Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 with an Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER produces a combination that is decisively CPU-bound at lower resolutions and progressively shifts toward GPU limitations as resolution increases. The data shows a system capable of extreme frame rates, yet the performance scaling reveals distinct bottlenecks that dictate how the hardware behaves across the tested settings.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide the low-latency memory access that a fast-paced esports title like Counter-Strike 2 rewards heavily. While the processor’s multi-threaded capabilities are substantial—evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745—the game’s engine does not scale linearly with thread count; instead, it leans on high single-core throughput. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2116 indicate strong per-core performance, which is critical for maintaining high frame rates when the GPU is not the limiting factor.

The processor’s role becomes apparent when analyzing the FPS deltas between settings at 1080p. At Low settings, the system produces 587 FPS, but at Ultra settings, it drops to 283 FPS. This massive gap is not caused by the CPU’s computational limits—the i7-13700K has ample headroom. Instead, the data suggests that the game’s rendering workload at higher presets increases the GPU load, but the CPU still has to feed the frames. With a PassMark single-thread score of 4333, the processor easily outpaces the demands of the engine at these frame rates. The i7-13700K ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881, placing it slightly behind the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (deltaPct -0.2) but ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (deltaPct 0.5). This competitive positioning confirms that the CPU is not a weak link; rather, it is a robust foundation that allows the GPU to operate at its full potential.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, based on the AD104 chip and Ada Lovelace architecture, features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock of 2475 MHz and FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS provide ample rasterization power for a competitive shooter. The memory clock of 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) ensures that texture streaming and geometry data are fed quickly to the shading units, which number 7168. The GPU’s 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores are less relevant for Counter-Strike 2, which does not rely heavily on ray tracing or AI upscaling in the measured settings, but they do not hinder performance.

At 4K resolution, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The difference between Low (217 FPS) and Ultra (105 FPS) settings at 3840x2160 highlights the GPU’s workload scaling. The RTX 4070 SUPER ranks in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 43223. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, scores 43262 (deltaPct -0.1), indicating near-parity in synthetic benchmarks, but the RTX 4070 SUPER’s architectural advantages show in real gaming scenarios. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game’s textures at all tested presets, as none of the frame rates indicate memory-related stutters or drops. The GPU’s 80 ROPs and 224 TMUs handle pixel and texture processing efficiently, but the 4K Ultra result of 105 FPS suggests that the hardware is nearing its limit for maximum settings at that resolution.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a classic bottleneck shift. At 1080p High, the system achieves 364 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 241 FPS; and at 4K High, it falls further to 135 FPS. This represents a 63% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which is a significant drop but not as steep as the scaling seen in more GPU-intensive titles. The data indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiting factor, as the frame rates exceed 500 FPS at Low settings, far beyond what the GPU can render independently. The i7-13700K’s high single-core performance allows it to push frames, but the engine’s draw call and physics calculations create a ceiling.

At 1440p, the balance shifts. The FPS at Low (388) is still CPU-bound, but the drop to Medium (323) and High (241) shows the GPU starting to take over. The 4K results confirm this trend: at Low settings, the GPU can still produce 217 FPS, but at Ultra, it plummets to 105 FPS. This 52% drop from Low to Ultra at 4K is more pronounced than the 38% drop at 1080p (from 587 to 283), proving that the GPU becomes the dominant constraint at higher resolutions. The data suggests that for a smooth competitive experience, the RTX 4070 SUPER is best paired with the i7-13700K at 1440p, where neither component is fully saturated, but at 4K, the GPU is the clear limiting factor.

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

At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptional across all presets. Low settings yield an average of 587 FPS, Medium drops to 487 FPS (with min and max of 414 and 561), High produces 364 FPS, and Ultra falls to 283 FPS. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 414 indicates that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains a high floor, which is crucial for a competitive shooter where frame time consistency matters more than peak rates. The gap between Low and Ultra is 304 FPS, which is a substantial range but not necessarily indicative of playability issues—even the lowest result is far above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.

At 2560x1440, the system still delivers high frame rates. Low settings average 388 FPS, Medium drops to 323 FPS (min 274, max 371), High achieves 241 FPS, and Ultra produces 187 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra here is 201 FPS, a smaller absolute difference than at 1080p, but the percentage drop is similar. The min FPS at Medium (274) remains comfortably above the 240 Hz threshold, making this resolution a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming.

At 3840x2160, the GPU workload becomes apparent. Low settings average 217 FPS, Medium drops to 180 FPS (min 153, max 207), High produces 135 FPS, and Ultra falls to 105 FPS. The Medium preset’s min FPS of 153 is still playable on a 144 Hz monitor, but the Ultra result of 105 FPS is below the refresh rate of many high-end displays, indicating that 4K gaming requires lower settings for maximum fluidity. The data shows a clear trend: as resolution increases, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows in absolute terms (from 304 FPS at 1080p to 112 FPS at 4K), confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 628th out of 3719 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the top 17% of all configurations, which is a strong result given the high frame rates achieved. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU—neither component is severely underpowered, allowing the system to perform consistently across all settings. The CPU’s 89th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking suggest that this combo is well-matched, with no significant bottleneck that would drag down the overall score.

Compared to other combos, this pairing excels in scenarios where high CPU clock speeds are beneficial, such as at 1080p with Low settings, where the 587 FPS result is likely near the top of the database. The GPU’s 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth ensure that it does not throttle in texture-heavy scenes, but the ranking also indicates that there are faster configurations available, likely those with more powerful GPUs or CPUs with higher single-core performance. The rank of 628 out of 3719 suggests that this is a capable but not top-tier combination, with the data showing that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the 105 FPS result is below the average for higher-ranked combos.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset (364 FPS) offers a strong balance between visual quality and performance, as the frame rate is well above the 240 Hz threshold for competitive play. The Medium preset (487 FPS) provides even more headroom, but the visual difference between Medium and High in a fast-paced shooter is often minimal, making High the better choice for most players. The Low preset (587 FPS) is excessive for any current monitor, but it could be useful for players with 360 Hz displays who prioritize frame rate above all else.

At 2560x1440, the High preset (241 FPS) is the recommended choice for players with 240 Hz monitors, as it hits the refresh rate ceiling while maintaining good visual fidelity. The Medium preset (323 FPS) is also viable, offering additional headroom for dips in demanding scenes, as indicated by the 274 FPS minimum. The Ultra preset (187 FPS) is playable on 165 Hz monitors, but the drop from High is noticeable, so it is only recommended for players who prefer maximum settings over frame rate consistency.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset (180 FPS) with a minimum of 153 FPS is the best balance, as it maintains a frame rate that exceeds 144 Hz while providing decent visual quality. The High preset (135 FPS) is suitable for 144 Hz displays, but the 105 FPS Ultra result is too low for competitive play and should be avoided unless the player prioritizes visuals over responsiveness. The Low preset (217 FPS) is viable for 240 Hz 4K monitors, but the visual compromise is significant. Overall, the data indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER and i7-13700K combo delivers the best experience at 1440p High or 4K Medium, where neither component is fully saturated and frame rates remain high enough for competitive integrity.