Valorant

Valorant is a competitive FPS that often behaves differently from heavier titles, and the measured data for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination clearly illustrates this. The frame rates across all tested configurations are exceptionally high, indicating that this pairing is more than capable of delivering a smooth experience, but the scaling patterns reveal where the true bottleneck lies. This analysis will break down the resolution scaling, the role of each component, and how this specific combo ranks against the broader database.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a consistent, but relatively modest, drop in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the "Low" preset, the average frame rate starts at 343.4 FPS at 1080p, drops to 321.2 FPS at 1440p, and finally settles at 297.8 FPS at 4K. This represents a total decline of roughly 13% from 1080p to 4K, which is a surprisingly small penalty for such a significant increase in pixel count. The pattern holds for other presets, with "High" going from 286.2 FPS at 1080p to 271.8 FPS at 1440p and then 253.8 FPS at 4K.

This behavior suggests that the system is not being stressed by the increased graphical load at higher resolutions. In a GPU-bound scenario, we would typically expect a much steeper drop in performance when moving to 4K, often halving the frame rate. Here, the delta between 1080p and 4K is only about 45 FPS even at the "Low" preset. The data indicates that the CPU is the primary limiting factor, as the game engine is likely constrained by the processor's ability to handle the game's simulation and draw calls, rather than the GPU struggling to render pixels. The RTX 2070 SUPER has enough headroom at all resolutions to keep up with the Ryzen 5 2600's output, resulting in a plateau where the frame rate is dictated more by the processor than the resolution.

The gap between the lowest and highest resolution narrows slightly at higher settings, but the overall trend is clear. At "Ultra," the 4K average is 249 FPS, which is only 29.5 FPS lower than the 1080p average of 278.5 FPS. This further confirms that the GPU is not the bottleneck; even with the extra graphical work, it can easily keep pace. The data suggests that users with high-refresh-rate 4K monitors could still achieve very high frame rates in Valorant with this combo, as the performance ceiling is largely determined by the CPU's single-threaded capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its core clocks are listed with a base of 1605 MHz and a boost of 1770 MHz. In the context of Valorant, these specifications are more than sufficient. The game is not known for being a VRAM-intensive title, and the 8 GB allocation is unlikely to be a limiting factor at any of the tested resolutions or presets.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22206. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A400, which is 0.5% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700, which is 2.5% behind in the average score. This data suggests the RTX 2070 SUPER is a solid mid-range to upper-mid-range performer. However, in this specific test, the GPU's role appears to be secondary. The measured FPS figures show that even at 4K Ultra, the card can produce 249 FPS, which confirms its raw power. The fact that the frame rate does not collapse under load indicates that the GPU is never fully saturated, leaving performance on the table that the CPU cannot utilize.

This is a classic case of a pairing where the GPU is overqualified for the task at the given settings. The RTX 2070 SUPER's high pixel rate of 113.3 GPixel/s and texture rate of 283.2 GTexel/s are far above what is needed for a competitive title like Valorant. The data shows that the GPU is consistently ready to render more frames, but it is forced to wait for the CPU to submit work. Therefore, while the GPU is a critical component, the performance ceiling in this game is not defined by its capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Ryzen 5 2600 and RTX 2070 SUPER holds a comboRankInGame of 1403 out of 1650 possible combinations. This places it in the lower 15% of all tested combos for Valorant. This ranking is surprisingly low when considering the high absolute frame rates achieved, but it makes sense when looking at the competition. Many other combos likely feature more modern CPUs with higher single-threaded performance, which is a critical factor for a game like Valorant that runs at such high frame rates.

The rank indicates that while the experience is excellent in absolute terms, the CPU component is holding back the overall potential of the system. The Ryzen 5 2600's average benchmark score is 19616, putting it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11600KF, which is 0.6% faster, and the Intel Core i7-10700F, which is 0.7% faster. These small percentage differences in general benchmarks can translate into larger frame rate differences in a CPU-bound scenario. The data implies that pairing the RTX 2070 SUPER with a newer, faster processor would likely move this combo significantly higher in the rankings, potentially by hundreds of places. The current ranking is a direct consequence of the CPU bottleneck, not a reflection of poor performance from the GPU or the combination's ability to play the game smoothly.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average frame rate is 343.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" settings preset.

Q: How does the performance at 4K compare to 1080p at the "High" preset?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 286.2, and at 3840x2160, it is 253.8. This represents a decrease of 32.4 FPS when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data strongly suggests the CPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is minimal, indicating the GPU has headroom and is not being stressed by higher resolutions.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo is ranked 1403 out of 1650 total combinations for Valorant, placing it in the lower percentile of tested systems.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between the "Low" and "Ultra" presets at 1440p?

A: The "Low" preset averages 321.2 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset averages 263.4 FPS, a difference of 57.8 FPS.

Q: Does the GPU memory capacity appear to be a problem?

A: No. The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, and the high frame rates at 4K Ultra (249 FPS) indicate that memory capacity or bandwidth is not a bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the "Low" preset offers the highest possible frame rates, with a 343.4 FPS average at 1080p and 297.8 FPS at 4K. For competitive play where maximizing refresh rate is the priority, this is the optimal choice. The jump from "Low" to "Medium" is minor in terms of visual quality but costs a significant number of frames; at 1080p, the average drops from 343.4 to 289.8 FPS.

The most balanced recommendation is the "High" preset. It delivers an average of 286.2 FPS at 1080p and 271.8 FPS at 1440p, which is still exceptionally high and likely above the refresh rate of most monitors. The "Ultra" preset provides the best visual quality but offers diminishing returns, costing an additional 7.7 FPS compared to "High" at 1080p. Given that the "High" preset is only 7.7 FPS slower than "Medium" at 1080p, it is the sweet spot for image clarity without a meaningful performance penalty. For users with 4K displays, the "Low" preset at 297.8 FPS is the only way to get close to the performance seen at lower resolutions, but "High" at 253.8 FPS is still a very playable and smooth experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 2000 series, based on the Zen+ architecture. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. While it is a capable multi-threaded processor, its single-threaded performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1579, is the deciding factor in Valorant. The game is heavily dependent on single-core speed, and this is where the Ryzen 5 2600 shows its age.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 19616, which is in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. However, in a game where frame rates are in the hundreds, the difference between a 77th percentile CPU and a 90th percentile CPU can be massive. The data shows that even at 4K, the frame rate is capped at a level where the GPU is clearly not the constraint. For example, at 4K "Low," the FPS is 297.8. If the GPU were the bottleneck, we would expect a much lower number. The fact that it remains so high suggests the CPU is issuing instructions as fast as it can, and the GPU is waiting.

This processor's 12 nm process node and older architecture mean it cannot feed the RTX 2070 SUPER fast enough to unlock its full potential in Valorant. The performance is good, but the combo's low rank of 1403 out of 1650 confirms that a more modern CPU would yield substantially higher frame rates. The CPU is the anchor of this system, and while it provides a very playable experience, it is the component that prevents this combo from achieving the top-tier performance it otherwise could with a more powerful processor.