Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 396th out of 1632 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2, placing it in the top 24.2% of all configurations measured for this title. This is a strong position, though not elite, reflecting a balance where the CPU’s high thread count and the GPU’s substantial VRAM produce average frame rates that comfortably exceed 100 fps at every resolution and settings combination tested, including the most demanding 4K Ultra preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s 396th rank out of 1632 tested combos places it in the upper quarter of all systems benchmarked in Counter-Strike 2. This ranking is driven by the synergy between a 16-core processor with a 5.40 GHz boost clock and a graphics card with 12 GB of VRAM, which together keep frame rates high even when the engine’s demands escalate. The data shows that this configuration outperforms the majority of tested systems, but it does not crack the top tier, as the most extreme combos with higher-tier GPUs or CPUs pull ahead. The rank is consistent with the hardware’s specifications: the i7-13700K sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the RTX 4070 sits at the 81st percentile among all GPUs, indicating neither component is a weak link in this matchup. For a competitive shooter like Counter-Strike 2, where high refresh rates matter, this rank ensures the combo is more than sufficient for mainstream high-refresh displays, though it may not satisfy those chasing the absolute highest frame caps at 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K provides 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This processor, built on Raptor Lake architecture with a 30 MB shared L3 cache, delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39000 and a single-core score of 5505, indicating exceptional multi-threaded and strong single-threaded performance. In Counter-Strike 2, the game’s engine scales well with high single-core speeds, and the data supports that the CPU is not a bottleneck: at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 524.1 fps, a figure that relies heavily on the processor’s ability to feed the GPU rapidly. The CPU’s 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and 2-thread score of 2262 show that even light thread loads are handled efficiently, which is critical for a game where frame pacing depends on quick draw calls. The i7-13700K’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is essentially flat—it trails the Intel Core i7-13700KF by only 0.1% and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 by 0.5%, while leading the AMD EPYC 4364P by 0.3% and the Intel Core i9-12900F by 0.4% in average benchmark scores. This means the CPU’s contribution to the combo’s rank is stable and predictable, providing a solid foundation for the high frame rates observed.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. This GPU, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 5888 shading units, delivers a Passmark G3D score of 26927 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854, placing it at the 81st percentile among all GPUs. In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions and settings: at 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 95.1 fps, a 47.6% reduction from 4K High’s 122 fps, showing that the graphics card is the limiting factor when pixel count and visual effects increase. The RTX 4070’s 12 GB VRAM is adequate for the game’s demands, as even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate remains playable, but the GPU’s raw compute power is the constraint at that setting. Relative to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4070 trails the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 by 0.6% and the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A by 1.9%, but it leads the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile by 2.2% and the AMD Radeon RX 5300M by 2.5% in average benchmark scores, indicating its performance is mid-pack among those comparison points, yet its real-world game results are strong due to driver optimization.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the combo delivers its highest frame rates: 524.1 fps on Low, 435.8 fps on Medium, 327.4 fps on High, and 254.9 fps on Ultra. These numbers show that even at the most demanding 1080p preset, the configuration maintains a frame rate well above any high-refresh monitor’s capability, with the Low preset providing more than double the Ultra result. At 1440p, the frame rates remain robust: 350.7 fps on Low, 287 fps on Medium, 219.4 fps on High, and 166.2 fps on Ultra. The 1440p Ultra result is 34.8% higher than the 4K Ultra result, highlighting how resolution scaling affects performance. At 4K, the frame rates are: 194.8 fps on Low, 163.2 fps on Medium, 122 fps on High, and 95.1 fps on Ultra. The 4K Low result is 204.8% higher than 4K Ultra, a stark contrast that shows the GPU’s load increases dramatically with settings. Across all resolutions, the Low preset consistently yields the highest frame rates, with the gap between Low and Ultra widening as resolution increases: at 1080p, Ultra is 51.3% slower than Low; at 1440p, it is 52.6% slower; at 4K, it is 51.2% slower. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate variance across settings, while the CPU remains sufficient to avoid bottlenecks.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and expected drop in frame rates as resolution increases, but the magnitude varies by settings. Moving from 1080p Low (524.1 fps) to 4K Low (194.8 fps) results in a 62.8% reduction, while moving from 1080p Ultra (254.9 fps) to 4K Ultra (95.1 fps) results in a 62.7% reduction. This consistency suggests that the limiting component is the GPU, as the CPU’s performance headroom is not exhausted even at 1080p, where frame rates are extremely high. At 1440p, the frame rates are 66.9% of their 1080p counterparts on Low (350.7 vs 524.1), 65.9% on Medium (287 vs 435.8), 67.0% on High (219.4 vs 327.4), and 65.2% on Ultra (166.2 vs 254.9). The drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced: Low drops by 44.5% (194.8 vs 350.7), Medium by 43.1% (163.2 vs 287), High by 44.4% (122 vs 219.4), and Ultra by 42.8% (95.1 vs 166.2). This steeper decline at higher resolutions confirms that the RTX 4070’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are the bottleneck, as the CPU’s contribution becomes less relevant when pixel throughput dominates. The data indicates that for 4K gaming, the combo is playable but not optimal for ultra-high refresh rates, while at 1440p and below, it excels.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s rank in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The combo ranks 396th out of 1632 tested combos, placing it in the top 24.2% of all configurations measured.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282, which is 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i7-13700KF (47334), 0.3% higher than the AMD EPYC 4364P (47131), 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i9-12900F (47081), and 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527).

Q: What is the highest frame rate achieved at 1080p?

A: The highest frame rate is 524.1 fps, achieved at 1080p with Low settings.

Q: What is the lowest frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest frame rate is 95.1 fps, recorded at 4K (3840x2160) with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the GPU’s performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37283, which is 0.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507), 1.9% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A (38008), 2.2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38135), and 2.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5300M (36371).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K on High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the combo achieves 327.4 fps, while at 4K High, it achieves 122 fps, a 62.7% reduction.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience for different priorities is clear. For players seeking the absolute highest frame rates, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 524.1 fps, which is ideal for competitive play on high-refresh monitors, and even at 1440p Low, the combo reaches 350.7 fps, making it the best choice for esports settings. For a balance between visual quality and performance, the High preset at 1440p (219.4 fps) is the sweet spot, as it offers significantly better graphics than Low while still maintaining frame rates above 200 fps. At 4K, the High preset (122 fps) is the most viable option for smooth gameplay, as Ultra drops to 95.1 fps, which may not be ideal for fast-paced action, while Medium (163.2 fps) provides a safer margin. The Ultra preset is only recommended for players who prioritize visuals over frame rate and are playing at 1080p (254.9 fps) or 1440p (166.2 fps), where the frame rates remain playable. The data shows that the combo is best utilized at 1440p or below, where it can take full advantage of high refresh rates, while 4K gaming is possible but requires settings compromises to maintain smooth performance.