Counter-Strike 2

# Counter-Strike 2 with Intel Core i7-14700KF + Intel Arc B390

The pairing of Intel's Core i7-14700KF with the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics produces a highly CPU-bound configuration in Counter-Strike 2, where the processor's substantial multi-threading capability and high boost clocks drive frame rates that the GPU often cannot fully sustain. Benchmark results across all resolutions and settings show a pattern typical of a system where the graphics solution—an integrated part with a 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs—becomes the limiting factor as resolution and visual fidelity increase. The Core i7-14700KF, ranking at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, provides ample headroom, but the measured FPS data reveals that Counter-Strike 2's engine, while favoring strong single-thread performance, is ultimately constrained by the Arc B390's rendering throughput at higher settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. Its base clock runs at 3.40 GHz, capable of boosting up to 5.60 GHz, and it features a 33 MB shared L3 cache, with 2 MB L2 per core and 80 KB L1 per core. This configuration positions the CPU prominently for gaming workloads, where the high boost clock and substantial cache hierarchy are critical for maintaining consistent frame pacing. The processor's benchmark scores reinforce its strength: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 21462 and single-core score of 2578. These figures place the i7-14700KF within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (average score 69996) and 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (average score 69875), while it leads the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (average score 69515) by 0.9% and trails the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (average score 70879) by 1%.

In Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions and settings, where the graphics pipeline is less demanding. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 179 FPS average, which is the highest measured result across all configurations. This indicates that the i7-14700KF's single-thread performance—bolstered by its 5.60 GHz boost clock—is more than adequate to feed the Arc B390 at this level. However, the delta between 1080p Low and 1080p High (111 FPS) shows that the CPU alone does not dictate performance; the GPU's capabilities come into play even at 1080p. The processor's multi-core architecture, while beneficial for background tasks and modern game engines that utilize multiple threads, does not translate into proportional FPS gains in this title, as the measured data shows diminishing returns when moving from Low to Medium settings at any resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Core i7-14700KF and Arc B390 ranks 2535th out of 2870 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2, placing it in the bottom 12% of all configurations. This rank reflects the GPU's position as the primary bottleneck; the Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, 1.3% slower) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, 2.5% slower). The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 is modest, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460), is 1.5% slower, indicating that the Arc B390 sits near the bottom of the performance hierarchy.

The combo's rank is heavily influenced by the severe mismatch between the CPU's high percentile (94th) and the GPU's low percentile (9th). In a game like Counter-Strike 2, which is known for being CPU-intensive, the i7-14700KF should theoretically excel, but the measured FPS data shows that the Arc B390 cannot capitalize on the CPU's headroom. For context, the combo rank of 2535 out of 2870 means that 335 combinations perform worse, but the vast majority of systems—over 88%—outperform this pairing. This ranking is not indicative of the CPU's potential; rather, it underscores that the integrated GPU is the limiting factor. The data suggests that pairing this CPU with a discrete GPU would yield dramatically better results, as the processor's benchmark scores (e.g., Passmark multi-thread score of 52425, single-thread score of 4480) are among the highest in the database.

Resolution Scaling

Resolution scaling reveals a clear trend: as resolution increases from 1080p to 1440p to 4K, average FPS drops consistently across all settings, indicating that the Arc B390's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 179 FPS; moving to 1440p Low reduces this to 118 FPS, a 34% decrease. At 4K Low, the average falls to 66 FPS, a further 44% drop from 1440p. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the pixel throughput required at higher resolutions exceeds the Arc B390's fill rate.

The data shows that the GPU's pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are insufficient for high-resolution rendering in Counter-Strike 2. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 111, but at 1440p High it drops to 73 (a 34% reduction), and at 4K High it falls to 41 (a 44% reduction from 1440p). This consistent ~35% drop between 1080p and 1440p, followed by a ~44% drop between 1440p and 4K, suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth—listed as "System Dependent" and shared with the system—becomes a critical factor at higher resolutions. The Arc B390's 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs are simply not enough to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, where even the Low preset only yields 66 FPS.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more pronounced at lower settings (e.g., Low: 179 to 118 FPS) than at higher settings (e.g., Ultra: 86 to 57 FPS). This is because at Ultra settings, the GPU is already heavily taxed at 1080p, so the additional resolution burden has a smaller relative impact. At 4K Ultra, the system bottoms out at 32 FPS, which is barely playable. The data indicates that for a smooth experience, users should target 1080p, where the system can achieve above 86 FPS across all settings, or 1440p with Low settings for a 118 FPS average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results: Low settings produce 179 FPS average, Medium settings yield 149 FPS (with a minimum of 126 FPS and maximum of 171 FPS), High settings drop to 111 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 86 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p is notable for its tight frame range (126-171 FPS), indicating consistent performance without significant stutters.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS values show a marked decrease: Low settings achieve 118 FPS, Medium settings average 98 FPS (ranging from 84 to 113 FPS), High settings drop to 73 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 57 FPS. The 1440p Medium results, with a 84-113 FPS range, still provide a playable experience, but the minimum frame rate of 84 FPS suggests occasional dips that could be noticeable in fast-paced gameplay. At 1440p Ultra, the 57 FPS average is marginal for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, performance becomes challenging: Low settings average 66 FPS, Medium settings average 55 FPS (with a 47-63 FPS range), High settings drop to 41 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 32 FPS. The 4K Medium preset, with a minimum of 47 FPS, is the only 4K configuration that approaches playability, but it still falls short of the 60 FPS target that competitive players typically seek. The 4K High and Ultra presets, at 41 and 32 FPS respectively, are not suitable for competitive play, as frame rates below 60 FPS introduce input lag and visual tearing.

The data shows a consistent pattern: at each resolution, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is roughly a 50-60% reduction in average FPS (e.g., 1080p: 179 to 86 FPS, a 52% drop; 1440p: 118 to 57 FPS, a 52% drop; 4K: 66 to 32 FPS, a 52% drop). This consistency suggests that the GPU's scaling with settings is uniform, and the Arc B390's performance is predictable across the board.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Counter-Strike 2?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets achieve above 60 FPS. The 1080p Low preset yields 179 FPS, while the Ultra preset still maintains 86 FPS, making 1080p the recommended resolution for a playable experience.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Counter-Strike 2?

A: At 3840x2160, the system only achieves playable frame rates on the Low preset (66 FPS average). The Medium preset averages 55 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 41 and 32 FPS respectively, which are below the threshold for smooth competitive play.

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

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, placing it 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463) and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460). It also leads the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM by 2.5% (score 1446) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 by 2.7% (score 1443).

Q: Is the Core i7-14700KF the bottleneck in this system?

A: No, the CPU ranks at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70163. The GPU, ranking at the 9th percentile, is the limiting component. The combo's rank of 2535 out of 2870 reflects the GPU's constraints, not the CPU's performance.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 98 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 84 FPS and maximum of 113 FPS. This provides a playable experience, though the minimum frame rate may dip below the 100 FPS mark during intense scenes.

Q: Does the Arc B390's shared memory affect performance?

A: The GPU's memory is listed as "System Shared" with "System Dependent" bandwidth, which means it relies on system RAM. The measured FPS data shows significant drops at higher resolutions, suggesting that memory bandwidth constraints contribute to the performance degradation at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 179, which is ideal for maximizing refresh rate and minimizing input latency. However, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a better balance, with an average of 149 FPS and a minimum of 126 FPS, providing smoother visuals without sacrificing too much performance. The High preset at 1080p, at 111 FPS, still exceeds 100 FPS and may be preferable for users with high-refresh-rate monitors who want better visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only configuration that consistently exceeds 100 FPS, averaging 118 FPS. The Medium preset, at 98 FPS average, is acceptable for most players, but the minimum of 84 FPS could be problematic in fast-paced scenarios. The High preset at 73 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 57 FPS is not recommended for competitive play. For 4K, only the Low preset (66 FPS) is viable, and even that may struggle in demanding scenes. The Medium preset at 55 FPS is playable but not ideal for competitive integrity.

The data suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1080p with Medium settings, which provides a 149 FPS average and a tight frame range (126-171 FPS) that ensures consistent performance. This configuration leverages the CPU's strength while mitigating the GPU's weaknesses. For users prioritizing maximum frame rates, 1080p Low at 179 FPS is the top choice, but it sacrifices visual quality. At 1440p, Low settings at 118 FPS offer the best trade-off between resolution and performance, while 4K should be avoided for serious gameplay unless visual fidelity is more important than frame rate.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process node with the chip codenamed Panther Lake. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU's base clock runs at 300 MHz, boosting up to 2500 MHz, and it has a TDP of 80 W. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses system RAM with bandwidth that is "System Dependent," which introduces variability in performance based on the host system's memory configuration.

In Counter-Strike 2, the Arc B390's role is defined by its limited compute and memory resources. The GPU's FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s with a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. These specifications are modest, and the measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU's benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 places it at the 9th percentile, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% slower) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% slower). This positioning indicates that the Arc B390 is among the weakest GPUs in the database, suitable only for light gaming or esports titles at lower resolutions.

The GPU's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are insufficient for high-resolution rendering, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS. The shared memory architecture further compounds the issue, as the system's memory bandwidth becomes a limiting factor when rendering at high resolutions. The data shows that the GPU's performance scales predictably with settings, but its absolute performance ceiling is low. For Counter-Strike 2, the Arc B390 can deliver playable frame rates only at 1080p or 1440p with reduced settings, and it is not capable of maintaining 60 FPS at 4K under any preset. The GPU's release date of 2026-01-26 and its production status of "Active" indicate it is a current product, but its performance profile aligns with entry-level integrated graphics rather than a dedicated gaming solution.