Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Intel Arc B390 combination delivers a fundamentally CPU-bound experience in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a title from 2012 that remains highly sensitive to processor throughput. The Ryzen 7 5700G features 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. This processor sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 27051. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-9900K, scores 27097, a negligible 0.2% difference, indicating the 5700G competes directly with older flagship desktop parts. The data shows a strong single-threaded performance profile, with a Passmark single-thread score of 3283, which is crucial for CS:GO’s primary game logic thread. The 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate feeding for the integrated graphics and the game’s data streams. While the 8-core/16-thread configuration is overkill for a game that rarely utilizes more than a few threads, the high boost clock ensures that the primary rendering thread does not become a bottleneck. The processor’s 65 W TDP and 7 nm process node indicate an efficient design, but the performance ceiling is defined by its architectural IPC and clock speed, both of which are adequate for high refresh rate gameplay in this specific title. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12830.5 and single-core score of 1494 reflect a balanced chip that excels in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads, though CS:GO primarily stresses the former.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 7 5700G’s relevance to CS:GO performance is primarily defined by its single-thread capabilities and memory subsystem. The game’s engine, even in its modern iterations, relies heavily on a single core for the majority of simulation and draw call processing. The 5700G’s base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz are the raw drivers of this performance. The 3DMark single-thread score of 899 and the Passmark single-thread score of 3283 place the processor in a strong position for this workload. When compared to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 scores 0.4% higher on average, while the Intel Core i7-1370P is 0.6% higher, showing that the 5700G is not the absolute leader but is within a tight performance band. The 8-core/16-thread count is largely irrelevant for CS:GO’s frame generation, as the game does not scale across all available cores efficiently. However, the 16 MB L3 cache is beneficial, as it reduces latency for frequently accessed game data, which can smooth out frame time spikes. The processor’s memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is sufficient to feed the integrated GPU, but the CPU’s ability to process the game’s physics and entity updates is the main determinant of the minimum frame rate. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU can generate frames at a rate that exceeds the GPU’s rendering capacity at lower resolutions, but at 4K, the balance shifts. The Passmark multithread score of 24419 shows the CPU has headroom for background tasks, but this does not translate into higher CS:GO frame rates. The data suggests that the 5700G provides a robust foundation for high-FPS gameplay, but it is not the limiting factor in this specific combo at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process node. Its performance profile is starkly different from the CPU, with a percentile ranking of only 9th across all GPUs. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's DDR4 memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical limitation, as the GPU is competing with the CPU for the same memory bandwidth. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the same performance tier as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463, a 1.3% difference. This is a very low score, indicating that the GPU is designed for basic graphical tasks rather than high-end gaming. In CS:GO, the GPU’s role is to render the 3D scene, apply textures, and manage the framebuffer. The Arc B390’s 24 ROPs and 120.0 GTexel/s texture rate are modest, and the FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is not the bottleneck; rather, the shared memory bandwidth and fill rate are the primary constraints. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility are modern, but the raw hardware throughput is limited. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K resolution, where it struggles to maintain frame rates above 100 FPS even on Low settings. At 1080p, however, the GPU can keep pace with the CPU up to a point, but the high refresh rate demands of CS:GO exceed its capabilities. The GPU’s lack of dedicated VRAM means that textures and geometry data must be transferred over the system bus, which introduces latency and reduces effective bandwidth. This is a fundamental design constraint that cannot be overcome by driver optimizations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and dramatic shift in bottleneck behavior across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the combination is heavily CPU-bound, with the CPU generating frames faster than the GPU can render them. The Low preset at 1080p achieves an average of 303 FPS, which drops to 258 FPS on Medium and 223 FPS on High. The Ultra preset still manages 190 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 37% performance drop, indicating that the GPU is becoming more involved as settings increase, but the CPU is still capable of feeding it. Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop significantly. Low settings yield 208 FPS, Medium 177 FPS, High 154 FPS, and Ultra 131 FPS. The drop from 1080p Low (303 FPS) to 1440p Low (208 FPS) is a 31% reduction, which is more than the pixel count increase of 78%, suggesting that the GPU is starting to hit its fill rate limits. At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. Low settings average 123 FPS, Medium 105 FPS, High 91 FPS, and Ultra 77 FPS. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low is a 59% reduction in frame rate, which is nearly proportional to the 4x increase in pixel count, indicating that the GPU is now fully saturated. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum FPS of 89 and a maximum of 120, showing significant variance in frame times, which is typical of a GPU struggling with memory bandwidth. The data indicates that the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p, but the GPU takes over as the primary constraint at 1440p and becomes the absolute bottleneck at 4K. This is a classic example of a system with a powerful CPU paired with a weak IGP, where the optimal resolution for high frame rates is 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the ideal settings balance depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset offers an excellent compromise, with an average of 223 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most competitive monitors. The Low preset at 303 FPS is only necessary for 240 Hz or 360 Hz displays, but the visual quality reduction may not be worth the extra frames for most players. The Medium preset at 258 FPS provides a slight visual upgrade over Low while still maintaining very high frame rates. The Ultra preset at 190 FPS is playable but begins to show the GPU’s limitations, and the extra graphical features are not beneficial for a competitive shooter. For 1440p, the Low preset at 208 FPS is the recommended choice for high refresh rate play, as it is the only setting that consistently exceeds 200 FPS. The Medium preset at 177 FPS is also viable for 144 Hz displays, but the High preset at 154 FPS and Ultra at 131 FPS are better suited for 120 Hz or lower refresh rate monitors. At 4K, the data suggests that the system is not suitable for competitive play. The Low preset at 123 FPS is the only option that approaches 120 FPS, but the frame time variance, as seen in the Medium preset’s 89 FPS minimum, indicates that the experience will be inconsistent. For 4K, the Medium preset at 105 FPS is the maximum playable, but it is not recommended for serious competitive play. The overall recommendation is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, as CS:GO’s gameplay benefits more from a high and stable FPS than from graphical detail. The Low preset at 1080p offers the best combination of performance and responsiveness, while the Medium preset at 1440p is the upper limit for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2510 out of 2848 tested combos in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, placing it in the bottom 12% of all systems. This ranking is a direct result of the GPU’s extremely low performance percentile (9th) dragging down the otherwise capable CPU. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking is negated by the GPU’s inability to keep up at higher resolutions. The combo’s ranking is heavily influenced by the fact that most other tested systems feature dedicated graphics cards, which are significantly faster than the Arc B390. The data shows that the system is competitive at 1080p Low, where it achieves 303 FPS, but this is not enough to offset the poor performance at 4K. The raw benchmark scores reflect this disparity: the CPU’s average benchmark score of 27051 is close to the Intel Core i9-9900K, but the GPU’s average score of 1482 is comparable to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX. This 18x difference in average scores between the CPU and GPU highlights the severe imbalance in the system. The combo’s rank of 2510 suggests that it is outperformed by the vast majority of systems, including those with older dedicated GPUs. The only systems it likely beats are those with even older integrated graphics or severely underpowered CPUs. In practical terms, this combo is a productivity or esports machine for 1080p, but it is not a general-purpose gaming rig beyond that resolution. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary reason for the low rank, and any upgrade path would need to focus on replacing the IGP with a dedicated solution.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 223 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the Intel Core i9-9900K?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G has an average benchmark score of 27051, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i9-9900K’s score of 27097.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile relative to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Low preset at 2560x1440 provides the highest average FPS at 208 FPS, making it the best choice for high refresh rate play.

Q: Does the system perform better at 1080p or 4K?

A: The system performs significantly better at 1080p, where the Low preset achieves 303 FPS, compared to 123 FPS at 4K on the Low preset.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in this game?

A: The combo ranks 2510 out of 2848 tested combinations in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.