Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is famously CPU-bound, but the data for the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination flips that script at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are astronomically high, indicating the CPU is doing the heavy lifting. At 4K, the GPU takes over, and the results show a massive performance cliff when moving from Low to Ultra settings. This pairing is exceptionally well-balanced, offering competitive frame rates across all tested configurations, but the optimal experience depends entirely on your display's refresh rate and resolution.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting the highest competitive refresh rates on a 1080p or 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the definitive choice. The data shows this setting delivers 670.3 FPS at 1080p and 442.5 FPS at 1440p, which are the highest averages recorded in this dataset. This ensures the CPU and GPU are never the bottleneck, even on the fastest 360Hz or 500Hz displays. The performance headroom is so substantial that the visual compromise is a worthwhile trade-off for the ultimate competitive edge.

However, for those with a 4K display or who prefer visual fidelity without sacrificing responsiveness, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At 275.1 FPS, this configuration is still well above the refresh rate of virtually all high-end monitors, while providing significantly better visual quality than the Low preset. The jump from Low to High at 1440p costs 167.4 FPS, but the remaining 275.1 FPS is still more than sufficient for smooth, tear-free gameplay on a 240Hz panel.

The Ultra preset should be avoided for serious play, particularly at 4K. The data shows 119.9 FPS at 3840x2160, which is a substantial drop and could introduce input latency in a game where milliseconds matter. While the Medium preset at 1440p (369.4 FPS) is excellent, the High preset offers a better balance of visual quality and raw speed. The recommendation is clear: select Low for maximum frame rates at 1080p/1440p, or High at 1440p for a premium visual experience that still eclipses 240 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the dominant force in this pairing at higher resolutions. The benchmark data reveals a clear trend: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the primary limiter. At 1080p with the Low preset, the GPU produces 670.3 FPS, but this number is constrained by the CPU's ability to feed it frames. At 4K, the GPU is fully engaged, and its raw power is showcased by the 246.1 FPS achieved at the Low preset.

The GPU's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for Counter-Strike 2. The core clock boosts to 2550 MHz, and the 10240 shading units are put to work as settings increase. The data shows a steep performance gradient when moving from Low to Ultra at 4K, dropping from 246.1 FPS to 119.9 FPS. This 126.2 FPS swing is a direct result of the GPU's workload increasing with each preset tier, proving that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the component that dictates performance ceilings at 4K, while the CPU governs the lower-resolution extremes.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum frame rate this combo can achieve?

A: The highest recorded average is 670.3 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER overkill for Counter-Strike 2?

A: No. While the CPU provides massive frame rates at 1080p, the GPU is essential for maintaining high performance at 4K. At 3840x2160 with the High preset, the system still averages 154.9 FPS, a figure that would be unattainable with a weaker GPU.

Q: How much performance is lost by switching from High to Ultra at 4K?

A: The data shows a significant drop. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 119.9 FPS, which is 35 FPS lower than the High preset's 154.9 FPS at the same resolution.

Q: Which component limits performance at 1080p?

A: The CPU. The 20-core Intel Core i7-14700K is the bottleneck at this resolution, as evidenced by the extreme frame rates (670.3 FPS at Low) which outpace what the GPU alone can render at higher resolutions.

Q: Does the Ultra preset ever provide the best experience?

A: No. The data indicates that the Ultra preset yields the lowest frame rates at every resolution tested. For example, at 2560x1440, it averages 216 FPS compared to the Low preset's 442.5 FPS, making it the least optimal choice for performance.

Q: What is the frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The benchmark shows an average of 275.1 FPS at 2560x1440 with the High preset, making it a strong choice for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive look at performance scaling across three resolutions and four settings presets.

1920x1080: The Low preset delivers a staggering 670.3 FPS average. Moving up the settings ladder, the Medium preset yields 555.5 FPS, High drops to 418.2 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 325.6 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 344.7 FPS, showing a massive performance range at this resolution.

2560x1440: The Low preset remains exceptionally fast at 442.5 FPS. The Medium preset follows at 369.4 FPS, and the High preset produces 275.1 FPS. The Ultra preset is the slowest at 216 FPS. The scaling is consistent, with each preset tier costing roughly 70-90 FPS.

3840x2160: This is where the GPU is fully stressed. The Low preset averages 246.1 FPS, which is still very high. The Medium preset drops to 206.9 FPS, and High falls to 154.9 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration under 120 FPS, averaging 119.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 4K is 126.2 FPS, a significant reduction that highlights the GPU's workload.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 1632 tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER achieves a rank of 98. This places the combo in the top 6% of all tested systems, confirming its status as a high-end configuration. The percentile ranking reflects its balanced performance; it is not the absolute fastest combo available, but it consistently delivers top-tier results across the board.

The ranking is supported by the individual component benchmarks. The CPU's average benchmark score of 70074 places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU’s average score of 53610 puts it in the 88th percentile. The combo rank of 98 is higher than the individual percentiles might suggest, which indicates that this CPU and GPU pair exceptionally well together in this specific game, avoiding severe bottlenecks and maximizing frame output.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is the engine that drives the extreme frame rates at lower resolutions. With 20 cores and 28 threads, it has immense parallel processing power. Its boost clock of 5.60 GHz is critical for Counter-Strike 2's single-threaded engine, allowing it to handle the game's simulation and draw calls rapidly. The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close for low latency.

This CPU's influence is most evident at 1080p. The benchmark results show that the frame rate is not solely dictated by the GPU preset; the CPU's processing speed is the limiting factor. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 670.3 FPS, a number far beyond what the GPU would be able to render if it were the sole bottleneck. The CPU's high single-core performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6287, is the key enabler for these high frame rates. In contrast, at 4K, the CPU's role diminishes as the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, allowing the CPU to easily keep up with the GPU's output.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the shift in the system's bottleneck. At the Low preset, the frame rate drops from 670.3 FPS at 1080p to 442.5 FPS at 1440p, a 34% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the frame rate further drops to 246.1 FPS, a 44% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is being increasingly taxed as pixel count grows, but the CPU is still managing to feed it adequately.

The scaling is even more dramatic at the High preset. The system delivers 418.2 FPS at 1080p, drops to 275.1 FPS at 1440p, and then falls to 154.9 FPS at 4K. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 263.3 FPS, a 63% reduction. This significant decline confirms that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows that the CPU is more than capable of powering high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering workload becomes the primary constraint, particularly at 4K where the pixel count quadruples. The conclusion is that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p for maximum performance, while 4K is viable but with a noticeable performance trade-off.