Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers a highly playable Counter-Strike 2 experience across a wide range of settings, but the data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as resolution climbs. This pairing is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming, and remains surprisingly capable at 1440p, though 4K demands significant settings compromises to stay fluid.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and predictable drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 171 FPS at 1080p to 113 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 58 FPS. The gap widens considerably when moving to 4K, where the High preset manages only 63 FPS, representing a 108 FPS drop from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is typical of a game where the GPU becomes progressively more stressed at higher pixel counts.

The Low preset shows the most extreme scaling. At 1080p, the system achieves 275 FPS, which drops to 182 FPS at 1440p and then to 102 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly 63%, indicating that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is heavily taxed at 4K. This suggests that at 1080p Low, the Core i5-13400F is likely the limiting factor, as the frame rate is exceptionally high and the GPU is not fully saturated.

At the Medium preset, the data provides a more granular view with min and max FPS values. At 1080p, the average of 229 FPS comes with a minimum of 194 FPS and a maximum of 263 FPS. At 1440p, these figures shift to an average of 151 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 174 FPS. The 4K Medium result shows an average of 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 97 FPS. The relatively tight min-to-max range at 4K suggests consistent frame pacing, which is important for a competitive shooter.

The Ultra preset is the most demanding, and the scaling is steepest. At 1080p, the average is 133 FPS, which is still respectable. However, at 1440p, the average drops to 88 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to just 49 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration in the data that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this preset is not viable for smooth 4K play with this hardware.

The data indicates that the system transitions from a CPU-bound state at 1080p to a GPU-bound state at 4K. The high frame rates at 1080p across all settings suggest the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately, but the steep decline at 4K points to the Arc B570's rendering limits. The 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on the GPU is sufficient for the game, but the raw compute power is the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting the highest possible frame rates on a 1080p high-refresh monitor, the Low preset is the clear choice, delivering 275 FPS. This is well above the threshold for 240Hz displays and provides the smoothest possible experience. However, the Medium preset still offers a very strong 229 FPS average, which is excellent for 144Hz and 165Hz monitors. The trade-off in visual quality between Low and Medium is typically noticeable in Counter-Strike 2, so Medium is recommended for most 1080p users who want a balance of competitive performance and visual clarity.

At 1440p, the Medium preset provides a solid 151 FPS average, which is ideal for 144Hz gaming. The High preset at 113 FPS is also viable for 120Hz displays, but the extra headroom from Medium is preferable for maintaining consistent frame times during intense firefights. The Low preset at 182 FPS is the best option for esports-focused players who prioritize maximum responsiveness over visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 88 FPS is playable but may not be optimal for competitive play where high refresh rates are critical.

For 4K gaming, the options are more limited. The Medium preset is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, with a result of 85 FPS. This is the recommended choice for a smooth 4K experience. The Low preset at 102 FPS is also viable and provides additional headroom, but the visual downgrade is significant. The High preset at 63 FPS is technically playable but sits close to the 60 FPS threshold, making it risky for competitive matches where frame drops can be costly. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the playable threshold for a fast-paced shooter.

The data shows that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combination across all resolutions. It offers the best balance of frame rate and visual quality, with the min FPS values indicating that it holds up well under load. For players with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors, the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p is the optimal choice.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2286 out of 2870 tested combos for Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the lower-to-middle tier of all possible system configurations, which is expected given the mid-range positioning of both components. The rank reflects that while this combo is capable of high frame rates at lower resolutions, it does not compete with top-tier systems that feature flagship CPUs and GPUs.

The CPU itself performs strongly relative to its peers. The Intel Core i5-13400F holds a 77th percentile ranking against all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the majority of processors in general benchmarks. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, has an identical average benchmark score of 25284, with a deltaPct of 0. The Intel Core 5 120 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D are also close, with scores of 25362 and 25365 respectively, showing a deltaPct of -0.3. This indicates the i5-13400F is competitive with these alternatives in synthetic tests.

The GPU, the Intel Arc B570, holds a 65th percentile ranking against all GPUs, showing it is a solid mid-range performer. Its average benchmark score of 20556 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20534 with a deltaPct of 0.1. The Intel Arc A750 is also a close rival, scoring 20582 with a deltaPct of -0.1. This suggests the B570 is well-positioned among its competition, offering performance that is essentially on par with these alternatives.

Given that the combo rank is 2286 out of 2870, the data suggests that the system is not limited by a single weak component but rather by the combination of two mid-range parts. While each component individually performs well in its respective category, the pairing does not achieve the high frame rates seen in systems with top-tier parts. This rank is a useful metric for understanding that this system will provide a good experience, but it will not be the absolute best for competitive Counter-Strike 2.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset achieves an average of 275 FPS, which is the fastest result in the entire dataset. The Medium preset follows closely with an average of 229 FPS, a minimum of 194 FPS, and a maximum of 263 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 171 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 133 FPS. All 1080p results are above 130 FPS, making this resolution the most versatile for competitive play.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. The Low preset leads with an average of 182 FPS. The Medium preset achieves 151 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 174 FPS. The High preset delivers 113 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces 88 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is a viable resolution for high-refresh gaming, provided the settings are adjusted appropriately.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. The Low preset still manages a respectable 102 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 97 FPS. The High preset falls to 63 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to just 49 FPS. The 4K results show that only the Low and Medium presets can maintain frame rates that are suitable for smooth gameplay, while the High and Ultra presets are best avoided.

The data shows a consistent relationship between settings and performance across all resolutions. Increasing the preset from Low to Medium typically reduces the frame rate by roughly 20-30%, while moving from Medium to High and High to Ultra incurs similar incremental penalties. This linear scaling makes it easy for users to predict the performance impact of their settings choices.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 plays a critical role in determining the performance ceiling of this system, particularly at higher resolutions. The GPU's memory configuration includes 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This is sufficient for Counter-Strike 2, which is not a memory-intensive game, and the data shows no evidence of memory-related bottlenecks at any tested setting.

The GPU clocks are listed with a base and boost frequency of 2500 MHz, and the memory runs at an effective speed of 19 Gbps. These clock speeds are moderate for the current generation, but the architecture is efficient. The GPU also features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 render output units. This configuration supports a pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s. The compute capability is rated at 11.52 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The benchmark results for the GPU show that it performs well in synthetic tests. The passmark G3D score is 14195, and the Geekbench Vulkan score is 96844. These scores, combined with the GPU's 65th percentile ranking, confirm that the B570 is a capable mid-range graphics card. However, the data from Counter-Strike 2 shows that its performance is not sufficient for the highest settings at 4K, where the Ultra preset only achieves 49 FPS.

The GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. At 1080p, the high frame rates suggest that the CPU is the primary limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as the frame rates drop significantly across all settings. The 150 W TDP and the dual-slot design are typical for this performance class, and the 1x 8-pin power connector is a standard requirement. The GPU is well-suited for its intended market, but it is not a high-end solution for 4K gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The Low preset achieves the highest average frame rate at 275 FPS. However, the Medium preset is a better balance, offering 229 FPS with a minimum of 194 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz and 165Hz monitors.

Q: Can this system run Counter-Strike 2 at 4K?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The Medium preset delivers an average of 85 FPS at 4K, which is smooth. The Low preset is also viable at 102 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they fall to 63 FPS and 49 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, which is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile at 20534 and the Intel Arc A750 at 20582. The deltaPct values are 0.1 and -0.1 respectively, indicating essentially equal performance.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F a strong CPU for this game?

A: Yes, the CPU holds a 77th percentile ranking against all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 25292, which is on par with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS. This indicates strong single-thread and multi-thread performance suitable for high-FPS gaming.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at the Medium preset in 4K?

A: At 3840x2160 with the Medium preset, the minimum FPS is 72, with an average of 85 FPS and a maximum of 97 FPS. This shows that the frame rate is relatively consistent, which is good for maintaining smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the system become CPU-bound or GPU-bound at different resolutions?

A: The data indicates that at 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound, as frame rates are very high (up to 275 FPS). At 4K, the system becomes GPU-bound, as the frame rates drop significantly across all settings, showing that the GPU is the limiting factor.