Counter-Strike 2

# Counter-Strike 2 with Intel Core i7-14700F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

This combination of an Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 lands at rank 2936 out of 3719 tested combos in Counter-Strike 2, placing it in the lower half of the database. The ranking reflects a pairing where the GPU is the decisive constraint at higher resolutions, but the CPU's strong single-thread performance allows the system to reach very high frame rates at 1080p when settings are lowered. The data shows a system that can deliver competitive frame rates in this esports title, though the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and Turing architecture limit how far the visual quality can be pushed at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2936 out of 3719 places this system in roughly the 21st percentile of all tested combinations for Counter-Strike 2. This means approximately 79% of tested combos deliver higher average frame rates in this game. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's position in the overall hierarchy; the RTX 2060 sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. The CPU, by contrast, is far stronger relative to its peers, holding the 91st percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 53620.

The gap between the CPU's percentile and the GPU's percentile explains the combo's middling rank. The i7-14700F is capable of feeding frames far faster than the RTX 2060 can render them, particularly at higher resolutions. Benchmark results confirm this dynamic: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 294 FPS, which is close to what the CPU can sustain, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 52 FPS, a figure that reflects the GPU's rendering limits. The data indicates that the combo's rank would improve substantially if paired with a stronger GPU, as the CPU's headroom is not the limiting factor in most scenarios.

In terms of nearest rivals for the CPU, the i7-14700F scores 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and 0.8% higher than the AMD EPYC 7313P, while trailing the Intel Xeon 6505P by 0.2%. These deltas are small, indicating that the CPU's performance in general benchmarks is well-matched with those processors. For the GPU, the RTX 2060 scores essentially identically to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (0% delta) and sits 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon 680M, 0.6% ahead of the RTX 3050 OEM, and 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600. These near-equal scores suggest that in Counter-Strike 2, the RTX 2060's frame delivery is comparable to those rival GPUs, which is consistent with the measured FPS results.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture using the TU106 chip, fabricated on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It carries 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, along with 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The 6 GB of GDDR6 memory is arranged on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a key factor in the GPU's performance ceiling in Counter-Strike 2, as the game's maps and textures can strain the relatively modest 6 GB capacity at higher resolutions.

The GPU's compute capabilities include 6.451 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.90 TFLOPS of FP16 performance (at a 2:1 ratio). The pixel rate is 80.64 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 201.6 GTexel/s. These figures translate into a GPU that can handle the game's rendering demands at 1080p and 1440p with ease, but begins to struggle at 4K, particularly at higher settings. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate falls to 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider acceptable for competitive play. At 4K Medium, the average rises to 90 FPS, and at 4K Low, it reaches 109 FPS, indicating that the GPU's performance scales significantly with settings at this resolution.

The RTX 2060's percentile ranking of 58 among all GPUs places it in the lower-middle tier of the database. Its nearest rivals include the GTX 580 (0% delta), Radeon 680M (0.1% ahead), RTX 3050 OEM (0.6% ahead), and RX 7600 (0.8% ahead). The near-zero deltas among these GPUs suggest that the RTX 2060 is not significantly better or worse than its closest competitors in general benchmarks, and the Counter-Strike 2 results reflect this parity. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p play across all settings, but at 4K Ultra, the combination of VRAM pressure and compute load causes the frame rate to drop to 52 FPS, which is the lowest measured average across all configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the system scales across resolutions from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the average frame rate is 294 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 194 FPS; and at 4K Low, it falls to 109 FPS. This represents a 49% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a 44% decrease from 1440p to 4K, at Low settings. The pattern is similar at High settings: 1080p High yields 182 FPS, 1440p High yields 121 FPS, and 4K High yields 67 FPS, with decreases of 34% and 45% respectively. At Ultra settings, the scaling is more pronounced: 1080p Ultra produces 142 FPS, 1440p Ultra produces 94 FPS, and 4K Ultra produces 52 FPS, representing drops of 34% and 45% at each step.

The scaling pattern indicates that the GPU becomes increasingly the limiting component as resolution rises. At 1080p Low, the 294 FPS average is likely constrained by the CPU's single-thread performance, as the GPU has ample headroom to render frames quickly. The i7-14700F's boost clock of 5.40 GHz and its strong single-thread benchmark scores (4958 in Cinebench R23 single-core) support this interpretation. As resolution increases to 1440p and then 4K, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rate drops in a manner consistent with the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth limits. The 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 6 GB VRAM are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the GPU's pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s become the bottlenecks.

The data also shows that the drop from Medium to High settings at each resolution is relatively modest, while the drop from High to Ultra is more severe. For example, at 1440p, Medium produces 162 FPS, High produces 121 FPS, and Ultra produces 94 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is 41 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 27 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset includes effects that disproportionately tax the RTX 2060, likely related to its RT cores and tensor cores, which are less utilized at lower settings. At 4K, the Medium preset yields 90 FPS with a minimum of 77 FPS and maximum of 104 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play; the High preset at 67 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 52 FPS is below the threshold for smooth competitive play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. The Low preset produces an average of 294 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. The Medium preset yields 244 FPS on average, with a minimum of 208 FPS and maximum of 281 FPS, indicating that the system maintains high frame rates even during intense gameplay moments. The High preset drops to 182 FPS on average, and the Ultra preset falls to 142 FPS. These figures show that the system is well-suited for 1080p competitive play at any setting, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 140 FPS on average.

At 2560x1440, the system's performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. The Low preset produces 194 FPS on average, which is still well above the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset yields 162 FPS on average, with a minimum of 137 FPS and maximum of 186 FPS, suggesting that frame dips are relatively contained. The High preset drops to 121 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 94 FPS. These results indicate that 1440p play is viable at all settings, though players seeking consistently high frame rates may prefer Medium or Low presets to stay above 160 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance becomes more variable and heavily dependent on settings. The Low preset yields 109 FPS on average, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset produces 90 FPS on average, with a minimum of 77 FPS and maximum of 104 FPS, indicating that frame times can spike during demanding scenes. The High preset drops to 67 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for smooth gameplay. The data shows that 4K play is only recommended at Low or Medium settings if the player prioritizes frame rate over visual fidelity.

The measured data includes minimum and maximum FPS values only for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 208 FPS and the maximum is 281 FPS, representing a range of 73 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 137 FPS and the maximum is 186 FPS, a range of 49 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 77 FPS and the maximum is 104 FPS, a range of 27 FPS. The narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU's workload becomes more consistent as it approaches its limits, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and the player's preference for frame rate versus visual quality. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 182 FPS offers a strong balance of visual fidelity and speed, while the Ultra preset at 142 FPS still provides a smooth experience for most players. The Medium preset at 244 FPS is the best choice for players with 240 Hz monitors, as it maintains an average well above that refresh rate. The Low preset at 294 FPS is the maximum frame rate option, suitable for players who prioritize responsiveness above all else.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 162 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a high average frame rate with a minimum of 137 FPS that stays above most monitor refresh rates. The High preset at 121 FPS is acceptable for players with 120 Hz displays, but the lower minimum frame rates at this setting could lead to occasional stutters. The Ultra preset at 94 FPS is playable but not ideal for competitive play, as frame dips could affect aiming precision. The Low preset at 194 FPS is the best option for players who want the highest possible frame rate at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 90 FPS is the only setting that approaches a smooth experience, with a minimum of 77 FPS that is still above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset at 109 FPS is the better choice for players who prioritize frame rate, as it provides a comfortable margin above 100 FPS. The High preset at 67 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 52 FPS is not recommended for competitive play. For 4K gaming, the data suggests that Low or Medium settings are the only viable options to maintain playable frame rates.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently offers the best combination of frame rate and visual quality, as it delivers significantly higher FPS than High or Ultra while maintaining a reasonable minimum frame rate. The measured data shows that the gap between Medium and High is substantial at every resolution, suggesting that the High preset includes effects that are disproportionately expensive for the RTX 2060. Players who want to maximize frame rate should start with the Low preset and adjust upward only if the visual quality is insufficient.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 delivers the highest frame rates across all settings, with the Low preset achieving 294 FPS and the Ultra preset still reaching 142 FPS. At 2560x1440, the system remains competitive, with the Medium preset at 162 FPS, but at 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly, with the Ultra preset falling to 52 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290, which is 0% different from the GTX 580, 0.1% lower than the Radeon 680M, 0.6% lower than the RTX 3050 OEM, and 0.8% lower than the RX 7600. The measured FPS in Counter-Strike 2 is consistent with these small deltas, indicating that the GPU performs similarly to those rivals in this title.

Q: Is the i7-14700F a bottleneck for the RTX 2060?

A: The CPU's 91st percentile ranking and strong single-thread score of 4958 in Cinebench R23 suggest it is not a bottleneck at most settings. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 294 FPS, which is likely CPU-limited, but at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 52 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 121 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is sufficient for 120 Hz displays, but the minimum frame rate is not reported for this configuration, so players may experience occasional dips during heavy scenes.

Q: Does the 6 GB VRAM affect performance at 4K?

A: The 6 GB VRAM on the RTX 2060 is a limiting factor at 3840x2160, where the Ultra preset produces only 52 FPS on average. The Medium preset at 90 FPS and Low preset at 109 FPS indicate that reducing settings alleviates VRAM pressure, but the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth also contribute to the performance drop at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 2936 out of 3719 tested combinations in Counter-Strike 2, placing it in the lower half of the database. The ranking reflects the GPU's 58th percentile position among all GPUs, while the CPU sits at the 91st percentile.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel. It has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700 interface with PCIe Gen 5 connectivity (16 lanes from the CPU). The processor does not have integrated graphics and is not multiplier-unlocked, with a launch MSRP of $359.

In Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's single-thread performance is critical, as the game engine relies heavily on a limited number of threads for game logic and rendering commands. The i7-14700F's boost clock of 5.40 GHz is among the highest in the database, and its single-thread benchmark scores reflect this: 2082 in Cinebench R20 single-core, 4958 in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 4257 in PassMark single-thread. These scores place the CPU at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. The nearest rivals in terms of average score are the Intel Xeon 6505P (-0.2% delta), Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (+0.3%), AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (+0.6%), and AMD EPYC 7313P (+0.8%).

The CPU's multi-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a PassMark multi-thread score of 41317. However, in Counter-Strike 2, the game's engine does not scale perfectly with thread count, so the single-thread performance is more relevant. The measured FPS data supports this: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 294 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame delivery capability. At higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's headroom is not fully utilized. The data indicates that the i7-14700F is not a limiting factor in this combo for most settings, and players could expect similar frame rates with a more powerful GPU at 1080p.