Valorant

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers an exceptionally high-performance experience in Valorant, a game designed for competitive frame rates. The measured data shows that this combination never drops below 268 frames per second (FPS) even at the most demanding settings and resolution tested, placing it firmly in the top tier of systems for this title. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, exploring how the system scales across resolutions, where the performance bottlenecks lie, and what the numbers mean for a player seeking a competitive edge.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear and predictable trend: performance scales downward as resolution increases, but the degree of that scaling tells a compelling story about the system's balance. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 371.7 to 334.5, a decrease of roughly 10%. The subsequent jump to 3840x2160 at Ultra yields a more significant drop to 268.0 FPS, a further 20% reduction. This pattern indicates that while the GPU is becoming more stressed at higher resolutions, the CPU remains a powerful partner, ensuring the frame rate stays exceptionally high even at 4K.

The scaling from Low settings is particularly telling. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 455.6 FPS. At 2560x1440 Low, it only drops to 431.8 FPS, a mere 5% reduction. Even at 3840x2160 Low, the system still produces 396.8 FPS. This minimal performance hit when lowering resolution suggests the game is heavily CPU-bound at these lower graphical loads. The RTX 2070 SUPER has ample headroom, and the limiting factor is the processor's ability to feed the game engine with draw calls and game logic updates.

At 3840x2160 High, the average FPS is 278.8, which is only slightly higher than the 268.0 FPS seen at Ultra. This small gap between High and Ultra at 4K, contrasted with the larger gap between Low and Medium at the same resolution, shows the GPU beginning to exert more influence on performance. The data suggests that for Valorant, this CPU-GPU pairing is so powerful that the user is unlikely to encounter a GPU bottleneck until pushing 4K resolution with the highest visual settings, and even then, the frame rates remain far beyond what any standard display can refresh.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in the measured data?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 455.6 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 396.8 on Low settings down to 268.0 on Ultra settings, demonstrating that the system remains highly playable at 4K across all preset levels.

Q: Is the performance gap between 1080p and 1440p large?

A: No, the gap is relatively small. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 378.0 at 1920x1080 to 348.6 at 2560x1440, a difference of less than 10%.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The lowest average FPS is 268.0, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER's general benchmark score of 22206 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA RTX A400, which scores 22307, a difference of -0.5%. It is also very close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile, which scores 22729, a -2.3% difference.

Q: What is the CPU's multi-threaded performance relative to its peers?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17181, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, scores 17189, a negligible 0% delta.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Valorant, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER holds a rank of 1018 out of 1650 combos. This position, which places it in the upper half of all tested systems, is a reflection of the sheer performance on offer. While a rank of 1018 might seem mid-pack, the context of the frame rates is crucial; this rank is determined by raw average FPS across all test scenarios, where many competing combos may include more expensive, higher-core-count CPUs or newer, top-tier GPUs that push frame rates even higher.

The data implies that the performance ceiling for this combo is not the GPU but the CPU. The six-core, twelve-thread i5-11400F is a very capable processor, but in a game as lightweight as Valorant, the single-thread performance and high-frequency boost clock of more modern or higher-tier CPUs can lead to even higher frame rates. The 75th percentile ranking of the CPU suggests that while it is a strong performer, there is a significant cohort of processors that can feed the game engine faster. The GPU, with its 65th percentile ranking, is also strong but not at the very top of the stack. This combination, therefore, represents a balanced, high-performance setup that will satisfy the vast majority of players, but the rank shows it is not the absolute pinnacle of performance for this specific title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a complete picture of performance across all resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers remarkable speed: Low settings produce an average of 455.6 FPS, Medium yields 387.9 FPS, High achieves 378.0 FPS, and Ultra maintains a strong 371.7 FPS. Moving up to 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally high: Low settings average 431.8 FPS, Medium 367.5 FPS, High 348.6 FPS, and Ultra 334.5 FPS.

At 4K resolution, 3840x2160, the system demonstrates its power by maintaining triple-digit frame rates that are still far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The Low preset achieves an average of 396.8 FPS, while Medium drops to 294.2 FPS. High settings produce 278.8 FPS, and the Ultra preset, the most demanding configuration tested, still delivers a very high average of 268.0 FPS. These numbers show that the performance scaling is remarkably consistent, with the difference between the lowest and highest resolution at any given settings preset being manageable and never crossing below the 200 FPS threshold, solidifying this combo as an esports-grade performer.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER plays a crucial, yet secondary, role in this configuration's Valorant performance. Based on the Turing architecture, this GPU is built on a 12 nm process at TSMC and features a TU104 chip with 13,600 million transistors. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for the textures and assets used in Valorant. The GPU's core clocks are listed at 1605 MHz base and 1770 MHz boost, and its raw compute power is rated at 9.062 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The benchmark results show that the GPU's performance is not the primary bottleneck until the resolution is pushed to 4K. The fact that the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is relatively small (455.6 vs 371.7) suggests the GPU is not fully utilized at this resolution. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 268.0, indicating the GPU is now working harder to fill the additional pixels. The GPU's general benchmark score of 22206 places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, and its closest rival is the NVIDIA RTX A400, which has a score of 22307. This shows the 2070 SUPER is a solid, mid-to-high-range performer that provides ample power for Valorant at any resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is the engine that drives the exceptionally high frame rates in this benchmark. This processor, part of the Rocket Lake architecture, is built on Intel's 14 nm process and features 6 cores and 12 threads. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz, which can boost up to 4.40 GHz under load. This high boost clock is critical for Valorant, a game that is heavily reliant on single-thread performance for game logic and frame rendering. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close at hand.

The CPU's significant role is evident in the resolution scaling data. The minimal FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p, and even to 4K at lower settings, points to a CPU-bound scenario. The i5-11400F's general benchmark score is 17181, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. Its performance is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, which scores 17189, a 0% difference. This suggests that while the CPU is very fast, it is the limiting factor preventing even higher frame rates, as the GPU is often waiting for the CPU to provide the next frame's instructions. The data implies that upgrading to a CPU with a higher boost clock or better single-thread performance could yield even higher FPS numbers in this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

For competitive play, where maximum frame rate and minimal input lag are paramount, the Low settings preset at 1920x1080 is the clear choice. This configuration yields the highest average FPS of 455.6, providing the smoothest possible experience and giving the player the greatest advantage in fast-paced firefights. The visual sacrifice is minimal in a game like Valorant, where clarity and simplicity are often preferred for spotting enemies.

For players with a 1440p or 4K monitor who prioritize visual fidelity without compromising on performance, the High settings preset offers an excellent balance. At 2560x1440, High settings produce an average of 348.6 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it maintains a very high 278.8 FPS. This preset provides enhanced visual effects and details while keeping the frame rate well above the refresh rates of even the most advanced high-refresh-rate displays. The Ultra preset, while visually impressive, offers a negligible FPS increase over High at lower resolutions but shows a more noticeable performance cost at 4K, making High the more efficient choice for the best overall experience.