Valorant

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. For a competitive FPS like Valorant, the CPU's job is to handle game logic, player positions, and the simulation of the match. The data shows that this processor, with its 16 MB of L3 cache, is more than adequate for that task.

The benchmark results for the CPU place it at the 79th percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance. In single-threaded workloads, which are critical for Valorant's frame rendering, the processor scores 836 in the 3dmark single-thread test and 2319 in the Cinebench R23 single-core test. These scores are respectable, but the real story is how this CPU interacts with the GPU in this specific game.

Looking at the measured FPS, the CPU is rarely the bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 468.1 FPS. This high frame rate suggests the CPU can feed frames to the GPU at an exceptional rate. The processor's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-12500, has an average score of 20897, which is nearly identical to the Ryzen 5 5500's 20875 (a delta of -0.1%). This indicates that the CPU's performance tier is well-established, and its 12 threads provide ample parallel processing for the game's background tasks.

Since Valorant is often played at high frame rates, the CPU's ability to maintain consistent performance is key. The 6-core design with 12 threads ensures that even with background processes, the game has dedicated resources. The data shows that moving from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra only drops the average FPS from 468.1 to 337.1, which is a 28% reduction. This relatively modest drop indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as it can consistently supply data to the GPU across all resolutions.

FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 20875. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core i5-12500, scores 20897, a delta of -0.1%. This places the two processors in the same performance tier, with the Ryzen trailing by a negligible margin.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo in Valorant?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 468.1, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the peak frame rate across all tested configurations, indicating that the system can exceed the refresh rates of most high-end monitors.

Q: Does the GPU's VRAM capacity impact performance in Valorant at higher resolutions?

A: The RTX 4070 has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory. Valorant is not a VRAM-intensive title, and the data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 337.1. The ample VRAM ensures that texture loading and memory bandwidth are not bottlenecks, as the GPU's 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is more than sufficient.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 439.4 on Low settings to 365.5 on Ultra settings. This is a 16.8% reduction in frame rate, showing that Ultra settings impose a noticeable but not severe penalty on the system.

Q: How does the combo's rank in this game compare to other configurations?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 816 out of 1650 tested combos for Valorant. This places it in the middle of the pack, suggesting that while it performs exceptionally well in absolute frame rates, there are many other configurations with similar or better results.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the high frame rates seen at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates, as the 1080p Low result of 468.1 FPS is very high. However, the GPU's role becomes more prominent at higher resolutions, where the frame rate drop is more modest, indicating a balanced system where neither component is severely underutilized.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling across resolutions. Starting at 1920x1080 with High settings, the system produces 390.6 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the frame rate drops to 371 FPS, a decline of 5%. At 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 345.5, representing an 11.5% drop from the 1080p baseline. This gradual decline indicates that the system is not heavily constrained by either component at these resolutions.

When examining Low settings, the scaling is more pronounced. At 1080p Low, the system hits 468.1 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 439.4 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 409.2 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 12.6%, which is relatively small. This suggests that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is not being pushed to its limits, as the frame rate remains far above the refresh rates of most displays.

The Ultra settings provide the most insight into the limiting component. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 384.6. At 1440p, it drops to 365.5, and at 4K, it falls to 337.1. The overall drop from 1080p to 4K is 12.3%. This relatively flat scaling curve indicates that the CPU is the primary driver of performance, as the GPU's workload does not increase dramatically with resolution. If the GPU were the bottleneck, we would expect a steeper decline in FPS as resolution increases.

The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the system maintains an average of 337.1 FPS. This is well above the 240 Hz refresh rate common in competitive gaming monitors. The combination of a strong 6-core CPU and a powerful GPU ensures that the system is not limited by either component, allowing for consistently high frame rates regardless of resolution.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 468.1, which is the peak across all configurations. Medium settings produce 395 FPS, while High settings yield 390.6 FPS. Ultra settings at this resolution result in 384.6 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 83.5 FPS, showing that settings have a moderate impact at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high. Low settings produce 439.4 FPS, while Medium settings yield 378.5 FPS. High settings result in 371 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 365.5 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 73.9 FPS, which is slightly smaller than at 1080p, indicating that the resolution increase reduces the impact of settings changes.

At 3840x2160, the system still maintains impressive performance. Low settings produce 409.2 FPS, while Medium settings yield 348 FPS. High settings result in 345.5 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 337.1 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 72.1 FPS. This is the smallest spread across all resolutions, suggesting that the GPU is beginning to play a more significant role at 4K, but it is still far from being a bottleneck.

The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the absolute frame rates drop, but the relative differences between settings narrow. This is a hallmark of a CPU-bound scenario, where the processor's performance dictates the frame rate ceiling, and the GPU's workload only marginally affects the outcome.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is a high-end graphics card built on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. These specifications are more than sufficient for Valorant, which is not a graphically demanding title.

The GPU's benchmark scores reflect its strong performance. It achieves a passmark G3D score of 26927 and a 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854. The GPU ranks in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, indicating that it is a high-performing part. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, has an average score of 37507, which is only 0.6% higher than the RTX 4070's 37283. This shows that the GPU is well-positioned in the market.

In Valorant, the GPU's role is to render the game's visuals and handle the drawing of frames. The data shows that the GPU is not the limiting factor, as the frame rates are extremely high across all settings and resolutions. Even at 4K Ultra, the system produces 337.1 FPS, which is far above the needs of any display. The GPU's 12 GB of VRAM ensures that texture storage is never an issue, and its 5 nm process node and 35,800 million transistors provide ample compute power.

The GPU's performance is consistent with its benchmark scores. The 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 455.4 GTexel/s texture rate are more than enough for Valorant's visual requirements. The data indicates that the GPU is effectively idle in this game, as the CPU is the primary driver of the high frame rates. This is a common scenario in competitive FPS titles, where the game's engine is optimized for low latency and high frame rates, rather than complex visual effects.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display and performance goals. For users with a 1080p monitor running at 240 Hz, the Medium settings preset provides the best balance. At 1080p Medium, the system produces 395 FPS, which is well above the 240 Hz threshold. This setting offers a significant improvement over Low settings (468.1 FPS) in visual quality, while maintaining a frame rate that is more than sufficient for competitive play.

At 1440p, the Medium settings preset also delivers excellent results. The system produces 378.5 FPS at 1440p Medium, which is still far above the refresh rates of most 1440p monitors. For users with a 1440p display running at 165 Hz, this is the recommended setting. It provides a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with a 12.6% drop from Low settings (439.4 FPS) but a significant improvement in image quality.

For 4K users, the Low settings preset is the best choice. At 4K Low, the system produces 409.2 FPS, which is the highest frame rate at this resolution. This setting ensures that the frame rate remains high, even on a 4K display. The Ultra settings at 4K (337.1 FPS) are still playable, but the drop of 17.6% from Low settings may not be worth the marginal visual improvement in a fast-paced shooter.

Across all resolutions, the data suggests that the Medium settings preset offers the best overall experience. It provides a meaningful visual upgrade over Low settings while maintaining frame rates that are well above the needs of any competitive gaming setup. The Ultra preset is also viable, but the performance difference is minimal, and the visual gains are often imperceptible in a game like Valorant. Therefore, the recommended settings are Medium for most users, with Low being the choice for those who prioritize absolute maximum frame rates.