Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 with an Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D produces a fascinating dataset that reveals how a top-tier GPU can be throttled by a high-refresh-rate esports title. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings tell a story of a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher visual quality, but which pivots sharply toward CPU limitations at lower settings and resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them against the hardware's known capabilities, and answers key questions about where the bottleneck truly lies in this specific pairing.

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

The data shows a dramatic and clear pattern of performance scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves an average of 796 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 539 FPS, a reduction of 257 FPS or roughly 32%. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 301 FPS. This is a massive decline, indicating that even at Low settings, the GPU's workload at higher resolutions is substantial enough to pull performance down from the stratospheric levels seen at 1080p.

However, the most revealing aspect of the resolution scaling is when we look at the High settings preset. At 1080p High, the average is 505 FPS. At 1440p High, it is 334 FPS. At 4K High, it drops to 187 FPS. The scaling here is relatively linear with the pixel count increase, which is a classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 5090 D is being pushed harder as the pixel count rises, and its raw power determines the final frame rate. The 4K High result of 187 FPS, while still exceptionally high for most games, represents a significant compromise compared to the 1080p result.

The implication is clear: the limiting component shifts based on the resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the CPU (Intel Core i7-12700KF) is likely the primary constraint, as the GPU could theoretically render frames faster than the CPU can issue draw calls. As resolution increases to 4K, the GPU's rendering workload becomes the dominant factor, and the CPU is no longer the bottleneck. The fact that 4K Low (301 FPS) is still considerably faster than 4K High (187 FPS) shows that even at high resolutions, reducing the graphical load on the GPU unlocks substantial performance headroom, confirming the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. In a game like Counter-Strike 2, which is known for being sensitive to single-thread performance, the high boost clock is critical. The benchmark results for the CPU support this, with a Passmark single-thread score of 3984 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2255. These are strong numbers, but they are not the absolute highest, which explains the performance ceiling seen at 1080p Low.

The data suggests that at 1080p Low, the game is hitting a CPU limit. The 796 FPS average is likely near the maximum that this CPU can feed to the GPU. The 3dmark single-thread score of 1043 and the 3dmark 2-thread score of 2065 provide context for its capability in lightly-threaded workloads. While Counter-Strike 2 is not a single-threaded game, its engine still relies heavily on a few main threads for game logic and rendering state. The i7-12700KF's 20 threads are more than sufficient for the game's multi-threading, but the per-core speed is what sets the upper bound for high-FPS scenarios.

The percentileVsAllCpus of 85 indicates that this CPU is faster than 85% of all tested processors, but it is not in the top tier. This is why, when paired with the RTX 5090 D, the CPU becomes the bottleneck at 1080p. The GPU is so powerful that it can render frames faster than the CPU can prepare them, especially at Low settings where the GPU's work is minimal. The data shows that at 4K High, the GPU's workload is so heavy that the CPU has ample time to prepare frames, and the 187 FPS result is a direct reflection of GPU performance, not CPU limitations.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 796 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700K?

A: The i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-12700K's score of 35287. This makes them effectively identical in performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between 4K High and 4K Low settings?

A: At 4K, the average FPS drops from 301 FPS on Low settings to 187 FPS on High settings, a reduction of 114 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is heavily impacted by the increased graphical load.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 1440p Medium?

A: At 1440p Medium, the combo achieves 448 FPS average. Given the massive drop from 539 FPS at Low, it is clear the GPU is becoming the primary limiter, as the increased settings place a greater demand on the graphics card.

Q: What is the rank of this specific CPU+GPU combination among all tested combos in Counter-Strike 2?

A: This combo ranks 28th out of 2870 tested combinations, placing it in the top 1% of all tested systems for this game.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D's 32 GB of VRAM make a difference in this game at these settings?

A: The benchmark data shows that the RTX 5090 D has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory. However, the measured FPS results do not indicate any VRAM-related performance dips or stutters at any resolution or setting, suggesting that Counter-Strike 2 does not come close to exhausting its memory capacity.

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

The dataset provides a clear matrix of average FPS across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the performance scales from an average of 796 FPS on Low, to 676 FPS on Medium, then to 505 FPS on High, and finally down to 392 FPS on Ultra. The Medium setting also provides min and max figures of 575 and 778 FPS, respectively, showing a very consistent frame delivery with only a tight range of variance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages step down predictably. The Low preset yields 539 FPS, Medium gives 448 FPS, High produces 334 FPS, and Ultra drops to 260 FPS. The Medium preset shows a min of 380 FPS and a max of 515 FPS. This consistency at the lower end suggests that the frame pacing remains stable even as the resolution increases.

At 3840x2160, the results show a heavier toll. The Low preset still manages an impressive 301 FPS average. Medium drops to 250 FPS, with a min of 213 FPS and a max of 288 FPS. High falls to 187 FPS, and Ultra is the lowest measured result at 145 FPS. The data clearly shows that while the RTX 5090 D is powerful enough to maintain high refresh rates at 4K, the gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, with a 156 FPS difference between the two extremes at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of tested hardware configurations for Counter-Strike 2, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is placed at rank 28 out of 2870 total combos. This is an exceptionally high ranking, placing the system in the top percentile of all tested setups. It indicates that while this is not the absolute fastest combination available, it is a top-tier performer that will provide a competitive advantage in terms of frame rate.

The ranking is a composite result of the CPU and GPU working together. While the GPU is a very high performer (92nd percentile among all GPUs), the CPU is strong but not the absolute best (85th percentile). This imbalance is reflected in the rank. The data suggests that combos ranked higher than 28 likely pair the RTX 5090 D with a faster CPU, such as a newer generation flagship, which would remove the CPU bottleneck seen at 1080p Low and potentially push the average FPS even higher. The 28th rank confirms the raw power of the RTX 5090 D, but it also hints that the i7-12700KF is holding back the system's ultimate potential in the most CPU-bound scenarios.

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

For competitive play, where maximum frame rate and minimal input lag are paramount, the 1080p Low preset is the clear choice, delivering an average of 796 FPS. This provides an incredibly smooth and responsive experience. However, for players with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, the Medium preset at 448 FPS offers an excellent balance between visual fidelity and performance, ensuring the frame rate stays well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors (which are typically 240Hz or 360Hz). The Low preset at 1440p, with 539 FPS, is also a viable choice for pure esports performance.

At 4K, the choice becomes more nuanced. The High preset at 187 FPS is perfectly playable on a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor and offers a significant visual upgrade over Low. The Medium preset at 250 FPS is even better for higher refresh rate 4K displays. The Ultra preset, at 145 FPS, is still smooth but represents the most demanding configuration. The data suggests that for 4K, the Medium preset provides the best overall experience, as it delivers a frame rate high enough to satisfy most high-refresh displays while offering a substantial improvement in graphical quality over Low. The 4K High preset is also a solid recommendation for those prioritizing visual detail over raw speed.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a behemoth of a graphics card, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is rated at 2407 MHz, and it carries 21760 shading units. These specifications translate to a GPU that is vastly overqualified for a game like Counter-Strike 2, which is designed to run on much weaker hardware. The 32 GB VRAM is never a limiting factor in this game, as the measured FPS shows no sign of memory-related stuttering or crashes at any resolution.

The GPU's role in these results is primarily defined by its raw compute power. The Passmark G3D score of 44065 and the 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326 demonstrate its immense capability. In this game, the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K and at higher quality settings. For example, the difference between 4K Low (301 FPS) and 4K High (187 FPS) is a direct result of the GPU working harder to render more complex lighting, shadows, and textures. The RTX 5090 D is so powerful that it can brute-force its way to high frame rates even at 4K, but the scaling shows that it is still the primary bottleneck when the CPU is not.

The GPU's nearest rival in the benchmark database is the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which has an average score of 78940, making the RTX 5090 D 1.6% slower in that aggregate metric. This is surprising given the generational gap, but it is important to note that this is an average benchmark score, not a game-specific measurement. In the context of Counter-Strike 2, the RTX 5090 D's specific architecture and drivers clearly deliver exceptional performance, as evidenced by its ability to push past 700 FPS at 1080p Low. The GPU's role is to provide a massive performance headroom, ensuring that the only thing standing between the player and thousands of FPS is the CPU's ability to keep up.