Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is a competitive FPS that demands high frame rates, and the data for the Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 shows a system that scales predictably across resolutions. The measured rows reveal that this combination is capable of delivering playable performance at 4K, but it truly excels when the resolution drops, where the frame rates climb dramatically. The performance scaling from 4K down to 1080p highlights a system that is balanced yet leans on the GPU more heavily at higher resolutions, while the CPU becomes increasingly relevant at lower ones.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression across the three tested resolutions tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. At 4K with High settings, the combo averages 88 FPS; dropping to 1440p High raises that to 157 FPS, a gain of 69 FPS. Moving further down to 1080p High yields 237 FPS, which is 80 FPS higher than the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is steep, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at these higher resolutions. The RTX 4060, with its 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus, is working hard to fill those pixels, and the frame rate responds directly to the reduced pixel count as resolution drops.

However, the scaling is not uniform across all settings presets. Looking at the Low preset, the 4K average is 141 FPS, which jumps to 253 FPS at 1440p and then to 382 FPS at 1080p. The jump from 4K to 1440p is 112 FPS, while the jump from 1440p to 1080p is 129 FPS. This suggests that at Low settings, the CPU begins to play a more significant role. The i5-12600KF, with its 10 cores and 16 threads boosting to 4.90 GHz, is capable of feeding the GPU quickly, but at 1080p Low, the frame rates are so high that the CPU’s single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1016, becomes a larger factor.

The Medium preset shows a similar trend, with averages of 117 FPS at 4K, 210 FPS at 1440p, and 317 FPS at 1080p. The difference between 4K and 1440p is 93 FPS, and between 1440p and 1080p is 107 FPS. This consistent increase as resolution drops indicates that the system is well-balanced for this title, with neither component completely overwhelming the other at any given setting. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, shows averages of 68 FPS at 4K, 122 FPS at 1440p, and 184 FPS at 1080p, with the gaps being 54 FPS and 62 FPS respectively. This narrower scaling at Ultra suggests that the GPU is heavily taxed, and the CPU has more headroom to work with.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features a boost clock of 2460 MHz. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory runs at 2125 MHz, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s across a 128-bit bus. In Counter-Strike 2, this configuration is sufficient for 4K gaming, as evidenced by the 88 FPS average at High settings. However, the data suggests that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at 4K, as the frame rates are significantly lower than at 1440p or 1080p. The 68 FPS average at 4K Ultra is a clear indicator that the GPU is nearing its limits, especially when compared to the 184 FPS at 1080p Ultra.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 61st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666 with a deltaPct of -0.2, and the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores 17588 with a deltaPct of 0.3. This places the RTX 4060 in a competitive position, though its performance in Counter-Strike 2 is more dependent on the specific workload. The GPU’s 3072 shading units and 48 ROPs contribute to its pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s, which helps explain its ability to handle 4K at moderate settings. The 8 GB memory capacity is adequate for this game, as the measured FPS does not show any signs of memory-related stuttering, even at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 237 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 117, with a minimum of 100 FPS and a maximum of 135 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low?

A: At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 382, which is the highest measured value. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU’s performance, particularly its single-thread capabilities, becomes more relevant as the GPU load decreases.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 4K High and 1440p High?

A: The average FPS at 4K High is 88, while at 1440p High it is 157, representing a difference of 69 FPS in favor of the lower resolution.

Q: Does the GPU’s 8 GB memory cause any issues in this game?

A: The measured data does not indicate any memory-related performance drops. The frame rates at 4K Ultra, which is the most demanding setting, remain playable at 68 FPS average.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639, while the AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, giving the RTX 4060 a deltaPct of -0.2, meaning it is nearly identical in synthetic benchmarks.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average at 382 FPS, followed by Medium at 317 FPS, High at 237 FPS, and Ultra at 184 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 270 and a maximum of 365, indicating good stability. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 253 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS with a minimum of 179 and maximum of 242, High averages 157 FPS, and Ultra averages 122 FPS. The 4K resolution, 3840x2160, shows the lowest frame rates, with Low averaging 141 FPS, Medium averaging 117 FPS, High averaging 88 FPS, and Ultra averaging 68 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K also provides a minimum of 100 FPS and a maximum of 135 FPS.

This data reveals that the combo is highly capable at 1080p, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 180 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, the Low and Medium presets remain above 200 FPS, while High and Ultra stay above 120 FPS. At 4K, the Low preset is the only one that breaks the 140 FPS barrier, while High and Ultra remain above 60 FPS, making them playable for less competitive scenarios. The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate, with the Ultra preset consistently halving the FPS compared to Low.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 2003 out of 3719 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2, placing it in the upper half of the database. This rank is a reflection of the system’s balanced performance, as it is neither a top-tier enthusiast setup nor a budget compromise. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 79 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799, places it just slightly below the Intel Core i9-10900K, which scores 27872 with a deltaPct of -0.3. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 61 among all GPUs, with an average score of 17639, shows that it is a mid-range performer, sitting close to the AMD Radeon 780M, which has a deltaPct of 0.3.

The combo’s rank in this specific game suggests that it is well-suited for competitive play at 1080p and 1440p, where the frame rates are high enough to take advantage of fast refresh rates. At 4K, the performance is more modest, but the data shows it is still playable at most settings. The rank of 2003 out of 3719 indicates that there are many combos with higher performance, likely those with more powerful GPUs or CPUs, but this pairing offers a solid middle ground. The measured FPS data supports this, as the system never drops below 60 FPS at any tested setting and resolution, which is a key threshold for smooth gameplay.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a versatile choice for gaming. In Counter-Strike 2, the CPU’s role is evident in the high frame rates achieved at lower resolutions. The 3DMark scores show a single-thread score of 1016 and a max-thread score of 7952, indicating strong per-core performance that is crucial for this game’s engine. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391 and single-core score of 3302 further confirm its capability.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which has an average score of 27896 with a deltaPct of -0.3, and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U with a score of 27887 and a deltaPct of -0.3. This places the i5-12600KF in close competition with these processors, though its performance in Counter-Strike 2 is more directly tied to its ability to feed the GPU. At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 382 suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck, as this is an extremely high frame rate. Even at 1080p Ultra, which is more GPU-intensive, the CPU still manages to deliver 184 FPS. The data implies that the CPU has enough headroom to support the GPU across all settings, with the limiting factor shifting to the GPU at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for competitive play is at 1080p with the Low preset, which delivers an average of 382 FPS. This frame rate is well above the 240 Hz refresh rate that many competitive monitors offer, ensuring that the system can keep up with the display’s capabilities. For players who prefer higher visual fidelity while maintaining high frame rates, the 1080p Medium preset offers a strong balance at 317 FPS, with a minimum of 270 FPS that prevents noticeable drops during intense firefights.

At 1440p, the Low preset at 253 FPS is the best choice for those prioritizing frame rate, while the Medium preset at 210 FPS still provides an excellent experience. The High preset at 157 FPS is also viable for 1440p, offering a good mix of visuals and performance. For 4K, the Low preset at 141 FPS is the only option that exceeds 140 FPS, making it the recommended setting for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 117 FPS is also acceptable, but the High preset at 88 FPS and Ultra at 68 FPS should be reserved for less competitive or single-player scenarios. The data suggests that the Medium preset across all resolutions provides the most consistent experience, with minimum FPS values that are at least 100 FPS at 4K and 179 FPS at 1440p.