Counter-Strike 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,535th out of 2,870 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places the configuration in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, a position that reflects the graphics card’s severe performance ceiling rather than any CPU limitation. The data shows a combination where a top-tier processor is effectively anchored by an integrated-class GPU, resulting in frame rates that are playable at lower settings but far from competitive for a game where high refresh rates are the norm.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 2,535 out of 2,870 is a direct consequence of the Intel Arc B390’s standing in the broader GPU hierarchy. The graphics card holds a percentile rank of 9 among all GPUs, meaning it outperforms only 9% of the database’s tested graphics processors. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1,482 points, placing it just 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 800M. These are not rivals; they are contemporaries in the lowest tier of graphics performance. The deltaPct values against its nearest rivals are all within 2.7%, confirming that the Arc B390 sits in a performance cluster with legacy entry-level mobile parts.

By contrast, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a flagship desktop processor. Its average benchmark score of 54,762 puts it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (0.6% slower), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (1.3% faster), the Intel Xeon 6505P (2% faster), and the Intel Core i7-14700F (2.1% faster). The deltaPct values here are all within a 3% band, indicating that the CPU is competing at the top of the desktop stack. The disconnect between the CPU’s 91st percentile rank and the GPU’s 9th percentile rank is the defining characteristic of this combo: the system is built around a processor that can handle the game’s logic and physics with ease, but the frame delivery is throttled by a GPU that produces 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute.

The measured FPS data confirms this bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 179 FPS, which is respectable, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 32 FPS. The rank of 2,535 reflects the average experience across all tested settings, and the data suggests that most users of this combo would need to stay at 1080p with low-to-medium presets to maintain playable frame rates. The system is not a high-refresh-rate machine for CS2; it is a proof that even the fastest consumer CPU cannot overcome a GPU that ranks in the single-digit percentiles.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is built on Intel’s 3 nm process with the Xe3-LPG architecture, and it operates as an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a slot width designation of "IGP". Its base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2,500 MHz, and it contains 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, 24 raster output units, and 12 ray tracing cores. The memory configuration is listed as "System Shared", with bandwidth described as "System Dependent", which means the GPU has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system’s DDR5 memory. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, yielding an FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS and FP16 of 15.36 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio.

For Counter-Strike 2, these specifications explain the measured results. The game is known to be CPU-sensitive, but at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The Arc B390’s lack of dedicated VRAM means it must share bandwidth with the CPU, and the 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth of the Ryzen 9 9900X3D’s dual-channel DDR5 configuration is the ceiling for both. In practice, the 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482 places the GPU in the same performance class as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which are parts from over a decade ago. The data shows that the Arc B390 is not designed for gaming at competitive frame rates; it is an integrated solution for portable devices, as indicated by its display outputs being "Portable Device Dependent".

The GPU’s boost clock of 2,500 MHz is high for an integrated part, but the 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are woefully insufficient for rendering at 1440p or 4K with modern effects. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 32 FPS, which is below the 40 FPS threshold most players consider the absolute minimum for a playable experience. At 1080p Low, the 179 FPS figure is acceptable for casual play, but the GPU’s 9th percentile rank suggests that this combo will struggle with any future updates that increase graphical demands.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario, despite the CPU’s strength. At 1080p Low, the combo delivers 179 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 118 FPS, a reduction of 34%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 66 FPS, which is 63% below the 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates that the Arc B390 is saturated by the increasing pixel count, and the CPU’s 12 cores and 24 threads are not the limiting factor at any resolution.

The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p High, the average is 111 FPS, which drops to 73 FPS at 1440p (a 34% reduction) and 41 FPS at 4K (a 63% reduction). The identical percentage drops across Low and High presets suggest that the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity are the primary constraints, not the game’s specific effects. At Ultra settings, the 1080p average of 86 FPS falls to 57 FPS at 1440p (34% lower) and 32 FPS at 4K (63% lower). The consistency of these scaling factors points to a pure resolution-bound bottleneck.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (179 FPS) and Ultra (86 FPS) is 93 FPS. At 4K, the difference is only 34 FPS (66 vs. 32). This compression indicates that at 4K, the GPU is so overwhelmed by pixel throughput that the additional cost of higher visual settings has less relative impact. The limiting component is definitively the GPU; the Ryzen 9 9900X3D’s 5.50 GHz boost clock and 128 MB of L3 cache are more than sufficient to feed the Arc B390 at any resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 179 FPS on Low, 149 FPS on Medium, 111 FPS on High, and 86 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1080p shows a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 171 FPS, indicating some frame time variance but an overall stable experience. The other presets do not report min/max values, but the averages alone suggest that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo approaches competitive frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop to 118 FPS on Low, 98 FPS on Medium, 73 FPS on High, and 57 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS. This is the threshold where the experience becomes marginal for fast-paced gameplay; 57 FPS at Ultra is below the 60 FPS target, and even 73 FPS at High is not ideal for a competitive shooter. The data suggests that 1440p is only viable on Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are not high enough for 144 Hz monitors.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 66 FPS on Low, 55 FPS on Medium, 41 FPS on High, and 32 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. These numbers are barely playable on Low, and the 32 FPS at Ultra is effectively a slideshow for a game like Counter-Strike 2, where reaction times matter. The data indicates that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo, regardless of settings. The jump from 1080p Medium (149 FPS) to 1440p Medium (98 FPS) to 4K Medium (55 FPS) shows a steady halving of frame rates for each doubling of pixel count, which is the expected behavior for a GPU-bound system.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is an AMD Socket AM5 processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 120 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB of L3 cache, which is the hallmark of the X3D series and particularly beneficial for gaming workloads. The CPU’s benchmarks are exceptional: a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47,737 and a single-core score of 6,739, a Geekbench multicore of 22,884 and single-core of 3,041, and a 3DMark max-thread score of 13,795.

In Counter-Strike 2, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, player positions, and network code, while the GPU renders the frames. The data shows that the CPU is never the bottleneck in this combo. At 1080p Low, the 179 FPS average is likely near the GPU’s maximum output, and the CPU’s single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread score of 1,269) is more than adequate to drive the game’s simulation. The fact that the combo ranks 2,535th despite having a 91st percentile CPU proves that the GPU is the sole constraint.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in the database are all within a 2.1% margin of its average score, meaning that swapping the 9900X3D for an Intel Core i7-14700F or a Core Ultra 5 245K would not change the measured FPS in this game, because the Arc B390 would still be the limiting factor. The 128 MB L3 cache, which is designed to reduce memory latency in gaming, has no observable benefit here because the GPU cannot produce enough frames to stress the CPU’s memory subsystem. The data indicates that the CPU is operating at a fraction of its capacity, with the PassMark multithread score of 56,154 standing in stark contrast to the GPU’s 3DMark result.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend entirely on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 179 FPS, which is the only configuration that approaches the 144 Hz refresh rate many CS2 players prefer. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 149 FPS with a minimum of 126 FPS, which is still playable but with a 17% reduction in average frame rate. The High preset at 111 FPS and Ultra at 86 FPS are below the 144 FPS threshold and introduce more frame time variance, so they are not recommended for competitive play. For 1080p, Low is the best choice for maximizing frame rate, with Medium as a viable alternative if visual fidelity is a priority.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields 118 FPS, which is the only setting that keeps the average above 100 FPS. The Medium preset at 98 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS is still acceptable for casual play, but the High (73 FPS) and Ultra (57 FPS) presets are too slow for a game where split-second reactions are critical. The data suggests that 1440p users should stick to Low, or at most Medium, to maintain a playable experience. At 3840x2160, no preset provides a competitive frame rate. The Low preset at 66 FPS is the only one that exceeds 60 FPS, but it is still below the 100+ FPS that CS2 players typically target. The Medium preset at 55 FPS and the High preset at 41 FPS are not recommended, and the Ultra preset at 32 FPS is unplayable.

The best experience per the measured rows is 1080p Low, which delivers 179 FPS. This is the only configuration where the combo approaches the performance expected of a modern gaming system. For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, 1080p Medium at 149 FPS is the second-best option, as it maintains a high average while providing better shadows and textures. The data does not support using this combo at 1440p or 4K for any serious CS2 play; the GPU’s 7.680 TFLOPS of compute is simply insufficient for those resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D the bottleneck in Counter-Strike 2 with the Intel Arc B390?

A: No. The CPU has a 91st percentile rank among all processors and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The measured FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent GPU-bound pattern, with frame rates halving as resolution doubles, indicating the Arc B390 is the limiting component.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in CS2?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only viable resolution. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 179 FPS, while at 1440p Low it drops to 118 FPS and at 4K Low to 66 FPS. No 1440p or 4K preset reaches the frame rates needed for competitive play.

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

A: The Arc B390 scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, and 2.5% to 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM and GT 710. It ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Can this combo run CS2 at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but not well. The average FPS at 4K ranges from 66 on Low to 32 on Ultra. The Medium preset yields 55 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 9900X3D’s performance compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54,762. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF is 0.6% slower, the Core Ultra 5 245K is 1.3% faster, the Xeon 6505P is 2% faster, and the Core i7-14700F is 2.1% faster. All rivals are within a 2.1% margin.

Q: What settings give the highest frame rate for this combo?

A: The measured data shows 1080p Low produces the highest average FPS at 179. The second-highest is 1080p Medium at 149 FPS, which also has a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 171 FPS, providing a stable experience.