Valorant

Valorant, Riot’s tactical FPS, rarely stresses modern hardware, but the pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 produces a fascinating case study in frame rate scaling. The data from the benchmark runs shows a system that is almost comically overqualified for the task, delivering frame rates that far exceed any monitor’s refresh rate at every resolution tested. The measured results reveal how the game’s engine behaves across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, and what that tells us about the balance between the CPU and GPU in this particular combination.

Resolution Scaling

The benchmark data shows a clear, but non-linear, drop in average frame rates as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces an average of 411 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same High preset, the average drops to 351 FPS, a 14.6% decrease. Jumping to 3840x2160, the average plummets to 280 FPS, another 20.2% decrease from the 1440p figure. This pattern holds across all settings presets, indicating that the GPU is starting to become a more significant factor at higher resolutions, though the absolute numbers remain staggeringly high.

Looking at the Low preset, the story becomes even more telling. At 1080p Low, the system produces an average of 522 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 495 FPS, a mere 5.2% reduction. At 4K Low, the average is 447 FPS, an 18.6% drop from 1080p. The relatively small penalty between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings suggests that the CPU is still the primary limiter at those resolutions, as the GPU has plenty of headroom. The larger drop when moving to 4K indicates the GPU is finally beginning to feel the pressure of the increased pixel count, though it still manages to produce frame rates that are well above the threshold for competitive play.

The Medium preset offers the only data with min and max frame rates recorded. At 1080p Medium, the average is 432 FPS, with a minimum of 367 FPS and a maximum of 496 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average is 368 FPS, with a minimum of 313 FPS and a maximum of 423 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 294 FPS, with a minimum of 250 FPS and a maximum of 338 FPS. The minimum frame rates scale almost proportionally with the averages, suggesting that the frame time consistency is maintained even as the resolution increases. The spread between min and max FPS narrows slightly at higher resolutions, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

When comparing the Ultra preset, the top-end settings, the data shows 391 FPS at 1080p, 334 FPS at 1440p, and 267 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 31.7%, which is the largest relative decrease among all presets. This indicates that at Ultra settings, the GPU is doing more work per frame, and the resolution scaling becomes more pronounced. However, even at 4K Ultra, the system maintains an average of 267 FPS, which is still far beyond what any standard display can show.

The data strongly suggests that this combination is heavily CPU-limited at 1080p and even at 1440p. The frame rates at these resolutions are so high that the GPU is likely idling, waiting for the CPU to feed it draw calls. It is only at 4K, particularly at higher settings, that the GPU starts to assert its influence on the final frame rate. The fact that the difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings is only 5.2% indicates that the CPU is the bottleneck in that range. In contrast, the 31.7% drop at Ultra settings from 1080p to 4K shows the GPU’s workload becoming the dominant factor.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific CPU-GPU combination at rank 1886 out of 3708 tested combos for Valorant. This puts it in the 51st percentile, meaning it performs better than nearly half of all tested systems but is beaten by a significant portion as well. Given the astronomical frame rates measured, this ranking might seem surprisingly low. The explanation lies in the nature of the game and the hardware involved. Valorant is a highly CPU-intensive game that favors processors with strong single-core performance. Many other combos in the database likely feature higher-end CPUs with more cores and faster boost clocks, which can push the frame rates even higher.

The Core i3-12100F, while strong for its class, is a 4-core, 8-thread processor. In a game like Valorant, which is optimized for high clock speeds, a processor like the i5-9500 or Core 3 N355, which are listed as nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score, might perform differently in this specific game. The combo’s rank of 1886 indicates that while it is in the upper half of all tested systems, it is not among the elite performers. The data shows that the combination is capable of over 500 FPS at 1080p Low, which is exceptional, but there are likely dozens of combos with top-tier CPUs that can exceed that figure.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, which is virtually identical to the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492), and the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452). The Intel Core 5 120UL is slightly ahead with 13594, while the Intel Core i7-1250U trails with 13351. These rivals are all close in overall CPU performance, but their gaming performance in Valorant could vary based on their specific microarchitecture and clock speeds. The i3-12100F’s 4.30 GHz boost clock is a key asset for a game that loves high frequencies.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9060’s average benchmark score of 16014 is closely matched by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti at 16129, which is 0.7% ahead. The AMD Radeon R9 370X and RX 7700 are both 1% behind, with scores of 15862 and 15852 respectively. In Valorant, the GPU is rarely the limiting factor, so these small differences in raw GPU compute power are unlikely to translate into meaningful frame rate differences. The combo’s rank is therefore more likely determined by the CPU’s performance in the game’s engine.

The rank of 1886 out of 3708 combos suggests that the i3-12100F and RX 9060 represent a mid-tier setup in the grand scheme of the database. It is not a top-500 combo, but it is also far from being a low-end performer. The data indicates that this pairing is more than capable of delivering a competitive esports experience, but it will not break records when compared to systems with top-tier CPUs like the Core i9 or Ryzen 9 series.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 plays a significant, yet secondary, role in this Valorant benchmark. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. For a game like Valorant, which has relatively low texture memory requirements and simple geometry, this memory configuration is more than sufficient. The GPU’s 1792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units are all adequate for the game’s visual workload, but they are not the primary driver of the frame rates seen here.

The clock speeds of the RX 9060 are notable: a base clock of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2990 MHz. These high boost clocks are beneficial in a game that can be sensitive to GPU frequency, but the data suggests that the GPU is not working hard at 1080p. The fact that the frame rate increases by 26.9% when going from High to Low settings at 1080p (from 411 to 522 FPS) indicates that the GPU is doing more work at higher settings, but the CPU is still the main constraint. At 4K High, the GPU is likely running closer to its full potential, but it still has ample headroom.

The GPU’s RDNA 4.0 architecture, built on a 4 nm process, delivers a FP32 performance of 21.43 TFLOPS. This raw compute power is far beyond what Valorant requires. The game’s rendering engine is not particularly demanding on pixel fill rate or texture throughput, which is why the GPU’s pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s are never stressed. The GPU’s score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 3322, which is a measure of its overall gaming performance, but this does not translate directly to Valorant’s frame rates.

In fact, the GPU’s average benchmark score of 16014 places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. This is a mid-to-high tier position, but in Valorant, the GPU is effectively a bystander at lower resolutions. The data shows that the RX 9060 is capable of pushing 4K Ultra at an average of 267 FPS, which confirms its power, but the CPU is the component that truly determines the upper limits of the frame rate in this game. The GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM is unlikely to be a limiting factor at any settings, as Valorant’s textures are modest in size.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s display refresh rate and preference for visual fidelity. For a standard 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, all settings presets provide more than enough performance. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the system produces an average of 267 FPS, which is well above 240Hz. However, for competitive play, maximizing frame rate can be beneficial for reducing input latency, even if the display cannot show all the frames.

For 1080p and 1440p users, the Low preset offers the highest average frame rates, with 522 FPS and 495 FPS respectively. The jump from High to Low at 1080p is 111 FPS, a 27% increase. This suggests that the Low preset removes some GPU workload that is not essential for competitive visibility. In a game like Valorant, where spotting enemies is crucial, the Low preset often reduces visual clutter, making it the preferred choice for many players. The Medium preset offers a middle ground, with 432 FPS at 1080p and a minimum of 367 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth.

For 4K users, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot. At 4K Medium, the average is 294 FPS with a minimum of 250 FPS. This is a 9.2% increase over the High preset’s 280 FPS average. The Ultra preset drops to 267 FPS, which is a 9.2% decrease from Medium. The difference between Medium and Ultra at 4K is marginal in terms of playability, but Medium offers better frame time consistency, as evidenced by the min FPS of 250. The High preset at 4K does not have min or max data recorded, but its average of 280 FPS is only 4.8% lower than Medium.

Given that the system can easily exceed 500 FPS at 1080p Low, the recommendation for competitive play would be to use the Low preset at any resolution to maximize frame rate and minimize input lag. For those who prefer slightly better visuals without a significant performance hit, the Medium preset is a solid choice, offering over 400 FPS at 1080p and nearly 300 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, while visually appealing, provides no competitive advantage and only serves to reduce the frame rate, though it remains playable at over 260 FPS in 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved with this combo in Valorant?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 522 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 411 FPS at 1080p to 351 FPS at 1440p, and further to 280 FPS at 4K. This represents a 31.8% decrease from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the primary limiting factor at 1080p, as the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings is significant (522 FPS vs 391 FPS), indicating the GPU has headroom to spare.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum frame rate at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 313 FPS, with an average of 368 FPS and a maximum of 423 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Valorant?

A: This combo is ranked 1886 out of 3708 tested combinations, placing it in the 51st percentile of all tested systems for Valorant.

Q: What is the GPU’s boost clock and how might it affect performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has a boost clock of 2990 MHz. This high clock speed is beneficial for maintaining frame rates, but in Valorant, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, so its impact is minimal at lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is the central figure in understanding this combo’s performance in Valorant. This processor, based on the Alder Lake architecture, features 4 cores and 8 threads. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.30 GHz. For a game like Valorant, which is notorious for its reliance on single-core performance, the i3-12100F’s high boost clock is its most critical asset. The processor’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache is also beneficial for the game’s engine.

The benchmark data shows the CPU’s raw capabilities. In Cinebench R23, it scores 11860 in multi-core and 1674 in single-core. The single-core score is particularly relevant for Valorant, as the game’s main thread often becomes the bottleneck. The Geekbench single-core score of 1932 further confirms its strength in lightly-threaded workloads. The Passmark single-thread score of 3444 is another indicator of its ability to handle the game’s primary thread efficiently.

The i3-12100F’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492), the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452), and the Intel Core 5 120UL (13594). These processors have similar overall performance, but the i3-12100F’s 4.30 GHz boost clock likely gives it an edge in Valorant’s CPU-bound scenarios. The processor’s 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and 2-thread score of 1659 highlight its strong single and dual-core performance, which are the threads that matter most in this game.

The data shows that the i3-12100F is capable of feeding the RX 9060 enough data to achieve over 500 FPS at 1080p Low. However, the combo’s rank of 1886 out of 3708 suggests that there are many other CPUs that can do even better. Processors with higher boost clocks or more cores, such as those in the Core i5 or i7 families, would likely push the frame rates even higher. The i3-12100F’s 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for Valorant, but they limit the system’s ability to maintain those ultra-high frame rates in more demanding scenarios.

The CPU’s TDP of 58 W and its Intel Socket 1700 interface make it an accessible and efficient choice for a budget gaming system. Its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory allows for flexible system building. In Valorant, the CPU’s performance is the determining factor for the maximum achievable frame rate. The GPU, while powerful, is largely irrelevant at 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU is the bottleneck. The benchmark results clearly show that the i3-12100F is a capable processor for esports titles, but it is not among the elite performers that can push frame rates to the absolute limit.

The Passmark multi-thread score of 14015 and the 3DMark max threads score of 4023 show that the CPU’s multi-threaded performance is not its strong suit, but this is of little consequence in Valorant. The game’s engine is designed to run on a few threads, and the i3-12100F’s high clock speed on its 4 cores is exactly what is needed. The processor’s 10 nm process node and 163 mm² die size contribute to its efficiency, but the raw clock speed is the feature that matters most for this game. The data confirms that the i3-12100F is the star of this show, with the RX 9060 acting as a capable supporting player that rarely gets to showcase its full potential.