Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 with the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 shows a clear pattern: the CPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution drops. At 4K, the gap between Low and Ultra settings is 73 FPS (141 vs 68), but at 1080p, the same settings span 198 FPS (382 vs 184). This widening spread at lower resolutions indicates that the RTX 4060 has ample headroom to render more frames, but the Ryzen 5 2600’s six Zen+ cores cannot feed it fast enough. The data suggests that for players targeting high refresh rates at 1080p, the CPU is the bottleneck; at 4K, the GPU workload dominates and the processor’s limitations become less visible.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS values show how the balance of work shifts between the CPU and GPU across resolutions. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the combo produces 88 FPS average. Dropping to 2560x1440 High raises that to 157 FPS, a 78% increase. Moving further down to 1920x1080 High yields 237 FPS, another 51% jump from 1440p. These scaling factors are not linear — the GPU has to render roughly four times the pixels at 4K compared to 1080p, yet the FPS drop from 237 to 88 is about 63%. That relatively modest decline indicates that at 1080p the system is not purely GPU-bound; if it were, the 4K result would be closer to a quarter of the 1080p number.

The Low preset tells a similar story with higher absolute values. At 4K Low, the average is 141 FPS. At 1440p Low, it reaches 253 FPS, and at 1080p Low, it hits 382 FPS. The jump from 1440p to 1080p is 129 FPS, which is a larger absolute gain than the 112 FPS gain from 4K to 1440p. This suggests that the CPU is starting to cap performance around the 300-400 FPS range, because the RTX 4060’s compute capability at 1080p Low should theoretically allow even higher frame rates, but the Ryzen 5 2600’s single-thread performance — with a passmark_single_thread score of 2239 — becomes the ceiling.

Ultra settings show the most pronounced resolution sensitivity. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 68, which is only 48% of the 4K High result. At 1440p Ultra, it is 122 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it is 184 FPS. The scaling from 4K to 1440p is 79% improvement, and from 1440p to 1080p is 51% improvement. These percentages are similar to the High preset, indicating that the additional GPU load from Ultra settings does not change the fundamental bottleneck structure — it just lowers all absolute numbers.

The Medium preset includes min and max FPS data, which provides insight into frame pacing. At 4K Medium, the average is 117 FPS with a min of 100 and max of 135 — a 35 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the average is 210 FPS with min 179 and max 242 — a 63 FPS spread. At 1080p Medium, the average is 317 FPS with min 270 and max 365 — a 95 FPS spread. The growing variance at lower resolutions further confirms that CPU limitations cause inconsistent frame delivery; when the GPU is less stressed, the processor’s occasional stalls become more visible.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 2460 MHz with a base clock of 1830 MHz, and the chip contains 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units. The GPU’s Ada Lovelace architecture supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, but Counter-Strike 2 is a competitive FPS that does not heavily tax modern rasterization features. The data shows that the RTX 4060’s raw throughput is sufficient to push well beyond 300 FPS at 1080p Low — the measured 382 FPS average is a direct result of the GPU’s FP32 compute of 15.11 TFLOPS and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s.

However, the GPU’s role changes with resolution. At 4K Ultra, the 68 FPS average is a GPU-bound result, as the pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s is being fully utilized. The RTX 4060’s 48 ROPs are the likely constraint at this setting because each pixel requires multiple passes through the render output units. The fact that 4K High produces 88 FPS, versus 68 FPS at Ultra, shows that the GPU has enough headroom to handle higher visual fidelity but not enough to maintain 60+ FPS at the highest preset without compromise.

The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is not a limiting factor in any measured row, as the FPS differences between settings are consistent with computational load rather than memory capacity. The memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the bandwidth might contribute to the low 68 FPS figure, since the larger frame buffer demands more data movement. The GPU’s 17 Gbps effective memory speed is a moderately fast specification, but it is paired with a relatively narrow 128-bit bus, which is a design trade-off that shows at high resolutions.

The RTX 4060’s percentileVsAllGpus of 61 places it in the upper-middle tier of all GPUs. Its nearestRivals include the AMD Radeon 780M with an avgScore of 17588 and a deltaPct of 0.3, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 at 17551 with a deltaPct of 0.5. These close scores indicate that the RTX 4060’s general compute performance is comparable to integrated graphics in some workloads, but the gaming-specific results in Counter-Strike 2 show a much larger advantage due to dedicated rasterization hardware.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 2000 series, based on the Zen+ architecture (Pinnacle Ridge) on a 12 nm process. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, and it has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU’s passmark_single_thread score is 2239, which is a modest figure by modern standards, and its geekbench_singlecore score is 1154. These numbers directly impact Counter-Strike 2, which is known to be sensitive to single-core performance because the game’s main thread handles most of the simulation and input logic.

At 1080p Low, the 382 FPS average is likely near the CPU’s practical limit. The Ryzen 5 2600’s boost clock of 3.90 GHz is not exceptionally high, and its IPC (instructions per clock) from the Zen+ generation is significantly lower than newer designs. The data supports this: going from 1080p Low to 1080p Medium only reduces FPS by 65 (382 to 317), while going from Medium to High reduces it by another 80 (317 to 237). If the GPU were the sole constraint, the drop from Low to Ultra would be more uniform, but the CPU’s inability to issue draw calls fast enough at Low settings creates a plateau.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are less relevant for this game. The cinebench_r15_multicore score of 1248 and passmark_multithread of 13160 show that the 6-core/12-thread configuration can handle background tasks, but Counter-Strike 2 typically uses fewer than 4 threads. The geekbench_multicore score of 5648 confirms that the CPU is not a multi-threading monster, but that is not the issue here. The bottleneck is the single-thread speed, which is why the FPS at 1080p High (237) is only 62% of the 1080p Low figure (382) — the extra GPU work from High settings does not change the CPU-bound nature of the frame rate.

The Ryzen 5 2600’s percentileVsAllCpus is 75, meaning it outperforms 75% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its nearestRivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V with a deltaPct of 0.2 and the Intel Core i9-11900H with a deltaPct of 0.5. These close scores show that the 2600’s overall benchmark average is competitive with much newer parts, but that average includes multi-threaded tests where the 12 threads help. In a single-thread-heavy game like Counter-Strike 2, the CPU’s weaknesses are more apparent, as evidenced by the 1080p results.

The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s and dual-channel DDR4 support are also factors. At 1080p with high frame rates, the CPU must feed the GPU with positions, draws, and state changes, and the memory latency of DDR4 can introduce micro-stutters. The min FPS at 1080p Medium is 270, which is 85% of the average, indicating that the CPU occasionally hits a slow path. At 4K Medium, the min FPS of 100 is 85% of the average as well, but the absolute impact is smaller because the frame time is longer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured data set for this combo covers three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 382 FPS, which is the highest recorded value across all tests. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 317 FPS with a min of 270 and max of 365. High at 1080p averages 237 FPS, and Ultra drops to 184 FPS. These four numbers show that the RTX 4060 can easily handle 1080p, but the CPU prevents the Low preset from going even higher.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 253 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS with min 179 and max 242, High averages 157 FPS, and Ultra averages 122 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p is a 131 FPS drop, which is a 52% reduction. This is a more GPU-bound scenario compared to 1080p, because the pixel count increases by 78% and the CPU has more time to prepare frames while the GPU renders.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 141 FPS, Medium averages 117 FPS with min 100 and max 135, High averages 88 FPS, and Ultra averages 68 FPS. The Ultra result at 4K is the only measured value below 70 FPS, and it represents a worst-case scenario for this combo. The difference between 4K Low and 4K Ultra is 73 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p (198 FPS) but a similar relative gap (48% of Low).

The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data for all three resolutions. This is useful for understanding consistency. At 1080p Medium, the max FPS of 365 is close to the Low average of 382, suggesting that the GPU is sometimes fully utilized even at Medium settings. The min FPS of 270 at 1080p Medium is 85% of the average, showing occasional CPU stalls. At 1440p Medium, the min of 179 is 85% of the 210 average, and the max of 242 is 115% of the average. At 4K Medium, the min of 100 is 85% of the 117 average, and the max of 135 is 115% of the average. The consistent 85% min-to-average ratio across resolutions indicates that the CPU’s frame pacing issue scales with its workload, not with resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is ranked 2003 out of 3719 tested combinations in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the 46th percentile of all combos, meaning about 54% of tested systems perform better in this game. The rank is a composite of all resolution and settings results, but the data suggests that the CPU drags down what would otherwise be a higher placement.

Considering the RTX 4060’s GPU percentile of 61, one might expect a higher combo rank, but the Ryzen 5 2600’s CPU percentile of 75 (which is higher than the GPU’s) does not translate to gaming performance because the CPU’s single-thread score is low. The combo rank of 2003 reflects the fact that many other CPUs paired with similar or lesser GPUs can achieve higher FPS in Counter-Strike 2 due to better single-core performance.

The GPU’s nearestRivals in the database include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 with a deltaPct of -0.2, which is essentially a tie in average benchmark score. However, the HD 7790 is an older card with less modern feature support, so the RTX 4060’s actual gaming performance is likely better in newer titles. In Counter-Strike 2 specifically, the RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and Ada architecture provide the raw speed needed for high FPS, but the combo rank shows that the processor is the weak link.

For context, the CPU’s nearestRivals include the Intel Xeon D-1746TER with a deltaPct of -0.7 and the AMD EPYC 9454 with a deltaPct of 1.2. These are server-class chips that have higher multi-threaded scores but likely worse single-thread performance than the Ryzen 5 2600. This illustrates that the combo rank is not solely determined by CPU or GPU scores in isolation, but by how they interact in the game’s specific workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target refresh rate and resolution. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 237 FPS is the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, as it exceeds 240 Hz refresh rates in most cases. The Ultra preset at 184 FPS is still playable and provides the highest visual fidelity, but the 53 FPS drop from High to Ultra is substantial for a competitive shooter where frame rate matters more than shadows or reflections. The Medium preset at 317 FPS is ideal for players with 360 Hz monitors, but the improvement over High is only 80 FPS, which may not be worth the visual downgrade.

For 1440p, the High preset at 157 FPS is the recommended choice for 144 Hz displays. The Medium preset at 210 FPS is better for 240 Hz monitors, but the drop from Medium to High is 53 FPS, which is noticeable in fast-paced gameplay. The Ultra preset at 122 FPS is borderline for 120 Hz panels, but the Low preset at 253 FPS is only useful for esports players who prioritize frame rate over everything else.

For 4K, the Medium preset at 117 FPS is the best option, as it is the only 4K setting that exceeds 100 FPS. The High preset at 88 FPS is acceptable for 60-90 Hz monitors, but the Ultra preset at 68 FPS is below the ideal 72 FPS threshold for smooth motion. The Low preset at 141 FPS is the highest 4K result, but it sacrifices too much visual quality for most users. Given that Counter-Strike 2 is a competitive title, the Medium preset at 4K provides the best compromise between clarity and performance, with a min FPS of 100 that avoids major stutters.

In summary, the data recommends: 1080p High, 1440p Medium or High depending on refresh rate, and 4K Medium. The Low presets are only advisable for players with extremely high refresh rate monitors at 1080p or 1440p, and the Ultra presets are not recommended because the FPS drops are disproportionate to the visual gains.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 382, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: At 4K resolution, which settings preset yields the best average FPS?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields 141 FPS average, which is the highest 4K result. The Medium preset follows at 117 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU affect 1080p performance compared to 4K?

A: At 1080p, the CPU becomes the bottleneck, as evidenced by the 198 FPS difference between Low (382) and Ultra (184) settings. At 4K, the GPU is the primary constraint, with only a 73 FPS difference between the same settings.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested systems in this game?

A: The combo ranks 2003 out of 3719 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database.

Q: Does the RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM cause any issues in this game?

A: No, the measured FPS values do not indicate VRAM limitations. The performance differences between settings are consistent with computational load, not memory capacity.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most consistent frame times according to min/max data?

A: The Medium preset has the only recorded min/max values. At 1080p, the min is 270 and max is 365; at 1440p, min is 179 and max is 242; at 4K, min is 100 and max is 135. The min FPS is consistently 85% of the average across all resolutions.