Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Counter-Strike 2, but the data reveals a clear shift in performance bottlenecks as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system is predominantly CPU-limited, producing frame rates that exceed the refresh rate of most monitors, while at 4K, the GPU becomes the decisive factor, pulling average frame rates down to levels where image quality settings require careful selection. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates to determine where the balance of power lies and which settings offer the optimal experience.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K illustrates a classic pattern of component bottlenecking. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 341 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 on Low, that figure drops to 225 FPS, a reduction of 116 FPS (34%). Pushing further to 3840x2160 on Low yields 126 FPS, which is 56% lower than the 1440p result and 63% lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline when lowering resolution indicates that at 1080p, the CPU and its 16 cores are feeding frames faster than the RTX 4060 can render them, but as pixel count rises, the GPU’s workload increases and it becomes the limiting factor.

The pattern holds across other settings. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 211 FPS at 1080p to 140 FPS at 1440p, a 34% decrease, and then to 78 FPS at 4K, another 44% decrease. The Ultra preset shows a similar trend: 164 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings suggests that the scaling is resolution-driven rather than setting-driven. The rendering load increases proportionally with pixel count, and the RTX 4060’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth start to show their limits at 4K.

The most telling data point comes from the Medium preset, where the minimum frame rates are recorded. At 1080p Medium, the average is 283 FPS with a minimum of 240 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average is 187 FPS with a minimum of 159 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 105 FPS with a minimum of 89 FPS. The minimum frame rate at 4K Medium (89 FPS) is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, but it shows that the GPU is working harder to maintain consistency. The data suggests that for competitive play at high refresh rates, 1080p is the sweet spot, while 4K is viable for slower-paced gameplay or visually demanding scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested system configurations, this Intel and NVIDIA pairing sits at rank 1719 out of 2870 combos in Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the 60th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms 60% of configurations but lags behind 40%. This mid-pack ranking is notable given the hardware specifications: the Core Ultra 7 155H is a mobile processor with 16 cores and 22 threads, and the RTX 4060 is an end-of-life GPU from the GeForce 40-series. The ranking suggests that while this combo is capable of high frame rates, it is not at the top tier for this specific game.

The CPU’s own benchmark data provides context for its performance tier. The Core Ultra 7 155H scores 15,028 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which places it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-14600T (avg score 32,707, deltaPct 0) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (avg score 32,662, deltaPct 0.1), showing that it is essentially on par with these desktop and mobile alternatives. The CPU’s single-thread performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,743, is sufficient for Counter-Strike 2’s engine, which does not heavily utilize multi-threading.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17,639, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (avg score 17,666, deltaPct -0.2) and the AMD Radeon 780M (avg score 17,588, deltaPct 0.3). This close clustering indicates that the RTX 4060 is a mid-range performer, and the combo’s overall rank of 1719 out of 2870 reflects that this system is not built for extreme high-end gaming but rather for solid, consistent 1080p and 1440p play.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the primary driver of frame rates at higher resolutions, and its specifications explain the measured results. The GPU has a boost clock of 2460 MHz and a base clock of 1830 MHz, with 3072 shading units and 48 ROPs. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. These specs are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes a potential constraint, especially on Ultra settings where texture memory usage is higher.

The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks shows it is a balanced mid-ranger. Its Passmark G3D score is 19,545, which is above the average but not exceptional. In DirectX 12 tests, it scores 76, while in DirectX 11 it scores 175, indicating that the architecture handles modern APIs well but may not be optimized for older ones. The RTX 4060’s FP32 performance is 15.11 TFLOPS, which is sufficient for Counter-Strike 2’s Source 2 engine, but the game’s competitive nature favors high frame rates over graphical fidelity.

The data from the measured FPS shows the GPU’s influence most clearly at 4K. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages 61 FPS, which is exactly at the threshold for 60 Hz displays. At 4K High, it rises to 78 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it reaches 105 FPS. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor to the diminishing returns at 4K Ultra, as the higher texture detail and shadow quality settings can exceed the memory capacity, forcing the system to use slower memory paging. In contrast, at 1080p, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, as evidenced by the 341 FPS average on Low settings, where the CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 4.80 GHz boost clock can keep up with the rendering pipeline.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system’s capabilities across three resolutions and four settings.

At 1920x1080, the system excels. On Low settings, the average FPS is 341, which is high enough for any competitive monitor. Medium settings yield 283 FPS average, with a minimum of 240 FPS and a maximum of 325 FPS. High settings produce 211 FPS average, and Ultra settings average 164 FPS. Even at Ultra, the frame rate is well above 144 Hz, making this resolution ideal for esports play.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show GPU limitations. Low settings average 225 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate gaming. Medium settings average 187 FPS, with a minimum of 159 FPS and a maximum of 215 FPS. High settings drop to 140 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 109 FPS average. The 1440p results indicate that this combo can drive most 144 Hz monitors at medium or high settings without issue.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the primary constraint. Low settings average 126 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. Medium settings average 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. High settings drop to 78 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 61 FPS average. At 4K, the system is best suited for 60 Hz displays, and only Low or Medium settings will maintain a smooth experience.

The Medium preset is the only setting where minimum frame rates are recorded across all three resolutions, providing insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p, the minimum of 240 FPS is 85% of the average, indicating stable frame pacing. At 1440p, the minimum of 159 FPS is 85% of the average, showing similar consistency. At 4K, the minimum of 89 FPS is 85% of the average, suggesting that the GPU maintains a steady workload even at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s display and performance priorities.

For 1080p displays (1920x1080), the recommendation is to use High or Ultra settings. At High, the average FPS is 211, which is sufficient for 144 Hz monitors, and the visual quality is significantly improved over Low. At Ultra, the average is 164 FPS, which still exceeds 144 Hz and offers the best visual fidelity. For users with 240 Hz monitors, Medium settings at 283 FPS average provide the best balance of speed and quality, but High at 211 FPS is still competitive.

For 1440p displays (2560x1440), High settings are the recommended sweet spot, delivering 140 FPS average. This is enough for 144 Hz monitors and provides a good visual experience. Medium settings at 187 FPS average are also viable for users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, especially if they have a 165 Hz or 180 Hz display. Ultra settings at 109 FPS average are acceptable for slower-paced gameplay, but the drop below 120 FPS may be noticeable to sensitive players.

For 4K displays (3840x2160), the data indicates that Medium settings are the best choice, averaging 105 FPS with a minimum of 89 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on 60 Hz displays and maintains a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. Low settings at 126 FPS average are an alternative for users who want extra headroom, but the visual downgrade is significant. High settings at 78 FPS average and Ultra at 61 FPS average are not recommended for competitive play, as they dip below the 80 FPS mark where frame pacing can become less consistent.

In summary, the combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with High settings, where it delivers a high frame rate without sacrificing visual quality. At 4K, users should stick to Medium settings to ensure a stable experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Counter-Strike 2?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 341 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the maximum measured output across all tested configurations.

Q: How does the RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM affect performance at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the 8 GB GDDR6 memory is a limiting factor, especially on Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 61. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates, likely due to VRAM capacity constraints. At 4K Medium, the average is 105 FPS, indicating that lower memory usage results in better performance.

Q: Is this combo suitable for 240 Hz competitive gaming?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo can support 240 Hz gaming on Medium settings, which averages 283 FPS with a minimum of 240 FPS. On High settings, the average is 211 FPS, which falls short of 240 FPS but still provides a high refresh rate experience. At 2560x1440, the maximum average is 225 FPS on Low settings, which is close to 240 Hz but may not be consistent.

Q: What is the combo’s ranking among all tested systems in Counter-Strike 2?

A: This Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and RTX 4060 combination ranks 1719 out of 2870 tested combos. This places it in the 60th percentile, indicating that it outperforms the majority of systems but is not a top-tier configuration for this game.

Q: Which settings provide the best balance of frame rate and visual quality at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, High settings are recommended, offering an average of 140 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on 144 Hz monitors while maintaining good visual quality. Medium settings at 187 FPS average are better for users who prioritize frame rate, but the visual difference between Medium and High is noticeable.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32,697, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-14600T (32,707) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (32,662). The deltaPct values of 0 and 0.1 respectively indicate that the CPU is on par with these alternatives in overall processing power.