Valorant

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 delivers a highly capable Valorant experience across all tested resolutions, though the data reveals a distinct performance ceiling imposed by the graphics card. The measured frame rates show that while the 8-core CPU provides a robust foundation, the GPU’s 4 GB VRAM and GCN 4.0 architecture become the primary limiting factor as resolution and settings increase. This analysis examines the specific component contributions, optimal settings, and scaling behavior using the provided benchmark data.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a Zen 5 (Granite Ridge) desktop processor built on TSMC’s 4 nm process, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz provide the single-thread headroom that Valorant’s engine typically leverages for game logic and draw calls. The CPU’s PassMark single-thread score of 4691 places it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong per-core performance that aligns well with the high frame rates observed at lower settings where the GPU is less burdened.

The processor’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB L2 cache per core support the rapid data access patterns common in competitive FPS titles. In the measured data, the 1080p Low preset achieves 286 average FPS, revealing that the CPU is capable of feeding frames well beyond typical 144 Hz or 240 Hz display refresh rates. The 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest thermal and overclocking headroom, though the data does not include overclocked results.

Comparing the 9700F to its nearest rivals in the PassMark database, it sits remarkably close to much higher-tier processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, a mere 0.2% higher, while the Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70163, which is 0.2% lower than the 9700F’s 69996 average benchmark score. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X trails by 0.7%, and the Intel Core i7-14700K is 0.9% behind. This tight clustering suggests that for Valorant’s workload, the 9700F’s 8-core/16-thread configuration is not a bottleneck; the game’s performance is far more dependent on the GPU at higher settings.

At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 117, which is a 59% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This decline is not attributable to the CPU, as its compute capabilities remain constant across resolutions. Instead, the data implies that the CPU is delivering sufficient frame data, and the GPU’s rendering capacity is the limiting factor. The PassMark physics score of 2122 and multithread score of 36470 indicate robust general compute, but Valorant’s engine does not appear to stress all 16 threads equally, as evidenced by the relatively small FPS delta between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings compared to the larger drop to 4K.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is an end-of-life Polaris 20 GPU built on GlobalFoundries’ 14 nm process, featuring 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Its base clock of 1168 MHz and boost clock of 1244 MHz, combined with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus delivering 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, define its rendering limits. The GPU’s 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 39.81 GPixel/s pixel rate are modest by modern standards, and the measured FPS data reflects this.

The most telling indicator of the GPU bottleneck is the scaling from Low to Ultra settings. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 286 FPS, while Ultra drops to 171 FPS—a 40% reduction. At 4K, Low hits 195 FPS and Ultra falls to 117 FPS, a 40% reduction as well. This consistent proportional drop across resolutions suggests that the RX 570’s shading and texture units are saturated by the increased visual complexity of Ultra settings, regardless of pixel count. The 4 GB VRAM capacity likely contributes to this, as higher presets may exceed the memory footprint, though the data does not specify memory usage.

The RX 570’s average benchmark score of 28766 places it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, which is surprisingly high given its age. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M at 28874 (0.4% higher), the AMD Radeon R9 M295X at 28580 (0.7% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 470 at 28996 (0.8% higher). The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 scores 28421, which is 1.2% lower. This clustering indicates that while the RX 570 is not a top-tier card, it punches well above its expected weight in synthetic benchmarks, yet the Valorant results show it struggling more at 4K Ultra (117 FPS) compared to what the CPU could theoretically deliver.

At 1440p Medium, the RX 570 produces 161 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS, which is still above the 144 Hz threshold for many monitors. The 4K Medium result of 129 FPS with a minimum of 109 FPS shows the GPU nearing its limits, as the minimum FPS falls below 120. The pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s suggests that at 4K (8.3 million pixels), the GPU must process roughly 8.3 million pixels per frame, and at 129 FPS that translates to over 1 billion pixels per second, which is near the theoretical fillrate limit when combined with shader work.

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

The measured data provides four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) across three resolutions, allowing for a clear recommendation based on frame rate targets. For competitive play where high refresh rates are paramount, the Low preset is the standout choice. At 1080p, Low delivers 286 FPS, which is 51% higher than Medium’s 189 FPS and 67% higher than Ultra’s 171 FPS. This massive gap indicates that Low settings remove GPU bottlenecks, allowing the CPU to push frames to their maximum.

For 1440p users, Low again leads with 244 FPS, while Medium drops to 161 FPS and Ultra to 146 FPS. The delta between Low and Medium is 83 FPS, suggesting that the Medium preset introduces significant GPU load that reduces headroom. At 4K, Low achieves 195 FPS, which is still above most display refresh rates, while Medium falls to 129 FPS and Ultra to 117 FPS. The data suggests that Low is the only preset that consistently maintains FPS above 200 at 1080p and 1440p, making it the optimal choice for esports-focused play.

However, for users prioritizing visual fidelity over raw FPS, the Medium preset offers a balanced compromise. At 1080p, Medium provides 189 FPS with a minimum of 160 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense scenes. The minimum FPS of 137 at 1440p Medium and 109 at 4K Medium are still playable, but they approach the threshold where frame pacing could become noticeable. The High preset sits between Medium and Ultra, with 180 FPS at 1080p, 153 FPS at 1440p, and 123 FPS at 4K. Given that High is only 9 FPS lower than Medium at 1080p but 23 FPS lower than Low, it may not justify the visual upgrade for competitive players.

The Ultra preset, while offering the best visuals, produces the lowest FPS across all resolutions: 171 FPS at 1080p, 146 FPS at 1440p, and 117 FPS at 4K. For a game like Valorant where reaction time is critical, the data clearly recommends Low settings to maximize frame rate, with Medium as a fallback for those who want better graphics without sacrificing too much performance. The 4K Low result of 195 FPS is particularly noteworthy, as it shows that even at the highest resolution, the RX 570 can maintain high FPS when settings are minimized.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F sufficient for Valorant at high frame rates?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 286 FPS, and the CPU’s PassMark single-thread score of 4691 (94th percentile) indicates it is not the limiting factor. The CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads with a 5.50 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom, as evidenced by the minimal FPS differences between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings (e.g., 286 vs 244 FPS at Low).

Q: How does the RX 570’s 4 GB VRAM affect Valorant performance?

A: The 4 GB GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus delivers 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. While the data does not measure VRAM usage, the consistent 40% FPS drop from Low to Ultra across all resolutions suggests that the GPU’s memory capacity and bandwidth are taxed by higher presets, particularly at 4K where the Ultra preset drops to 117 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 144 Hz monitor?

A: At 1080p, both Low (286 FPS) and Medium (189 FPS) exceed 144 FPS, but Low provides a 51% higher frame rate, offering more headroom for frame drops. At 1440p, Low (244 FPS) is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 144 FPS, as Medium (161 FPS) is close but has a minimum of 137 FPS, which could dip below the refresh rate.

Q: Does the combo rank well compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2740 out of 2883 tested combos for Valorant, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations. However, this ranking is likely influenced by the GPU’s age, as the CPU alone ranks in the 94th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 74th percentile. The measured FPS data shows the combo is still highly playable, just not top-tier.

Q: How does the RX 570 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 570’s average benchmark score of 28766 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (28874, 0.4% higher) and the AMD Radeon RX 470 (28996, 0.8% higher). It outperforms the AMD Radeon R9 M295X (28580) by 0.7% and the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 (28421) by 1.2%. These small deltas suggest that in synthetic tests, the RX 570 performs on par with much newer or higher-tier products.

Q: Is the 4K performance playable with this combo?

A: Yes, the data shows 4K Low at 195 FPS and 4K Medium at 129 FPS, both above the 60 FPS threshold. Even 4K Ultra at 117 FPS is playable, though the minimum FPS data is only provided for Medium (109 FPS), suggesting that Ultra may have more pronounced dips.

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 a clear pattern of GPU limitation. At Low settings, the drop from 1080p (286 FPS) to 1440p (244 FPS) is 42 FPS (15%), and from 1440p to 4K (195 FPS) is 49 FPS (20%). The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 91 FPS (32%). This relatively modest scaling indicates that at Low settings, the CPU still has significant influence, as the GPU is less burdened by shading work.

At Medium settings, the scaling is more pronounced: 1080p (189 FPS) to 1440p (161 FPS) is a 28 FPS drop (15%), and 1440p to 4K (129 FPS) is a 32 FPS drop (20%). The total drop is 60 FPS (32%), similar to Low in percentage terms. However, the absolute FPS values are lower, indicating that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck as settings increase.

At High settings, the drop from 1080p (180 FPS) to 1440p (153 FPS) is 27 FPS (15%), and from 1440p to 4K (123 FPS) is 30 FPS (20%). The total drop is 57 FPS (32%). This consistent 32% reduction across all settings suggests a uniform scaling factor based on pixel count. At Ultra, the drop from 1080p (171 FPS) to 1440p (146 FPS) is 25 FPS (15%), and from 1440p to 4K (117 FPS) is 29 FPS (20%), again totaling 32%.

The fact that the percentage drop remains constant at 32% across all settings is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain more constant across resolutions, as the CPU’s work does not scale with pixel count. The RX 570’s pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and 224.0 GB/s memory bandwidth are the likely constraints, as 4K requires four times the pixels of 1080p, and the GPU cannot maintain proportional throughput. The data implies that for this combo, lowering settings provides more FPS headroom than lowering resolution, as the 1080p Low (286 FPS) is 47% higher than the 4K Low (195 FPS), while the 1080p Ultra (171 FPS) is only 46% higher than the 4K Ultra (117 FPS).

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 286 FPS, which is the highest result in the entire dataset. Medium at 1080p achieves 189 FPS with a minimum of 160 FPS and a maximum of 217 FPS, showing a tight frame time distribution. High at 1080p reaches 180 FPS, while Ultra drops to 171 FPS. The 1080p results show a clear hierarchy: Low (286) > Medium (189) > High (180) > Ultra (171).

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 244 FPS, which is 42 FPS lower than 1080p Low. Medium at 1440p achieves 161 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS, indicating more frame time variance than at 1080p. High at 1440p reaches 153 FPS, while Ultra drops to 146 FPS. The 1440p hierarchy mirrors 1080p: Low (244) > Medium (161) > High (153) > Ultra (146).

At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers 195 FPS, which is 49 FPS lower than 1440p Low. Medium at 4K achieves 129 FPS with a minimum of 109 FPS and a maximum of 148 FPS, showing the largest frame time variance in the dataset. High at 4K reaches 123 FPS, while Ultra drops to 117 FPS. The 4K hierarchy is: Low (195) > Medium (129) > High (123) > Ultra (117).

The minimum FPS data is only provided for Medium settings across all resolutions: 160 FPS at 1080p, 137 FPS at 1440p, and 109 FPS at 4K. This suggests that Medium is the only preset where frame dips were measured, which may indicate that Low, High, and Ultra have more stable frame pacing or that the data collection focused on Medium. The maximum FPS values for Medium are 217 FPS at 1080p, 185 FPS at 1440p, and 148 FPS at 4K, showing a clear scaling trend.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and AMD Radeon RX 570 combination ranks 2740 out of 2883 tested combos for Valorant, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations tested. This ranking might seem surprising given the high FPS numbers, but it must be contextualized by the fact that Valorant is a highly optimized esports title where many modern GPUs can achieve frame rates well above 400 FPS at 1080p. The RX 570’s age (2017 release) and 4 GB VRAM likely contribute to its lower ranking despite the CPU’s strong performance.

The CPU alone ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69996. This places it in the top 6% of processors, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.9% of its score. The GPU ranks in the 74th percentile, with an average score of 28766. The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile and the GPU’s lower percentile explains the combo’s overall ranking: the CPU is capable of much higher FPS than the GPU can deliver, particularly at higher settings and resolutions.

The combo’s rank of 2740 suggests that most other tested combos likely feature newer or higher-end GPUs that can push Valorant’s frame rates higher. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo still delivers excellent playable performance, especially at 1080p Low (286 FPS) and 1440p Low (244 FPS). The ranking is a relative measure against all possible combinations, and the absolute performance is what matters for actual gameplay. The data indicates that users with this combo should prioritize Low settings to maximize FPS, as the GPU is the clear bottleneck, and the CPU has substantial headroom for future GPU upgrades without needing to replace the processor.