Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is a highly competitive FPS that demands high and consistent frame rates to be playable at a high level. The measured data for this specific configuration—an Intel Core i5-13400F paired with an Intel Arc B390—reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics processor, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The benchmark results show that while the CPU is capable of pushing very high frame rates, the GPU's performance ceiling limits the overall experience, making settings and resolution choices critical.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data indicates that the "Low" preset is the only reliable way to achieve the high refresh rates that competitive Counter-Strike 2 players typically seek, but it comes with trade-offs at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 179 FPS, which is a substantial 30 FPS advantage over the next best option, the Medium preset at 149 FPS. This difference is significant for a game where frame timing is crucial. However, at 2560x1440, the Low preset drops to 118 FPS average, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 66 FPS. This shows that the "Low" preset is the best choice for maximizing frame rate, but it cannot overcome the GPU bottleneck at 4K.

For users who prioritize visual quality over maximum frame rate, the "Medium" preset offers a more balanced experience. At 1920x1080, it provides an average of 149 FPS with a minimum of 126 FPS, which is still within the range of high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset at 1080p is the highest settings level that maintains an average above the 144 FPS threshold, making it the optimal choice for a blend of competitive performance and better visuals. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 98 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for the most competitive play. The "High" preset is a step down in performance, with an average of 111 FPS at 1080p and 73 FPS at 1440p. The data suggests that the "Ultra" preset is not viable for this configuration, as it only manages 86 FPS at 1080p and 32 FPS at 4K, making it unsuitable for a game that relies on smooth, responsive gameplay. The data points to the Low preset for pure performance and Medium as the ceiling for a playable experience on high-refresh-rate displays.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting factor in this configuration, and its performance profile explains the FPS drops observed across different settings. The GPU's benchmark score is 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GeForce GT 625 OEM, and GeForce GT 710, all of which are entry-level or legacy parts. The deltaPct values show the B390 is only 1.3% to 2.7% faster than these rivals, indicating that its raw graphics processing power is extremely limited for a modern game. This is reflected in the game's frame rates; the GPU's 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs are likely insufficient to handle the pixel fill rate and shader complexity required at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU's memory configuration is also a significant factor. The B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's main RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This architecture can cause performance issues, especially at higher resolutions where more memory bandwidth is required. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means it varies based on the system's DDR4 or DDR5 configuration. However, the fact that it is shared with the CPU introduces latency and bandwidth contention that can negatively impact frame rates. The clock speeds are a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz, but the actual sustained clock speed during gaming is likely to be much lower due to thermal and power constraints, given its 80 W TDP. The benchmark results show a stark reality: the GPU's performance is so low that it cannot deliver playable frame rates at 4K Ultra (32 FPS) and struggles to maintain high FPS at 1440p. The data suggests that the GPU is only capable of providing a satisfactory experience at 1080p with lower settings.

CPU Role

In stark contrast to the GPU, the Intel Core i5-13400F is a powerful processor that is not the bottleneck in this configuration, except perhaps at the very lowest settings and resolutions. The CPU's benchmark scores are robust, with an average benchmark score of 25292 and a percentile rank of 77 among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, Intel Core 5 120, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, and AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, with deltaPct values ranging from -0.3% to 0.4%. This indicates that the i5-13400F is essentially on par with these other capable processors, making it a solid mid-range performer. The CPU has 10 cores and 16 threads, which is a configuration that provides ample multi-threading headroom for modern games and background tasks.

The CPU's high single-thread performance is particularly relevant for Counter-Strike 2, which is known to be sensitive to single-core speed. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3191, and the 3DMark single-thread score is 960. These scores are critical for maintaining high frame rates in a game that relies on a main game thread. The data supports this, as the FPS jumps significantly when the resolution is lowered and the GPU load is reduced. For example, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 179, which appears to be constrained by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU. The CPU's boost clock of 4.60 GHz and 20 MB of L3 cache are also beneficial for gaming workloads. The CPU is clearly capable of producing far more frames than the GPU can render, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS does not scale linearly with resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across all resolutions. Instead, we see a massive drop from 179 FPS at 1080p Low to 66 FPS at 4K Low, which confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor.

FAQ

Q: Is this system capable of running Counter-Strike 2 at a competitive level?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 179 FPS. At 1440p, the Low preset drops to 118 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a balance of visuals and performance?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the best balance, providing an average of 149 FPS with a minimum of 126 FPS. This is the highest preset that maintains an average above 144 FPS.

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

A: The B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, making it only 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Why does the performance drop so much at 4K resolution?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop to 41 FPS on High, 55 FPS on Medium, and 32 FPS on Ultra. This is due to the B390's low performance and its use of "System Shared" memory, which is not sufficient for the high bandwidth demands of 4K rendering.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F a good match for this game?

A: Yes, the CPU is very capable. It has a percentile rank of 77 among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 25292, which is on par with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS. The CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration.

Q: Can this system achieve 144 FPS at 1440p?

A: No. The highest average FPS at 2560x1440 is 118 FPS on the Low preset, which is below the 144 FPS target. The Medium preset achieves 98 FPS, and the High preset achieves 73 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across resolutions clearly illustrates the GPU bottleneck. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS on the Low preset drops from 179 to 118, a decrease of 61 FPS (34%). When moving from 1440p to 4K, the Low preset drops further to 66 FPS, another 52 FPS decrease (44%). This scaling pattern is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the FPS drops dramatically, which indicates that the GPU's rendering capabilities are being overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count.

This is further confirmed by the settings scaling. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces the average FPS from 179 to 86, a drop of 93 FPS (52%). At 4K, the same settings change reduces the FPS from 66 to 32, a drop of 34 FPS (51%). The percentage drop is similar across resolutions, which suggests that the GPU is handling the increased shading and pixel work in a linear fashion, but it simply does not have the raw power to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The data shows that the only way to get a smooth experience is to reduce the resolution to 1080p and use lower settings. The system is effectively a 1080p gaming machine for this title, and any attempt to run at higher resolutions will result in a significant performance penalty.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS values for each resolution and settings combination. The data is presented as measured, with no further interpretation.

1920x1080

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

2560x1440

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

3840x2160

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

These numbers paint a clear picture. The best-case scenario for this configuration is 179 FPS at 1080p Low. The performance degrades rapidly as resolution and settings increase. The Medium preset at 1080p offers the best playable experience for those who want better visuals, but the frame rate is still below the absolute maximum. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only option that provides a playable frame rate above 100 FPS. 4K is effectively not viable for this game and setup, as even the Low preset only manages 66 FPS, which is below the refresh rate of most gaming monitors. The data indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming with the Low or Medium presets, and users should avoid 4K entirely due to the GPU's limitations.