Valorant

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread mobile processor built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, drawing a TDP of 55 W. This is a high-end mobile part, as reflected in its 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the benchmark database. In contrast, the AMD Radeon 760M is an integrated graphics processor based on RDNA 3.0, with a chip codenamed Phoenix. It features 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation units, with a boost clock of 2599 MHz and a base clock of 800 MHz. The GPU sits at the 35th percentile among all GPUs, indicating a modest performance tier. For Valorant, a competitive FPS, the combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range integrated GPU means the frame rate is almost certainly dictated by the graphics solution, not the processor. The CPU’s massive thread count and high boost clock are largely irrelevant to the game’s rendering load, which is light on CPU usage but still demands more from the GPU than the 760M can consistently deliver at higher resolutions and settings. The measured frames per second data confirms this dynamic: at 1080p Low, the pair produces 203 FPS average, but at 4K Ultra, that figure drops to 83 FPS average. This wide gap illustrates that the Radeon 760M is the limiting component in this configuration, as the CPU would not struggle with Valorant’s computational requirements.

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

The Ryzen 9 8945HX provides 16 cores and 32 threads, a configuration far beyond what Valorant requires. The game is not heavily threaded, so the CPU’s parallel processing capabilities are underutilized in most scenarios. The processor’s single-core performance, however, is more relevant. In Cinebench R23 single-core testing, the 8945HX scores 6030 points, while its multi-core score reaches 42713 points. These scores place the CPU at 95th percentile versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 76212. The nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with an average score of 76155, a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D with 75779, a delta of 0.6%. This means the 8945HX is statistically tied with the fastest processors on the market. For Valorant, which relies on a single primary thread for game logic and rendering commands, a strong single-core score matters more than raw multi-core throughput. The boost clock of 5.40 GHz is among the highest for mobile parts, and the L3 cache of 64 MB helps reduce memory latency, which can benefit frame pacing in CPU-bound scenarios. Nevertheless, the benchmark results in this game show a clear GPU limitation. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 203 average, but at 1080p High it drops to 127 average, a decrease of 76 FPS or approximately 37%. This scaling with graphics settings is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the limiting factor, changes in resolution and settings would have a much smaller impact on frame rates. The CPU’s integrated graphics, listed as Radeon 610M in the FACT PACK, is separate from the discrete Radeon 760M used in this test, but the system is still reliant on the iGPU for rendering. The 760M’s 5.323 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is modest for modern gaming, and its 35th percentile ranking among all GPUs underscores its position as an entry-level solution. In Valorant, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and maintain frame pacing. With a 5.40 GHz boost clock and 6030 single-core score, the 8945HX is more than capable of doing so at any settings. Therefore, the data indicates that the CPU is never the bottleneck in this combo, and the observed FPS variations across resolutions and settings are directly attributable to the Radeon 760M’s rendering capacity.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS for this combo at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings is 203 FPS. This is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination across all tested configurations.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX’s score of 76155. It also edges out the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D by 0.6%, which scores 75779.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon 760M ranks at the 35th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 6019. This places it in the lower half of graphics processors, consistent with its integrated nature.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 114, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. This is the only resolution/settings combination in the data that includes both min and max values at 1440p.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations in Valorant?

A: This CPU and GPU combination ranks 2872 out of 2883 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the bottom 0.4% of all tested configurations for this game. This low ranking is driven by the GPU’s limited performance.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p Low and 4K Low?

A: At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 203, while at 4K Low, it drops to 138. This represents a 65 FPS or approximately 32% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In Valorant, this specific combination of AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 760M achieves a combo rank of 2872 out of 2883 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom percentile of all systems tested for this game, which is a surprising outcome given the CPU’s high performance. The discrepancy arises because the ranking is based on actual measured FPS, and the Radeon 760M’s rendering power is the limiting factor. To contextualize, the GPU’s average benchmark score of 6019 places it at the 35th percentile, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon RX 6400 at 6001 (0.3% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M at 6000 (0.3% delta). These are all low-to-mid-range GPUs, and none are designed for high-refresh competitive gaming at high resolutions. The CPU, by contrast, is at the 95th percentile with an average score of 76212, but this does not translate into high FPS in Valorant because the game’s frame rate is dependent on the GPU’s ability to rasterize frames. The combo’s rank of 2872 means that nearly all other tested systems, including those with weaker CPUs but stronger GPUs, outperform this configuration in Valorant. This is a clear case where the CPU’s strengths are neutralized by the GPU’s limitations. For context, the CPU’s nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores—the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX, and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D—all have similar average scores, but when paired with different GPUs, their Valorant performance would be vastly different. The data shows that for this game, the CPU is not a differentiator; the GPU is. This ranking serves as a warning to users who prioritize CPU performance but pair it with an integrated GPU, as the overall system FPS will be capped by the graphics solution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Valorant with this combo covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160) and four settings levels (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), though not every combination includes min and max FPS values. Starting at 1080p, the lowest resolution tested, the Low settings preset yields an average of 203 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 134 FPS, with a minimum of 114 and a maximum of 154. High settings produce an average of 127 FPS, and Ultra yields 121 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a total drop of 82 FPS, or roughly 40%. This indicates that the Radeon 760M struggles with higher graphics settings, even at the lowest resolution. At 1440p, the averages are lower across the board. Low settings produce 173 FPS average, Medium yields 114 FPS (with min 97 and max 131), High produces 109 FPS, and Ultra drops to 103 FPS. The gap between 1080p Low and 1440p Low is 30 FPS, or about 15%. At 4K, the highest resolution, the averages fall further. Low settings yield 138 FPS, Medium produces 91 FPS (with min 77 and max 105), High yields 87 FPS, and Ultra drops to 83 FPS. The difference between 1080p Low (203 FPS) and 4K Low (138 FPS) is 65 FPS, or 32%. The difference between 1080p Ultra (121 FPS) and 4K Ultra (83 FPS) is 38 FPS, or 31%. This consistent drop of around 30% when moving from 1080p to 4K, regardless of settings, points to a GPU that is bandwidth-limited or fill-rate-limited at higher resolutions. The Radeon 760M’s memory bandwidth is listed as “System Dependent,” meaning it shares system memory, which can be a bottleneck at high resolutions. The data shows that the combo is only able to maintain above 144 FPS at 1080p Low, which is a target for competitive play. At any other configuration, the average FPS falls below this threshold, meaning users would need to sacrifice visual quality to achieve high refresh rates. The min FPS values, where available, are notably lower than the averages. For example, at 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 114, which is close to the average of 134, indicating relatively stable frame times. At 1440p Medium, the min is 97, and at 4K Medium, the min is 77. These lower minimums could lead to perceptible stutters in fast-paced gameplay, especially during intense firefights.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior of this combo is telling. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS at Low settings drops from 203 to 173, a decrease of 30 FPS or about 14.8%. From 1440p to 4K, the Low settings average drops from 173 to 138, a further decrease of 35 FPS or about 20.2%. The cumulative drop from 1080p Low to 4K Low is 65 FPS, or 32%. For Medium settings, the progression is 134 FPS at 1080p, 114 at 1440p, and 91 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 20 FPS (14.9%), and from 1440p to 4K is 23 FPS (20.2%). For High settings, the averages are 127, 109, and 87, respectively. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 18 FPS (14.2%), and from 1440p to 4K is 22 FPS (20.2%). For Ultra, the averages are 121, 103, and 83, with drops of 18 FPS (14.9%) and 20 FPS (19.4%). This pattern is remarkably consistent: the percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 15% across all settings, and from 1440p to 4K is roughly 20%. This behavior is characteristic of a GPU that is limited by its pixel fill rate or memory bandwidth. The Radeon 760M has a pixel rate of 41.58 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 83.17 GTexel/s. These are modest figures, and as resolution increases, the number of pixels to fill grows quadratically. The fact that the FPS drop is not linear (i.e., 4K has 4 times the pixels of 1080p, but FPS only drops by about a third) suggests that the GPU is not purely pixel-bound but also has some headroom in other aspects, possibly due to the CPU’s high performance compensating in some way. However, the consistent scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively constant as resolution increases, because the CPU would be doing the same amount of work regardless of resolution. Instead, the FPS drops consistently, confirming that the Radeon 760M is the primary constraint. The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 82 FPS. At 1440p, it is 70 FPS. At 4K, it is 55 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is becoming more saturated and the settings have less impact on the absolute frame rate because the resolution is already pushing the GPU to its limits.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s refresh rate and prioritization of visual quality. For competitive play, where high frame rates are critical, the 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that delivers an average FPS above 200, specifically 203 FPS. This would be suitable for a 144Hz or even 165Hz monitor, though not quite for 240Hz. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 134 FPS, which is still above 120Hz but not as high. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 114, which could cause occasional dips below the refresh rate on a 144Hz display. For users who prioritize smoothness, 1080p Low is the clear choice. If a user has a 1440p monitor, the highest average FPS is 173 at Low settings, which is suitable for a 144Hz display with some headroom. However, the minimum FPS is not provided for 1440p Low, so it is unclear how stable that frame rate is. At 1440p Medium, the average is 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97, which could be problematic for a 120Hz or 144Hz display, as dips below 100 FPS may be noticeable. For 4K, the highest average FPS is 138 at Low settings, which is below 144Hz. At 4K Medium, the average is 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77, making it unsuitable for high refresh rate monitors. Given that Valorant is a competitive FPS, the recommendation is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The Low settings preset at 1080p or 1440p provides the best balance of high average FPS and, where measured, acceptable minimum FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a visual upgrade with an average of 134 FPS, but the minimum of 114 FPS may be a concern for those sensitive to frame drops. The Ultra preset at any resolution yields average FPS below 121, which is not ideal for competitive play. The data does not include information about specific graphical features, so the recommendation is based solely on the measured FPS averages and minimums. For the best experience per the measured rows, 1080p Low is the only configuration that consistently exceeds 200 FPS, making it the top choice for esports-focused play. If a user insists on higher resolutions, 1440p Low is the best option, with an average of 173 FPS. At 4K, even Low settings cannot maintain a consistent 144 FPS, so this resolution is not recommended for competitive play with this combo.