Valorant

Valorant’s performance with the Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a fascinating study in bottleneck dynamics. The data shows a game that is exceptionally responsive to CPU strength at lower resolutions, while the GPU’s limitations become increasingly apparent as the pixel count climbs. This combination, ranking 2645th out of 2883 tested combos, offers a clear picture of how a high-end 12th Gen processor interacts with an entry-level integrated graphics solution.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a distinct pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 299 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded across all tests, indicating that at this resolution and settings level, the system is not heavily constrained by the graphics processor. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 255 FPS, a reduction of 44 FPS or approximately 14.7% from the 1080p figure. Scaling further to 3840x2160 at Low settings yields 204 FPS, which represents a 51 FPS drop from the 1440p result and a 95 FPS drop from 1080p. This progression shows a linear and predictable decline as resolution increases, with the frame rate remaining well above playable thresholds even at 4K.

The scaling behavior changes notably when examining higher settings. At High settings, the 1080p average is 187 FPS. At 1440p, this falls to 160 FPS, a 27 FPS decrease. At 4K, the High setting average is 128 FPS, which is 32 FPS lower than the 1440p result and 59 FPS lower than 1080p. The percentage drops between resolutions are larger at High settings compared to Low settings, suggesting that the GPU is beginning to take on a more significant role. The Medium settings data provides additional insight, with averages of 197 FPS at 1080p, 168 FPS at 1440p, and 134 FPS at 4K. The Ultra settings show the lowest overall performance, with 178 FPS at 1080p, 152 FPS at 1440p, and 122 FPS at 4K.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (299 FPS) and Ultra (178 FPS) is 121 FPS. At 1440p, the gap narrows slightly to 103 FPS (255 vs 152). At 4K, the difference is 82 FPS (204 vs 122). This narrowing gap indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the advantage of lower settings diminishes because the graphics processor is already saturated. The data suggests that at 1080p, the Intel Core i7-12700K is providing ample headroom, and the frame rate is more dependent on settings and GPU load. At 4K, the Arc B370’s capabilities are the primary constraint, with even Low settings unable to push frame rates above 204 FPS.

The 4K Medium setting data includes min and max FPS values of 114 and 154, respectively. The 1440p Medium setting shows a min of 143 and a max of 193, while the 1080p Medium setting shows a min of 167 and a max of 226. These ranges indicate that frame pacing is relatively consistent, with the spread between minimum and maximum FPS being around 40 FPS in each case. The min FPS values at each resolution remain above 114, which is still a smooth experience for a competitive FPS title. The scaling pattern overall points to a system where the CPU is more than capable of feeding frames, but the GPU’s 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs become the bottleneck as resolution and settings increase.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s position in the database is 2645th out of 2883 tested combinations. This places it in the lower percentile of tested systems, which is consistent with the Arc B370’s individual GPU ranking. The graphics card sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals in the GPU database include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186 (a delta of -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1190 (delta -0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M with 1192 (delta -0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 with 1168 (delta +1.4%). These are all older or lower-tier parts, indicating that the Arc B370 is positioned at the very entry level of graphics performance.

The CPU, in contrast, is a strong performer. The Intel Core i7-12700K ranks in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35287. Its nearest rivals in the CPU database are the Intel Core i5-13600T with a score of 35305 (delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-12700KF with 35365 (delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i7-13700T with 35403 (delta -0.3%), and the Intel Core 5 213PE with 35428 (delta -0.4%). These deltas are all within 0.4% of the 12700K’s score, showing that the CPU is performing essentially on par with its closest competitors. The disparity between the CPU’s 84th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 5th percentile ranking explains the combo’s overall low position. The processor is capable of far more than the graphics solution can deliver, creating a significant imbalance that holds the combo back in the rankings.

For a game like Valorant, which is known for being CPU-intensive, this ranking might seem counterintuitive. However, the data shows that even with a strong CPU, the GPU’s low fill rate and limited memory bandwidth (system dependent) cap the maximum achievable frame rates. The combo’s rank of 2645 suggests that many other systems, likely with more balanced CPU-GPU pairings, achieve better overall performance in this title. The benchmark results indicate that the 12700K is doing its part, but the Arc B370 cannot keep up with the processor’s ability to generate frames, leading to a lower combined ranking than either component would achieve on its own.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Valorant?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 299, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 122 at Ultra settings to 204 at Low settings. The Medium setting shows an average of 134 FPS with a minimum of 114 and maximum of 154.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K or the Intel Arc B370 the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 299 FPS, but at 4K Ultra it drops to 122 FPS. The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking versus the CPU’s 84th percentile ranking confirms that the graphics card is the bottleneck.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values recorded?

A: Minimum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the min is 167 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the min is 143 FPS. At 4K Medium, the min is 114 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its closest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7% delta), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, +1.4% delta).

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among tested systems in Valorant?

A: The combo ranks 2645th out of 2883 tested combinations, placing it in the lower end of the performance spectrum for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the Low setting delivers an average of 299 FPS. The High setting at the same resolution produces 187 FPS, which is a 112 FPS reduction. The Medium setting yields 197 FPS, with a minimum of 167 and a maximum of 226. The Ultra setting gives 178 FPS. The order from fastest to slowest at 1080p is Low (299), Medium (197), High (187), and Ultra (178). The difference between the fastest and slowest settings is 121 FPS, showing that settings have a substantial impact at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low setting average is 255 FPS. This is 44 FPS lower than the 1080p Low result. The High setting at 1440p produces 160 FPS, which is 27 FPS lower than 1080p High. The Medium setting averages 168 FPS, with a minimum of 143 and a maximum of 193. The Ultra setting averages 152 FPS. At 1440p, the ordering is the same: Low (255), Medium (168), High (160), and Ultra (152). The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 103 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low setting average is 204 FPS. The High setting average is 128 FPS. The Medium setting produces 134 FPS, with a minimum of 114 and a maximum of 154. The Ultra setting averages 122 FPS. The ordering remains consistent: Low (204), Medium (134), High (128), and Ultra (122). The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 82 FPS at 4K. The data shows that the relative performance of settings is consistent across resolutions, but the absolute differences shrink as resolution increases due to GPU limitations.

The Medium settings are the only ones with complete min/avg/max data. At 1080p, the range is 167 to 226 FPS, a spread of 59 FPS. At 1440p, the range is 143 to 193, a 50 FPS spread. At 4K, the range is 114 to 154, a 40 FPS spread. The tightening of the range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is working closer to its maximum capacity, reducing the variance between frames. The average FPS at Medium settings drops by 29 FPS from 1080p to 1440p (197 to 168) and by 34 FPS from 1440p to 4K (168 to 134). This consistent decline across resolution steps indicates a predictable scaling pattern.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process node. Its chip is codenamed Panther Lake, and it belongs to the Arc Graphics-M generation for Panther Lake. The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 performance at 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1). The GPU has 10 ray tracing cores and a TDP of 25 W.

In Valorant, the GPU’s role is defined by its limited specifications. The 20 ROPs are responsible for pixel output, which directly impacts performance at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates, with the Ultra setting averaging only 122 FPS. The memory configuration is System Shared, meaning the GPU uses the system’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as System Shared or System Dependent, indicating that performance is tied to the CPU’s memory subsystem. This architecture limits the GPU’s ability to handle large textures and high-resolution buffers efficiently.

The Arc B370’s benchmark performance is minimal, with only one recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This places it in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older ATI and AMD parts, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which have scores within 0.7% of the Arc B370. This indicates that the Arc B370 is roughly comparable to a decade-old discrete graphics card from the HD 5000 series era. In Valorant, this translates to playable but not exceptional frame rates. The GPU is capable of exceeding 200 FPS at 1080p Low, but it falls to 122 FPS at 4K Ultra. The DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 compliance are modern features, but they do not compensate for the low compute and fill rate.

The GPU’s TDP of 25 W and integrated nature (IGP slot width, no power connectors) suggest it is designed for efficiency rather than raw performance. The boost clock of 2400 MHz is relatively high for an iGPU, but the low shader count and ROP count limit throughput. In the context of Valorant, the GPU’s role is to render frames at a rate that the CPU can feed it. At lower resolutions and settings, the GPU can keep up reasonably well, but at higher resolutions, it becomes the primary bottleneck. The data shows that the GPU’s performance ceiling in this game is around 299 FPS at 1080p Low, and the frame rate declines consistently as resolution and settings increase.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a PCIe Gen 4 interface providing 20 lanes. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor has a TDP of 125 W and is built on a 10 nm process node with a die size of 215 mm². It was released on 2021-11-03 with a launch MSRP of $409. The CPU includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, but the benchmark data uses the separate Arc B370 GPU.

In Valorant, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw call submission. The 12700K’s strong single-thread performance is evident from its benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1850.5 in single-core and 19784 in multi-core. The Geekbench scores are 2308 for single-core and 15790 for multi-core. The 3DMark scores show a progression from 1043 in single-thread to 9979 in max threads. The PassMark single-thread score is 4013, and the multithread score is 34404. These scores place the CPU in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35287.

The CPU’s nearest rivals all have very similar average scores, with deltas of -0.1% to -0.4%. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, the Core i7-12700KF scores 35365, the Core i7-13700T scores 35403, and the Core 5 213PE scores 35428. This shows the 12700K is performing within a tight band of its direct competitors. For Valorant, the CPU’s high single-thread performance is crucial, as the game engine is typically single-thread bound. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz and the Alder Lake architecture provide excellent per-core performance, which is reflected in the high frame rates at 1080p Low (299 FPS).

The CPU’s 20 threads are more than sufficient for Valorant, which is not heavily multi-threaded. The L3 cache of 25 MB is shared across all cores, which helps with data locality and reduces memory latency. The memory support for DDR5 (though the specific bandwidth is not listed) allows for high-speed data transfer, which is beneficial for feeding the GPU. The CPU’s role in this combo is to provide an upper limit on frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 299 FPS, which is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame generation capability in this game. The GPU then becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, preventing the system from reaching even higher frame rates.

The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The difference between 1080p Low (299 FPS) and 4K Low (204 FPS) is 95 FPS, which is primarily due to GPU load. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be similar across resolutions. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 84 versus the GPU’s 5th percentile confirms the imbalance. The 12700K is a high-end processor that can drive frame rates well beyond what the Arc B370 can render, making the GPU the clear limiting component in Valorant.