Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a highly playable Counter-Strike 2 experience, but the data reveals a clear and consistent trend: performance scales dramatically with resolution, indicating that the system is heavily GPU-bound at higher settings. At 1080p, the combo produces exceptional frame rates that can easily drive high-refresh-rate monitors, while at 4K, the frame rate drops to a level that is still playable but far less competitive. This makes the combination a strong choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being a secondary consideration for less demanding play.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a significant performance penalty as resolution increases, which is the classic hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 201.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 133.9 FPS at 2560x1440, a 33.6% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 73.2 FPS, which is a 63.7% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary bottleneck as pixel count rises, despite the i7-14700KF's high processing power.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. With Low settings, the frame rate goes from 323 FPS at 1080p to 213.9 FPS at 1440p and then to 121.7 FPS at 4K. Even at the lowest settings, the 4K resolution results in a frame rate that is less than 40% of the 1080p result. This data confirms that the CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is not the limiting factor in this configuration; instead, the GPU's rendering capabilities dictate the upper bounds of performance as resolution increases.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep. At Medium settings, the drop from 177 FPS to 97 FPS represents a 45.2% loss, while at Ultra settings, the drop from 101.7 FPS to 55.6 FPS is a 45.3% loss. This near-constant percentage reduction across presets when moving to 4K underscores the GPU's memory bandwidth and processing power being overwhelmed by the sheer number of pixels. The 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth of the RTX 2060 SUPER are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the demands of 4K significantly reduce headroom.

FAQ

Q: Is this combination suitable for high-refresh-rate esports gaming at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data strongly supports this. Measured average FPS at 1920x1080 ranges from 158 FPS on Ultra to 323 FPS on Low, and 201.6 FPS on High. These numbers are well above the 144Hz threshold, making it an excellent choice for competitive play.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER perform at 4K in this game?

A: Performance is playable but not ideal for high-refresh displays. The average FPS at 3840x2160 is 73.2 on High, 97 on Medium, and 121.7 on Low. The Ultra preset drops to 55.6 FPS, which is the only measured scenario that may feel less fluid.

Q: What is the best resolution to balance visual quality and performance?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution offers a strong compromise. At High settings, it achieves 133.9 FPS, and at Medium settings, it reaches 177 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining frame rates high enough for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the performance in this game?

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. The evidence is the steep FPS drop as resolution increases. The Intel Core i7-14700KF has 20 cores and 28 threads, which provides ample processing power, but the RTX 2060 SUPER's performance ceiling is reached as pixel count increases.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a worthwhile experience compared to High?

A: At 1080p, the Ultra preset still yields a high 158 FPS, but it is a 21.6% reduction from the High preset's 201.6 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 101.7 FPS. Given the frame rate cost, the High preset appears to be a more efficient choice for maintaining higher refresh rates.

Q: How does this combo's overall CPU performance rank?

A: The i7-14700KF sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700K, has a nearly identical average benchmark score, with a deltaPct of 0. This indicates top-tier processing power.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Counter-Strike 2, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is ranked 1152 out of 1632 tested combos. This places it in the lower half of all configurations tested, which is surprising given the high performance of the CPU. The ranking is likely dragged down by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, where many other combos with more powerful graphics cards would achieve higher average frame rates.

The CPU itself is a powerhouse, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its benchmark scores show it is on par with the Intel Core i7-14700K, with a deltaPct of 0, and it is only 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 9115. This suggests that the CPU is providing its full potential. However, the RTX 2060 SUPER, while ranking in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, is clearly the weaker link in the chain for this title. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, is only 0.3% slower, and it is 0.5% slower than the RTX 2070.

The low combo rank relative to the CPU's high percentile suggests that the system is not fully utilizing the CPU's capability. At 1080p, the frame rates are high, but the rank indicates that many other systems can achieve similar or better results. The bottleneck shifts to the GPU at higher resolutions, which explains why the combo's overall standing is lower than the individual component rankings would imply.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured average FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. Starting at 323 FPS on Low, it drops to 267.4 FPS on Medium. The High preset achieves 201.6 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces 158 FPS. This shows that even at the highest settings, the system can comfortably support a 144Hz monitor.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset yields 213.9 FPS, while Medium achieves 177 FPS. High settings produce 133.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 101.7 FPS. These figures are still excellent for most competitive play, with the High preset being a sweet spot for higher refresh rates. The frame rate at 1440p on High is only slightly lower than 1080p on Ultra, showing the resolution's impact.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle. The Low preset still manages a respectable 121.7 FPS. Medium settings produce 97 FPS, and High settings drop to 73.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only one to fall below 60 FPS, with an average of 55.6 FPS. This data confirms that while the game is playable at 4K, it is not ideal for high-refresh-rate competitive play. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is significant, a 54.3% performance gap, indicating the heavy load of the higher settings.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to the High preset at 1080p as the optimal balance. It delivers 201.6 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor. This is a better choice than Ultra, which gives 158 FPS, a 27.6% performance drop for a marginal visual improvement. The High preset at this resolution ensures the game remains fluid and responsive.

At 1440p, the High preset is again the recommended choice, providing 133.9 FPS. This is a good balance for users with 144Hz 1440p monitors. The Medium preset offers a higher 177 FPS, which could be beneficial for those seeking maximum refresh rates, but High provides a better visual experience while still staying above the 120 FPS mark. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended for competitive play, as it drops to 101.7 FPS.

For 4K, the Medium preset is the best option, yielding 97 FPS. This is the highest setting that remains comfortably above 60 FPS. The Low preset provides an even higher 121.7 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant. The High preset at 73.2 FPS is playable, but the Medium preset offers a better combination of visual fidelity and smooth motion. The Ultra preset at 55.6 FPS is best avoided for a competitive advantage.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end desktop processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. It features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This substantial core count and high clock speed provide massive processing headroom, which is reflected in its 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 70104 is virtually identical to the Intel Core i7-14700K, with a deltaPct of 0.

In the context of Counter-Strike 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic and physics. The data suggests that the i7-14700KF is more than capable of this task. The frame rate scaling with resolution indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any setting. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the CPU workload is proportionally highest, the system achieves 323 FPS. This demonstrates that the processor can feed the GPU with enough data to maintain extremely high frame rates.

The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory also contribute to its strong performance. The high multithreaded scores, such as 44557 in Cinebench R23, show that it can handle any background tasks without impacting game performance. In this pairing, the CPU is a clear strength, providing all the power needed to push the GPU to its limits.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the defining component in this configuration's gaming performance. Based on the Turing architecture and TU106 chip, it has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1650 MHz, and it has 2176 shading units. The GPU ranks in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19774.

The benchmark data shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER's performance in Counter-Strike 2 is heavily dependent on resolution. At 1080p, it delivers excellent results, but the frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases. For instance, the High preset goes from 201.6 FPS at 1080p to 73.2 FPS at 4K. This is a clear indication that the GPU's processing power and memory bandwidth are saturated at higher pixel counts.

The GPU's memory capacity of 8 GB is adequate for this game, even at 4K. However, its raw compute power, measured at 7.181 TFLOPS, is the limiting factor. The data shows that the Ultra preset at 4K is the only scenario that results in sub-60 FPS performance, highlighting the GPU's struggle with the highest settings at the highest resolution. While the RTX 2060 SUPER is a capable card for 1080p and 1440p esports, its age is evident at 4K, where it cannot maintain the high frame rates achievable by more modern GPUs.