The transition from Global Offensive to Counter-Strike 2 marked the end of the DX9 era for Valve. The new Source 2 engine introduces physically based rendering and dynamic smoke that interacts with lighting, significantly changing the performance profile. While CS:GO was light on the GPU, CS2 requires a competent card to handle these effects without stuttering. It remains CPU-heavy at competitive settings, where the 'sub-tick' server architecture demands strong single-thread performance. CPUs with large L3 caches, like AMD's X3D line, offer a major advantage. 8GB of RAM is now the absolute minimum, though more is recommended to avoid hitches.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, frame rates range from 24 to 84 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 12 to 51 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 6 to 24 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 136% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2070) for Counter-Strike 2. The Xeon Gold 6348 is 197% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-9700K).
The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at 1080p (medium/high/ultra), all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the Xeon Gold 6348 still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p low.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $3746. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 24 FPS, equivalent to 0.01 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.018 fps/$ | 0.010 fps/$ | 0.006 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.014 fps/$ | 0.010 fps/$ | 0.006 fps/$ | 0.003 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.006 fps/$ | 0.005 fps/$ | 0.003 fps/$ | 0.002 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 15 FPS, while the Xeon Gold 6348 has headroom up to 71 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 79% (FPS gap: 56 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 11/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 1/12.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Xeon Gold 6348 frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 21% | GPU Limits CPU 55% | GPU Limits CPU 72% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 48% | GPU Limits CPU 50% | GPU Limits CPU 68% | GPU Limits CPU 76% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 57% | GPU Limits CPU 61% | GPU Limits CPU 74% | GPU Limits CPU 79% |
We estimate the maximum FPS the processor can sustain and the maximum FPS the graphics card can sustain in each setting, then compare those limits directly.
Limit Factor formula: (stronger - weaker) / stronger. Example: if CPU ceiling is 200 FPS and GPU ceiling is 140 FPS, then GPU limits CPU by 30%.
CPU Limits GPU means the processor ceiling is lower. GPU Limits CPU means the graphics ceiling is lower. Balanced means the FPS ceilings are close enough that the gap is negligible.
A component can still be the FPS limiter without reaching 100% utilization. The displayed percentages are derived from FPS ceilings, not generic utilization heuristics.
See how your processor and graphics card compare against the game official minimum and recommended system specs. The placement of your hardware is calculated using relative synthetic performance scores to help you gauge overall playability.
Your CPU is 197% above and your GPU is 136% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+197%vsrecommended
+136%vsrecommended
+1936%vsminimum
+843%vsminimum
The Xeon Gold 6348 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Counter-Strike 2 at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 24 FPS which is classified as "struggling". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $3746 ($2097 CPU + $1649 GPU). Your GeForce RTX 4090 provides phenomenal top-tier performance but at a premium enthusiast price. Since you are essentially at the ceiling of current hardware capabilities, there are no meaningful performance upgrades available. However, if you wanted a more cost-effective build that still delivers a great experience, you could theoretically step down to a high-end card with a significantly better value rating.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is already a top-tier graphics card. While it's technically the limiting factor here (which means you are fully utilizing your GPU's visual horsepower exactly as intended), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Counter-Strike 2 performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.
Counter-Strike 2 does not currently support Frame Generation technologies like DLSS 3 or FSR 3. Your performance is based entirely on native rendering. If the game adds support in a future update, newer GPUs will benefit the most.
Counter-Strike 2 requires at minimum a Core i5 750 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 660 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 85 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-9700K and GeForce RTX 2070 with 16 GB RAM. Your Xeon Gold 6348 and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Counter-Strike 2 FPS results are not arbitrary numbers. They come from calculations informed by thousands of real gaming benchmarks, and the typical accuracy range is around 10% to 15%. That makes them far more useful than generic FPS calculators that simply invent values without a benchmark foundation. Actual in-game performance can still vary with drivers, updates, RAM configuration, cooling, and the exact scene being rendered.
Performance estimates are based on synthetic benchmarks and hardware capabilities.
Results may vary based on drivers, OS, and background processes.
