Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, despite its 2012 release, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware, particularly at high refresh rates. The measured data for the Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 reveals a combination that is capable of delivering exceptional frame rates, but the scaling patterns across resolutions and settings tell a nuanced story about where the bottleneck lies and how the hardware behaves under different loads. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to interpret the performance characteristics of this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking observation in the data is how frame rates scale from 1080p to 4K, which provides clear evidence of where the performance limit shifts. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 465 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average drops to 320 FPS, a reduction of 145 FPS or approximately 31%. Scaling further to 4K at Low settings yields 189 FPS, which is another 41% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep and consistent decline as resolution increases indicates that the Intel Arc B570 is becoming the primary limiting factor at higher pixel counts.

However, the story changes when examining the High settings preset. At 1080p High, the average is 343 FPS. At 1440p High, it falls to 236 FPS, a 31% drop. At 4K High, the average is 139 FPS, a further 41% reduction. The percentage deltas between resolutions are remarkably similar across Low and High settings, suggesting a consistent scaling pattern dictated by the GPU's rendering throughput. The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is still capable of feeding the GPU enough data to reach very high frame rates, but the GPU's workload scales linearly with pixel count, causing the consistent percentage declines.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and High settings narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (465 FPS) and High (343 FPS) is 122 FPS. At 4K, that difference shrinks to 50 FPS (189 vs 139). This compression of performance gaps at higher resolutions is a classic sign of GPU-bound scenarios. When the GPU is saturated with pixel work, the additional cost of higher graphical fidelity becomes a smaller proportion of the total render time. The conclusion from the scaling data is that for users targeting the highest possible frame rates, 1080p is the optimal resolution, while 4K still yields playable but significantly lower performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570's specifications provide context for the measured frame rates. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a consistent base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, and its 2304 shading units work at a peak FP32 rate of 11.52 TFLOPS. These figures are directly relevant to the game's performance. The 10 GB memory capacity is not a limiting factor in CS:GO, a game known for modest VRAM usage, but the bandwidth becomes increasingly important as resolution rises, explaining the scaling patterns observed.

The GPU's memory clock is listed at 2375 MHz, translating to 19 Gbps effective. This memory speed, combined with the 160-bit bus, provides the 380.0 GB/s bandwidth. In a game like CS:GO, which is heavily dependent on draw calls and geometry, the GPU's texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s are more relevant than raw compute. The data shows that the B570 is capable of pushing 465 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating that its geometry and pixel processing capabilities are more than sufficient for the game's engine. However, the 4K results, which drop to 119 FPS at Ultra settings, suggest that the GPU's pixel fill rate is the bottleneck at extreme resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rival is the Intel Arc A750, which scores 20582, a delta of -0.1%. This indicates that the B570 is essentially performance-equivalent to its predecessor in synthetic tests. The data for CS:GO, however, shows that the B570 can produce very high frame rates, but the scaling to 4K reveals its limitations in pixel-heavy scenarios. The GPU's 150 W TDP and dual-slot design are noted, but the benchmark results are what define its real-world capability in this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on settings optimization for different performance targets. The Medium preset offers a balanced point, with a minimum FPS of 337 at 1080p and an average of 396 FPS. This preset appears to be the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors, as the minimum FPS is still far above the 144 Hz standard. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 273 FPS with a minimum of 232 FPS, which still comfortably exceeds 240 Hz displays. The data suggests that Medium settings provide an excellent trade-off between visual quality and performance.

For users with 1080p 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitors, the High preset is also a viable option, averaging 343 FPS with no reported minimum FPS below the refresh rate threshold. The Low preset, while achieving 465 FPS at 1080p, offers diminishing returns in visual fidelity for a frame rate increase that may not be perceptible on most displays. At 4K, the High preset yields 139 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play where frame rate consistency matters. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 119 FPS, making it the most demanding option, and the data shows it is the only preset that drops below 120 FPS at any resolution.

The recommendation from the data is to use Medium settings for a balance of visuals and performance, especially at higher resolutions. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings at all resolutions are higher than the average FPS for the Ultra preset at the same resolution, which indicates that Medium provides a more consistent experience. The High preset is suitable for 1080p users who prioritize visual quality, but the data shows that the jump from High to Ultra at any resolution incurs a significant performance penalty without a proportional visual benefit.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across twelve distinct configurations. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from a low of 293 FPS at Ultra settings to a high of 465 FPS at Low settings. The Medium preset at 1080p records an average of 396 FPS with a minimum of 337 FPS and a maximum of 456 FPS. The High preset averages 343 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the combo is never GPU-bound at any settings level, as even the Ultra preset exceeds 290 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. The Low preset averages 320 FPS, while Medium averages 273 FPS with a minimum of 232 FPS and a maximum of 314 FPS. High settings average 236 FPS, and Ultra averages 201 FPS. The 1440p results show that the combo can still deliver high refresh rate performance, with the minimum FPS at Medium (232 FPS) exceeding the common 144 Hz threshold. Only the Ultra preset at 1440p dips below 240 FPS, averaging 201 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The Low preset averages 189 FPS, which is still playable. Medium averages 161 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS. High drops to 139 FPS, and Ultra averages 119 FPS. The 4K data shows a clear hierarchy where each settings increase costs a significant number of frames. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium (137 FPS) is slightly below the 144 Hz threshold, indicating that users targeting 144 Hz at 4K should consider the Low or Medium presets. The data reveals that the combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it can maintain triple-digit frame rates at all settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The maximum average FPS at 1920x1080 is 465 FPS, achieved with Low settings. The next highest is Medium settings at 396 FPS, followed by High at 343 FPS and Ultra at 293 FPS.

Q: How does the performance drop from 1440p to 4K on High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 High settings, the average FPS is 236. At 3840x2160 High settings, the average FPS drops to 139. This represents a 97 FPS reduction, or approximately 41% lower performance.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest minimum FPS at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset has the highest reported minimum FPS of 232. The Low and High presets do not have reported minimum FPS values, but the Medium preset's minimum is reported as 232 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570 the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data strongly suggests yes. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K shows consistent percentage drops across all settings, indicating GPU-bound performance. The 4K results, which range from 119 to 189 FPS, are significantly lower than 1080p results, confirming the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 465 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 293 FPS. The difference is 172 FPS, meaning Ultra settings produce 37% lower performance than Low settings.

Q: How does this combo's performance at 4K Medium compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 161 with a minimum of 137. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 293. This shows that the combo can achieve higher frame rates at 1080p Ultra than at 4K Medium, demonstrating the significant cost of higher resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F plays a critical role in ensuring the GPU is fed with data, especially at lower resolutions. This CPU features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core are well-suited for gaming workloads. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22604 and a single-core score of 3191. These scores indicate strong multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, which is essential for CS:GO's engine that relies heavily on a few main threads.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 77 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25292, places it in a competitive position. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and the Intel Core 5 120, with negligible performance deltas of 0% and -0.3%, respectively. This suggests that the i5-13400F is a well-balanced processor that does not bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios. The 1080p results, which show very high frame rates (up to 465 FPS), indicate that the CPU is capable of handling the game's draw calls and physics calculations at over 400 FPS.

However, the data also hints at a potential CPU limitation at the highest frame rates. The difference between 1080p Low (465 FPS) and 1080p Medium (396 FPS) is 69 FPS, while the difference between 1080p High (343 FPS) and Ultra (293 FPS) is 50 FPS. These gaps are consistent, suggesting that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The CPU's boost clock of 4.60 GHz, combined with its high single-core performance, likely allows it to keep pace with the GPU's output at 1080p. The data confirms that this CPU is a capable partner for the Arc B570, providing sufficient headroom for the GPU to reach its maximum potential in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

In the specific game of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2271 out of 2848 tested combos. This ranking places it in the 20th percentile of all tested systems, meaning that 80% of other CPU-GPU combinations achieve higher FPS in CS:GO. This is a surprisingly low rank given the high absolute frame rates measured. The rank suggests that while the combo performs well in isolation, many other combinations, likely featuring more powerful GPUs or CPUs, achieve even higher frame rates.

The rank of 2271 indicates that this combo is not at the top of the performance ladder for CS:GO. The fact that it sits in the lower half of the rankings, despite averaging 465 FPS at 1080p Low, suggests that the game is highly sensitive to CPU performance and that many other CPUs can push frame rates even higher. The combo's rank is likely influenced by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, but at 1080p, the frame rates are already so high that the ranking may be skewed by systems using top-tier CPUs like the Core i9 or Ryzen 9 series.

The data implies that this combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not a top-tier performer in the absolute sense. The 2271 rank out of 2848 combos means that users seeking the absolute highest FPS in CS:GO would need to look at more powerful hardware. However, for the vast majority of gamers with 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitors, the measured FPS at 1080p and 1440p is more than sufficient. The rank serves as a reference point, showing that while this combo is capable, it operates in a competitive field where higher-performing alternatives exist. The high absolute FPS numbers, coupled with the lower relative rank, highlight that CS:GO is a game where even mid-range hardware can achieve excellent results, but enthusiasts can always push further.