Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a 2012 FPS that remains highly sensitive to CPU performance, and this pairing of an Intel Core i5-12400 with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 produces exceptionally high frame rates across all tested configurations. The measured data shows that the RTX 4080 is rarely the limiting factor, especially at lower resolutions, where the i5-12400’s six Performance cores become the primary driver of the observed performance ceiling. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS rows, the scaling behavior, and the specific roles each component plays in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that drop is highly dependent on the selected graphics preset. At the Low preset, the average frame rate falls from 1141 FPS at 1920x1080 to 785 FPS at 2560x1440, and then to 464 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 31.2% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 40.9% decrease from 1440p to 4K. The absolute drop from 1080p to 4K is 677 FPS, which is a substantial 59.3% reduction.

The High preset exhibits a similar trend but with lower absolute values. At 1920x1080, the average is 841 FPS, dropping to 578 FPS at 2560x1440 and 342 FPS at 3840x2160. The percentage drops are 31.3% from 1080p to 1440p and 40.8% from 1440p to 4K. The Medium preset’s trajectory is steeper in absolute terms, with averages of 971 FPS at 1080p, 668 FPS at 1440p, and 395 FPS at 4K, corresponding to 31.2% and 40.9% reductions respectively. The Ultra preset starts at 717 FPS at 1080p, falls to 494 FPS at 1440p, and bottoms out at 292 FPS at 4K, showing identical relative scaling of 31.1% and 40.9%.

The consistency of these percentage drops across all four presets is telling. Regardless of whether the game is running at Low or Ultra settings, the cost of increasing resolution from 1080p to 1440p is consistently around 31%, and the cost of moving from 1440p to 4K is consistently around 41%. This uniformity suggests that the scaling penalty is primarily a function of pixel count and memory bandwidth utilization, not a shift in the bottleneck. However, the fact that the Low preset at 4K (464 FPS) still outperforms the Ultra preset at 1080p (717 FPS) indicates that the GPU is far from saturated even at the highest resolution tested.

The data points to the CPU being the primary limiting component in this configuration. At 1080p Low, the system produces 1141 FPS, which is an extraordinarily high frame rate that pushes into CPU-bound territory for most game engines. The RTX 4080, with its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth, is capable of rendering these frames, but the i5-12400’s 6 cores and 12 threads are what ultimately set the ceiling. The fact that dropping from Ultra to Low at 1080p only increases performance by 424 FPS (from 717 to 1141) suggests that even at Low, the CPU is still the main constraint. At 4K, the gap between Low (464 FPS) and Ultra (292 FPS) widens to 172 FPS, indicating the GPU begins to play a more significant role, but the absolute frame rates remain so high that the CPU is still delivering frames faster than most displays can refresh.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 1141 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at the Medium preset?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 971 at 1920x1080 to 395 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 576 FPS or approximately 59.3% of the 1080p score.

Q: Does the RTX 4080’s 16 GB VRAM become a limiting factor in this game?

A: No. The benchmark data shows no indication of VRAM limitations, as even the highest resolution and preset combination (3840x2160 Ultra) still maintains an average of 292 FPS. The game’s demands are far below the card’s capacity.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest minimum FPS at 2560x1440?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 has the only reported minimum FPS value at that resolution, with a min of 568 FPS. Other presets at this resolution did not report min FPS data.

Q: How does the i5-12400 compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-14100F?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, while the Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519. The i5-12400 is 0.9% ahead of the i3-14100F according to the deltaPct value.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4080 and the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209. The RTX 4080 is 0.1% ahead of the SUPER variant in this database’s averages.

Settings Recommendations

Given the extreme frame rates available, the optimal settings preset is the one that balances visual fidelity with the ability to maintain a frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of any current display. The measured data shows that all presets at all resolutions produce average FPS well above 144, which is the standard for high-refresh-rate monitors. However, the Low preset at 1920x1080 produces 1141 FPS, which is likely CPU-bound and offers no practical benefit over the Medium preset’s 971 FPS.

The Medium preset stands out as the most balanced choice. It provides a significant visual improvement over Low while still delivering 971 FPS at 1080p, 668 FPS at 1440p, and 395 FPS at 4K. Critically, the Medium preset is the only one with reported minimum FPS data, showing a min of 825 FPS at 1080p, 568 FPS at 1440p, and 335 FPS at 4K. These minimums are still exceptionally high, indicating that the frame pacing is stable and consistent. The High preset offers slightly better visuals but only reduces performance by 13.4% at 1080p (841 FPS vs 971 FPS) and 13.5% at 4K (342 FPS vs 395 FPS) compared to Medium.

The Ultra preset is the most demanding, and while it still achieves 717 FPS at 1080p, it introduces a 26.2% performance penalty over Medium at that resolution. At 4K, Ultra drops to 292 FPS, which is still above 240 Hz but begins to approach the range where frame-time consistency could become a concern for competitive play. For most users, the Medium preset offers the best experience per the measured rows, as it provides high visual quality with frame rates that are effectively unlimited by any current monitor. The High preset is a reasonable alternative for those who prioritize image quality over the marginal difference between 971 and 841 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the performance hierarchy is clear. The Low preset yields an average of 1141 FPS. The Medium preset averages 971 FPS, with a reported minimum of 825 FPS and a maximum of 1117 FPS. The High preset averages 841 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 717 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 424 FPS, which is the largest absolute gap between presets across all resolutions.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 785 FPS. The Medium preset averages 668 FPS, with a minimum of 568 FPS and a maximum of 768 FPS. The High preset averages 578 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 494 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 291 FPS, showing that the GPU is beginning to take on more work as pixel count increases.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 464 FPS. The Medium preset averages 395 FPS, with a minimum of 335 FPS and a maximum of 454 FPS. The High preset averages 342 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 292 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is now just 172 FPS, which is the smallest absolute difference. This indicates that while the GPU is becoming more influential, it is still not the sole bottleneck, as even the lowest settings cannot push the frame rate beyond 464 FPS at 4K.

Comparing across resolutions, the Low preset shows the most significant drop in raw FPS when moving from 1080p to 4K (1141 to 464, a loss of 677 FPS). The Ultra preset shows the smallest absolute loss (717 to 292, a loss of 425 FPS), but the proportional loss is consistent at around 59-60% for all presets. The Medium preset provides the only min/max data points, offering insight into frame pacing: the minimum FPS at 1080p (825) is 85% of the average (971), which suggests a stable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 241st out of 3719 total combos for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This places it in the top 6.5% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU.

The rank is notable because it reflects the game’s CPU sensitivity. The RTX 4080 is a top-tier GPU, but the i5-12400’s position in the overall ranking is constrained by its 6-core/12-thread configuration and its 72nd percentile standing among all CPUs. The combo’s 241st rank suggests that there are 240 other systems that produce higher frame rates, likely featuring newer or higher-clocked CPUs such as the 13th or 14th Gen Intel parts or AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series. However, the i5-12400’s nearest rivals in CPU benchmark scores, such as the AMD EPYC 7643 (deltaPct -0.1%) and Intel Core i7-1355U (deltaPct -0.3%), show that the CPU is competitive with a wide range of other processors.

The high rank is also proof of the GPU’s headroom. Even with a relatively modest CPU, the RTX 4080’s raw compute power (48.74 TFLOPS FP32) ensures that the system remains in the upper echelon of performance. The 0.1% delta to the RTX 4080 SUPER indicates that the GPU is essentially at the top of its class, and the ranking is more likely limited by the CPU’s ability to feed it in this specific esports title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It has 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the CPU’s role is paramount, as the game engine is known for its reliance on single-threaded performance and low-latency frame generation.

The benchmark results for the CPU show a single-thread score of 910 in 3dmark and 2257 in Cinebench R23, which are strong numbers for a 12th Gen part. The multi-threaded scores, such as 15989 in Cinebench R23 and 18747 in Passmark multithread, are respectable but not class-leading. In this game, the high boost clock of 4.40 GHz is critical, as it allows the CPU to process the game’s simulation and input logic faster than the GPU can render frames.

The data suggests that the CPU is the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system produces 1141 FPS, but this is likely the engine’s limit for this CPU, as increasing settings to Ultra only drops the frame rate to 717 FPS. The fact that the CPU’s percentile vs all CPUs is 72, with an average benchmark score of 18683, confirms that it is a capable mid-range part. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-14100F, scores 18519 and is 0.9% slower, indicating that the i5-12400 holds its own against newer budget options. For this game, the CPU’s 6 cores are sufficient, as the game rarely utilizes more than a few threads, and the 12 threads provide headroom for background tasks.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 9728 shading units, 76 RT cores, and 304 tensor cores, with a base clock of 2205 MHz and a boost clock of 2505 MHz. The GPU is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. Its compute power is rated at 48.74 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the GPU’s role is to render frames as quickly as the CPU can supply them. The measured data shows that the RTX 4080 is never the limiting factor at 1080p or 1440p, as even the Ultra preset at 1440p produces 494 FPS. The GPU only begins to show its influence at 4K, where the Ultra preset drops to 292 FPS, but this is still an exceptionally high frame rate for 4K. The GPU’s 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, as the minimum FPS at 4K Medium (335 FPS) indicates no memory pressure.

The RTX 4080’s percentile vs all GPUs is 86, with an average benchmark score of 54247. Its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209, which is a 0.1% difference, showing that the 4080 is essentially at the top of the performance stack. The GPU’s high memory bandwidth (716.8 GB/s) and boost clock (2505 MHz) ensure that it can handle the game’s rendering demands with ease. The data indicates that the GPU has substantial headroom, as dropping from Ultra to Low at 1080p only improves performance by 59.3%, and at 4K, even the Low preset achieves 464 FPS. This suggests that for competitive play, the GPU is more than adequate, and the system’s ultimate frame rate is capped by the CPU’s processing power rather than the GPU’s render output.