Valorant

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel Arc B370 combination delivers a highly playable Valorant experience across all tested resolutions, with the data showing a clear trend of CPU limitation at lower settings and GPU scaling at higher resolutions. This pairing ranks in the lower percentile of tested combos, yet produces average frame rates that comfortably exceed the demands of competitive play, making it a functional if not top-tier option for this specific title.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen architecture, manufactured on a 12 nm process. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, and it carries a 16 MB shared L3 cache. The processor’s benchmark profile shows a Passmark multithread score of 13,160 and a single-thread score of 2,239, which places it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs tested. The nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V with a 0.2% higher score and the Intel Core i9-11900H with a 0.5% higher score, indicating the Ryzen 5 2600 sits in a densely populated performance band.

In Valorant, the CPU’s role is to maintain consistent frame pacing and handle game logic, especially at lower graphical settings where the GPU has spare capacity. The measured FPS data reveals that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 299 average FPS, while at 4K Low settings it drops to 204 average FPS. This 95 FPS delta is substantial but not proportional to the 4x pixel increase, suggesting the CPU is not the sole bottleneck even at 1080p. The single-thread performance of the Ryzen 5 2600, reflected in the Cinebench R15 single-core score of 157.3, is adequate for Valorant’s engine, but the data shows diminishing returns as resolution increases, implying the GPU begins to take over the limiting role.

The processor’s 65 W TDP and support for DDR4 memory with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth are relevant context. Valorant’s relatively simple scenes do not heavily tax memory bandwidth, so the dual-channel setup is not a major constraint. The 6 cores and 12 threads provide enough parallelism for background tasks without interfering with the game’s main thread. Benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 5 2600’s aggregate score of 21,484 is 0.2% below the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V and 0.5% above the Intel Core i9-11900H, making it a mid-pack performer that aligns with the observed frame rates in this title.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with memory designated as "System Shared," meaning it uses the system’s DDR4 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The GPU’s shading units number 1,280, with 40 texture mapping units and 20 raster output units, producing a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. Its FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1,184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 at 0.2% higher score and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 0.5% higher.

For Valorant, the GPU’s shared memory architecture means performance is tied to system RAM speed and capacity, which the FACT PACK notes as "System Dependent." The measured FPS shows the GPU can handle the game’s demands across all settings, but the scaling pattern reveals its limits. At 1080p High settings, the combo delivers 187 average FPS, while at 4K High settings it drops to 128 average FPS. This 59 FPS reduction is more significant than the CPU-only scaling observed at Low settings, confirming the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions and quality presets.

The Arc B370’s 25 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate it is not designed for high-end gaming, yet Valorant’s low system requirements allow it to produce respectable numbers. The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs is misleading in this context because Valorant is not a graphically intensive title. The data shows the GPU’s texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s is sufficient for the game’s art style, and the 20 ROPs can handle the pixel fill demands at 4K, though with diminishing returns as frame rates climb. The lack of dedicated VRAM does not appear to cause stuttering or frame drops in the measured results, as the minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 114, which is still above typical competitive thresholds.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Ryzen 5 2600 + Intel Arc B370 combination holds a rank of 2,645 out of 2,883 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This low ranking reflects the GPU’s weak 5th percentile standing, which drags down the overall combo despite the CPU’s more respectable 75th percentile position. The data indicates that while the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately, the Arc B370’s raw compute power limits the combo’s ability to compete with systems using discrete graphics cards.

However, the ranking should be interpreted with caution. The combo’s measured FPS at 1080p Low (299 average) exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors, meaning the low rank does not translate to an unplayable experience. The rank is a relative measure against all tested combos, many of which likely include high-end discrete GPUs that would vastly outperform the integrated Arc B370. In the context of Valorant’s competitive nature, the 2,645th rank is a statistical outlier that does not reflect the smooth gameplay observed in the measured data.

The delta between the combo’s rank and its actual performance highlights a key insight: Valorant is CPU-bound at lower settings, allowing the weak GPU to still deliver high frame rates. The nearest rivals for the GPU, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a 0.5% higher benchmark score, are legacy cards, while the CPU’s rivals are modern processors. This mismatch suggests the combo’s rank is heavily influenced by the GPU’s performance class, but the game’s optimization compensates for this weakness.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo produces its highest frame rates. Low settings yield 299 average FPS, Medium settings produce 197 average FPS with a minimum of 167 and a maximum of 226, High settings deliver 187 average FPS, and Ultra settings achieve 178 average FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 121 FPS drop, with the largest single-step decline occurring between Low and Medium (102 FPS). This indicates that the Medium preset introduces significant graphical effects that stress the GPU, while the jump from Medium to High (10 FPS) and High to Ultra (9 FPS) are more modest.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a consistent reduction. Low settings average 255 FPS, Medium settings average 168 FPS with a minimum of 143 and a maximum of 193, High settings average 160 FPS, and Ultra settings average 152 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 103 FPS, which is similar to the 1080p gap, but the absolute numbers are lower. The Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 143 at this resolution is still above 144 Hz, making it viable for high-refresh displays.

At 3840x2160, the combo’s performance drops further but remains playable. Low settings average 204 FPS, Medium settings average 134 FPS with a minimum of 114 and a maximum of 154, High settings average 128 FPS, and Ultra settings average 122 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 82 FPS, which is smaller than at lower resolutions, indicating that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck. The 4K Medium minimum of 114 FPS is the lowest recorded value in the entire dataset, but it still exceeds 100 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense scenes.

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

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the shifting bottleneck between CPU and GPU. At Low settings, the drop from 299 FPS at 1080p to 255 FPS at 1440p (44 FPS or 14.7% reduction) and then to 204 FPS at 4K (51 FPS or 20% reduction) shows a gradual decline. This pattern suggests the CPU is still the primary limiter at Low settings, as the GPU has enough headroom to handle the increased pixel count without a proportional frame rate loss. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 95 FPS, which is 31.8% of the 1080p value.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is more pronounced. The drop from 178 FPS at 1080p to 152 FPS at 1440p (26 FPS or 14.6% reduction) and then to 122 FPS at 4K (30 FPS or 19.7% reduction) shows a similar percentage decline, but the absolute frame rates are lower. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 56 FPS, which is 31.5% of the 1080p value. This consistency in percentage reduction across settings indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as its performance scales linearly with pixel count.

The Medium settings data provides additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 197 with a minimum of 167, while at 4K Medium, the average is 134 with a minimum of 114. The average FPS drop of 63 FPS (32% reduction) is similar to the Low and Ultra patterns, but the minimum FPS drop of 53 FPS (31.7% reduction) confirms that the GPU’s memory bandwidth, being system-shared, does not introduce additional variance. The data clearly shows that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, while the CPU’s role diminishes.

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

The measured FPS rows suggest that the Medium preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance at all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the combo delivers 197 average FPS with a minimum of 167, which is well above the 144 Hz threshold for competitive monitors. The minimum FPS is 30 FPS higher than the High preset’s average at the same resolution (187 FPS), indicating that Medium provides a more consistent experience. At 1440p Medium, the 168 average FPS and 143 minimum FPS remain competitive, while the High preset’s 160 average FPS is marginally lower.

For players prioritizing maximum frame rates, the Low preset delivers 299 FPS at 1080p and 255 FPS at 1440p, which could benefit high-refresh 240 Hz displays. However, the jump from Low to Medium costs 102 FPS at 1080p, which is a significant trade-off for visual fidelity. The Ultra preset offers the highest quality but only provides a 9 FPS improvement over High at 1080p (187 to 178 FPS), making it the least efficient choice. At 4K, the Medium preset’s 134 average FPS and 114 minimum FPS are the most balanced, as the High preset drops to 128 average FPS and Ultra to 122 average FPS.

The data indicates that Medium is the optimal preset for this combo, as it provides the best minimum FPS headroom across all resolutions. The minimum FPS values for Medium are consistently higher than the average FPS for Ultra, meaning Medium avoids the frame drops that could occur with higher settings. For competitive play, Medium at 1080p or 1440p is recommended, while Low is suitable for extreme refresh rates, and High/Ultra are only viable for casual play at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Valorant?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 299 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At the same resolution, Medium achieves 197 FPS, High achieves 187 FPS, and Ultra achieves 178 FPS.

Q: Can this combo maintain 144 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 255 FPS, Medium averages 168 FPS with a minimum of 143 FPS, and High averages 160 FPS. Only the Ultra preset falls below 144 FPS average at 152 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has an average benchmark score of 21,484. It is 0.2% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V (21,440) and 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i9-11900H (21,367). Its score is also 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9454 (21,223).

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile and how does it affect the combo’s rank?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184. This low GPU ranking contributes to the combo’s rank of 2,645 out of 2,883 tested combos in Valorant.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution?

A: At 1920x1080, the minimum FPS is 167. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 143. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 114. These are the only settings with recorded minimum FPS values in the dataset.

Q: Does the combo perform better at 1080p Low or 4K Low?

A: The combo performs significantly better at 1080p Low, achieving 299 average FPS compared to 204 average FPS at 4K Low. The 95 FPS difference indicates that the GPU becomes a bottleneck at 4K even with Low settings.