Valorant

Valorant is a competitive FPS that demands high frame rates, and the measured data for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT shows a combination that delivers exceptional performance across all tested resolutions. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is heavily skewed towards CPU-bound performance, with the GPU providing ample headroom even at 4K. The data shows average frame rates that far exceed the refresh rates of most high-end monitors, making this a highly capable setup for esports-level play. This analysis will break down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, examining the roles of the CPU and GPU in shaping these results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a relatively flat performance curve as resolution decreases, which is a clear indicator of a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 380 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average FPS drops by 5.3% to 360 FPS, and at 4K, it falls a further 15.3% to 305 FPS. This scaling pattern—a modest 75 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K—is typical for a game like Valorant, which is not graphically intensive and places a much heavier load on the processor for game logic and draw calls. The GPU is so capable that even at 4K, it is not the limiting factor; the processor's single-thread performance and core architecture dictate the ceiling.

The Low settings preset further confirms this trend. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 453, which is the highest measurement in the entire dataset. At 1440p Low, the average is 429 FPS, a decrease of 5.3%, and at 4K Low, it is 398 FPS, an 8.8% drop from 1440p. The delta between 1080p and 4K on Low settings is 55 FPS, which is smaller than the 75 FPS delta seen on High settings. This suggests that while the GPU is doing more work at higher settings, the resolution scaling is still primarily governed by the CPU's frame generation limit. The data indicates that the limiting component in this configuration is the processor, as even at the highest resolution, the frame rate does not fall below 291 FPS.

The reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K is not linear, indicating that the GPU's workload is increasing, but it is not being saturated. At High settings, the 1440p to 4K transition (360 to 305 FPS) results in a 55 FPS loss, which is more significant than the 1080p to 1440p loss of 20 FPS. This suggests that as pixel count increases, the GPU's rendering load becomes more relevant, but it still fails to become the primary bottleneck. For a competitive title, this means users can prioritize visual fidelity at higher resolutions without sacrificing the high frame rates needed for smooth, responsive gameplay.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, plays a supporting role in this configuration. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Valorant's asset streaming and texture data at any of the tested settings. The GPU's clock speeds are high, with a base clock of 2321 MHz and a boost clock of 2581 MHz. These clocks contribute to its ability to render frames quickly, but benchmark results show that it is not the performance ceiling in this game.

The GPU's benchmark scores, such as its Passmark G3D score of 19786 and its average benchmark score of 27425, place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, which has a delta of -0.5% compared to the RX 6700 XT's average score. This indicates that the graphics card is a high-performing part, capable of handling much more demanding workloads than Valorant presents. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the combo still achieves an average of 291 FPS, demonstrating the GPU's headroom.

The GPU's role becomes more apparent when comparing the Low and Ultra presets at the same resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (453 FPS) and Ultra (373 FPS) is 80 FPS. At 4K, the difference is 107 FPS (398 FPS on Low vs. 291 FPS on Ultra). This widening gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is doing more work when the settings are increased, but the absolute frame rates remain so high that it never becomes a limiting factor. The GPU is effectively a high-performance component that ensures visual settings do not compromise the frame rate, but the CPU is still the primary driver of performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is the dominant component in this pairing, as evidenced by the benchmark data. With 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 2.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, this processor from the Rocket Lake architecture is well-suited for a game like Valorant, which often relies on strong single-core performance. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2024 and Geekbench single-core score of 1777 demonstrate its strong single-threaded capabilities. The processor also has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps with fast data access for game logic.

The CPU's overall performance is reflected in its percentile rank of 71, with an average benchmark score of 17177. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are close, with the AMD EPYC 7H12 having a delta of 0.3% and the Intel Core i5-12450H having a delta of -0.4%. However, in Valorant, the i5-11400F's architecture and clock speeds shine. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the average FPS is capped at 453, which is likely near the maximum frame generation limit of this CPU.

The processor's multi-threading capabilities are also relevant, as its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14340 and 3DMark max threads score of 5652 indicate it can handle the game's background tasks and rendering threads efficiently. The data suggests that the CPU is the bottleneck because the FPS does not increase dramatically when moving from 4K to 1080p, which would be expected if the GPU were limiting performance. Instead, the FPS increases are relatively modest, pointing to the CPU's frame generation limit as the primary constraint. The processor's boost clock of 4.40 GHz is likely being sustained during gameplay, ensuring that the game logic and physics calculations are processed as quickly as possible.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset for this combination depends on the user's monitor refresh rate and preference for visual fidelity. The data shows that the Medium preset offers a balanced experience, providing a measurable minimum FPS (minFps) alongside the average, which is absent from the High and Ultra rows. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 386, with a minimum of 328 FPS and a maximum of 444 FPS. This is only 14 FPS less than the High preset's average of 380 FPS, but it offers a defined frame time floor, which is crucial for competitive consistency.

For users with 1440p displays, the Medium preset again appears to be the safest choice. The data shows an average of 366 FPS, a minimum of 311 FPS, and a maximum of 421 FPS. This is slightly higher than the High preset's average of 360 FPS and provides a similar performance profile. At 4K, the Medium preset yields an average of 321 FPS, with a minimum of 273 FPS and a maximum of 369 FPS. This is a 16 FPS improvement over the High preset's average of 305 FPS, making it the superior choice for maintaining higher frame rates at this resolution.

The Low preset offers the highest average FPS at every resolution, with 453 FPS at 1080p, 429 FPS at 1440p, and 398 FPS at 4K. However, the absence of a minFps measurement suggests that the frame time consistency is less predictable, which could lead to micro-stutters in a competitive environment. The Ultra preset, while providing the highest visual quality, yields the lowest average FPS, with 373 FPS at 1080p, 354 FPS at 1440p, and 291 FPS at 4K. For a competitive FPS, the Medium preset is recommended as it provides the best balance of high average FPS and a documented minimum FPS, ensuring a stable experience without compromising too much on visual detail.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Valorant, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT holds a rank of 2142 out of 3708 total combos. This places it in the 42nd percentile of all tested systems for this game, which is a surprising result given its high absolute FPS measurements. The benchmark results indicate that many other combinations, likely those with even higher-end CPUs, achieve even greater frame rates due to Valorant's extreme CPU sensitivity.

The rank suggests that while this combo delivers excellent performance in absolute terms, there are many other processors that can push the frame rate even higher, since the CPU is the limiting factor. The combo's rank is likely held back by the i5-11400F's single-thread performance compared to newer or higher-tier processors. The GPU's high performance is not fully utilized, and the ranking reflects that the CPU is the primary determinant of success in this title.

Despite the rank, the data shows that this combo is far from a poor performer. An average FPS of 373 or higher at 1080p is exceptional by any standard, and the 4K average of 291 FPS is still far above the 240 Hz refresh rate that many competitive monitors offer. The rank should be interpreted as a relative measure against other enthusiast-level setups, not as an indication of the combo's absolute capability. For most users, this system will provide a flawless Valorant experience, but for those chasing the absolute highest frame rates, a more powerful CPU would be required.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Valorant?

A: The highest average FPS is 453, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does this combo maintain high FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the data shows that even at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 291, which is still very high for competitive play.

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

A: The data indicates the CPU is the limiting component. The FPS difference between 1080p and 4K is relatively small (75 FPS on High settings), suggesting the GPU has significant headroom, while the CPU's frame generation limits the maximum output.

Q: What is the combo's rank in the database?

A: The combo ranks 2142 out of 3708 tested combinations for Valorant, placing it in the lower half of the database, despite its high absolute performance.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most stable performance?

A: The Medium preset is the only one that includes a minimum FPS (minFps) measurement in the data. At 1080p Medium, the average is 386 FPS with a minimum of 328 FPS, suggesting better frame time consistency than presets without this data.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 27425, with its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile, having a delta of 0%, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 having a delta of -0.5%, indicating very similar overall performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details all measured average FPS scores from the data, organized by resolution and settings preset. No minimum or maximum FPS values were provided for the High, Low, and Ultra presets, but they are included for the Medium preset.

3840x2160 (4K)

• High: Average FPS 305.
• Low: Average FPS 398.
• Medium: Average FPS 321, Minimum FPS 273, Maximum FPS 369.
• Ultra: Average FPS 291.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• High: Average FPS 360.
• Low: Average FPS 429.
• Medium: Average FPS 366, Minimum FPS 311, Maximum FPS 421.
• Ultra: Average FPS 354.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• High: Average FPS 380.
• Low: Average FPS 453.
• Medium: Average FPS 386, Minimum FPS 328, Maximum FPS 444.
• Ultra: Average FPS 373.

The data shows a consistent pattern: frame rates are exceptionally high across all configurations. The spread between the fastest (1080p Low) and slowest (4K Ultra) settings is 162 FPS, but even the slowest setting produces an average FPS that exceeds the refresh rate of the vast majority of monitors. The Medium preset's minFps values are all above 270 FPS, indicating that severe frame drops are unlikely, which is critical for maintaining aiming precision and reaction times in a competitive shooter.