Counter-Strike 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a compelling Counter-Strike 2 experience, with performance that scales predictably across resolutions and settings. The measured data shows a system that is clearly capable of high refresh rate gameplay at 1080p, while still maintaining playable frame rates at 4K. The following analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU roles, settings recommendations, resolution scaling, and how this specific pairing ranks among other tested combinations.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor features a 32 MB shared L3 cache, along with 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 80 KB of L1 cache per core. This configuration provides substantial single-thread and multi-thread headroom, which is critical for a competitive FPS like Counter-Strike 2.

In the CPU’s synthetic benchmark results, the single-thread score is 4691, and the multithread score is 36470. The processor’s percentile vs all CPUs is 94, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of desktop processors in general compute tasks. Its average benchmark score of 69996 places it in close competition with several high-end rivals. The data shows the Ryzen 7 9700F is a mere 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (which scores 69875) and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-14700KF (which scores 70163). It is also 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (score 69515) and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K (score 69355). This tight grouping suggests that the 9700F’s raw processing power is squarely in the upper echelon of current desktop CPUs.

For Counter-Strike 2, a game that is heavily reliant on CPU performance for game logic, physics, and draw call submission, this level of compute capability is beneficial. The high single-thread score ensures that the game’s main simulation thread is not a bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 382 FPS, which is a clear indication that the CPU can feed frames at a very high rate when the GPU is not the limiting factor. The 16 threads also help with background tasks and any multi-threaded aspects of the game engine, ensuring consistent performance without stutter.

The processor’s memory support for DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s also contributes to overall system responsiveness. While the game’s performance is not solely dictated by memory bandwidth, having a modern, high-speed memory interface helps to reduce latency, which is crucial in a fast-paced shooter. The CPU is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC, featuring 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die, which indicates a dense and efficient design. The combination of high clocks and efficient architecture appears to be well-suited to Counter-Strike 2’s engine, as the data shows no signs of CPU-limited frame rates at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the game performs across different quality presets at each resolution. The goal is to find a balance between visual fidelity and frame rate consistency, particularly for a competitive title where higher frame rates translate to lower input latency.

At 1920x1080, the system offers a wide range of options. On the Low preset, the average FPS is 382, which is extremely high and well beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset still delivers a very high average of 317 FPS, with a minimum of 270 and a maximum of 365, indicating excellent frame pacing. The High preset drops to an average of 237 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth. The Ultra preset yields an average of 184 FPS. For competitive play, the Low or Medium presets are ideal, as they maximize frame rate and minimize input lag. The Medium preset provides a good balance, offering slightly better visuals while maintaining an average well above 300 FPS. For those who prefer a better visual experience without a significant performance hit, the High preset at 237 FPS is also a strong choice.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down but remains impressive. The Low preset delivers an average of 253 FPS, which is still excellent for high refresh rate monitors. The Medium preset achieves an average of 210 FPS, with a minimum of 179 and a maximum of 242, showing that the frame rate remains stable. The High preset produces an average of 157 FPS, which is suitable for 144 Hz displays. The Ultra preset, with an average of 122 FPS, is the only one that drops below the 144 FPS threshold, but it is still playable. For a 1440p setup, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot, offering high frame rates and a solid visual upgrade over Low. The High preset is also viable for users with 144 Hz monitors who prioritize image quality.

At 3840x2160, the system becomes more GPU-bound. The Low preset still manages an average of 141 FPS, which is quite good for 4K. The Medium preset averages 117 FPS, with a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 135, making it a very playable option for a 4K display. The High preset drops to an average of 88 FPS, which is still acceptable for many gamers. The Ultra preset, however, falls to an average of 68 FPS, which may be too low for a fast-paced competitive shooter. For 4K, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, keeping the average FPS above 100. The Low preset is the best option for those who want to prioritize frame rate above all else at this resolution.

Across all resolutions, the data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best overall experience, providing a significant visual improvement over Low while maintaining high and stable frame rates. The High preset is a good alternative for users with high refresh rate monitors at 1080p or 1440p who want more visual detail.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend as resolution increases. The system’s performance scales significantly from 1080p to 4K, indicating a shift in the bottleneck from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU at higher resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the CPU is the primary driver of performance. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets is substantial, with an average FPS of 382 on Low versus 184 on Ultra. This large gap suggests that the CPU can push very high frame rates, but the GPU becomes more challenged as the settings increase. The frame rate drop from Low to Ultra is about 52%, which indicates that the GPU is starting to become a limiting factor even at 1080p when the graphics load is high.

At 2560x1440, the total FPS drops across all settings. The Low preset averages 253 FPS, which is a 34% decrease from the 382 FPS at 1080p. The Ultra preset averages 122 FPS, a 34% decrease from 184 FPS. This consistent percentage drop suggests that the GPU is now the primary bottleneck, as the increase in pixel count is directly impacting performance. The CPU’s high single-thread performance is no longer the main constraint, and the RTX 4060’s workload is increasing.

At 3840x2160, the trend continues. The Low preset averages 141 FPS, which is a 44% drop from the 253 FPS at 1440p and a 63% drop from the 382 FPS at 1080p. The Medium preset averages 117 FPS, a 44% drop from the 210 FPS at 1440p. The High preset averages 88 FPS, a 44% drop from the 157 FPS at 1440p. The Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, a 44% drop from the 122 FPS at 1440p. The consistent percentage drop from 1440p to 4K across all settings confirms that the GPU is the definitive limiting component at this resolution. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit memory bus are being taxed by the higher resolution and texture requirements.

The data reveals a clear hierarchy: at 1080p, the CPU is the main driver, and the system can achieve extremely high frame rates. At 1440p, the balance shifts, and the GPU becomes more important. At 4K, the GPU is firmly the bottleneck, and frame rates are more dependent on the graphics settings. This scaling behavior is typical for a balanced mid-range to high-end system, where the CPU provides enough headroom to support high FPS at lower resolutions, but the GPU’s capabilities define the ceiling at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination holds a combo rank of 1510 out of 2870 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This ranking places the system in the top 53% of all tested configurations. While this is not a top-tier ranking, it is important to consider the context. The comboRankInGame is based on the specific combination of CPU and GPU, and a rank of 1510 out of 2870 suggests that many other pairings, likely featuring higher-end GPUs, achieve higher average frame rates in this game.

The ranking reflects the fact that the RTX 4060 is positioned in the mid-range segment of the GPU market. The GPU’s percentile vs all GPUs is 61, indicating that it performs better than the majority of graphics cards, but it is not a flagship product. In contrast, the CPU’s percentile vs all CPUs is 94, showing it is a much stronger component relative to its peers. This asymmetry suggests that the combination is CPU-heavy, and the GPU may be holding back the system’s full potential in Counter-Strike 2, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU can generate frames faster than the GPU can render them.

The data from the measured FPS shows that the system can achieve 382 FPS on Low settings at 1080p, which is a very high score. However, the combo rank is a comparison against all other tested combinations, which includes systems with much more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 or 4090. Those systems would likely achieve even higher frame rates, pushing this combo down in the rankings. Despite the mid-pack rank, the absolute performance of this combo is excellent for most users, and the rank indicates that it is a capable gaming system, just not at the very top of the leaderboard. The ranking is a relative measure and should be interpreted with the understanding that the system delivers high absolute performance, especially considering its CPU’s strength.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average FPS is 382, achieved on the Low settings preset.

Q: Which preset provides a minimum FPS above 100 at 3840x2160?

A: The Medium preset provides a minimum FPS of 100, with an average of 117 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread score compare to its rivals?

A: The CPU's single-thread score is 4691. The data does not list rival single-thread scores, but the overall average benchmark score of 69996 is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (69875) and 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70163).

Q: What is the GPU's memory size and type?

A: The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 253 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 122 FPS, a difference of 131 FPS.

Q: Does the combo rank in the top half of all tested systems?

A: Yes, the combo ranks 1510 out of 2870 tested combinations, placing it in the top 53% of all tested combos.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table breaks down the measured average, minimum, and maximum FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average 382 FPS
• Medium: Average 317 FPS, Minimum 270 FPS, Maximum 365 FPS
• High: Average 237 FPS
• Ultra: Average 184 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: Average 253 FPS
• Medium: Average 210 FPS, Minimum 179 FPS, Maximum 242 FPS
• High: Average 157 FPS
• Ultra: Average 122 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: Average 141 FPS
• Medium: Average 117 FPS, Minimum 100 FPS, Maximum 135 FPS
• High: Average 88 FPS
• Ultra: Average 68 FPS

The data shows that the Medium preset at 1080p and 1440p provides the most consistent frame rates, with minimums that are still very high. At 4K, the Medium preset is the only one with a recorded minimum FPS above 100, making it the most stable choice for a 4K display. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 68 FPS, is the only setting that falls below 70 FPS, which may be less desirable for competitive play.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a mid-range graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD107 chip. It has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. The GPU features 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is connected via a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The card has a TDP of 115 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W.

In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU’s role becomes more prominent as the resolution and settings increase. At 1080p, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as the CPU’s high single-thread performance can generate frames faster than the GPU can render them at lower settings. The average FPS of 382 on Low settings confirms the CPU’s strength, but it also shows that the GPU has enough headroom to handle the load.

At 1440p, the GPU’s workload increases, and its performance becomes more critical. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for most textures at this resolution, and the average FPS of 253 on Low settings indicates that the GPU is still capable of high frame rates. The drop to 122 FPS on Ultra settings shows that the GPU’s compute power is being more heavily taxed, but it remains playable.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component. The average FPS of 141 on Low settings is respectable, but the drop to 68 FPS on Ultra settings shows that the card’s 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are not ideal for the highest quality settings at this resolution. The GPU’s pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s are decent for its class, but they are not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with Ultra preset. The card’s FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS is a good indicator of its raw compute capability, which is in line with its mid-range positioning.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reflect its overall performance. Its Passmark G3D score is 19545, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2302. Its percentile vs all GPUs is 61, meaning it outperforms most graphics cards but is not in the top tier. In terms of rivals, its average benchmark score of 17639 is 0.2% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666), 0.3% higher than the AMD Radeon 780M (17588), 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551), and 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (17509). This places it in a competitive mid-range bracket, and its performance in Counter-Strike 2 is consistent with that positioning. The GPU's role in this combo is to provide solid frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, while being the main factor that limits maximum performance at 4K with the highest settings.