Valorant

Valorant is a competitive FPS where frame rates far above display refresh rates are the norm, and the data for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 places this combo in a specific performance tier. The measured results show a system capable of delivering exceptionally high average frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, but the pattern of those results reveals a clear dependency on the CPU’s single-thread performance and the GPU’s raw throughput. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, contextualizes the hardware’s standing against its nearest rivals, and interprets what the scaling between 1080p and 4K implies about the bottleneck in this specific configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 453, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This represents the absolute ceiling of the measured data, indicating that the combination can push frame rates far beyond the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.

Q: How does the combo’s rank of 2296 out of 2883 tested combinations compare to the CPU’s own standing?

A: The combo ranks in the 20th percentile of tested combos (rank 2296 out of 2883), which is significantly lower than the CPU’s individual percentile of 71 against all CPUs. This suggests that while the i5-11400F is a capable processor, the overall system performance in Valorant is dragged down by other factors, likely the GPU, when compared to the absolute best pairings.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 429 on Low settings to 259 on Ultra settings. This is a substantial decrease of 170 FPS, or about 40%, showing that graphical settings have a significant impact even at this resolution.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the Intel Arc B570 in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The nearest rivals to the Arc B570 are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 0.1% higher, and the Intel Arc A750, which scores 0.1% lower. This places the B570 in a very tight performance band around these two GPUs in general compute benchmarks.

Q: Does the data show a performance difference between the 1080p and 1440p Medium presets?

A: Yes, the measured data shows a clear difference. At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 335. When the resolution is increased to 2560x1440 on Medium, the average FPS drops to 286, a difference of 49 FPS.

Q: What is the single-thread performance score of the i5-11400F?

A: The CPU’s single-thread performance is represented by several scores, with the 3dmark_single_thread score being 868 and the geekbench_singlecore score being 1777. These figures are relevant because Valorant is known to be sensitive to single-core performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570’s role in this configuration is defined by its 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base and boost clocks are both set at 2500 MHz, and it features 2304 shading units. These specifications, combined with its 150 W TDP, indicate a mid-range card designed for high-throughput rasterization, which aligns with the high frame rates observed in the measured data.

The benchmark results show that the GPU’s average score of 20556 places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750, with score differences of only 0.1%. This suggests that in a vacuum, the B570’s raw compute power is nearly identical to these cards. However, the measured FPS in Valorant is exceptionally high, with even the most demanding preset at 4K (Ultra) averaging 207 FPS. This implies that Valorant is not heavily taxing the GPU’s compute resources, and the B570’s memory bandwidth is more than sufficient to feed the rendering pipeline at these settings.

The data suggests that the GPU is not the primary limiting factor in this game. The scaling from Low to Ultra settings shows a predictable cost, but the absolute numbers remain high. At 1080p, the jump from 453 FPS on Low to 304 FPS on Ultra is a 149 FPS drop, which is a significant percentage but still leaves a playable frame rate. The GPU’s role is to provide enough headroom so that the CPU, which is often the bottleneck in esports titles, can reach its full potential. The B570 appears to do this effectively, as the system never dips below the 200 FPS mark in any of the measured configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling as resolution increases, which points directly to the limiting component. At 1080p, the average FPS across all settings is very high, peaking at 453 on Low. When moving to 1440p, the average FPS drops across the board. For example, on High settings, the FPS falls from 319 at 1080p to 272 at 1440p, a 14.7% decrease. This drop is more pronounced than what would be expected if the CPU were the sole bottleneck, indicating that the GPU is starting to become more involved.

The most telling data comes from the 4K results. At 3840x2160, the average FPS on High settings is 217, which is a 31.9% drop from the 319 FPS at 1080p. This significant reduction in frame rate as resolution increases is a classic sign that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor. The pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth of the Arc B570 are being taxed more heavily at higher resolutions, even in a game as lightweight as Valorant. The fact that the FPS remains above 200 at 4K Ultra is impressive, but the scaling pattern is clear.

The data implies a two-phase bottleneck. At 1080p, the system is largely CPU-bound, as the i5-11400F’s single-thread performance is the ceiling. The GPU has plenty of headroom, which is why the FPS is so high. As the resolution increases, the GPU’s workload grows, and it slowly becomes the primary constraint. By 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the frame rate drops are much steeper. This is a healthy balance for a gaming system, as it means the components are well-matched for 1440p and 4K gaming, where the GPU’s capabilities are fully utilized.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank in the database is 2296 out of 2883 tested combinations, placing it in the lower 20% of all tested systems. This is a surprising result given the high average FPS measured in Valorant. The discrepancy can be explained by the fact that the database likely includes many high-end combinations with top-tier CPUs and GPUs that achieve even higher frame rates. The i5-11400F, while a solid processor, is not the absolute fastest for gaming, and the Arc B570 is a mid-range GPU. When paired together, they produce excellent results, but they are outclassed by more expensive combinations.

This ranking highlights that while this combo is very capable, it is not at the top of the performance hierarchy. The CPU’s individual percentile of 71 suggests it is better than 71% of all CPUs, but the combo’s rank in the 20th percentile indicates that the system as a whole is beaten by many other pairings. The data shows that the bottleneck is likely the CPU, as its single-thread performance, while good, is not exceptional. The nearest rivals to the CPU, such as the Intel Core i5-12450H and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G, have average scores within 0.6% of the i5-11400F, suggesting that any of these processors would yield similar results in Valorant.

The ranking also reveals that the GPU, despite being in the 65th percentile, is not the primary reason for the low combo rank. The fact that the system can push 217 FPS at 4K Ultra shows that the GPU is not a weak link. Instead, the combo’s rank is likely a result of the CPU’s limitations in a game that heavily favors high single-core clock speeds. The data suggests that upgrading the CPU would yield a larger performance increase than upgrading the GPU, at least in Valorant.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 453 on Low to 304 on Ultra. The Medium preset averages 335 FPS, with a min of 285 and a max of 385. The High preset averages 319 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Low preset providing the highest frame rates and the Ultra preset providing the lowest.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 429 on Low to 259 on Ultra. The Medium preset averages 286 FPS, with a min of 243 and a max of 329. The High preset averages 272 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with the performance decreasing by roughly 15-20% across all settings. This is a typical scaling pattern for a GPU-bound scenario.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 347 on Low to 207 on Ultra. The Medium preset averages 228 FPS, with a min of 194 and a max of 263. The High preset averages 217 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more significant, with performance decreasing by nearly 30% across all settings. This indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the workload on the pixel shaders and memory bandwidth is much higher.

The data also shows that the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial. At 1080p, the difference is 149 FPS, while at 4K, the difference is 140 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is capable of handling the increased graphical load, but the CPU’s single-thread performance is the limiting factor at lower resolutions. The fact that the 4K Low preset still achieves 347 FPS confirms the overall efficiency of the system.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for a balance of visual fidelity and performance would be the High preset. At 1080p, the High preset averages 319 FPS, which is more than enough for any high-refresh-rate monitor. The visual quality is significantly better than Low, and the frame rate is still exceptionally high. At 1440p, the High preset averages 272 FPS, which is also excellent for competitive play. The data shows that the High preset provides a good middle ground, offering better visuals without sacrificing the high frame rates needed for a smooth experience.

For players with a 4K monitor, the High preset at 217 FPS is still highly playable, but the Low preset at 347 FPS would be preferred for maximum smoothness. The data suggests that the Ultra preset, while offering the best visuals, provides diminishing returns. At 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 304 FPS, which is only 15 FPS lower than High. However, at 4K, the Ultra preset averages 207 FPS, which is 10 FPS lower than High. The visual difference between High and Ultra is often minimal in a fast-paced game like Valorant, so the High preset offers the best performance-to-quality ratio.

The Medium preset is also a viable option, as it shows a clear frame rate improvement over High. At 1080p, the Medium preset averages 335 FPS, which is 16 FPS higher than High. At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 286 FPS, which is 14 FPS higher than High. The Medium preset is a good choice for players who want a slight performance boost without sacrificing too much visual quality. Ultimately, the data indicates that High is the recommended preset for most users, as it provides a stable, high frame rate with good visuals across all resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its architecture is Rocket Lake, built on a 14 nm process. The CPU’s benchmark scores show a strong single-thread performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and a geekbench_singlecore score of 1777. These scores are crucial, as Valorant is a game that heavily relies on single-core performance for its game logic and physics.

The CPU’s multi-threaded performance is also solid, with a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 14340 and a passmark_multithread score of 16908. However, the data shows that the CPU’s role in this game is largely defined by its single-thread capabilities. The fact that the system achieves 453 FPS at 1080p Low, which is a CPU-bound scenario, highlights the importance of the 4.40 GHz boost clock. The CPU is able to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain these high frame rates.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 7H12 and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, have average scores within 0.6% of the i5-11400F. This suggests that the CPU is right in the middle of a performance band, and any of these processors would perform similarly in Valorant. The CPU’s percentile of 71 indicates that it is better than most CPUs, but its lack of a higher boost clock or more advanced architecture prevents it from being at the top of the charts.

The data implies that the CPU is the primary bottleneck in this system, particularly at lower resolutions. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the GPU becomes more involved at higher resolutions, but at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor. The i5-11400F’s 6 cores and 12 threads are more than enough for Valorant, but its single-thread performance is not the absolute best. This is why the combo ranks in the 20th percentile, as systems with CPUs that have higher single-thread scores are able to achieve even higher frame rates.