Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 with an Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 580 produces a fascinating dataset that reveals a system caught between two generations of hardware. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings tell a story of a GPU that is clearly the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the 6-core, 12-thread CPU demonstrates it can still deliver high framerates at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the measured data to understand exactly where this combination excels and where it struggles.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and predictable decline as resolution increases, but the rate of that decline is not uniform across all settings. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 172 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that figure to 114 FPS, a reduction of 58 FPS (roughly 34% lower). The jump to 4K Low yields 64 FPS, which is another significant 44% drop from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern suggests that at Low settings, the system is increasingly reliant on the GPU to fill pixels, and the RX 580's 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are being pushed hard.

The scaling is even more telling at High settings. The 1080p High average is 107 FPS, which falls to 71 FPS at 1440p (a 34% drop) and then to 40 FPS at 4K (a 44% drop from 1440p). This consistent ~34% and ~44% reduction across settings indicates a GPU-bound scenario at all resolutions above 1080p. The data implies that the limiting component is almost certainly the AMD Radeon RX 580, as its performance curve aligns with the FPS drops. The CPU’s performance, while not unlimited, appears sufficient to feed the GPU at these higher pixel counts, as the framerate is not collapsing in a way that would suggest a CPU stall.

What is particularly insightful is the comparison between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution. At 1080p, Low yields 172 FPS while Ultra yields 83 FPS, a difference of 89 FPS. At 4K, the gap narrows to just 33 FPS (64 FPS on Low vs 31 FPS on Ultra). This compression of the performance gap at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. When the GPU is overworked at 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is less impactful because the GPU is already the limiting factor. The data suggests that for players seeking high refresh rates, 1080p is the only viable resolution, and even then, lower settings are required to approach the 172 FPS ceiling.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured data places this specific combination at rank 3390 out of 3719 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This is a low ranking, placing it in the bottom 9% of all tested system configurations. This ranking is a sobering reality check for a system that can produce playable framerates. The data implies that while the combo can run the game, it does so at a level far below what most other tested systems achieve, likely due to the age and mid-range positioning of both components.

This rank is particularly striking when considering the individual component percentiles. The CPU sits at the 71st percentile compared to all CPUs, indicating it is a solidly mid-range performer. The GPU, however, sits at the 53rd percentile compared to all GPUs, which is the very definition of an average card. The combination of an above-average CPU with an average GPU does not result in a high-performing combo for this specific game. The data suggests that Counter-Strike 2 is demanding enough that even a relatively capable CPU cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations.

The nearest rivals for the CPU include the AMD EPYC 7H12, which scores 0.3% higher, and the Intel Core i5-12450H, which scores 0.4% lower. This shows the i5-11400F is a solid performer in its class. Conversely, the GPU's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (0.1% higher score) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (0.4% higher score). This places the RX 580 in the same performance bracket as those cards, which are entry-level to mid-range options from their respective generations. The combined ranking of 3390 out of 3719 suggests that in the context of this specific game, the pairing does not punch above its weight.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is built on the Polaris 20 chip using the GCN 4.0 architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. Its compute power is rated at 6.175 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 (1:1). The GPU operates at a base clock of 1257 MHz and a boost clock of 1340 MHz, with its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory running at an effective speed of 8 Gbps on a 256-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s.

The data indicates that this GPU's memory and bandwidth are likely the primary constraints at higher resolutions. At 4K, the pixel fill rate of 42.88 GPixel/s and texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s are insufficient to maintain high framerates. The measured 4K Ultra average of 31 FPS is a clear sign that the GPU is overwhelmed. Even at 4K Medium, the average is only 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS, showing significant frame time variance.

The GPU's performance in standard benchmarks places it at the 53rd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 12928, which is remarkably close to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, which has an average score of 12986, a delta of -0.4%. This suggests that in raw compute terms, the RX 580 is a very close match to that card. However, the measured FPS data in Counter-Strike 2 shows that this level of compute is simply not enough for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p or above. The data strongly suggests that the GPU, not the CPU, is the definitive limiting factor for this combo in this title, especially as resolution and settings increase.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the combo's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 172 FPS. Medium settings bring the average down to 143 FPS, with a minimum of 122 FPS and a maximum of 164 FPS. High settings yield an average of 107 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 83 FPS. This 1080p data shows a clear performance tiering, with a 89 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, making 1080p the only resolution where the combo can approach high-refresh-rate territory.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings yield an average of 114 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings produce an average of 95 FPS, with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 109 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 71 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to an average of 55 FPS. The data shows that at 1440p, the system is best suited for Medium settings if a consistent 95 FPS average is desired, while High and Ultra settings will push the frame rate below the 72 FPS threshold often considered the minimum for smooth competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. Low settings yield an average of 64 FPS, which is the only preset that breaks the 60 FPS barrier. Medium settings produce an average of 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS. High settings drop to 40 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to 31 FPS. The data is clear: 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this combo in Counter-Strike 2, unless the player is willing to accept low framerates and potential input lag. The gap between 1080p Low (172 FPS) and 4K Low (64 FPS) is a 108 FPS difference, illustrating the immense strain that 4K resolution places on the RX 580.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU features a substantial 12 MB of shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This is a solid mid-range CPU that was released in March 2021 with a launch MSRP of $157.

The CPU's benchmark scores are respectable. It scores 14340 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2024 in single-core. Its Passmark multithread score is 16908, and its single-thread score is 2981. These scores place it at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a capable processor. In the context of Counter-Strike 2, which is known to be CPU-intensive for physics and game logic, the i5-11400F's 12 threads and high boost clock should be sufficient to avoid being the primary bottleneck at standard resolutions.

The data supports this theory. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 172 FPS, which is a high frame rate that suggests the CPU is keeping up with the GPU's output. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see the FPS plateau regardless of resolution or settings. Instead, we see FPS consistently drop as resolution increases, which points the finger at the GPU. The CPU's performance is likely the reason the system can achieve 114 FPS at 1440p Low and 64 FPS at 4K Low; it is providing enough headroom for the GPU to work as fast as it can. The data suggests that the i5-11400F is not holding back the RX 580 in this game; rather, the GPU is unable to leverage the CPU's full potential at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a high frame rate?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo can achieve high frame rates. It reaches an average of 172 FPS on Low and 143 FPS on Medium, whereas at 2560x1440, the maximum average is 114 FPS on Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor. FPS drops consistently as resolution increases (e.g., 107 FPS at 1080p High vs 40 FPS at 4K High), which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, as the CPU is capable of delivering higher frame rates at lower resolutions.

Q: Can this system run the game at 4K resolution?

A: Technically yes, but not well. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 64 FPS on Low settings. On Medium, it drops to 53 FPS, and on Ultra, it is a low 31 FPS, suggesting 4K is not a practical gaming resolution for this combo.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its closest rival in terms of benchmark score?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 12928. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, scores 12986, which is a 0.4% difference. This indicates they are very closely matched in raw performance.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested systems?

A: The combo is ranked 3390 out of 3719 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the bottom 9% of all tested configurations, indicating that while it can play the game, most other systems perform better.

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

A: The highest average FPS is 172, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only preset that exceeds 170 FPS, with all other settings at this resolution being at or below 143 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo in Counter-Strike 2 depends heavily on the player's priority: frame rate or visual fidelity. For competitive play, where high and consistent frame rates are paramount, the 1080p Low preset is the clear choice, delivering a measured average of 172 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches the 144Hz or higher refresh rates favored by esports players. The 1080p Medium preset, with an average of 143 FPS and a minimum of 122 FPS, is a strong alternative if a player wants slightly better visuals without sacrificing too much smoothness.

At 1440p, the data suggests that the Medium preset is the best balance, offering an average of 95 FPS with a minimum of 80 FPS. This is still a playable frame rate, but it is a significant step down from the 1080p experience. High and Ultra presets at 1440p (71 and 55 FPS respectively) are likely to feel less responsive in a fast-paced FPS. For players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, the 1080p Ultra preset, with an average of 83 FPS, is the highest visual setting that remains reasonably smooth. The data overwhelmingly suggests avoiding 4K, as even the Low preset's 64 FPS average is not ideal, and the Ultra preset's 31 FPS is essentially unplayable in a competitive setting. The recommendation is to stay at 1080p and choose between Low for maximum FPS or Medium for a balance, as these presets provide the best experience based on the measured data.