Valorant

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 4 architecture and manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, supported by a 16 MB shared L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. This CPU sits in the 82nd percentile against all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 25064. In Valorant, the processor’s single-thread performance is critical, as the game’s engine typically relies on fewer cores for its main simulation and render threads. The 8400F’s strong single-core showing, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 951 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2943, ensures that the game’s primary logic has ample headroom, allowing the measured frame rates to scale more readily with GPU output rather than being bottlenecked by CPU stalls.

The 8400F’s multi-threaded capabilities are also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 24530. While Valorant does not heavily utilize all 12 threads, this headroom prevents background tasks or game engine overhead from causing frame-time spikes. The processor’s performance relative to its nearest rivals highlights its efficiency: it scores within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, which has a deltaPct of 0. This indicates that in a CPU-bound scenario, the 8400F provides a modern baseline that is more than sufficient for high-refresh-rate competitive play. The boost clock of 4.70 GHz is particularly relevant here, as sustained high frequencies translate directly to higher minimum frame rates in a game like Valorant, where the CPU must maintain consistent frame pacing during intense team fights and ability usage.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1470 MHz with a boost clock of 1650 MHz, and the memory runs at an effective speed of 14 Gbps. The GPU achieves a Passmark G3D score of 16462 and an average benchmark score of 19774, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs. In Valorant, the GPU’s role is less about raw pixel pushing and more about maintaining high frame rates at competitive settings. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is ample for the game’s textures, even at Ultra settings, and the memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming does not become a limiting factor at high resolutions.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 2060 SUPER holds a slight edge: it is 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN and 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 in average benchmark score. This positioning means that in GPU-bound scenarios, the 2060 SUPER delivers performance that is statistically indistinguishable from the RTX 2070, making it a capable partner for the 8400F. The measured frame rates in Valorant confirm that the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, as the CPU and GPU combination produces extremely high average FPS across all settings. The boost clock of 1650 MHz is sufficient to push frame rates past the 500 FPS mark at 1080p Low settings, indicating that the GPU’s compute and shading units are well-utilized even when the game is not visually demanding. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility ensure that it can handle the game’s modern rendering features without compatibility issues.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on which preset offers the best experience, particularly for competitive play where high frame rates are prioritized over visual fidelity. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 562.7 FPS, which is the highest recorded frame rate for this combination. This represents a 45.8% improvement over the High preset’s 371.4 FPS and a 58.9% improvement over the Ultra preset’s 354 FPS. For players with high-refresh-rate monitors (240 Hz or above), the Low preset is the optimal choice, as it provides the maximum headroom to ensure that frame rates never dip below the monitor’s refresh rate in chaotic scenarios.

However, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 offers a compelling alternative, with an average of 387.3 FPS. This is still well above the 240 Hz threshold and only a 2.9% reduction from the High preset’s 371.4 FPS, while likely providing improved visual quality over Low. The data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for players who want a balance between responsiveness and visual clarity. At 2560x1440, the pattern holds: the Low preset achieves 506.8 FPS, while Medium drops to 333.4 FPS and Ultra falls to 303.3 FPS. The recommendation is to use Medium at 1440p for a competitive edge, as the 333.4 FPS figure still exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors. At 4K (3840x2160), even the Low preset only manages 407.6 FPS, while Ultra drops to 239.2 FPS; this resolution is better suited for content creation or cinematic viewing rather than competitive play, given the significant frame rate penalty.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1020th out of 1650 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the 61.8th percentile of all systems tested. This ranking is influenced by the fact that Valorant is a highly CPU-bound title, and while the 8400F is a strong mid-range processor, it is not the absolute fastest available. The ranking also reflects the GPU’s position; the RTX 2060 SUPER is a previous-generation card that, while capable, is outpaced by newer Turing and Ampere variants in the benchmark database.

The combo’s rank of 1020 out of 1650 indicates that it outperforms a majority of systems but is not at the top tier. The data shows that the limiting factor is likely the CPU’s single-thread performance relative to the absolute best processors, as the GPU is capable of producing very high frame rates in this game. The 8400F’s percentile of 82 versus the GPU’s percentile of 63 suggests that the CPU is the stronger component in this pairing. This is consistent with the measured frame rates, which show that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 562.7 FPS, a figure that would be positioned near the top of the performance charts for many lower-tier CPUs. The ranking implies that to climb higher in the database, a user would need to pair the RTX 2060 SUPER with a higher-clocked CPU, but as it stands, this combo delivers a very smooth and responsive experience for competitive Valorant play.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve maximum frame rates in Valorant?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings yields the highest average frame rate at 562.7 FPS. Even at 2560x1440 Low, the combo still produces a very high 506.8 FPS, but 1080p remains the top performer for competitive play.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F scores 25064 on average, which is 0.3% higher than the Ryzen 5 7500F’s 24993. This effectively means they are performance equals in multi-threaded tasks, with the 8400F having a negligible edge.

Q: Is the RTX 2060 SUPER significantly slower than the RTX 2070?

A: No. The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 19774, which is 0.5% higher than the RTX 2070’s 19680. This indicates that in Valorant, the two GPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 303.3 FPS. This is still well above the refresh rate of most high-end gaming monitors, making Ultra a viable option for those prioritizing visuals.

Q: Does the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM cause any limitations in Valorant?

A: No. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is more than sufficient for Valorant’s texture requirements, as evidenced by the high frame rates at Ultra settings across all tested resolutions, including 4K (239.2 FPS).

Q: How does this combo rank overall in the benchmark database for Valorant?

A: It ranks 1020th out of 1650 tested combos, placing it in the upper 38% of all systems. This means it outperforms the majority of tested configurations, though it is not in the top tier.