Valorant

Valorant is a competitive FPS where frame rates far beyond display refresh rates are the norm, and the measured data for the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti places this combination in the 75th percentile of 1650 tested combos. The dataset reveals a system that never drops below 459 frames per second at 4K Ultra settings, indicating a profound level of headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors. The analysis below dissects the CPU and GPU contributions, the scaling of performance across resolutions, and the optimal settings for this specific hardware pairing, relying strictly on the provided measured FPS and component specifications.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It features a substantial 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, which is critical for feeding the GPU in a fast-paced esports title like Valorant. The processor's benchmark scores reinforce its high single-thread performance, which is the primary driver of frame rates in games that are not heavily multithreaded. Specifically, the CPU achieves a 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5505, while its multi-core capabilities are demonstrated by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 39000.

In the context of Valorant, the data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any tested resolution. Even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU load is lightest, the average frame rate reaches 661 FPS. This high frame rate is a direct result of the CPU's ability to process game logic and draw calls rapidly. The processor's strong single-core performance, indicated by a Passmark single-thread score of 4333, ensures that the game's main thread is never starved. The i7-13700K holds a 93rd percentile ranking against all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 47282 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700KF, which scores 47334 with a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the KF variant is only marginally faster. This indicates that the CPU's performance is consistent and reliable for demanding gaming scenarios, providing a robust foundation for the high frame rates observed in the measured FPS data.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2610 MHz, and it contains 7680 shading units. While Valorant is not a graphically demanding title, the GPU's role becomes evident in the scaling of frame rates across quality presets. The GPU achieves a Passmark G3D score of 31624 and ranks in the 85th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44900. This places it in close competition with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which has an average score of 45152 and a deltaPct of -0.6, indicating the RTX 4070 Ti is only 0.6% slower.

The performance data shows that the RTX 4070 Ti handles the varying settings with ease. At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS is 459.5, which is still exceptionally high for a game like Valorant. The GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient, as the game's texture requirements are modest. The measured FPS shows a clear trend: the GPU is powerful enough that the differences between settings are relatively small, suggesting that the graphics card is rarely the limiting factor. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is 120.6 FPS (661 vs 540.4), which demonstrates that while the GPU does perform more work at higher settings, it has ample headroom to maintain competitive frame rates. The GPU's compute capability, reflected in a Passmark GPU Compute score of 18396, is more than adequate for this title, ensuring that visual quality can be maximized without compromising the high refresh rate experience.

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

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this CPU and GPU combination in Valorant?

A: The highest average frame rate in the measured data is 661 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700KF?

A: The i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282, while the i7-13700KF scores 47334, resulting in a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the KF variant is 0.1% faster.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4070 Ti and the AMD Radeon Pro 580?

A: The RTX 4070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 44900, while the AMD Radeon Pro 580 scores 44195, giving the RTX 4070 Ti a 1.6% advantage in performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 Ti's VRAM capacity a limiting factor in Valorant?

A: No, the RTX 4070 Ti has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, which is far more than sufficient for Valorant, as the highest settings at 4K only reduce the average FPS to 459.5, indicating no memory bottleneck.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this combination, and at what settings?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 459.5 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance correlate with its ranking?

A: The CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2850, contributes to its 93rd percentile ranking against all CPUs, which is crucial for Valorant's frame rate generation.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive overview of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptionally high across the board. Low settings yield an average of 661 FPS, Medium settings produce 563.9 FPS, High settings achieve 550 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 540.4 FPS. The spread between the lowest and highest settings at this resolution is 120.6 FPS, showing that the GPU is still doing more work at higher presets, but the CPU's strength keeps frame rates elevated.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high, with a slight decrease compared to 1080p. Low settings average 627.9 FPS, Medium settings average 531.9 FPS, High settings average 524.7 FPS, and Ultra settings average 516.2 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution narrows to 111.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, the resolution scaling begins to show a more pronounced effect, though the performance is still stellar. Low settings average 580.4 FPS, Medium settings average 494.8 FPS, High settings average 487.5 FPS, and Ultra settings average 459.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 120.9 FPS, which is similar to the gap at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is becoming a more significant factor but not a bottleneck.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the performance drop from Low to Ultra is relatively consistent across resolutions, suggesting that the hardware combination handles the increased graphical load linearly. The RTX 4070 Ti's role is more visible at 4K, where the Ultra preset reduces performance by 20.8% compared to Low settings at the same resolution (from 580.4 to 459.5 FPS). In contrast, at 1080p, the reduction from Low to Ultra is 18.2% (from 661 to 540.4 FPS). This indicates that while the GPU is capable, it does scale its workload with resolution, and the CPU remains the primary driver of the exceptionally high frame rates.

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

Analyzing the resolution scaling reveals the balance between the CPU and GPU. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 661 FPS at 1080p to 627.9 FPS at 1440p, a 5.0% decrease, and further to 580.4 FPS at 4K, a 12.2% decrease from 1440p. This relatively modest drop at Low settings suggests that the CPU is the primary limiting factor, as the GPU has less work to do, and the frame rate is constrained by how fast the CPU can issue draw calls and process game logic.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is more pronounced. The frame rate drops from 540.4 FPS at 1080p to 516.2 FPS at 1440p, a 4.5% decrease, and then to 459.5 FPS at 4K, an 11.0% decrease from 1440p. The total drop from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 15.0% (from 540.4 to 459.5). This larger drop at higher settings indicates that the GPU is becoming more involved, as the increased resolution and graphical fidelity require more pixel processing and memory bandwidth. However, the fact that the frame rate still exceeds 459 FPS at 4K Ultra confirms that neither component is a bottleneck in the traditional sense; they are both performing well above the requirements of a 360Hz or 500Hz monitor.

The data suggests that the RTX 4070 Ti has sufficient bandwidth and processing power to handle the increased load at 4K, but the scaling is not linear. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 120.9 FPS, which is larger than the difference at 1440p (111.7 FPS) but similar to the difference at 1080p (120.6 FPS). This implies that the GPU's performance scales with resolution, but the CPU's ability to maintain high frame rates is the constant factor. The limiting component for achieving the absolute maximum frame rates is the CPU, as evidenced by the smaller performance gap between resolutions at Low settings. The i7-13700K's 16 cores and high boost clock are sufficient to keep the system feed, but the GPU's rendering capabilities become the differentiator at higher settings and resolutions.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend on the user's display refresh rate and preference for visual fidelity. For players with a 360Hz monitor, the Low preset at 1080p offers the highest average frame rate of 661 FPS, providing maximum headroom. However, the Medium preset at 1080p, which yields 563.9 FPS, still offers a significant buffer and likely improves visual clarity without sacrificing competitive performance. Given that the game is not graphically intensive, the Medium preset is the recommended baseline for 1080p, as it provides a 23.8% increase in frame rate over Ultra settings (563.9 vs 540.4) while maintaining a more balanced visual presentation.

For 1440p users, the Low preset at 627.9 FPS is ideal for maximum performance, but the High preset at 524.7 FPS is a strong choice for those who want better visuals without dropping below the 500 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 1440p, which averages 516.2 FPS, is also viable and offers the best visual quality while still exceeding the refresh rates of most high-end monitors. At 4K, the performance remains exceptional, but the recommendations shift. The Low preset at 580.4 FPS is the best for competitive play, while the High preset at 487.5 FPS offers a good balance. The Ultra preset at 459.5 FPS is playable but represents the lowest measured performance, making it less ideal for players who prioritize frame rate stability.

Ultimately, the data indicates that the Medium preset is the most balanced option across all resolutions, providing a significant performance boost over High and Ultra while maintaining a good visual experience. The High preset is recommended for users who prefer higher graphical fidelity and have a display with a refresh rate of 500Hz or lower. For those with the fastest displays, the Low preset is the go-to choice to maximize the FPS headroom. The RTX 4070 Ti's power ensures that even at Ultra settings, the frame rates are far above what is needed for smooth gameplay, making the choice between presets more about personal preference than hardware limitations.