Valorant

Valorant’s performance with the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination is exceptionally high, with measured frame rates exceeding 220 FPS even at 4K Ultra settings. The data indicates that this pairing is heavily CPU-bound at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes a more significant factor only at 4K. This analysis breaks down the role each component plays based on the benchmark results.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It features a 25 MB shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts a single-thread score of 1043 in 3DMark and 4091 in Cinebench R23, indicating very strong per-core performance. Its multi-threaded capabilities are equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28979 and a Geekbench multicore score of 13596.

For a competitive FPS like Valorant, the CPU’s single-thread performance is critical for maintaining high frame rates and consistent frame pacing. The benchmark data shows that this processor’s capability is more than sufficient to drive the RTX 2060 to its limits. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination achieves 543.4 FPS, which is a staggering 60% higher than the 4K High result of 232.4 FPS. This massive delta strongly suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested setting; rather, the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution increases.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 89 compared to all other CPUs places it in the top tier for gaming workloads. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14400 and Intel Core i9-12900HX, with average scores of 35336 and 35289, respectively. The i7-12700KF’s average benchmark score of 35355 is essentially neck-and-neck with these parts, showing a delta of only 0.1% and 0.2%. This means that while the processor is powerful, its performance envelope is similar to other high-end desktop and mobile parts in the same tier.

The data reveals that even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is under the most stress, the CPU still pushes the average frame rate to 220.6 FPS. This indicates that the 12-core design, with its high boost clock and substantial cache, provides ample headroom for the game’s engine logic and draw calls. The combination of a high single-thread score of 3984 in PassMark and a strong multithread score of 34092 ensures that Valorant’s relatively light threading demands are easily met, leaving performance primarily dependent on the graphics card.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it offers a FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS. The card has 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate. With a percentile rank of 58 against all GPUs, this is a mid-range part that performs well above average, but it is clearly outclassed by higher-tier cards.

In Valorant, the RTX 2060’s role is to manage the rendering load, and the measured FPS shows that it handles the game with ease. The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck when moving from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 Low, the frame rate is 543.4 FPS, which drops to 370.1 FPS at 3840x2160 Low. This is a reduction of approximately 32%, which directly correlates with the increased pixel count and the GPU’s fill-rate limits.

Interestingly, the performance scaling with settings is not linear. At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields 462.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 274.3 FPS. This 188 FPS delta demonstrates that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are being taxed more heavily by higher graphical fidelity. However, the RTX 2060’s 6 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor in this game, as even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate remains above 220 FPS, indicating no memory capacity or bandwidth throttling.

The GPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and AMD Radeon Pro 5700, with average scores of 15996 and 16351, respectively. The RTX 2060’s average benchmark score of 16074 places it just 0.5% above the RX 7600S, showing that its performance is competitive within its class. For Valorant, the data suggests that the RTX 2060 provides a smooth experience at all tested settings, with even the most demanding 4K Ultra preset producing frame rates well above the refresh rates of most high-end monitors.

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

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 543.4 FPS, while the High preset achieves 341.9 FPS, and the Ultra preset achieves 320.4 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 223 FPS, which is substantial, but even the Ultra preset offers more than enough performance for a 240Hz monitor. The Medium preset at 356.1 FPS is a balanced choice, offering a 14 FPS improvement over High with presumably minimal visual quality loss.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 462.5 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. The High preset at 289.9 FPS and Ultra at 274.3 FPS are both viable for high-refresh-rate gameplay. The Medium preset at 303.1 FPS is again a strong middle ground, providing a 13 FPS benefit over High. For players with 1440p 144Hz displays, the Ultra preset is more than sufficient, and the data shows that there is no need to sacrifice visual quality for frame rate in this scenario.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields 370.1 FPS, but the High preset drops to 232.4 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 220.6 FPS. The Medium preset at 239.3 FPS is only slightly above High. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the clear winner if maximising frame rate is the priority, but the Ultra preset still provides a very playable experience. Given that the difference between High and Ultra is only 11.8 FPS, the Ultra preset is recommended for 4K to get the best visual quality without a significant performance penalty.

Overall, the best experience across all resolutions is achieved with the Low preset, as it consistently delivers the highest frame rates. However, for balanced visual fidelity and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p and 1440p, and the Low preset at 4K, are the most sensible choices based on the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of components ranks at position 1219 out of 1650 tested combos in Valorant. This ranking places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, despite the high frame rates achieved. The data suggests that while the absolute performance is excellent for gaming, the benchmark database contains many other combinations with more powerful GPUs or CPUs that achieve even higher scores.

The combo’s rank of 1219 indicates that there are 431 other combinations that perform better in Valorant. This is likely due to the RTX 2060 being a mid-range GPU; systems with higher-end graphics cards such as the RTX 3080 or RTX 4090, or even newer mid-range cards, would naturally score higher. The CPU, however, is not the limiting factor, as its performance is comparable to parts like the Intel Core i5-14400, which has a delta of 0.1% in average benchmark score.

The ranking also implies that this combo outperforms a significant number of other tested configurations, likely those with older or lower-tier hardware. The combination of a strong 12-core CPU and a capable 6 GB GPU ensures that this system is not a bottleneck for Valorant’s engine, but it is not in the top tier for overall benchmark scores. The data shows that to move up the rankings, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the CPU already provides sufficient headroom.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is 543.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14400, has an average benchmark score of 35336, which is a delta of 0.1% from this CPU’s 35355.

Q: Is the RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM sufficient for 4K gaming in Valorant?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo still achieves an average of 220.6 FPS, indicating that the 6 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor for this game at this resolution.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 462.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 274.3 FPS, resulting in a difference of 188.2 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU’s average benchmark score compare to the AMD Radeon Pro 5700?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 has a score of 16351, showing a delta of -1.7% for the RTX 2060.

Q: What is the combo’s rank within the database for Valorant?

A: The combo ranks 1219 out of 1650 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems.