Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is a competitive FPS where frame rate directly affects input responsiveness and aiming precision. The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and Intel Arc B580 has been measured across three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a clear picture of how this pairing behaves in practice. The data shows a CPU that ranks in the 97th percentile among all processors, paired with a GPU in the 66th percentile, yet the overall combo lands at 1246 out of 1632 tested combinations. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS numbers to explain why.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The measured average is 310.1 FPS, the highest of any preset at that resolution.

Q: How does the Intel Core i9-14900K compare to its nearest rival, the i9-14900KF?

A: The i9-14900K scores 0.7% higher in average benchmark score, with an average of 79824 versus 79245.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The Intel Arc B580 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Counter-Strike 2?

A: It ranks 1246 out of 1632, meaning 1245 other combos perform better.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has a launch MSRP of $589.

Q: What is the GPU's boost clock?

A: The Intel Arc B580 has a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture with 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. Its memory runs at 2375 MHz, delivering 19 Gbps effective speed across a 192-bit bus, which yields 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's average benchmark score is 23021, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, scores 23181, a 0.7% advantage for the RTX card.

In Counter-Strike 2, the GPU's role becomes evident at higher resolutions and quality settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 55.2, the lowest measured value. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor when the rendering load is heavy. The 12 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for CS2, but the raw compute throughput—13.67 TFLOPS FP32—is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings. The GPU's 66th percentile ranking aligns with this behavior: it is a mid-range part that handles 1080p and 1440p well but struggles at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 310.1 at 1080p to 206.5 at 1440p, then to 113.4 at 4K. At Medium, the progression is 259.8, 172.2, and 97.4. High settings yield 189.9, 126.8, and 69.6. Ultra produces 151.8, 96.6, and 55.2. The drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial in every preset, with the 4K numbers falling to roughly one-third of the 1080p values. This scaling behavior points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU's high single-thread performance—Geekbench single-core score of 3064—is less relevant when the GPU is saturated. At 1080p, the CPU can feed the GPU enough frames to reach 310.1 FPS on Low, but at 4K the GPU's rendering capacity caps the output.

Settings Recommendations

For competitive play, the goal is maximum frame rate with minimal input lag. At 1080p, Low settings deliver 310.1 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium at 1080p still provides 259.8 FPS, a reasonable compromise if visual clarity is desired. At 1440p, Low gives 206.5 FPS, which remains above the 200 FPS threshold many players target. Medium at 1440p drops to 172.2 FPS, still playable but less optimal. For 4K, only Low exceeds 100 FPS at 113.4; Medium falls to 97.4, and High and Ultra are below 70 FPS. The data suggests that Low or Medium at 1080p or 1440p offers the best balance for competitive play. Ultra settings are only viable at 1080p, where 151.8 FPS is acceptable, but at 1440p and 4K the frame rates drop below 100, which is generally too low for fast-paced shooters.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1246 out of 1632 tested combinations in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the lower half of all pairings, which is surprising given the CPU's 97th percentile ranking. The i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79824, with a 0.7% lead over the i9-14900KF and a 0.9% lead over the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K. The GPU's average score of 23021 is 0.7% lower than the RTX 4060, but it still sits in the 66th percentile. The low combo rank suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in this title, or that the combination is not well optimized for CS2's engine. The CPU's strengths—24 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz—are not fully utilized when the GPU cannot keep up at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 310.1 FPS, but the GPU's ceiling prevents higher frame rates at more demanding settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|------------|----------|-------------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 69.6 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 113.4 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 97.4 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 55.2 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 126.8 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 206.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 172.2 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 96.6 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 189.9 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 310.1 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 259.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 151.8 |

The data shows a consistent hierarchy: Low > Medium > High > Ultra at every resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases, from a 158.3 FPS difference at 1080p to a 58.2 FPS difference at 4K. This indicates that the GPU's performance ceiling is reached earlier at higher resolutions, making the choice of preset more critical for maintaining playable frame rates. For players with 144Hz or 240Hz monitors, the 1080p Low and Medium presets are the only ones that consistently exceed 200 FPS. At 1440p, only Low reaches above 200 FPS. At 4K, no preset exceeds 120 FPS, and only Low stays above 100. The measured results make it clear that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, with settings adjusted to keep frame rates high.