Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is a competitive FPS that scales dramatically with both processor and graphics hardware, and the pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER produces a dataset that clearly separates the responsibilities of each component. The measured results across three resolutions and four quality presets show a system that is capable of delivering extremely high frame rates, but the relationship between settings and resolution reveals where the bottleneck shifts. This analysis examines the specific hardware characteristics, the combo’s standing in the database, and the precise FPS measurements to determine the optimal configuration for this title.

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

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core processor with 32 threads, a specification that far exceeds the demands of Counter-Strike 2, which is known for relying heavily on single-thread performance. The chip’s base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 6.00 GHz are the key figures here; the high boost clock is what allows the CPU to keep up with the game’s physics and entity updates. In the database’s synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a single-core score of 2262.5 in Cinebench R23 and 2655 in Geekbench single-core, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. This strong single-core showing is directly relevant to Counter-Strike 2, as the game’s engine often becomes CPU-bound at lower resolutions and high frame rates.

The 36 MB of shared L3 cache also plays a role in the measured FPS. With such a large cache, the CPU can store more of the game’s frequently accessed data, reducing the need to pull information from system memory. The measured data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 587 avg FPS, which is a figure that would be impossible without a CPU that can feed the GPU with draw calls at an extremely rapid pace. The i9-14900K’s performance in the database’s Passmark single-thread test, scoring 4697, corroborates this; it is a processor designed to excel in scenarios where every clock cycle counts. The CPU’s multi-core capability is also robust, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5, but this is less relevant for Counter-Strike 2, which does not scale perfectly across 32 threads. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in any of the measured configurations, as the FPS drops are more pronounced when the GPU’s workload increases at higher resolutions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process node and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus. The memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s is a critical specification for Counter-Strike 2, as the game’s textures and shaders must be fed to the processing units quickly, especially at higher resolutions. The GPU’s boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1980 MHz are standard for this class of card, but the 7168 shading units provide the raw compute throughput necessary for high-detail rendering. In the database, the GPU holds an 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 43223, placing it just behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile in the nearest rivals list, which shows a deltaPct of -1.

The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for Counter-Strike 2 at all tested settings, as the game does not require excessive memory at 1080p or 1440p. However, at 4K Ultra settings, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced. The measured FPS drops to 105 avg at 3840x2160 Ultra, which is a significant reduction from the 587 avg at 1080p Low. This indicates that the GPU is being pushed harder as resolution increases, and the 12 GB frame buffer, while adequate, is not the limiting factor; instead, it is the pixel throughput and shader processing that constrain performance. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 29995 reflects its mid-to-high-end positioning, and the measured data confirms this, as the card is able to maintain playable frame rates even at 4K, but not at the extremely high refresh rates that competitive players often desire.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database for Counter-Strike 2, this specific combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is ranked 628 out of 3719 tested combos. This places it in the top 17% of all configurations, which is a strong showing given the sheer number of possible hardware pairings. The rank of 628 is influenced by the fact that many other combos in the database feature higher-end GPUs, such as the RTX 4090 series, which would naturally achieve higher average FPS in this game. However, the data indicates that this combo outperforms the vast majority of systems, and it is positioned well for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p.

The combo’s rank is also a reflection of the CPU’s strength. The i9-14900K’s nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which has an average score that is -0.3% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, which is -0.6% lower. This means the i9-14900K is essentially at the top of its class, only being beaten by the AMD EPYC 7413 in the rivals list, which shows a deltaPct of -1.2%. The GPU’s nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB and the RTX 5050 Mobile, both with deltaPct values of -0.1%, indicating that the RTX 4070 SUPER is closely matched with these parts in synthetic benchmarks. However, in Counter-Strike 2, the combination’s rank of 628 is a result of the synergy between the CPU’s high boost clock and the GPU’s balanced performance, making it a capable pairing for this specific title.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 587, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution compared to 1440p?

A: At 4K (3840x2160) with High settings, the combo achieves 135 avg FPS, while at 1440p (2560x1440) with High settings, it achieves 241 avg FPS. This represents a significant drop of 106 FPS when moving from 1440p to 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is more likely to be the limiting factor, as the measured FPS at Low settings is 587, which is extremely high and indicates the GPU is not being fully utilized. The CPU’s strong single-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2262.5, is what enables these high frame rates.

Q: What is the combo’s rank in the database for Counter-Strike 2?

A: The combo is ranked 628 out of 3719 tested combos, placing it in the top 17% of all configurations.

Q: Does the GPU’s VRAM capacity ever become a concern in the measured results?

A: The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for all tested settings, as the game does not exceed this limit. The performance drops at higher resolutions are more attributable to the GPU’s processing power rather than memory capacity.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rival in the database?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, which has a deltaPct of -0.1%, indicating nearly identical average benchmark scores.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves 364 avg FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average FPS drops to 241, a reduction of 123 FPS or approximately 34%. Further scaling to 3840x2160 at High settings results in an average of 135 FPS, which is a drop of 106 FPS from 1440p and 229 FPS from 1080p. This scaling behavior indicates that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, because the CPU’s performance is relatively constant across resolutions, while the GPU’s workload grows with the number of pixels.

The data also shows this trend at other settings. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 587 at 1080p to 388 at 1440p, and then to 217 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is about 63%, which is similar to the drop at High settings (63%). This consistency suggests that the scaling is primarily resolution-driven rather than settings-driven. The fact that the FPS does not drop proportionally to the pixel count (4K has 4 times the pixels of 1080p, but FPS drops by roughly 63%) indicates that the game is not purely pixel-bound; there is still a significant CPU component at lower resolutions. However, the increasing gap between 1440p and 4K shows that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s compute resources are being saturated, as the pixel throughput requirements outpace the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU at those higher resolutions.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s refresh rate and resolution. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, but the Medium preset offers a balanced experience with 487 avg FPS and a minimum of 414 FPS. This provides a high frame rate that is well above the threshold for competitive play, while still delivering better visual quality than Low settings. The High preset at 1080p achieves 364 avg FPS, which is still excellent, but the Medium preset’s higher minimum FPS (414 vs. null for High) suggests more consistent frame times. For users with 240 Hz monitors, the Medium preset is the best choice at 1080p, as it maintains an average well above the refresh rate.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 323 avg FPS with a minimum of 274 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate gaming. The High preset at 1440p achieves 241 avg FPS, which is also suitable for 240 Hz displays, but the Medium preset provides more headroom. At 4K, the High preset yields 135 avg FPS, which is playable for casual gaming but not for competitive play at high refresh rates. The Medium preset at 4K achieves 180 avg FPS with a minimum of 153 FPS, which is a better option for maintaining smoothness, but the Low preset at 217 avg FPS is the only way to approach 240 Hz at this resolution. Overall, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot across all resolutions, as it offers a significant FPS boost over High and Ultra settings while maintaining better visual fidelity than Low. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 283 avg FPS at 1080p, 187 at 1440p, and 105 at 4K, making it suitable only for users who prioritize graphics over frame rate.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all configurations. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 587 avg FPS, which is the highest recorded value. The Medium preset at the same resolution achieves 487 avg FPS with a minimum of 414 and a maximum of 561. The High preset achieves 364 avg FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 283 avg FPS. The minimum and maximum values are only recorded for the Medium preset, which shows a range that is tighter than the average might suggest, indicating good frame pacing.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 388 avg FPS, followed by the Medium preset at 323 avg FPS with a minimum of 274 and a maximum of 371. The High preset achieves 241 avg FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 187 avg FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with Low seeing a 34% decrease, Medium seeing a 34% decrease, High seeing a 34% decrease, and Ultra seeing a 34% decrease. This uniformity suggests that the GPU’s workload scales linearly with pixel count at this stage.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves 217 avg FPS, the Medium preset achieves 180 avg FPS with a minimum of 153 and a maximum of 207, the High preset achieves 135 avg FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 105 avg FPS. The minimum FPS of 153 at Medium 4K is still above the 144 Hz threshold, making it viable for high refresh rate displays. The Ultra preset at 4K, with 105 avg FPS, is the only configuration that drops below the 120 FPS mark, indicating that it is the most demanding setting. The data shows that the Medium preset consistently provides the best balance of performance and quality, with all measured minimum FPS values being significantly higher than the other presets.