Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 scales dramatically with resolution, and the data for the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combo reveals a system that is heavily CPU-bound at lower resolutions. Moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 on Ultra settings drops the average frame rate from 281.4 FPS to 103.8 FPS, a reduction of 177.6 FPS. This steep decline indicates that while the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, the processor's immense headroom at 1080p is what allows for the exceptionally high frame rates seen there. The performance curve is not linear, suggesting a transition point where the workload shifts from the CPU to the GPU as pixel count increases.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling behavior of this combo is defined by a massive delta between 1080p and 4K. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 584.1 at 1920x1080 to 219.5 at 3840x2160, a 62.4% drop. This massive reduction is a classic sign of a CPU bottleneck at the lower resolution; the RTX 4070 SUPER has ample power to render frames quickly, but the i5-14600KF is feeding it data as fast as the game engine allows. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload becomes more demanding, and the frame rate drops to a level where the CPU is no longer the primary constraint.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 302.7 FPS, while at 4K, it is only 115.7 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is so dominant that even the most demanding settings can't fully saturate it, whereas at 4K, the GPU's rendering limits become the dominant factor, compressing the performance range across settings. The data shows a system that excels at high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, but which sees a more conventional scaling curve at 4K.

GPU Role

The RTX 4070 SUPER's role becomes more critical as resolution and settings increase. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth provide the necessary headroom for the high-resolution textures and effects in Counter-Strike 2. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and its 7168 shading units are the primary drivers of the 4K performance, where the measured 134.5 FPS on High settings and 103.8 FPS on Ultra demonstrate its capability to handle the game's visual load. The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K Ultra, where the frame rate drops to 103.8 FPS, a value that is still playable but a far cry from the triple-digit headroom at lower resolutions.

The GPU's performance is further contextualized by its benchmark scores. Its Passmark G3D score of 29995 and its percentile rank of 84 versus all GPUs show that it is a strong performer. However, the data suggests that in this specific title, the GPU is not the star of the show at 1080p. The 584.1 FPS at Low settings confirms the CPU's ability to push frames, with the GPU simply keeping up with the demand. The GPU's role is to provide the scaling headroom; it is only when the resolution climbs to 3840x2160 that its raw compute power becomes the definitive factor in the final frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is the engine that drives Counter-Strike 2's high frame rates. Its 14 cores and 20 threads, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, are clearly sufficient to handle the game's logic and draw calls at extreme speeds. The measured 584.1 FPS at 1080p Low settings is a direct result of this CPU's single-thread and multi-thread performance. The processor's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889 and single-core score of 4643 indicate a powerful architecture that excels in both parallel and single-threaded workloads, which is crucial for an esports title like Counter-Strike 2.

The CPU's dominance is most evident in the 1080p scaling. The frame rate at 1080p High (365.3 FPS) is still significantly higher than the 4K High result (134.5 FPS), confirming that the CPU is not the limiting factor until the GPU's rendering load becomes substantial. The processor's percentile rank of 93 versus all CPUs further reinforces its high-tier status. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-14600KF is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, showing it is a top-tier performer in synthetic benchmarks that translate well to high-FPS gaming scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of this combo's capabilities across a grid of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is a frame-rate monster. Low settings yield 584.1 FPS, Medium produces 485.4 FPS, High reaches 365.3 FPS, and even Ultra maintains a very high 281.4 FPS. This suggests that for competitive play at 1080p, players can max out settings and still have an incredible amount of headroom above a 240Hz monitor's refresh rate.

At 2560x1440, performance remains exceptionally strong. Low settings deliver 389.7 FPS, Medium drops to 321.2 FPS, High shows 240.7 FPS, and Ultra still manages 188.7 FPS. The 1440p results show a system that is still heavily CPU-bound, but the scaling is more pronounced, with the Ultra setting now dropping below 200 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the frame rates become more grounded. Medium settings produce 178 FPS, High drops to 134.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 103.8 FPS. The Low setting at 4K, at 219.5 FPS, is still higher than the Ultra setting at 1440p, which highlights the GPU's significant role at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks at 286 out of 1632 tested combos for Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the top 17.5% of all tested systems, indicating a very high-performance pairing. The data shows that the i5-14600KF and RTX 4070 SUPER are well-matched for this title, with the CPU's strength providing the high frame rates that the GPU can then render. The rank of 286 is a strong showing, but it also suggests that there are other combinations that can achieve even higher frame rates, likely those with more powerful CPUs that can push the 1080p and 1440p results even further.

This ranking is a result of the CPU's high percentile (93) and the GPU's solid percentile (84). The combo's strength lies in its balance; it is not the absolute fastest in either component category, but the pairing works exceptionally well together for this game. The data implies that the system is better suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming than for 4K gaming, where its rank would likely be lower due to the GPU being the primary constraint.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 584.1, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo delivers an average of 103.8 FPS, which is the lowest measured result in the data set.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this combo in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The data indicates the CPU is the main driver at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 584.1 FPS at 1080p Low. The GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K, where the frame rate drops significantly.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, High settings yield 240.7 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 188.7 FPS, a difference of 52 FPS.

Q: Where does this combo rank among all tested systems in this game?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combo ranks 286th out of 1632 tested combinations.

Q: Can this system maintain frame rates above 200 FPS at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 365.3 FPS, which is well above the 200 FPS threshold.

Settings Recommendations

For players seeking the highest competitive frame rates, the 1920x1080 Low preset is the clear choice, delivering 584.1 FPS. This maximizes the CPU's potential and minimizes any GPU load, ensuring the absolute smoothest experience. However, the data shows that this is unnecessary for most displays. The 1920x1080 High preset still delivers an exceptional 365.3 FPS, a result that exceeds the refresh rate of virtually all high-end monitors while offering significantly better visual fidelity than Low.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 240.7 FPS is the recommended balance. It provides a high level of visual quality while staying comfortably above the 240Hz refresh rate that is common for high-end gaming monitors. The Ultra preset at 188.7 FPS is still a viable option for those who prioritize visuals over raw frame rate. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset at 178 FPS offers the best playable experience, as the Ultra preset at 103.8 FPS shows a noticeable performance cost. The data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, sticking to High (134.5 FPS) or Medium is advisable, as the Ultra preset's visual gain does not justify the significant drop in frame rate.