Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B370 presents a fascinating dataset, revealing a system where the graphics processor is the definitive bottleneck across all tested configurations. The measured frames per second (FPS) across three resolutions and four settings presets paint a clear picture of a combo that prioritizes CPU headroom over GPU throughput, with performance scaling that directly reflects the Arc B370’s modest specifications.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a dramatic and consistent drop in frame rates, underscoring the GPU’s limitations as the primary constraint. At the High preset, the average FPS falls from 202 at 1080p to 139 at 1440p, a reduction of 63 FPS, and then further to 82 at 4K, representing a cumulative 59% decrease from the starting point. This steep decline indicates that the rendering load at higher resolutions quickly outpaces the Arc B370’s capabilities, with the pixel throughput requirements of 4K proving particularly demanding.

Looking at the Low preset, the scaling pattern is even more pronounced in absolute terms. The system delivers 273 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 188 FPS at 1440p and then to 111 FPS at 4K. The 162 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at Low settings is the largest across all presets, suggesting that while the CPU can push very high frame rates at lower resolutions, the GPU cannot maintain that pace when pixel count increases. The relative drop from 1440p to 4K is 41%, slightly steeper than the 31% drop from 1080p to 1440p, indicating that the 4K resolution introduces a disproportionately heavy load on the GPU’s shading units and memory subsystem.

The Medium preset, which includes minimum and maximum FPS data, further illustrates this trend. Average FPS at 1080p Medium is 233, with a minimum of 198 and a maximum of 268. At 1440p, the average drops to 160, with a minimum of 136 and maximum of 184, and at 4K it falls to 95, with a minimum of 80 and maximum of 109. The narrowing of the FPS range at higher resolutions—from a 70 FPS spread at 1080p to a 29 FPS spread at 4K—suggests that the GPU becomes more consistently saturated, leaving less headroom for variance. This behavior is characteristic of a system where frame time fluctuations are smoothed out by the GPU being fully utilized, rather than being driven by CPU or memory latency spikes.

The Ultra preset shows the lowest absolute performance, with 172 FPS at 1080p, 118 FPS at 1440p, and just 70 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is 59%, matching the High preset’s relative decline. Notably, the 4K Ultra result of 70 FPS is the lowest measured average across all settings and resolutions, confirming that the combination of high resolution and maximum visual fidelity pushes the Arc B370 to its limits. The data consistently shows that resolution scaling has a near-linear impact on performance for this combo, with no evidence of the CPU becoming a limiting factor at any resolution, as the FPS declines are entirely attributable to GPU workload.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested CPU-GPU combinations for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this pairing sits near the bottom of the distribution. The comboRankInGame places it at rank 2615 out of 2848 total combos, meaning it outperforms only approximately 8% of the tested configurations. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU’s weak benchmark standing, as the Intel Arc B370’s percentileVsAllGpus is just 5, indicating it performs better than only 5% of all GPUs in the database.

The CPU, by contrast, is a high performer. The Intel Core i5-14600K holds a percentileVsAllCpus of 90, placing it in the top 10% of all processors. Its avgBenchmarkScore is 48618, which is closely matched by its nearest rivals. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H scores 48698, a deltaPct of -0.2%, meaning the i5-14600K is essentially tied with it. Similarly, the AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470, a 0.3% difference, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, a 0.7% gap. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, which is 0.8% higher than the i5-14600K. These negligible deltas confirm that the CPU is not the source of the combo’s low rank.

The GPU’s benchmark profile is starkly different. The Intel Arc B370’s avgBenchmarkScore is 1184, based on a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186 (-0.2% delta), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1190 (-0.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M with 1192 (-0.7% delta). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, a 1.4% delta. These rival GPUs are all from an older era, highlighting the Arc B370’s position as a low-end integrated-class solution. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU creates a significant imbalance, and the combo’s rank of 2615 out of 2848 reflects the GPU’s dominance in determining overall gaming performance for this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K brings substantial processing power to this pairing, which is reflected in its strong benchmark scores. With 14 cores and 20 threads, it offers a hybrid architecture that is well-suited for modern workloads. The base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide high single-thread performance, which is critical for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s engine. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache, which aids in reducing memory latency for frequently accessed data.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14600K demonstrates its capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 24491, and its single-core score is 2064. The Geekbench multicore score of 16673 and single-core score of 2491 further confirm its strength. PassMark results show a multithread score of 38682 and a single-thread score of 4270. These numbers place the CPU well above average, but in this game, the data suggests that the CPU’s role is largely to feed frames to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 273 FPS, which is high but not exceptional, indicating that the GPU is already the limiting factor even at this low resolution and settings level.

The CPU’s memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel bus, provides ample bandwidth for the system. The 125 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 interface are standard for this class of processor. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 is present, but it is not used for gaming when the Arc B370 is active. The CPU’s percentileVsAllCpus of 90 and its rivalry with server-class Xeon and EPYC processors underscore its high-end positioning. However, in the measured FPS data, there is no scenario where the CPU appears to constrain performance, as frame rates decline smoothly with increasing resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 273 FPS, which is the peak performance across the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 233 FPS, with a minimum of 198 and maximum of 268. High averages 202 FPS, and Ultra averages 172 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 101 FPS, showing a significant impact from settings changes.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low averages 188 FPS, which is still high but represents a 31% decrease from 1080p Low. Medium averages 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 and maximum of 184. High averages 139 FPS, and Ultra averages 118 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 70 FPS, a narrower spread than at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution, performance is considerably lower. Low averages 111 FPS, which is just above the 100 FPS threshold often considered smooth. Medium averages 95 FPS, with a minimum of 80 and maximum of 109. High averages 82 FPS, and Ultra averages 70 FPS. The minimum FPS of 80 at 4K Medium is notably lower than the 198 minimum at 1080p Medium, indicating that frame pacing can suffer at higher resolutions when the GPU is heavily loaded. The 4K Ultra result of 70 FPS is the lowest average, and it is likely to be perceptibly less smooth than the higher-resolution results.

The data shows a consistent pattern: at any given resolution, the Low preset provides the highest FPS, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra in that order. The relative performance differences between presets shrink as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The minimum FPS values, only available for Medium settings, show that the system can maintain a playable frame rate even at 4K, but the headroom is minimal.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this combo’s gaming performance, and its specifications explain the measured results. The GPU is based on the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, which are modest for a modern GPU. The shading units number 1280, with 40 texture mapping units and 20 render output units, and there are 10 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, leading to an FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS.

The most significant limitation is the memory configuration. The Arc B370 uses System Shared memory, meaning it relies on the system’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as System Shared or System Dependent, indicating that performance will vary based on the system’s memory speed and configuration. This is a critical weakness for a game like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which benefits from fast, dedicated memory for texture streaming and frame buffer operations.

The GPU’s TDP is just 25 W, and it is classified as an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width of IGP, meaning it is not a discrete card. This low power envelope and integrated design directly correlate with its benchmark performance. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 is extremely low, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end parts, confirming that the Arc B370 is not designed for high-end gaming.

The GPU’s API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which are modern. However, the hardware’s throughput is insufficient to leverage these APIs for high frame rates in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The measured FPS data aligns with the GPU’s weak benchmark profile, as the system cannot exceed 273 FPS at 1080p Low, and drops below 100 FPS at 4K on most presets. The GPU is the clear bottleneck, and its performance characteristics are consistent across all tests.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves at any resolution and settings?

A: The highest average FPS is 273, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14600K compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H?

A: The i5-14600K has an avgBenchmarkScore of 48618, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H’s score of 48698.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS is 70, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a percentileVsAllGpus of 5, meaning it performs better than only 5% of all GPUs.

Q: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, what are the minimum and maximum FPS?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 136 and the maximum FPS is 184, with an average of 160 FPS.

Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i5-14600K have?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players prioritizing high frame rates at 1920x1080, the Low preset offers the best experience, delivering an average of 273 FPS. This is well above the 144 Hz or 240 Hz refresh rates common in competitive gaming, and it provides the smoothest possible gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 233 FPS, is also a strong choice, offering a balance between visual quality and performance, with a minimum FPS of 198 that ensures consistent frame delivery.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset remains the best option for high frame rates, averaging 188 FPS. This is suitable for 144 Hz monitors, and the Medium preset at 160 FPS is also viable, though its minimum of 136 FPS may occasionally dip below a 144 Hz refresh rate. For 4K gaming, the data shows that only the Low preset achieves an average above 100 FPS, at 111 FPS. The Medium preset at 95 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action, and the High and Ultra presets, at 82 and 70 FPS respectively, are less recommended due to the increased likelihood of noticeable frame drops.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it provides the lowest FPS without a commensurate benefit in gameplay for a competitive shooter. The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, so reducing settings to Low or Medium provides the most significant FPS gains. For the best overall experience, 1920x1080 with Medium settings offers a high average of 233 FPS, a minimum of 198 FPS, and better visual fidelity than Low, making it the sweet spot for this combo. At higher resolutions, sticking to Low settings is necessary to maintain playable frame rates.