Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Counter-Strike 2, with benchmark data showing the pairing is heavily influenced by the graphics card's capabilities at higher resolutions. The measured results indicate a system that can push well beyond 300 FPS at 1080p in lower settings, yet it exhibits a distinct performance ceiling that scales predictably with graphical fidelity and pixel count.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It features a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

In the context of Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's single-thread performance is often the critical factor. The processor's 3DMark single-thread score of 909 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1680 indicate solid per-core capability. However, the game's engine is also capable of utilizing multiple cores, and the i5-12400F's 12 threads provide sufficient parallelism. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 405 FPS average, which is a scenario where the CPU must feed frames quickly. The CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 3481 places it in a competitive position, yet the bottleneck analysis from the resolution scaling suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiter in most tested scenarios.

Benchmark results indicate the CPU's overall standing is robust. The i5-12400F holds a percentile of 73 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (deltaPct 0) and the Intel Core 3 201E (deltaPct -0.1), showing that the i5-12400F is statistically equivalent to these parts in aggregate CPU workloads. The 3DMark multi-thread score of 5912 and 2-thread score of 1699 demonstrate that while the CPU can scale with thread count, its strength lies in balanced performance. For Counter-Strike 2, this means the CPU provides enough headroom to avoid being the bottleneck at 1080p Low, where the frame rate reaches 405 FPS, but the scaling to higher resolutions shows the load shifting to the GPU.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 32 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1900 MHz, with a boost clock of 2459 MHz and a game clock of 2041 MHz. The memory runs at 2438 MHz (19.5 Gbps effective). This hardware configuration delivers 25.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings increase. The VRAM capacity of 16 GB is more than sufficient for the game's texture and geometry demands at all tested settings, meaning memory size is not a limiting factor in the measured results. Instead, the GPU's raw compute and fill rate dictate performance at higher loads. The pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s contribute to the card's ability to handle the game's rendering.

The GPU's benchmark scores show a percentile of 58 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15852. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 370X (deltaPct -0.1) and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (deltaPct -1), indicating the RX 7700 sits in a specific performance tier. The Passmark G3D score of 20974 and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2865 provide context for its gaming performance. In the measured FPS data, the GPU demonstrates its capability by delivering 405 FPS at 1080p Low, but this drops to 72 FPS at 4K Ultra, showing a clear performance envelope that is constrained by GPU compute rather than memory bandwidth or capacity.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Analyzing the measured FPS across resolutions reveals a consistent pattern of performance degradation that identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck in most scenarios. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 405 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 268 FPS, a reduction of approximately 34%. At 4K Low, the average is 150 FPS, which is a 63% drop from 1080p. This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload, as the CPU can maintain high frame generation at lower pixel counts, but the GPU's rendering load increases disproportionately with resolution.

The High settings tell a similar story. At 1080p High, the system produces 251 FPS. At 1440p High, this falls to 166 FPS (a 34% decrease), and at 4K High, it drops to 93 FPS (a 63% decrease from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor; if the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU work per frame does not change with resolution. Instead, the linear drop in FPS with pixel count confirms that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is the component determining the frame rate ceiling.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the system hits 195 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 129 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 72 FPS. The 4K Ultra result represents a 63% reduction from 1080p Ultra, matching the scaling seen in other presets. This uniformity across Low, High, and Ultra settings suggests that the GPU's performance scaling is linear with pixel count, reinforcing that the RX 7700 is the limiting component. The CPU's role is to provide enough frame generation headroom, which it does adequately, as evidenced by the high FPS at 1080p Low where CPU load is typically highest.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 405, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This represents the peak performance of the combination in the tested configurations.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 72 on Ultra settings to 150 on Low settings. Medium settings yield 124 FPS, while High settings produce 93 FPS. These results indicate that 4K gaming is possible but requires lower settings for smoother gameplay.

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

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. FPS drops by approximately 63% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which is consistent with GPU-bound performance. The CPU provides sufficient headroom, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low.

Q: What are the FPS differences between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 405 FPS average, while Ultra settings produce 195 FPS average. This represents a 210 FPS difference, showing that graphical fidelity has a significant impact on performance even at the same resolution.

Q: Does the combo maintain playable frame rates at 1440p with high settings?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves 166 FPS average. This is well above the threshold for competitive play and demonstrates that the combo is well-suited for 1440p gaming with high visual quality.

Q: How does the combo's overall rank compare to other tested systems?

A: In the database of tested combinations for Counter-Strike 2, this combo ranks 1273 out of 2870 total combos. This places it in the 44th percentile of tested systems, indicating it performs above the median but is not in the top tier.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 holds a rank of 1273 out of 2870 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places the system in the 44th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it outperforms a majority of systems but does not reach the elite tier. The rank reflects the GPU's moderate standing in the performance hierarchy, as the CPU is statistically competitive with its nearest rivals.

The GPU's percentile of 58 among all GPUs suggests that the RX 7700 sits slightly above the median in overall graphics performance, but its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti with a deltaPct of -1.7, indicating the RX 7700 is slightly slower than that card in aggregate benchmarks. This positioning is consistent with the measured FPS results, which show strong 1080p performance but more modest 4K capabilities. The combo's rank of 1273 out of 2870 indicates that while it is not a top-tier system for Counter-Strike 2, it delivers a highly playable experience at most settings and resolutions, with the exception of 4K Ultra where frame rates dip below 100 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings achieve 405 FPS average, Medium settings produce 336 FPS average with a minimum of 286 FPS and maximum of 387 FPS, High settings yield 251 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 195 FPS average. These results show that at 1080p, even the most demanding preset maintains a frame rate well above 144 Hz, making the combo suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. Low settings produce 268 FPS average, Medium settings yield 223 FPS average with a minimum of 189 FPS and maximum of 256 FPS, High settings achieve 166 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 129 FPS average. These numbers indicate that 1440p gaming is excellent, with even Ultra settings maintaining triple-digit frame rates. The Medium preset's minimum of 189 FPS ensures smooth gameplay without significant dips.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings achieve 150 FPS average, Medium settings produce 124 FPS average with a minimum of 106 FPS and maximum of 143 FPS, High settings yield 93 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 72 FPS average. The 4K results show that while Low and Medium settings provide playable frame rates, High and Ultra settings fall below the 100 FPS threshold, which may be a concern for competitive players seeking maximum smoothness. The Medium preset at 4K offers a balanced experience with a minimum FPS of 106, ensuring consistent performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and the player's preference for visual fidelity versus frame rate. For 1920x1080, all presets deliver frame rates above 195 FPS, making even Ultra settings viable for high-refresh-rate displays. However, the Medium preset offers an exceptional balance, with 336 FPS average and a minimum of 286 FPS, ensuring no noticeable frame drops in fast-paced action. This preset provides a significant FPS advantage over High (251 FPS) and Ultra (195 FPS) while maintaining good visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the High preset provides the best experience for players prioritizing visual quality without sacrificing competitive performance. With 166 FPS average, it comfortably exceeds the 144 Hz threshold. The Medium preset at 1440p (223 FPS average) is the best choice for players with 240 Hz monitors, as it provides ample headroom while maintaining a minimum of 189 FPS. The Ultra preset at 129 FPS is still playable but may not be optimal for highly competitive play where maximum frame rates are preferred.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It achieves 124 FPS average with a minimum of 106 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without significant stuttering. The Low preset at 150 FPS offers higher performance but with reduced visual quality. High and Ultra presets at 93 FPS and 72 FPS respectively are borderline for competitive play, as frame rates below 100 FPS may introduce perceptible input lag and reduced responsiveness. Players with 4K displays should stick to Medium settings for the best balance of performance and visual fidelity, while those with 1440p or 1080p monitors can comfortably use High settings for a superior visual experience without compromising frame rates.