. However, for Counter-Strike 2, the 3D V-Cache technology (though not explicitly quantified in the pack) and the high boost clock are likely to be more impactful than raw multi-threaded throughput, given the game's reliance on single-core performance and cache sensitivity.

The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the CPU's capabilities are fully utilized, as the average FPS reaches 275. This is a scenario where the GPU is less of a bottleneck, and the CPU's high clock speeds and large cache enable the engine to push frames rapidly. The 8-core/16-thread configuration is more than sufficient for Counter-Strike 2's threading model, which typically uses fewer than 8 threads for core simulation tasks. The CPU's TDP of 120 W suggests it can sustain high clocks without excessive thermal throttling, which is relevant for extended gaming sessions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is a discrete GPU based on the Xe2-HPG architecture, codenamed Battlemage, in the Arc 5 generation. It is manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 272 mm² and 19,600 million transistors. The GPU operates at a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, with memory running at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). It has 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s.

The GPU's compute resources include 2,304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster operation units. It has 18 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 11.52 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 23.04 TFLOPS (2:1). The GPU has a TDP of 150 W and requires a single 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 450 W.

In benchmark tests, the Arc B570 scores 14,195 in PassMark's G3D test and 7,281 in GPU compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2,649. The GPU's percentile ranking is 65th among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (avg score 20,534, deltaPct +0.1), the Intel Arc A750 (avg score 20,582, deltaPct -0.1), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X (avg score 20,662, deltaPct -0.5). The deltaPct values show that the B570's average score is within 0.5% of these competitors, indicating a similar level of overall performance.

For Counter-Strike 2, the GPU's role is secondary to the CPU at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 275, which is likely CPU-limited. The GPU's 10 GB VRAM is ample for this game, even at 4K, where the highest VRAM usage is unlikely to exceed this capacity. The 380.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the game's texture streaming and rendering needs.

At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 49, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. This is expected, as higher resolutions increase the pixel fill rate and shading workload. The GPU's 80 ROPs and 200.0 GPixel/s pixel rate are adequate for 4K, but the FP32 throughput of 11.52 TFLOPS limits performance at the highest settings. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: from 49 FPS at 4K Ultra to 275 FPS at 1080p Low, demonstrating the GPU's sensitivity to resolution and settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for Counter-Strike 2 with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Arc B570 span four resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its highest performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 275. Medium settings produce an average of 229 FPS, with a minimum of 194 and a maximum of 263. High settings yield 171 FPS on average. Ultra settings drop to 133 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 142 FPS, indicating that the game's settings have a significant impact on frame rate at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease but remain playable. Low settings produce an average of 182 FPS. Medium settings average 151 FPS, with a minimum of 129 and a maximum of 174. High settings average 113 FPS. Ultra settings average 88 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 94 FPS, showing a similar relative impact to 1080p but with lower absolute numbers.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings average 102 FPS. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 97. High settings average 63 FPS. Ultra settings average 49 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 53 FPS, and the minimum FPS of 72 at Medium settings suggests that stuttering may occur in demanding scenes.

The data reveals that the combo is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p with most settings. At 1080p Low, the 275 FPS average is suitable for a 240 Hz monitor. At 1440p Medium, the 151 FPS average is sufficient for a 144 Hz display. At 4K, the combo struggles to maintain 60 FPS at High settings (63 FPS average), and Ultra settings fall below 50 FPS.

The Medium settings rows include min and max FPS values, which are absent for other presets. This provides insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the range is 194-263 FPS, a spread of 69 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 129-174 FPS, a spread of 45 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 72-97 FPS, a spread of 25 FPS. The smaller spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is more consistently loaded, whereas at 1080p, the CPU can cause more variable frame times.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2,286th out of 2,870 tested combinations for Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the lower 20% of all possible pairings. The percentile ranking for the CPU is 87, while the GPU's percentile is 65, suggesting that the CPU is a much stronger component than the GPU in this pairing.

The rank is primarily driven by the GPU's limitations. While the CPU is a top-tier part, the Arc B570's performance is mid-range. In a game like Counter-Strike 2, where high frame rates are prized, the GPU's 65th percentile ranking means that many other GPU options will outperform it, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU is less of a bottleneck.

Comparing to other combos, this pairing's rank of 2,286 out of 2,870 indicates that there are 584 combinations that perform better. This is not surprising given the GPU's position relative to its rivals. The Intel Arc A750, which is a direct competitor with a similar average score (20,582 vs 20,556 for the B570), would likely produce similar results. However, combos with stronger GPUs, such as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (which has a similar score), would likely rank higher due to better driver optimization in certain titles.

The data suggests that this combo is balanced toward CPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p Low, the 275 FPS average is excellent, but it is likely constrained by the GPU's ability to render frames quickly. A more powerful GPU would push this number higher. At 4K Ultra, the 49 FPS average is clearly GPU-limited, and the CPU's power is underutilized. The rank of 2,286 reflects this imbalance.

For users who prioritize competitive gaming at 1080p or 1440p, this combo can deliver high frame rates, but it will not be at the top of the leaderboard. The combination's performance is adequate for most esports scenarios, but it falls short of the highest-tier configurations that can sustain 300+ FPS at 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 275 FPS, which is the highest average in the dataset. This is the best choice for competitive play on a high refresh rate monitor (240 Hz or higher). The Medium preset at 229 FPS is also excellent, with a minimum of 194 FPS ensuring that frame drops are rare. The High preset at 171 FPS is suitable for a 144 Hz monitor, and the Ultra preset at 133 FPS is playable but sacrifices the competitive edge of higher frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset at 182 FPS is ideal for 165 Hz or 180 Hz monitors. The Medium preset at 151 FPS is suitable for 144 Hz displays, with a minimum of 129 FPS ensuring that the experience remains smooth. The High preset at 113 FPS is playable on a 120 Hz monitor, but the Ultra preset at 88 FPS is not recommended for competitive play due to the lower frame rate and potential input lag.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset at 102 FPS is the only option for smooth gameplay on a 60 Hz or 100 Hz monitor. The Medium preset at 85 FPS is acceptable for casual play, but the High preset at 63 FPS and Ultra preset at 49 FPS are not recommended for a game where reaction time matters. The minimum FPS of 72 at Medium settings indicates that the experience can be inconsistent.

The data shows that the Low preset provides the best frame rate at every resolution. The difference between Low and Medium is significant: at 1080p, it's 46 FPS; at 1440p, it's 31 FPS; at 4K, it's 17 FPS. For competitive Counter-Strike 2 players, the Low preset is the clear recommendation because it maximizes frame rate and minimizes input latency.

For players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset offers a balance. The min and max FPS values for Medium settings show that the frame pacing is consistent, with a range of 69 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K. This suggests that Medium settings provide a stable experience without the extreme frame rate variations that can occur with other presets.

In summary, the recommended settings are Low for maximum performance, Medium for a balance of visuals and speed, and High or Ultra only for single-player or casual modes where frame rate is less critical. The data supports the conclusion that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with Low or Medium settings.