Counter-Strike 2

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers exceptional performance in Counter-Strike 2, with frame rates that far exceed the requirements of competitive play. The data shows a combination that is heavily CPU-limited at lower resolutions, while the GPU begins to assert its influence only at 4K with the highest presets. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, providing a clear picture of what this hardware can achieve.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic CPU-bound scenario at the lower end of the resolution spectrum. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 744 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low only drops this to 494.3 FPS, a 33.6% reduction. At 4K Low, the average is 277.9 FPS, which represents a 62.6% drop from 1080p. This massive reduction indicates that while the GPU is still capable, the sheer pixel count of 4K begins to load the rendering pipeline more heavily.

However, the story changes with higher graphical presets. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 359.4 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it’s 237.4 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 130.4 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is 63.7%, which is nearly identical to the drop seen at Low settings. This suggests that the scaling is consistent, but the absolute numbers tell a different story about the bottleneck.

The data indicates that at 1080p and 1440p, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is the primary limiting factor. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p only costs 384.6 FPS (from 744 to 359.4), which is a 51.7% reduction, but the game remains playable at over 350 FPS. At 4K, the RTX 4090 starts to become the bottleneck, especially with the Ultra preset, where the frame rate drops to 130.4 FPS. This is still high, but it is the only scenario where the GPU is clearly struggling to keep up with the CPU's output. The 4K High result of 171.2 FPS reinforces this, showing a significant step down from the 277.9 FPS at 4K Low.

Settings Recommendations

For players with this combination, the choice of settings depends entirely on the target display and the desire for maximum frame rates. For competitive play on a 1080p or 1440p high-refresh-rate monitor, the Low preset is the clear winner. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 744 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it still hits 494.3 FPS. These numbers are far beyond the refresh rate of any current monitor, ensuring that the display, not the hardware, is the limiting factor.

The Medium preset offers a balanced experience. At 1080p Medium, the average is 618 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it’s 410.8 FPS. This preset provides a visual upgrade over Low while maintaining frame rates that are still exceptionally high. The data suggests that Medium is a safe choice for players who want a slight visual improvement without sacrificing the fluidity of the game.

For those gaming at 4K, the High preset is the sweet spot. It produces an average of 171.2 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. The Ultra preset, while visually richer, drops the frame rate to 130.4 FPS. This is still playable, but the 40.8 FPS difference between High and Ultra at 4K is substantial. Given the fast-paced nature of Counter-Strike 2, the High preset is recommended for 4K to ensure the highest possible frame rate while retaining good visual fidelity. The Low preset at 4K does offer 277.9 FPS, but the visual downgrade is significant, and the High preset provides a better balance for most users.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 744, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra performance compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 359.4, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 130.4. This represents a 63.7% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K at the highest preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1440p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the primary bottleneck at 1440p. For example, at 1440p Medium, the system produces 410.8 FPS, which is a relatively small drop from the 618 FPS seen at 1080p Medium, indicating the GPU is not fully taxed.

Q: What settings preset provides the best experience for a 1440p 240Hz monitor?

A: The Low preset is best, as it delivers 494.3 FPS at 1440p. The Medium preset also works, providing 410.8 FPS, but Low ensures the frame rate stays well above the 240Hz refresh rate.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, the High preset yields an average of 171.2 FPS, whereas the Ultra preset yields 130.4 FPS. The Ultra preset is 23.8% slower than High.

Q: Does the RTX 4090 ever become the limiting factor in this test?

A: Yes, the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K resolution, particularly with the Ultra preset. The frame rate drops to 130.4 FPS, which is the lowest recorded score, showing the GPU is struggling more than the CPU in this scenario.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all resolution and settings combinations. The following is a complete breakdown of the average FPS figures from the fact pack.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest performance with an average of 744 FPS. The Medium preset follows with 618 FPS, and the High preset produces 463.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, while still fast, drops to 359.4 FPS. The differences are significant, with a 384.6 FPS gap between the lowest and highest presets at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high. The Low preset achieves 494.3 FPS, which is a 33.6% drop from the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset yields 410.8 FPS, and the High preset produces 308 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution delivers 237.4 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with a roughly 30-35% reduction in FPS for each preset.

At 3840x2160, the GPU load increases significantly. The Low preset still manages 277.9 FPS, which is a 43.8% drop from the 1440p Low score. The Medium preset drops to 228.8 FPS, and the High preset falls to 171.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 130.4 FPS. This is the only resolution where the Ultra preset falls below 200 FPS, highlighting the increased strain on the RTX 4090. The data shows a clear hierarchy, with 1080p Low being the fastest configuration and 4K Ultra being the slowest.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 43rd out of 1632 tested combos for Counter-Strike 2. This places it in the top 2.6% of all tested systems, which is a remarkable achievement given the large number of combinations tracked. The rank demonstrates that this pairing is among the most powerful configurations for this specific game.

The ranking reflects the synergy between the 20-core CPU and the flagship GPU. While the CPU's average benchmark score of 79102 places it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which have average scores of 79240 and 79245, respectively. The 265K is only 0.2% behind these chips, indicating it is a top-tier performer. The GPU, with an average benchmark score of 66473, is in the 91st percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being the NVIDIA Tesla T4 and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56.

The 43rd rank out of 1632 combos confirms the balance of this system. It is not the absolute fastest combo, as there are 42 others that score higher, but it is decidedly in the top tier. The data shows that this pairing is overkill for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the CPU limits performance, but it provides a stellar 4K experience. The high rank is driven by the combination's ability to maintain high frame rates across all settings, even at 4K Ultra, where it still achieves 130.4 FPS. This makes it a top contender for any player seeking the best possible Counter-Strike 2 performance.