Valorant

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS for Valorant at 1080p with the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate ranges from 552 FPS on Low settings to 375 FPS on Ultra settings. Medium settings deliver 413 FPS, and High settings yield 393 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292. This places it roughly on par with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (score 25284) and AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (score 25201), while it trails the Intel Core 5 120 by 0.3% (score 25362) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D by 0.3% (score 25365).

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile and how does it stack against competitors?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 21035, which puts it about 1.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (score 20713) but roughly 1% behind the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (score 21237) and 1.6% behind the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (score 21379).

Q: Does the RTX 5050 have enough VRAM for high-refresh competitive play?

A: The GPU comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth. For Valorant, which is not a VRAM-intensive title, this capacity is sufficient to maintain triple-digit frame rates even at 4K Ultra settings, where the average FPS is 256.

Q: What is the best measured FPS result across all tested configurations?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 552 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. The lowest average is 256 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: How many cores and threads does the i5-13400F have, and what are its clock speeds?

A: The processor features 10 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, and it boosts up to 4.60 GHz. The chip carries 20 MB of shared L3 cache and is built on Intel's 10 nm process.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the graphics engine in this configuration, and its specifications shape how Valorant performs across resolutions. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, containing 16,900 million transistors on a 149 mm² die. It operates at a base clock of 2317 MHz and boosts to 2572 MHz, with memory running at 2500 MHz (20 Gbps effective). The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for a competitive FPS like Valorant.

The GPU's compute capabilities include 2560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. It also carries 20 ray tracing cores and 80 tensor cores, though Valorant does not heavily leverage ray tracing or DLSS. The pixel rate is 82.30 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 205.8 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance rated at 13.17 TFLOPS. These figures indicate a mid-range card that is more than sufficient for esports titles.

In the context of Valorant's measured results, the GPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS hits 552, which is close to the CPU's limit. However, as resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rates drop accordingly. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to 256 FPS, showing that the RTX 5050 still handles the game comfortably but with reduced headroom. The data suggests that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are never stressed by Valorant, as even the most demanding settings at 4K produce average frame rates well above 200 FPS.

The RTX 5050's percentile ranking of 66 places it in the upper-middle tier of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, scores 21153 (0.6% higher), while the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713 (1.6% lower). These deltas are small, meaning the RTX 5050's performance is tightly clustered with its peers, but for Valorant specifically, the card's strong raw throughput translates into excellent frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the system scales from 1080p to 4K, and the pattern indicates a shift in the limiting component. At 1080p, the average FPS across all settings ranges from 375 (Ultra) to 552 (Low). The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 177 FPS, which suggests the GPU is still able to flex its muscles even at the highest settings. At 1440p, the range narrows slightly: Low yields 524 FPS, and Ultra delivers 320 FPS, a spread of 204 FPS. At 4K, the Low setting produces 428 FPS, while Ultra drops to 256 FPS, a spread of 172 FPS.

The key observation is the drop from 1080p to 4K at the same settings. For Low settings, the average FPS goes from 552 at 1080p to 524 at 1440p (a 5.1% decrease) and then to 428 at 4K (a 22.5% decrease from 1440p). For Ultra settings, the progression is 375 at 1080p, 320 at 1440p (a 14.7% decrease), and 256 at 4K (a 20% decrease from 1440p). These reductions indicate that the GPU becomes more of a factor as resolution climbs, but the CPU remains a significant contributor even at 4K.

At 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound, as the i5-13400F's single-thread performance (3dmark_single_thread score of 960) and high boost clock of 4.60 GHz are crucial for Valorant's game logic and draw calls. The GPU has plenty of spare capacity, which is why Low and Medium settings at 1080p produce nearly identical frame rates (552 vs. 413 FPS). At 4K, the GPU's workload increases, but the average FPS never falls below 256, which is still far above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most gaming monitors. This suggests that for competitive play, the system can run the game at maximum settings at 4K without dropping below playable thresholds.

The minimum FPS data, available only for Medium settings, shows 239 FPS at 4K, 300 FPS at 1440p, and 351 FPS at 1080p. These minimums indicate that even in the most demanding moments, the system maintains high frame rates, with the 4K minimum still topping 200 FPS. The maximum FPS values for Medium settings are 324 at 4K, 405 at 1440p, and 475 at 1080p, showing a consistent scaling pattern.

The resolution scaling data points to a balanced system where neither component is severely imbalanced for this game. The CPU's strong single-core performance (passmark_single_thread score of 3634) and the GPU's 13.17 TFLOPS of FP32 compute work together to keep frame rates high across all tested resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 552 FPS, which is the best result in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 413 FPS with a minimum of 351 and a maximum of 475. High settings drop slightly to 393 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 375 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 177 FPS, showing that the GPU can easily handle the extra graphical load while still maintaining triple-digit performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a noticeable step down. Low settings average 524 FPS, which is only 28 FPS lower than at 1080p. Medium settings average 352 FPS with a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 405. High settings produce 336 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 320 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 204 FPS, which is wider than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is starting to feel the resolution increase.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the system still performs admirably. Low settings average 428 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 524 FPS at 1440p. Medium settings average 282 FPS with a minimum of 239 and a maximum of 324. High settings yield 268 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 256 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 172 FPS, similar to the 1080p spread, but the absolute numbers are lower.

Across all resolutions, Medium settings have the only complete data set with min, max, and average values. At 1080p Medium, the average is 413 FPS with a 351 FPS minimum. At 1440p Medium, the average is 352 FPS with a 300 FPS minimum. At 4K Medium, the average is 282 FPS with a 239 FPS minimum. These minimums are important for competitive play, as they represent the worst-case frame times. Even the 4K Medium minimum of 239 FPS is well above the 144 Hz threshold, ensuring smooth gameplay.

The data shows that the system is capable of running Valorant at its highest settings at 1080p and 1440p with average frame rates above 300 FPS. At 4K, Ultra settings still deliver 256 FPS on average, which is more than enough for any high-refresh display. The measured frame rates suggest that this combination of CPU and GPU is overkill for Valorant at standard resolutions, but it provides headroom for future games or more demanding scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the player's display refresh rate and resolution preference. For players using a 1080p monitor with a 240 Hz or 360 Hz refresh rate, Low settings provide the highest average FPS at 552, ensuring the frame rate stays above the refresh rate in most situations. Medium settings at 413 FPS are also a strong choice, as they offer better visual fidelity while still exceeding 360 Hz. For 144 Hz displays, Ultra settings at 375 FPS are more than sufficient, and the visual improvements over Low settings are noticeable.

At 1440p, Low settings deliver 524 FPS, which is ideal for 360 Hz monitors. Medium settings at 352 FPS still exceed 240 Hz, making them a good balance between performance and visual quality. Ultra settings at 320 FPS are also viable for 240 Hz displays, and the higher graphical detail may improve visibility in some scenarios. For 144 Hz monitors, all settings at 1440p provide ample frame rates, so players can choose Ultra for the best visuals without worrying about performance drops.

At 4K, the frame rates are still high but require more consideration. Low settings at 428 FPS are suitable for 360 Hz monitors, though such displays are rare at 4K. Medium settings at 282 FPS are excellent for 240 Hz displays, and the 239 FPS minimum ensures no dips below the refresh rate. High settings at 268 FPS and Ultra settings at 256 FPS are both viable for 144 Hz monitors, and the average frame rates leave plenty of headroom. For 4K players, Medium settings offer the best combination of frame rate consistency (with a 239 FPS minimum) and visual quality.

The data suggests that Medium settings provide the most balanced experience across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 413 FPS with a 351 FPS minimum. At 1440p, Medium produces 352 FPS with a 300 FPS minimum. At 4K, Medium yields 282 FPS with a 239 FPS minimum. These minimums are consistently higher than the minimums for other settings (where available), indicating that Medium settings offer stable frame pacing. For players seeking the absolute highest frame rates, Low settings are the clear winner, but for those who prioritize visual clarity and consistent performance, Medium is the recommended preset.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is the processing heart of this configuration, and its specifications are well-suited to Valorant's CPU-intensive nature. The processor features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It is built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture using a 10 nm process, with a die size of 215 mm². The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700.

In benchmark tests, the i5-13400F demonstrates strong single-threaded performance, which is critical for Valorant. Its 3dmark_single_thread score is 960, and its passmark_single_thread score is 3634. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 3191, and the Geekbench single-core score is 1996. These results indicate that the CPU can handle the game's main thread effectively, which is why frame rates at 1080p remain high even with a mid-range GPU. The multi-threaded scores are also respectable: Cinebench R23 multicore is 22604, Geekbench multicore is 11068, and 3dmark_max_threads is 7307.

The CPU's percentile ranking is 77, placing it above the majority of all processors. Its average benchmark score is 25292, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS scores 25284 (0% delta), the Intel Core 5 120 scores 25362 (-0.3% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D scores 25365 (-0.3% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H scores 25201 (0.4% delta). These close scores mean the i5-13400F performs on par with these alternatives, though it does not hold a decisive advantage over any of them.

In Valorant specifically, the CPU's role is evident in the scaling pattern. At 1080p, the average FPS on Low settings (552) is likely limited by the CPU's single-thread performance, as the GPU has plenty of headroom. The fact that 1080p Low (552 FPS) and 1080p Medium (413 FPS) differ by 139 FPS suggests that the GPU is still the limiting factor for higher settings, but the CPU sets the ceiling. At 4K, the CPU's influence diminishes as the GPU takes on more work, but the i5-13400F's strong single-core performance ensures that frame rates do not collapse—the 4K Low average is 428 FPS, which is only 22.5% lower than the 1080p Low average.

The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads also provide ample parallelism for background tasks, and its 65 W TDP keeps thermals manageable. The boost clock of 4.60 GHz is particularly important for Valorant, as the game relies on high-frequency cores for consistent frame delivery. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for the game's physics and hit detection calculations. Overall, the i5-13400F is a well-matched companion to the RTX 5050, providing the single-thread muscle needed for high-refresh competitive play while offering enough multi-core performance for other workloads.