Counter-Strike 2

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake-S desktop processor built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 4.40 GHz boost clock, with a 65 W TDP, and connects via Intel Socket 1700. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it carries an integrated UHD Graphics 730, though the measured results here rely on the discrete Intel Arc B390.

For Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's impact is most visible in the low-resolution and low-settings scenarios, where the graphics load is reduced and frame production leans more heavily on the processor. The 6-core/12-thread configuration provides solid multi-threaded headroom, as reflected in synthetic benchmarks: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 15,989, while single-core scores 2,257. The Geekbench results show 8,564 multi-core and 1,848 single-core. These numbers position the CPU in the 72nd percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 18,683.

In the measured game data, the CPU's capability is demonstrated by the 1080p Low average of 179 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded across all tested configurations. That result indicates the processor can feed frames at a high rate when the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 86 FPS, a reduction that accompanies increasing graphics work, suggesting the GPU takes over as the limiting factor. The nearest rivals in aggregate CPU benchmarks include the AMD EPYC 7643 (delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-1355U (delta -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (delta -0.7%), and the Intel Core i3-14100F (delta +0.9%). The i5-12400 sits within about 1% of each, meaning the measured game performance is not uniquely CPU-bound at higher settings, but at 1080p Low the CPU's 12 threads and 4.40 GHz boost are clearly sufficient for high frame delivery.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo, and at which settings?

A: The highest average FPS is 179, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The Medium preset at the same resolution delivers 149 FPS, while High yields 111 FPS and Ultra drops to 86 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark scores?

A: The Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18,683, placing it virtually even with the AMD EPYC 7643 (18,697, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-1355U (18,730, delta -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18,811, delta -0.7%). It is 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i3-14100F (18,519).

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1,482 from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1,463, delta +1.3%), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1,460, delta +1.5%), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1,446, delta +2.5%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1,443, delta +2.7%).

Q: How does the frame rate scale from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 111 at 1920x1080 to 73 at 2560x1440 and further to 41 at 3840x2160. The 4K result is roughly 37% of the 1080p performance, indicating a strong GPU limitation at higher resolutions.

Q: Are there any measured minimum FPS values available?

A: Yes, but only for Medium settings. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum FPS is 126 with a maximum of 171. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 84 and the maximum is 113. At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum is 47 and the maximum is 63. Other presets do not have reported minimum or maximum values.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested CPU-GPU combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 2,535 out of 2,870 tested combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the distribution. This reflects the GPU's low percentile ranking, as the CPU alone would suggest higher potential.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent decline as resolution increases, which points directly at the GPU as the limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 179 FPS at 1920x1080 to 118 FPS at 2560x1440, a 34% drop, and then to 66 FPS at 3840x2160, a further 44% drop from 1440p. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 63%. This steep scaling curve is characteristic of a GPU that is heavily burdened by pixel throughput, especially given the Arc B390's modest specifications.

At High settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The average goes from 111 FPS at 1080p to 73 FPS at 1440p (a 34% reduction) and then to 41 FPS at 4K (a 44% reduction from 1440p). The 4K High average of 41 FPS is below the generally accepted threshold for smooth competitive play. At Medium settings, the pattern holds: 149 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 55 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset at 4K includes a measured minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS, showing that frame times are relatively stable but still low.

Ultra settings produce the lowest numbers across the board. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 86 FPS; at 1440p Ultra, it drops to 57 FPS; and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 32 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 34 FPS (66 vs 32), which is a 52% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at 4K regardless of preset, since the CPU's 12-thread capability and 4.40 GHz boost are unlikely to be strained at such low frame rates. The data strongly suggests that resolution scaling in Counter-Strike 2 with this combo is governed by the GPU's fill rate and compute capacity, not by the processor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a basis for selecting a preset that balances frame rate and visual quality. For competitive play, where high FPS is paramount, the Low preset is the clear choice. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 179 FPS, which is more than double the 86 FPS of Ultra at the same resolution. Even at 2560x1440 Low, the average of 118 FPS remains strong, but the 1080p result is the only one that clears the 144 Hz threshold comfortably.

For players who want better visuals without sacrificing too much frame rate, the Medium preset offers the best compromise. At 1080p Medium, the average is 149 FPS with a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 171 FPS. The minimum of 126 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS baseline, and the average is close to the refresh rate of many high-Hz monitors. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 98 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS, which is playable but less ideal for fast-paced shooters. The Medium preset at 4K (55 FPS average) is not recommended for competitive play, as the minimum of 47 FPS can cause noticeable hitches.

High settings at 1080p produce 111 FPS, which is acceptable for casual play but significantly lower than Medium. The High preset at 1440p (73 FPS) and 4K (41 FPS) are below what most players would consider smooth for this genre. Ultra settings are not practical for this combo in Counter-Strike 2, as even at 1080p the average is 86 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 32 FPS. The data indicates that the Medium preset at 1080p provides the best balance, delivering near-maximum frame rates with only a modest visual downgrade from High. If maximum frame rate is the sole priority, Low at 1080p is the optimal configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-12400 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,535 out of 2,870 tested CPU-GPU combinations in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested combos, a result that aligns with the GPU's low individual standing. The Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1,482 from 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts: the GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, with deltas ranging from +1.3% to +2.7%. This suggests the GPU is performing at a level comparable to entry-level graphics hardware from over a decade ago, which explains the low combo ranking.

The CPU, by contrast, is a mid-range performer in the 72nd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 18,683. The gap between the CPU's relative strength and the GPU's weakness creates a significant imbalance in this combo. In a game like Counter-Strike 2, where frame rate is heavily influenced by both components, the GPU's limitations cap the overall performance. The rank of 2,535 out of 2,870 is a direct consequence of this imbalance, as the combo cannot leverage the CPU's full potential beyond 1080p Low. The data shows that the combo is not competitive with higher-end configurations, and the measured frame rates at 4K Ultra (32 FPS) and even 1440p High (73 FPS) place it well below the thresholds for smooth competitive play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset averages 179 FPS, the highest of any configuration. Medium averages 149 FPS, with a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 171 FPS. High averages 111 FPS, and Ultra averages 86 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 93 FPS, showing a steep penalty for visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop across the board. Low averages 118 FPS, Medium averages 98 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS, High averages 73 FPS, and Ultra averages 57 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p ranges from 34% (Low) to 33% (Ultra), indicating a consistent GPU scaling factor.

At 3840x2160, the averages fall further. Low averages 66 FPS, Medium averages 55 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS, High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 32 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly low, with even the Low preset failing to reach 70 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K shows a tight frame time range (47-63 FPS), but the overall performance is inadequate for a fast-paced FPS. The data reveals that the combo is only viable for competitive play at 1080p, with marginal usability at 1440p Low.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, 24 ROPs, and 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with a TDP of 80 W. Memory is system-shared, meaning the VRAM size, type, and bus width are all dependent on the host system, and bandwidth is listed as system-dependent. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU's role is most critical at higher resolutions and settings, where the measured frame rates fall sharply. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482 places the Arc B390 in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (delta +1.3%) and the GeForce GT 710 (delta +2.7%). This low standing is reflected in the game data: at 4K Ultra, the average is 32 FPS, and at 4K High, it is 41 FPS. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average of 86 FPS is below the 100 FPS mark, suggesting the GPU struggles with higher pixel loads.

The GPU's memory being system-shared is a notable factor, as it means the available bandwidth and capacity depend on the CPU's memory configuration, which in this case supports DDR4 or DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The boost clock of 2500 MHz helps at lower resolutions, where the 1080p Low average of 179 FPS indicates the GPU can keep up with the CPU's frame production. However, the steep resolution scaling — from 179 FPS at 1080p Low to 66 FPS at 4K Low — highlights the GPU's limited fill rate. The data confirms that the Arc B390 is the binding constraint in this combo for any configuration beyond 1080p Low, and its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs accurately predicts the low overall combo rank.