Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 presents an interesting paradox for the Intel Core i5-13400F and AMD Radeon RX 580 combination. The data shows a pairing where the CPU has significant headroom, while the GPU, an older architecture, becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution and settings increase. This analysis explores how this specific hardware duo performs, where its limits are, and what the measured frames indicate about the underlying component dynamics.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear and dramatic shift in performance, driven almost entirely by the GPU’s workload. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 172 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 114 FPS, a reduction of 58 FPS. Pushing further to 3840x2160 on Low yields just 64 FPS, which is less than half the 1080p figure. This steep decline—over 100 FPS lost when moving from Full HD to 4K on the lowest preset—indicates that the rendering resolution is having a massive impact on the frame rate.

The scaling pattern changes when we look at higher settings. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 107 at 1080p, to 71 at 1440p, and finally to 40 at 4K. While still a significant drop, the relative percentage decrease is less steep than on Low, suggesting that the GPU is already saturated by the more complex graphical load even at lower resolutions. The data implies that at Low settings, the system might be partially CPU-limited at 1080p, but as resolution climbs, the RX 580’s pixel throughput becomes the sole limiting factor. The fact that the 4K Low result (64 FPS) is higher than the 4K High result (40 FPS) but lower than the 1440p Low result (114 FPS) confirms that resolution scaling is the dominant variable here, not just the preset.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested configurations for Counter-Strike 2, this specific pairing of the i5-13400F and RX 580 lands at rank 3390 out of 3719 total combos. This places it in the bottom percentile of all systems tested, which is a surprising result for a CPU that itself performs well in synthetic benchmarks. The i5-13400F has a percentile rank of 77 versus all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 25292 is nearly identical to rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (25284) and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (25201). The CPU is clearly not the weak link in this pairing.

The bottleneck becomes evident when examining the GPU. The RX 580 has a percentile rank of only 53 versus all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 12928 is in the same league as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (12986) and the AMD Radeon 740M (12870). This mismatch—a high-performing CPU paired with a mid-range, older GPU—results in a system that is heavily constrained by graphics processing in a fast-paced esports title like CS2. The low overall combo rank suggests that while the CPU could push much higher frame rates, the GPU’s limitations cap the system's potential, dragging the entire configuration down the leaderboard.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 172 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: At which resolution does the system fail to maintain a 60 FPS average?

A: At 3840x2160 (4K) resolution, the average FPS drops below 60 on all presets except Low. On High, Medium, and Ultra settings, the averages are 40, 53, and 31 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the CPU's synthetic performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292. This is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (25284), and it edges out the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core 5 120, which both have scores around 25365, by a marginal -0.3%.

Q: What is the GPU's relative performance standing?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 has a percentile rank of 53 versus all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 12928. This places it in a similar performance tier as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (12986) and the AMD Radeon 740M (12870).

Q: Which component is more likely to limit performance in this game?

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's high benchmark scores and percentile ranking (77) contrast sharply with the GPU's more modest standing (53) and the low overall combo rank, indicating graphics processing is the bottleneck.

Q: Are there any settings where the FPS is stable, with a narrow range between minimum and maximum?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 143, with a minimum of 122 and a maximum of 164 FPS, showing a relatively stable performance window. At 2560x1440 Medium, the range is also defined, with an average of 95 FPS and a min/max of 80/109.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how the system scales across resolutions and presets.

At 1920x1080, the system is most capable. The Low preset yields an average of 172 FPS. The Medium preset averages 143 FPS, with a minimum of 122 and a maximum of 164 FPS. The High preset averages 107 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, producing an average of 83 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 114 FPS. The Medium preset averages 95 FPS, with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 109 FPS. The High preset averages 71 FPS. The Ultra preset significantly reduces performance to an average of 55 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is under maximum strain. The Low preset is the only one to achieve a playable average, at 64 FPS. The Medium preset averages 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 40 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most taxing, resulting in an average of just 31 FPS.

This data illustrates a clear hierarchy: higher resolutions and presets consistently reduce the average FPS, and the gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases, from an 89 FPS difference at 1080p to a 33 FPS difference at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings depend entirely on the user's target resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity.

For players using a 1920x1080 display, the data shows that the Medium preset is the best balance. It delivers a high average of 143 FPS while maintaining a stable frame time, as evidenced by the 122-164 FPS range. The High preset (107 FPS) is also viable for a smoother visual experience, but it sacrifices over 35 FPS compared to Medium. The Ultra preset (83 FPS) is the most visually demanding, but the performance hit is substantial.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is again the recommended choice. The 95 FPS average is a significant step down from 1080p but remains smooth for competitive play. The Low preset (114 FPS) offers a higher frame rate for players prioritizing speed over visuals. The High preset (71 FPS) is suitable for users who prefer better image quality but are willing to accept a lower frame rate.

For 3840x2160, the selection is more constrained. The Low preset is the only setting that provides an average above 60 FPS (64 FPS). The Medium preset (53 FPS) is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as their average frame rates of 40 and 31 FPS respectively are below the threshold for a smooth competitive experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its synthetic benchmark results are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22604 and a Passmark multithread score of 25032. The CPU's percentile rank of 77 versus all CPUs indicates it is a high-performing part.

In the context of Counter-Strike 2, this level of CPU performance appears to be more than sufficient. The system's inability to maintain higher frame rates at higher resolutions is not due to a lack of processing power from the CPU, but rather the GPU's inability to keep up. The fact that the combo ranks so low (3390 out of 3719) despite the CPU's strength suggests that the game is not heavily CPU-bound in this configuration, or that the CPU's power is being wasted waiting for the GPU to finish rendering frames. The CPU has the headroom, but the GPU is the gatekeeper.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the clear performance limiter in this pairing. It features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Its base and boost clocks are 1257 MHz and 1340 MHz, respectively. The GPU is based on the older GCN 4.0 architecture and has a modest percentile rank of 53 versus all GPUs.

The GPU's role is defined by its benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 8813 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 45173. These numbers place it in a similar tier to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, but far below the potential of the paired CPU. The data shows that as the resolution increases, the rendering workload on the GPU's 2304 shading units and 32 ROPs becomes the bottleneck. The significant frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are a direct consequence of the RX 580's limited pixel fillrate and shader throughput. It is the component that determines the final frame rate, and its age is the primary reason this combo does not rank higher.