Valorant

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 delivers a compelling performance profile in Valorant, one that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphical presets. The data reveals a system that is exceptionally capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p, but which shows clear signs of architectural limitations as the resolution climbs. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to understand where the bottleneck lies and what the numbers mean for competitive play.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a pronounced and consistent drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 321.4 FPS at 1080p to 274.4 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 215.7 FPS at 4K. This represents a significant 32.9% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The trend is similar across all settings, indicating that the rendering load is scaling directly with pixel count.

This scaling pattern is revealing. The frame rate drop is not linear, and the gap between 1080p and 1440p is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the system is not fully utilizing the GPU, as the CPU is likely the primary limiter. When the resolution increases to 4K, the GPU’s workload becomes more demanding, and the RX 580 begins to reach its limits, causing a more substantial performance penalty.

The data implies that for a game like Valorant, which is designed to run on a wide range of hardware, this combination is heavily CPU-bound at 1080p. The GPU has enough headroom to render frames quickly, but the CPU's single-thread performance is the ceiling. As resolution increases, the balance shifts. The GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the FPS drops accordingly. The fact that the 4K High setting produces 138.1 FPS while the 4K Ultra setting produces 129.3 FPS suggests that the GPU is struggling to maintain the highest frame rates at this resolution, regardless of the specific preset.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 580, with its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, provides a 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. This is a substantial amount of video memory for a game like Valorant, which is not known for being VRAM-intensive. The data suggests that the 8 GB capacity is never a limiting factor in these tests, as the FPS differences between settings are more indicative of shader and pixel processing load than memory constraints.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1257 MHz and a boost of 1340 MHz, are relatively modest by modern standards. The measured results show that the RX 580 can push out over 300 FPS at 1080p Low, but this number is not solely evidence of the GPU's raw power. The texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s and the pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s are the more relevant figures for this game. These rates allow the GPU to handle the game's relatively simple geometry and textures efficiently at lower resolutions.

At 4K, the GPU's limits become apparent. The FP32 performance of 6.175 TFLOPS is the theoretical ceiling for compute, and the data shows that the card cannot maintain the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. The benchmark results for the GPU, including a Passmark G3D score of 8813, place it in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs. This is a mid-range performance level, and the measured FPS in Valorant at 4K reflects this, as the system is no longer able to push past the 200 FPS mark. The GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution, as the rendering pipeline becomes saturated.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz are crucial for Valorant's performance. The game is known for its reliance on single-thread performance, and the CPU’s strong single-core capabilities, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 3481, are a key reason why the system achieves such high frame rates at 1080p.

The data suggests that the CPU is the dominant factor in the 1080p results. At 1080p Low, the system hits 321.4 FPS. This number is likely constrained by the CPU's ability to process game logic and issue draw calls, not by the GPU's ability to render them. The CPU's L3 cache of 18 MB (shared) helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency. The 3DMark single-thread score of 909 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2332 further indicate that this processor has the per-core strength required for high-FPS esports titles.

However, the CPU's role changes as resolution increases. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's performance is less critical. The frame rate at 4K Ultra is 129.3 FPS, which is still very high, but it is the GPU that is now struggling. The CPU is no longer being pushed to its limits. The data shows a clear division of labor: the CPU sets the ceiling at low resolutions, while the GPU sets the ceiling at high resolutions. This is a classic balance for a mid-range system, and the i5-12400F ensures that the system is never CPU-limited in a way that would prevent high refresh rate play.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination in Valorant?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 321.4, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 189.5 at 1920x1080 to 129.3 at 3840x2160, a decrease of 60.2 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the system is transitioning. With Low settings, the average FPS is 274.4, which is still very high, suggesting the CPU is still a significant factor. The GPU becomes more of a limiting factor at this resolution compared to 1080p.

Q: Does the 8 GB of VRAM in the RX 580 cause any performance issues in these tests?

A: The data does not indicate any VRAM-related performance limitations. The FPS differences between settings are consistent with other factors, and the 8 GB capacity is ample for Valorant's requirements.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings yield an average of 321.4 FPS, while Ultra settings yield 189.5 FPS. This represents a 68.9% increase in performance when using Low settings.

Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested combinations in Valorant?

A: The combination ranks 1508th out of 1650 tested combos, placing it in the lower portion of the database for this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers outstanding results. Low settings produce an average of 321.4 FPS, which is the highest number recorded. Medium settings yield 207.6 FPS, High settings produce 198.8 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 189.5 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 131.9 FPS, showing how much headroom is available for players who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's influence. Low settings produce an average of 274.4 FPS, a drop from the 1080p figure. Medium settings yield 180.2 FPS, High settings produce 168 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 163.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 110.5 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is starting to become a more significant bottleneck at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations are more apparent. Low settings produce an average of 215.7 FPS, which is still high but a considerable drop from 1080p. Medium settings yield 142.6 FPS, High settings produce 138.1 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 129.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 86.4 FPS. The data shows that even at 4K, the system remains playable, but the frame rates are no longer in the field of the highest refresh rate displays.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For players with a 1080p 144Hz monitor, the data suggests that High settings provide an excellent balance. The average of 198.8 FPS is well above 144 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience with improved visual quality over Low settings. While Low settings offer a massive 321.4 FPS, this is only useful for those with 240Hz or higher displays. The jump from Low to Medium is significant, with a 114 FPS drop, but from Medium to High, the drop is only 8.8 FPS, making High a very efficient choice.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. For 144Hz displays, High settings at 168 FPS are sufficient, but Ultra settings at 163.9 FPS are also viable. The difference between High and Ultra is a mere 4.1 FPS, so players can use Ultra for a better visual experience without a major performance penalty. Low settings at 274.4 FPS are only recommended for those with very high refresh rate monitors.

At 4K, the situation changes. For 144Hz displays, the system cannot maintain 144 FPS at any setting, as the highest average is 215.7 FPS at Low. However, for 60Hz displays, High settings at 138.1 FPS are more than sufficient, and even Ultra at 129.3 FPS provides a comfortable margin. The data indicates that for a consistent 4K experience, players should compromise on settings to maintain a stable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Radeon RX 580 combination ranks 1508th out of 1650 tested combos for Valorant. This ranking places it in the lower 8.6% of all tested systems, which seems counterintuitive given the high frame rates measured. This position is likely due to the fact that the database includes many combinations with much more powerful and recent hardware, such as high-end GPUs and CPUs that can achieve even higher frame rates at 1080p.

The rank is a relative measure, not an absolute one. The data shows that this combo can play Valorant exceptionally well, but it is not a top-tier system. The CPU's performance, while strong, is in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700K, which has a similar average benchmark score with a delta of 0.1%. The GPU, in the 53rd percentile, is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950, showing a delta of 0.1%. This suggests the combo's ranking is driven by the GPU's mid-range status.

For a player, this ranking means the system is capable of a great experience, but it is not the best possible. The data indicates that the frame rates are high enough for competitive play, but there is significant headroom in the database for other combos to achieve higher numbers. The 4K performance, while playable, is not competitive with systems that feature more powerful GPUs. This combo represents a solid, balanced mid-range option that excels at 1080p and 1440p but is not designed for the highest tier of performance.