Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination delivers a highly capable Counter-Strike 2 experience, with the data showing that performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. The pairing ranks in the 58th percentile of all tested combinations, indicating a solid mid-to-high tier setup that excels at 1080p and remains playable even at 4K. The benchmark results clearly show that this system is capable of high refresh-rate gaming at standard resolutions, though the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

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

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. This configuration provides substantial multi-threaded throughput, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22604 and its Passmark multithread score of 25032. For a competitive FPS like Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's ability to maintain high frame rates is crucial, and the data indicates this processor is more than adequate for the task, especially when paired with the RTX 2070 SUPER.

The CPU's single-thread performance, which is critical for game logic and frame pacing, is also strong. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3191 and the Passmark single_thread score of 3634 place it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. This high single-thread capability ensures that the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios. In the measured FPS data, the 1080p Low preset achieves an average of 355 FPS, a figure that heavily relies on the CPU's ability to process game state quickly, demonstrating that the i5-13400F is not a limiting factor at lower resolutions.

The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core also contribute to its responsiveness in fast-paced scenarios, providing the low-latency access to frequently used data that a game like Counter-Strike 2 demands. With a 65 W TDP, the CPU is efficient, but its performance profile is what matters here. The benchmark results show that even in the most demanding 4K Ultra preset, the system still manages an average of 63 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is providing enough headroom for the GPU to do the heavy lifting at higher resolutions. In this pairing, the Core i5-13400F acts as a robust foundation, ensuring that frame rates are limited by the graphics card's rendering capabilities rather than processor throughput.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the i5-13400F and RTX 2070 SUPER perform across different quality presets. At 1080p, the most common resolution for competitive play, the Ultra preset averages 171 FPS, which is sufficient for high-refresh-rate monitors, but the High preset jumps to 220 FPS, and the Medium preset reaches 295 FPS. The Low preset achieves an exceptional 355 FPS, which is ideal for extreme competitive settings where frame rate is prioritized over visual fidelity.

For players seeking the best balance between visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the standout choice. The data shows an average of 295 FPS with a minimum of 251 FPS and a maximum of 339 FPS. This preset delivers a frame rate that is over 1.7 times higher than the Ultra preset's 171 FPS, while still providing a significant visual upgrade over the Low preset's 355 FPS. The minimum FPS of 251 ensures that the experience remains smooth even in intense firefights, making Medium the most consistent option for maintaining a high refresh rate without sacrificing too much visual detail.

At 1440p, the Medium preset again proves to be the most compelling option. It averages 195 FPS with a minimum of 166 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate target for many monitors. The High preset at 1440p averages 146 FPS, which is still competitive, but the Medium preset offers a more comfortable margin above the 144 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to an average of 113 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The data suggests that for a consistent high-refresh-rate experience at 1440p, Medium is the recommended preset, as it provides a 73% performance increase over Ultra while maintaining a smooth frame delivery.

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

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly demonstrates the influence of the RTX 2070 SUPER. At 1080p with High settings, the system averages 220 FPS. Moving to 1440p, this drops to 146 FPS, a 34% decrease, and at 4K, it further drops to 82 FPS, a 63% decrease from the 1080p figure. This pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load on the graphics card increases exponentially with resolution, overwhelming its capabilities.

The Low preset shows the same trend. At 1080p, the system achieves 355 FPS, but this drops to 235 FPS at 1440p (a 34% decline) and 131 FPS at 4K (a 63% decline). The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings is a strong indicator that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The CPU's performance is sufficient to feed the GPU even at 4K, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate scales down in a predictable manner proportional to the pixel count increase.

This scaling behavior confirms that while the Core i5-13400F is a capable partner, the RTX 2070 SUPER is the component that determines the ceiling for performance at higher resolutions. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth are sufficient for the game, but the raw compute power of the GPU, with its 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, becomes the bottleneck. The data indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver excellent frame rates, while 4K is achievable but with a significant performance compromise, making it a less desirable option for high-refresh-rate competitive play.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination holds a rank of 2151 out of 3719 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places the pairing in the top 42% of all systems tested, which is a solid position for a mid-range setup from the previous generation. The rank reflects a balanced system that performs well but is outclassed by more modern and higher-end components.

The CPU itself, when considered independently, is in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, which is a strong showing. Its average benchmark score of 25292 is nearly identical to that of its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (25284) and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (25201), with a deltaPct of 0.4%. This indicates that the i5-13400F is a performer that matches the top mobile processors of the previous generation, despite being a desktop part.

The GPU, on the other hand, is in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20282. It is slightly outperformed by its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534) and the Intel Arc B570 (20556), with deltaPct values of -1.2% and -1.3%, respectively. This places the RTX 2070 SUPER as a solid mid-tier graphics card that is slightly behind some newer budget options in raw compute benchmarks.

The combo's overall rank of 2151 suggests that while each component is individually respectable, the pairing does not boost to a top-tier status. The system is likely held back by the GPU's age, as the CPU has more headroom for future upgrades. Benchmark results indicate that this combination is a capable 1080p and 1440p machine, but it will not challenge high-end systems for the top spots in the rankings.

FAQ

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

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 220 FPS.

Q: Is the system playable at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the system is playable at 4K. The data shows an average of 82 FPS at 4K with High settings and 63 FPS at 4K with Ultra settings.

Q: Which preset provides the highest frame rate at 1440p?

A: The Low preset provides the highest frame rate at 1440p, achieving an average of 235 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-13400F compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS's score of 25284, showing a deltaPct of 0%.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 251 FPS.

Q: Does the data suggest the CPU or GPU is the main bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the main bottleneck at 4K, as the frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K in a pattern consistent with GPU-bound rendering.

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

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination, with the minimum and maximum FPS provided where available.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 82 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 131 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 109 | 93 | 126 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 63 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 146 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 235 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 195 | 166 | 225 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 113 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 220 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 355 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 295 | 251 | 339 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 171 | N/A | N/A |

The data shows a clear hierarchy of performance. The Low preset at 1080p is the fastest configuration, yielding 355 FPS, while the Ultra preset at 4K is the slowest, yielding 63 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a strong balance with 295 FPS and a minimum of 251 FPS, ensuring consistent frame delivery. At 1440p, the Medium preset provides 195 FPS on average, which is suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. The 4K results, while playable, are generally lower, with the High preset at 82 FPS being the most viable option for a smoother experience, while the Ultra preset falls to 63 FPS. These measured values confirm that the system's sweet spot lies in the 1080p to 1440p range with Medium to High settings, where it can comfortably deliver competitive frame rates.