Valorant

Valorant is a competitive FPS where frame rates far beyond display refresh rates are the norm, and the data for the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination confirms this pairing is exceptionally powerful for the title. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings are extraordinarily high, indicating that the system is rarely, if ever, the bottleneck in a real-world match. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data, examining how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the final results, and what this means for a player configuring the game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 539 FPS at 1080p to 511 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 417 FPS at 4K. This represents a 22.6% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, which is a relatively modest decline for such a significant increase in pixel count. The relatively small performance hit suggests that the system is not heavily GPU-bound at lower resolutions, and the graphics card only begins to show its workload as the pixel count rises.

The scaling pattern is even more telling at the Low preset. Here, the average FPS only drops from 643 at 1080p to 609 at 1440p and then to 566 at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 4K is a 12% performance drop, which is remarkably small. This indicates that at Low settings, the game's graphical load is so minimal that the RTX 4070 is far from being the limiting factor. The system is likely constrained by CPU processing or memory bandwidth even at 4K, meaning that the GPU has ample headroom to spare.

When examining the Medium preset, which is the only preset with min and max FPS data, the scaling pattern is similar. The average FPS is 548 at 1080p, 520 at 1440p, and 437 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is 20.3%, placing it between the Low and High presets. This suggests that as graphical fidelity increases, the GPU begins to play a larger role, but the CPU remains a significant contributor to overall performance. The system is well-balanced, ensuring that no single component becomes a severe bottleneck across the resolution spectrum.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, with its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 192-bit memory bus, provides a substantial amount of bandwidth at 504.2 GB/s. In Valorant, a game not known for demanding high VRAM or bandwidth, this configuration is more than sufficient. The data supports this, as the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at any given resolution is relatively small. For instance, at 1440p, the average FPS only drops from 609 on Low to 496 on Ultra, a difference of 18.5%. This indicates that the GPU's memory subsystem is not a limiting factor, even at the highest settings.

The RTX 4070's clock speeds, with a base of 1920 MHz and a boost of 2475 MHz, contribute to its ability to render frames quickly. The benchmark results for the GPU show a PassMark G3D score of 26927, placing it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. This high percentile score confirms its position as a high-end part. The nearest rivals in the benchmark data show it is closely matched with cards like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile and AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, with performance deltas of -1.3% and 0.4% respectively. This indicates that the RTX 4070's raw compute power is robust, but its advantage in a CPU-bound game like Valorant is less about raw throughput and more about having sufficient headroom to avoid being a bottleneck.

The fact that the GPU is at the end of its production life and has a successor in the GeForce 50 series does not diminish its current capability in this specific title. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the system achieves an average of 397 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of any mainstream monitor. The GPU's role here is to ensure that frame times remain consistent and that there is no sudden drop in performance when action intensifies on screen. The benchmark results indicate that the RTX 4070 is a capable partner for the CPU, providing a smooth and high-FPS experience in Valorant.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The high boost clock is particularly relevant for Valorant, as the game's engine is known to be sensitive to single-threaded performance. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2016.5 and a multi-core score of 29300. This strong single-core performance is a key reason why the system achieves such high frame rates, as the game logic and rendering commands are often processed by a few primary threads.

The CPU's 64 MB of shared L3 cache is another critical factor. Valorant often benefits from large caches to keep frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency. The 12 cores and 24 threads are more than what the game requires, but they ensure that background tasks or streaming do not interfere with the game's performance. The benchmark data shows that the CPU's average benchmark score of 53288 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and it is closely matched with parts like the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD EPYC 7313P, with performance differences of -0.6% and 0.2% respectively.

The minimal FPS drop when moving from 1080p Low to 1080p High (643 to 539 FPS) suggests that the CPU is the primary driver of performance at these settings. Even at 4K Low, the system maintains 566 FPS, which reflects the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with enough data to keep it busy. While the CPU's TDP is 170 W, indicating high power draw, this is a reasonable trade-off for the performance on offer. The data clearly shows that the Ryzen 9 7900X is not a bottleneck in this configuration, providing the raw processing power needed to achieve the extremely high frame rates observed.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + RTX 4070 combination depend on the user's display and performance goals. For players with a 1080p or 1440p monitor with a refresh rate of 240 Hz or 360 Hz, the High preset is an excellent choice. At 1080p High, the system achieves an average of 539 FPS, and at 1440p High, it achieves 511 FPS. These frame rates are far above the refresh rate of even the fastest gaming monitors, ensuring that the display is the limiting factor, not the hardware.

For those seeking the absolute maximum frame rate, the Low preset offers the highest numbers, with 643 FPS at 1080p and 609 FPS at 1440p. The difference between Low and High is approximately 16% at 1080p and 19% at 1440p. In a competitive title like Valorant, some players may prefer the visual clarity of High settings, while others may prioritize the extra frames from Low settings. The data suggests that either choice is valid, as both presets provide an incredibly smooth experience.

At 4K, the Medium preset provides a balanced experience with an average of 437 FPS and a minimum of 372 FPS. The High preset at 4K is slightly lower at 417 FPS average, and Ultra is the most demanding at 397 FPS. Given that even the lowest average at 4K (397 FPS on Ultra) is exceptionally high, players with 4K monitors can comfortably use the High or Ultra presets without experiencing any perceptible lag. The Medium preset's min FPS of 372 is still far above any standard display's refresh rate, so there is no risk of stuttering. The recommendation is to prioritize visual fidelity at 4K, as the hardware has ample performance headroom.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 457th out of 3708 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the top 12.3% of all systems tested. This is a strong ranking, indicating that the pairing is well above average for this specific game. The high ranking is a direct result of the CPU's excellent single-threaded performance and the GPU's ability to maintain high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck.

The ranking of 457 out of 3708 suggests that there are many other combinations that can achieve similar or better performance, likely those with more powerful CPUs or newer GPUs. However, the data shows that this combo is far from a slouch. The percentile rankings of the individual components support this: the CPU is in the 91st percentile and the GPU is in the 81st percentile. When combined, they create a system that is exceptionally well-suited for a game that prioritizes high frame rates.

The fact that the combo ranks 457th out of 3708 means that it outperforms the vast majority of other tested systems. This is a significant achievement, especially considering that the components are not the absolute top-of-the-line in their respective categories. The rank indicates that the combination is well-balanced and that there are no glaring weaknesses in the system's ability to run Valorant. For a competitive player, this ranking provides confidence that the hardware will deliver a consistent, high-performance experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|:--- |:--- |:--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 643 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 548 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 539 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 530 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 609 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 520 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 511 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 496 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 566 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 437 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 417 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 397 |

For the Medium preset, additional data is available. At 1920x1080, the minimum FPS is 466 and the maximum is 630. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 442 and the maximum is 598. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 372 and the maximum is 503. This data shows that the frame times are consistent, with the minimum FPS never dropping below 372 even at 4K, ensuring a smooth experience without stutters.

The performance spread across presets is notable. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 113 FPS (643 vs 530). At 1440p, the difference is 113 FPS (609 vs 496). At 4K, the difference is 169 FPS (566 vs 397). This shows that the GPU becomes more of a factor at 4K, but the overall performance remains exceptionally high. The data confirms that the system is a top-tier performer for Valorant, with no discernible weaknesses in any configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest average FPS is 643, which is measured at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is the system capable of running Valorant at 4K with high refresh rates?

A: Yes. The data shows an average of 417 FPS at 4K High and 397 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is far above the refresh rate of any standard 4K monitor.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At the High preset, the average FPS drops from 539 at 1080p to 417 at 4K, a reduction of 122 FPS or approximately 22.6%.

Q: Does the GPU or CPU have a larger impact on performance at lower resolutions?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 643 FPS. The small performance difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p (113 FPS) indicates the CPU is a primary driver, as the GPU is not heavily loaded.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset?

A: The minimum FPS for the Medium preset is 466 at 1080p, 442 at 1440p, and 372 at 4K, ensuring a stutter-free experience.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 457th out of 3708 tested combinations, placing it in the top 12.3% of all systems for Valorant performance.