Valorant

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination ranks 1365th out of 1650 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. This rank is surprising given the exceptionally high frame rates measured, but it reflects the fact that many modern, high-end configurations achieve even higher numbers in this highly optimized title. The data indicates that this pairing is far from the top of the leaderboard, yet it delivers a playable and often excellent experience, with the measured results showing a strong balance between the two components for this specific game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1365 out of 1650 combos places it in the 17th percentile of all tested systems for Valorant. This might seem like a low standing, but it is a direct consequence of the game’s scalability and the sheer number of high-end parts in the database. The measured average FPS figures, which are well above the refresh rates of most monitors, confirm that the rank is not indicative of a poor experience. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of running the game smoothly, but it is outclassed by configurations built around newer, more powerful CPUs and GPUs that push frame rates even higher. For a player with a standard 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the performance gap between this 1365th-ranked combo and a top-100 combo is largely imperceptible, as both will often exceed the display’s maximum refresh rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In Valorant, a game that is heavily dependent on single-thread performance, the i5-12400’s high boost clock is a critical asset. The processor’s 3DMark single-thread score of 910 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2249 demonstrate strong per-core capability. This strength is reflected in the measured FPS, which remain very high even at lower resolutions where the CPU is more likely to be the primary bottleneck. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache also helps reduce latency, which is beneficial for maintaining consistent frame times in fast-paced action. The CPU’s 3DMark multi-threaded scores, such as 5,890 on the max threads test, show it has ample headroom for background tasks, but the single-thread performance is what truly drives Valorant’s frame rates. Its average benchmark score of 19,850 places it nearly identical to rivals like the Intel Core i7-9700, which scores 19,831 (0.1% delta).

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, built on the Pascal architecture, provides 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. Its base clock of 1506 MHz and boost clock of 1683 MHz are sufficient to feed the CPU with frames, but the GPU becomes a more significant factor as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GTX 1070 is not the limiting factor, as evidenced by the extremely high frame rates. However, the data shows a clear shift at 4K, where the GPU’s workload increases substantially. The card’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1082 and Passmark G3D score of 13,498 are modest by modern standards, and its performance is comparable to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER, which has an average score of 12,504 (a -1.4% delta). This indicates that while the GTX 1070 is a veteran card, it still holds its own in an esports title like Valorant, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where its 8 GB of VRAM is not a limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across the board. The Low preset yields an average of 487.3 FPS, while the High preset produces 305.4 FPS. The Medium and Ultra presets deliver 318.3 and 290.7 FPS, respectively. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages remain high, with the Low preset at 417.1 FPS, High at 257.3 FPS, Medium at 275.0 FPS, and Ultra at 246.1 FPS. At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly but remains very playable. The Low preset at 4K achieves an average of 330.5 FPS, while the High preset drops to 206.9 FPS. The Medium and Ultra presets at 4K deliver 215.3 and 195.3 FPS, respectively. These numbers show a consistent pattern: the difference between Low and Ultra settings is relatively small in percentage terms compared to the impact of resolution changes, indicating that the GPU handles the visual load well.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of running Valorant at 1080p with high refresh rates?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 305.4 FPS at 1080p on High settings, which far exceeds the refresh rate of even the most demanding 360Hz monitors.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19,850, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-9700 (19,831) and 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600K (19,771). It is effectively a performance peer to these older processors.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The data shows a 417.1 FPS average on Low settings and a 246.1 FPS average on Ultra settings at 2560x1440. This represents a substantial drop of 171 FPS, or about 41%, when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Will the 8 GB of VRAM on the GTX 1070 be a problem in Valorant?

A: No. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra, the most demanding setting in the data, is still 195.3 FPS. The game does not appear to be VRAM-limited at these settings with this card.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1080p to 4K on High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 305.4 at 1920x1080 to 206.9 at 3840x2160 on High settings. This is a decrease of 98.5 FPS, or roughly 32%, indicating a significant but not crippling impact from the resolution increase.

Q: Where does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1365th out of 1650 tested combos for Valorant. This puts it in the lower half of the database, though the measured frame rates are still very high in absolute terms.

Settings Recommendations

For players with a 144Hz monitor, the High preset at 1080p is the clear choice, delivering 305.4 FPS with better visual fidelity than the Low preset. The Ultra preset at 1080p, at 290.7 FPS, offers a marginal visual upgrade but is not necessary for competitive play. At 1440p, the High preset provides 257.3 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh gaming. The data suggests that the Medium preset at 1440p, with 275.0 FPS, offers a good balance, but High is only slightly slower and provides better image quality. For 4K displays, the Low preset at 330.5 FPS is the best option for maximizing frame rate, while the High preset at 206.9 FPS is still perfectly playable for those who prefer higher visual settings. The recommendation is to favor the High preset at 1080p and 1440p for a blend of performance and quality, and to use the Low preset at 4K if maximum fluidity is the goal.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear pattern of diminishing frame rates as resolution increases, but the scale of the drop is less severe than in many other games. From 1080p Low (487.3 FPS) to 4K Low (330.5 FPS), the average FPS drops by 156.8, a 32% reduction. On High settings, the drop from 1080p (305.4 FPS) to 4K (206.9 FPS) is 98.5 FPS, also a 32% reduction. This consistency suggests that the bottleneck shifts gradually from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K. At 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread strength is the primary driver, as the GPU is not fully taxed. At 4K, the GTX 1070’s pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor, resulting in a noticeable but not drastic performance hit. The fact that even the 4K Ultra setting maintains an average of 195.3 FPS indicates that this combination is well-balanced for Valorant, with neither component becoming a severe bottleneck at any tested resolution or settings level.