Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is a competitive FPS where frame pacing and responsiveness matter more than raw graphical fidelity, and the data for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 reflects that reality. This combination holds a combo rank of 1555 out of 1632 tested configurations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems in our database for this specific title. The benchmark results indicate a system that is heavily dependent on settings and resolution, capable of delivering highly competitive frame rates at 1080p with reduced settings but struggling to maintain playability at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which provides the single-thread performance that Counter-Strike 2 heavily relies upon. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and a cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 2029, indicate strong per-core capabilities. This is crucial because the game's engine often bottlenecks on a single primary thread for game logic and input processing. The data suggests that at lower resolutions, the processor's speed is the primary driver for achieving the high frame rates seen in the 1080p Low preset.

However, the CPU's overall throughput is also a factor. With a passmark_multithread score of 16908 and a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 14372, the processor can handle background tasks and the additional threads used by the game for rendering preparation. In this system, the CPU is the more capable component. Its percentile ranking against all CPUs is 75, while the GPU sits at a 74 percentile, but the nature of the workload shifts the balance. The benchmark results show that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, but the CPU's 12 threads and high boost clock ensure it is never the primary constraint at 4K, where the frame rates drop dramatically due to GPU load.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is a GCN 4.0 architecture GPU with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. Its memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s and boost clock of 1244 MHz are modest by modern standards. The GPU's benchmark scores, including a 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 880 and a geekbench_vulkan score of 42752, show its performance envelope. In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU's role becomes critical at higher resolutions and settings, where its 4 GB VRAM capacity and processing power are quickly saturated. The data shows the GPU is the clear bottleneck at 4K, where the average FPS at High settings falls to 34, and at Ultra it drops to 30.1.

The RX 570's architecture supports DirectX 12 and Vulkan, but its raw compute power, listed at 5.095 TFLOPS FP32, is limited. This is evident in the scaling of frame rates; the gap between the Low and Ultra presets widens significantly at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU can keep up with the CPU's output, but at 1440p and 4K, the rendering load increases, and the GPU's 32 ROPs and 128 TMUs are insufficient to maintain high frame rates. The 4 GB VRAM is also a potential concern for high-resolution textures, but the benchmark results suggest that compute and fill rate limits are the primary factors in the performance decline.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal experience for this combo is found at 1080p with the Low preset, where the average FPS is 153.6. This setting provides the highest headroom for competitive play, ensuring the frame rate stays well above the refresh rate of most standard monitors. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers a strong experience with an average of 129.8 FPS, which is a reasonable trade-off for slightly better visuals without a significant performance penalty. The High preset at 1080p, averaging 95.7 FPS, is still playable but begins to approach the threshold where frame drops could be noticeable in fast-paced action.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option for a competitive edge, yielding 104.8 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 84.7 FPS, which is still acceptable, but the margin for error is reduced. The High preset at 1440p falls to 66.7 FPS, which is below the ideal range for a competitive shooter. At 4K resolution, the data shows that no preset is ideal for competitive play. The Low preset averages 59.7 FPS, which is playable but not optimal, while the High preset at 34 FPS is simply too slow for a fast-paced FPS. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended, as it provides the lowest frame rates, including a 74.8 FPS average at 1080p and a 30.1 FPS average at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The pairing of the i5-11400F and RX 570 ranks 1555 out of 1632 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the bottom 5% of systems in our database for this game. This low ranking is not a reflection of poor component quality individually, but rather the combined performance ceiling they present for this specific title. The CPU and GPU are both older-generation parts, and their performance is now outstripped by more recent hardware. The data shows that while they can achieve high frame rates at 1080p Low, they lack the power to push high frame rates at higher resolutions or with higher graphics settings, which is a common expectation for modern systems.

The ranking indicates that this system is suitable for a specific use case: 1080p competitive play with low settings. For any other scenario, it will struggle. The combo's performance is consistent with the individual components' benchmark scores, but the game's engine seems to amplify the GPU's limitations. The CPU's percentile rank of 75 is decent, but the GPU's 74 percentile is misleading in this context, as the game's requirements stress the GPU more heavily at higher settings. The overall rank of 1555 suggests that users with this hardware should stick to the presets and resolutions that yield the highest FPS, as pushing for visual quality will result in an unplayable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the GPU bottleneck. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 153.6 at 1080p to 104.8 at 1440p, a 31.8% decrease, and then to 59.7 at 4K, a further 43% decrease from 1440p. This consistent drop with resolution indicates that the RX 570's rendering capabilities are being overwhelmed. The CPU, with its 4.40 GHz boost clock, is less impacted by the increased resolution, as the game logic and draw call processing remain constant. The data supports this, as the FPS at 4K Low is still above 60, suggesting the CPU can still feed the GPU.

At the High preset, the drop is even more pronounced: from 95.7 FPS at 1080p to 66.7 FPS at 1440p (a 30.3% decrease) and then to 34 FPS at 4K (a 49% decrease). This steeper decline at higher settings confirms that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors. The gap between the Low and High presets also widens with resolution, from a 37.8% difference at 1080p to a 43.1% difference at 4K. This indicates that the GPU cannot handle the increased shading and texture work at higher resolutions, making the CPU's role less relevant as the resolution scales up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a granular view of the system's performance. At 4K the average frame rates are as follows: Low 59.7, Medium 45.3, High 34, and Ultra 30.1. These numbers show a steep drop-off as settings increase, with the Ultra preset being nearly unplayable. At 1440p, the averages are: Low 104.8, Medium 84.7, High 66.7, and Ultra 50.9. This resolution offers a better balance, with Low and Medium being viable for play. At 1080p, the averages are: Low 153.6, Medium 129.8, High 95.7, and Ultra 74.8. The 1080p resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, with the Low preset providing a high frame rate that is ideal for competitive play, and the Medium preset offering a good visual-to-performance ratio.

The data shows that the jump from Medium to High at all resolutions incurs a significant FPS penalty, suggesting that the High preset's additional effects are particularly taxing on the GPU. For example, at 1080p, the drop from Medium to High is 34.1 FPS, while the drop from High to Ultra is 20.9 FPS. The pattern is similar at 1440p and 4K, indicating that the High preset is the least efficient in terms of performance per frame. For users seeking the best experience, the Low or Medium presets are the most efficient choices, with the Low preset being the only option that guarantees a high and consistent frame rate across all resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Counter-Strike 2 at a high refresh rate?

A: Yes, at 1080p with the Low preset, the average FPS is 153.6, which is sufficient for a 144Hz monitor. However, at 1440p, the Low preset averages 104.8 FPS, which is below 144Hz.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The data shows the GPU is the main bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 59.7, while at 1080p Low it is 153.6, indicating the GPU cannot keep up with the increased resolution. The CPU's performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868, is adequate for the game's logic.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo?

A: The Low preset at 1080p provides the highest average FPS at 153.6 and is the best for competitive play. The Medium preset at 1080p, averaging 129.8 FPS, is a good alternative if you want slightly better visuals.

Q: Is 4K gaming feasible with the Radeon RX 570?

A: No, 4K gaming is not feasible for a competitive experience. The highest average FPS at 4K is 59.7 on Low settings, and the Ultra preset drops to 30.1 FPS, which is unplayable for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other systems in the database?

A: This combo ranks 1555 out of 1632 tested configurations, indicating it is in the bottom percentile for Counter-Strike 2 performance. This is due to the combined limitations of the older CPU and GPU.

Q: Is the 4 GB VRAM on the RX 570 a limiting factor?

A: While VRAM can be a factor, the data suggests that the GPU's compute and fill rate limits are more significant. The FPS drops consistently with settings and resolution, which points to processing power constraints rather than memory capacity, especially since the game is not texture-heavy at Low settings.