Counter-Strike 2

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

The measured frame rates for Counter-Strike 2 with this Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination reveal a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo delivers 339 FPS average, which drops to 225 FPS at 1440p and further to 126 FPS at 4K. That represents a 33.6% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 62.8% reduction from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the GPU is increasingly becoming the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

The scaling behavior is even more pronounced at higher settings. With Ultra settings, the average FPS falls from 163 at 1080p to 108 at 1440p (a 33.7% drop) and then to 60 at 4K (a 63.2% drop from 1080p). This consistent pattern across all settings suggests that the RTX 5050's rendering pipeline is the primary constraint when pixel count increases, rather than any CPU limitation. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, appear more than sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the extremely high frame rates at 1080p.

Interestingly, the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution decreases. At 4K, Low settings produce 126 FPS compared to 60 FPS for Ultra — a 2.1x difference. At 1440p, the gap is 225 FPS versus 108 FPS — a 2.08x difference. At 1080p, Low yields 339 FPS while Ultra produces 163 FPS — a 2.08x difference. This nearly constant ratio across resolutions implies that the settings presets impose a similar relative workload increase on the GPU regardless of pixel count, while the absolute FPS is governed by resolution.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the system is operating in a CPU-light, GPU-bound regime — but not extremely so, since even the lowest settings produce 339 FPS, which is below what a highly overclocked flagship CPU might achieve in this esports title. The 4K results, particularly the 60 FPS Ultra figure, indicate that the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus of the RTX 5050 are likely contributing to the performance ceiling, as higher resolutions demand more memory bandwidth and capacity for textures and shaders.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific pairing of Intel Core i5-12600KF with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 achieves a combo rank of 1731 out of 2870 tested combinations in Counter-Strike 2. That places it in the 39.7th percentile of all combos tested — meaning roughly 60% of tested systems perform better in this game. This is a surprisingly modest ranking for a combination that delivers 339 FPS at 1080p Low, but it reflects the fact that Counter-Strike 2 is highly sensitive to both CPU single-thread performance and GPU raw throughput, and many other tested combos include more powerful components in both categories.

The CPU itself, the Core i5-12600KF, holds a percentile rank of 79 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core i9-10900K (average score 27872, delta of -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (27712, +0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (27887, -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (27896, -0.3%). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating that the i5-12600KF sits in a tightly clustered group of CPUs with nearly identical aggregate performance. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D, in particular, is known for strong gaming performance due to its 3D V-Cache, yet its average synthetic score is only 0.3% higher than the i5-12600KF — but in a game like Counter-Strike 2, cache-sensitive workloads can amplify such small differences.

The GPU, the RTX 5050, ranks at the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (21153, -0.6%), AMD Radeon HD 8970M (21237, -1%), AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (20713, +1.6%), and NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (21379, -1.6%). The RTX 5050's position relative to these older and mobile parts suggests that its raw compute performance is moderate, but its modern architecture (Blackwell 2.0) and feature set may provide advantages in specific workloads.

Given that the combo ranks at 1731 out of 2870, the data implies that while each component is individually competitive in its respective market segment, the combination is not optimally balanced for Counter-Strike 2. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking is significantly stronger than the GPU's 66th percentile, and the game's engine appears to reward GPU performance more heavily at higher settings and resolutions, where the combo falls further behind higher-ranked systems.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This is a modest memory configuration for a modern GPU, and in Counter-Strike 2 — a game that can be sensitive to memory bandwidth at high resolutions and with high texture quality — the 128-bit bus may be a limiting factor. The measured FPS data supports this: at 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 60 FPS average, which is a substantial 63% reduction from the 1080p Ultra figure of 163 FPS. The 8 GB capacity could also constrain texture loading at 4K, although CS2's competitive-focused design typically uses lighter textures than single-player AAA titles.

The GPU's clock speeds are relatively high for its class: a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These clocks, combined with 2560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, produce a pixel rate of 82.30 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 205.8 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS places the RTX 5050 in the mainstream segment, but its efficiency is notable given the 130 W TDP. The 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores support the Blackwell 2.0 architecture's feature set, though Counter-Strike 2 does not heavily leverage ray tracing or DLSS in competitive play.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide context: it scores 17326 in Passmark G3D and 2502 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, with a Passmark GPU Compute score of 9184. These figures indicate that the card performs well in synthetic tests but is not a high-end part — its percentile rank of 66 places it below many enthusiast GPUs. In Counter-Strike 2, the measured results show that the GPU can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease, but 4K pushes it to the edge, particularly at higher settings. The 4K High average of 78 FPS and the 4K Medium average of 104 FPS (with a minimum of 89 and maximum of 120) suggest that the card is playable at 4K but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors at that resolution.

The memory clock of 2500 MHz (20 Gbps effective) is typical for GDDR6, but the 320.0 GB/s bandwidth is constrained by the 128-bit interface. This is a common bottleneck in mid-range GPUs, and the data suggests it manifests in CS2's higher-resolution settings, where the performance gap between 1440p and 4K is larger than what pure pixel-count scaling would predict.

# FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 339, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. The minimum FPS for that configuration was not recorded, but the average indicates extremely smooth performance for competitive play.

Q: How does this combo perform at 4K resolution with High settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 78 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, but well below the 144+ FPS that competitive Counter-Strike players typically prefer. For 4K gaming, Medium settings (104 FPS average) or Low settings (126 FPS average) would be more appropriate.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Medium settings at 1080p and 1440p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 282, with a minimum of 240 and maximum of 324. At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average drops to 187, with a minimum of 159 and maximum of 215. That is a 33.7% reduction in average FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: How does the CPU's synthetic benchmark performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, scores 27896 — a difference of -0.3% (the i5-12600KF is 0.3% slower). The Intel Core i9-10900K scores 27872, also -0.3% relative to the i5-12600KF, indicating near-identical aggregate performance.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and what does it imply?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks at the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21035. This places it in the upper-mid range of GPUs, but notably below the top-tier cards that would be needed for 4K Ultra settings in demanding titles. In Counter-Strike 2, this translates to excellent 1080p performance but only acceptable 4K performance.

Q: Does the combo perform better at 1080p Low or 4K Ultra?

A: The difference is substantial: 1080p Low produces an average of 339 FPS, while 4K Ultra produces an average of 60 FPS. That is an 82.3% reduction in average FPS. This demonstrates that the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU is capable of driving much higher frame rates when the GPU workload is lighter.

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

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 cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is well-suited for gaming, as CS2 relies heavily on single-thread performance for game logic and physics, while the additional cores can handle background tasks and streaming. The boost clock of 4.90 GHz is particularly important for Counter-Strike 2, where higher clock speeds directly translate to faster frame times and reduced input latency.

The CPU's synthetic benchmarks reflect its capabilities: it scores 23391 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3302 in single-core, 12137 in Geekbench multi-core and 2157 in single-core, and 27575 in Passmark multi-thread with 3925 in single-thread. These scores place the i5-12600KF at the 79th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a strong performer for gaming and productivity alike. In CS2, the measured FPS at 1080p Low — 339 FPS average — suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions; the frame rate is likely limited by the GPU's pixel throughput or the game's engine overhead.

However, the combo rank of 1731 out of 2870 suggests that other tested combinations achieve higher frame rates, likely due to CPUs with higher single-thread performance (such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which has a similar aggregate score but superior cache for gaming) or GPUs with more raw power. The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the i9-10900K and Ryzen 7 5800X3D, both of which have deltas within 0.3%, but in a game like CS2 where every frame counts, such small differences can be meaningful.

The CPU's memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus, allows for flexible system building. The 20 MB L3 cache is shared across all cores, which is beneficial for games that require frequent data sharing between threads. The lack of integrated graphics means the discrete RTX 5050 is solely responsible for rendering, which is expected in a gaming configuration. The CPU's 125 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility are standard for its generation, and its unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, which could further boost performance in CS2 if the user has adequate cooling.

# Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For competitive play at 1080p, the Low settings preset delivers 339 FPS average, which is well above the 240 Hz refresh rate of high-end esports monitors. Even the Medium preset at 1080p produces 282 FPS average (with a minimum of 240 FPS), ensuring that frame times remain consistent for competitive play. The High preset at 1080p yields 211 FPS average, which is still sufficient for 144 Hz monitors but may not fully utilize a 240 Hz display.

At 1440p, the Low preset produces 225 FPS average, which is excellent for 144 Hz displays and even 165 Hz panels. The Medium preset at 1440p delivers 187 FPS average (159 minimum, 215 maximum), providing a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 1440p drops to 139 FPS average, which is still playable but may cause dips below 144 FPS in intense firefights. For 1440p, Medium settings appear to be the sweet spot, offering a 34.5% improvement over High while maintaining a high minimum FPS.

At 4K, the situation changes dramatically. The Low preset delivers 126 FPS average, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming. The Medium preset produces 104 FPS average (89 minimum, 120 maximum), which is playable on 60 Hz displays but may not satisfy players with 120 Hz monitors. The High preset drops to 78 FPS average, which is borderline for smooth gameplay, while the Ultra preset falls to 60 FPS average — exactly at the threshold for 60 Hz displays but with no headroom for frame drops.

For the best overall experience, the data suggests that 1080p Medium provides the most balanced combination of visual fidelity and performance, with 282 FPS average and a high minimum of 240 FPS. For players with 1440p monitors, Medium settings offer the best trade-off. At 4K, Low settings are recommended for maintaining frame rates above 120 FPS, while Medium is acceptable for 60 Hz displays. Ultra settings should be avoided at all resolutions except 1080p, where the 163 FPS average is still competitive but not necessary given the lower visual returns.

# Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. All values below are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 339 FPS average
• Medium: 282 FPS average (minimum 240, maximum 324)
• High: 211 FPS average
• Ultra: 163 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo delivers excellent performance across all settings. The jump from Low to Medium reduces FPS by 16.8% (from 339 to 282), while Medium to High reduces by 25.2% (from 282 to 211). High to Ultra reduces by 22.7% (from 211 to 163). The minimum FPS at Medium (240) is higher than the average FPS at High (211), indicating that Medium settings provide more consistent frame pacing for competitive play.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 225 FPS average
• Medium: 187 FPS average (minimum 159, maximum 215)
• High: 139 FPS average
• Ultra: 108 FPS average

At 1440p, the performance degrades significantly compared to 1080p. Low settings produce 225 FPS (a 33.6% reduction from 1080p Low), while Ultra produces 108 FPS (a 33.7% reduction from 1080p Ultra). The Medium preset's minimum of 159 FPS is still above 144 Hz, making it viable for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors. The High preset's 139 FPS average is just below the 144 Hz threshold, suggesting potential frame drops in demanding scenes.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 126 FPS average
• Medium: 104 FPS average (minimum 89, maximum 120)
• High: 78 FPS average
• Ultra: 60 FPS average

At 4K, the RTX 5050 is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings produce 126 FPS, which is a 44% reduction from 1440p Low. Medium settings yield 104 FPS (a 44.4% reduction from 1440p Medium), with a minimum of 89 FPS that could cause noticeable stutter on 120 Hz displays. High settings drop to 78 FPS, and Ultra falls to exactly 60 FPS — the bare minimum for smooth gameplay on a 60 Hz monitor, but with no headroom for frame drops.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K is consistent across settings: roughly 29-34% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and 44-46% reduction from 1440p to 4K. This indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth (320.0 GB/s) and pixel fill rate (82.30 GPixel/s) are the primary constraints at higher resolutions, rather than any CPU limitation. The 8 GB VRAM may also be a factor at 4K, particularly with High and Ultra settings that likely increase texture memory usage.