Valorant

Valorant is a competitive FPS built around high frame rates and low latency, and the measured results for the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B570 show a combination that is fundamentally capable of delivering well above the refresh rate of typical high-end monitors at every tested setting. The data indicates a system that is rarely the limiting factor, with performance scaling that reveals a pronounced bottleneck shift as resolution and graphical loads change. Across all resolutions, the average frame rates remain exceptionally high, positioning this combo as a strong option for players who prioritize smoothness, though the relative performance deltas between settings and resolutions provide insight into where the hardware's strengths and weaknesses lie.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 508 FPS, a figure that is almost entirely dictated by the CPU's ability to feed frames to the GPU. The Core i7-14700F, with its 20 cores and 28 threads boosting to 5.40 GHz, proves to be a formidable partner for Valorant's engine at this lower resolution, where the graphics card is not yet saturated. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 434 FPS, a reduction of roughly 15% from the 1080p result, indicating that the GPU is beginning to take on more work, but the CPU still holds a dominant role in determining the final frame rate.

The transition to 3840x2160 at Low settings yields an average of 347 FPS, which is still remarkably high but represents a 20% decrease from the 1440p figure and a 32% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is typical for a game like Valorant, which is not graphically demanding; the GPU's load increases with pixel count, but the Arc B570's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth are more than sufficient to handle the data. However, the most telling data point comes when comparing the Low and Ultra presets at the same resolution. At 1080p, the gap between Low (508 FPS) and Ultra (304 FPS) is 204 FPS, a 40% drop. At 1440p, the gap between Low (434 FPS) and Ultra (259 FPS) is 175 FPS, a 40% drop. At 4K, the gap between Low (347 FPS) and Ultra (207 FPS) is 140 FPS, also a 40% drop.

This consistent 40% reduction from Low to Ultra across all resolutions signals that the performance ceiling is being approached from different directions. At 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter, and the GPU's increased workload at Ultra settings does not fully stress the graphics card, leaving the CPU to manage the frame delivery. At 4K, the GPU is more heavily loaded, but the absolute frame rates are still so high that the CPU's role remains significant, preventing the GPU from becoming the sole bottleneck. The data suggests that the Arc B570 is capable of handling the graphical demands of Valorant at 4K with ease, but the overall frame rate is still constrained by the processor's ability to maintain a high draw call rate. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a 32% reduction in performance at Low settings, but only a 32% reduction at Ultra settings (from 304 FPS to 207 FPS), which indicates that the GPU is not the limiting factor even at the highest resolution; the CPU's sustained single-thread performance is the anchor for this combo.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Valorant, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and the Intel Arc B570 holds a rank of 2227 out of 2883 combinations. This places it in the 77th percentile of all tested combos, which is a surprisingly modest ranking given the absolute frame rates achieved. The explanation lies in the nature of the game and the competitive hardware pool; many combinations, particularly those with top-tier CPUs like the Core i9 series or AMD's 3D V-Cache parts, achieve even higher frame rates at the same settings, pushing this combo down the list despite its excellent absolute performance.

The combo's rank is more reflective of the CPU's position in the broader hierarchy than the GPU's. The Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620 across all tested workloads, which places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6505P (53701, -0.2% delta), the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (53469, +0.3% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53288, +0.6% delta). This indicates that the CPU is a high-performing part, but not the absolute fastest in the database. The GPU, the Arc B570, has an average benchmark score of 20556, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534, +0.1% delta) and the Intel Arc A750 (20582, -0.1% delta).

In the context of Valorant, the combo's ranking is dragged down by the fact that many other tested setups use more powerful CPUs that can push frame rates even higher. The data shows that this combo is not at the top of the heap, but it is far from the bottom. For a player with a 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor, the combo's performance is more than adequate, as even the lowest average frame rate recorded (207 FPS at 4K Ultra) is well above the 144 Hz threshold. The ranking is a relative measure, and while the combo is not a top-10 contender, it sits comfortably in the upper quartile of all tested configurations, making it a reliable choice for high-refresh-rate gameplay without being a record-setter.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured frame rates, the choice of settings for this combo is largely a matter of preference between maximizing visual fidelity and pushing frame rates to their absolute limits. For players with a 144 Hz monitor, the data shows that even the most demanding preset, Ultra, delivers an average of 304 FPS at 1080p, which is over double the refresh rate. This means that the Ultra preset can be selected without any risk of dropping below the monitor's refresh rate, providing the best visual experience with no performance penalty. The same logic applies to 1440p and 4K, where Ultra averages of 259 FPS and 207 FPS, respectively, still offer a comfortable margin above 144 Hz.

For players with a 240 Hz or 360 Hz monitor, the recommendation shifts towards lower settings to maximize headroom. At 1080p, the Medium preset provides an average of 335 FPS with a minimum of 285 FPS, which is a safe margin above 240 Hz, while the High preset at 319 FPS (no min reported) is also viable. The Low preset at 508 FPS is excessive for most monitors but serves as a headroom buffer for competitive play where every frame matters. At 1440p, the Medium preset is the sweet spot for 240 Hz displays, with an average of 286 FPS and a minimum of 243 FPS, which barely keeps the frame rate above the 240 Hz threshold. The High preset at 272 FPS is also acceptable, but the minimum frame rate is not reported, so the Medium preset is the safer choice for maintaining a consistent experience.

At 4K, the situation changes. The Ultra preset averages 207 FPS, which is below the 240 Hz threshold, so it is not recommended for very high refresh rate displays. The High preset at 217 FPS is marginally better but still below 240 Hz. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset, with an average of 228 FPS and a minimum of 194 FPS, is the best option for a 144 Hz monitor, as it provides the highest visual quality while staying well above the refresh rate. The Low preset at 347 FPS is the only option for 240 Hz 4K displays, but this is a niche scenario. The data suggests that for the vast majority of users, the High preset at 1080p or 1440p offers the best balance, as it provides a high visual quality with average frame rates of 319 FPS and 272 FPS, respectively, which are more than sufficient for any competitive monitor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full set of measured frame rates provides a granular view of the combo's capabilities across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 508, followed by Medium at 335, High at 319, and Ultra at 304. The Medium preset is the only one at 1080p with a reported minimum frame rate, at 285 FPS, with a maximum of 385 FPS. The lack of min/max data for the other presets suggests that the frame pacing is consistent enough that only the average was recorded, but the Medium preset's 285 FPS minimum is still a strong indicator of stability.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset again leads with 434 FPS, followed by Medium at 286, High at 272, and Ultra at 259. The Medium preset at 1440p has a minimum of 243 FPS and a maximum of 329 FPS, showing a tighter range compared to the 1080p Medium result. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across presets, with an average reduction of around 15-20%, which aligns with the increased pixel count. The Ultra preset at 1440p (259 FPS) is only 5 FPS higher than the 4K Low preset (347 FPS is actually higher, but the Ultra 1440p is lower than Low 4K), which further emphasizes the CPU-bound nature of the game at lower resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves 347 FPS, Medium achieves 228 FPS, High achieves 217 FPS, and Ultra achieves 207 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 194 FPS and a maximum of 263 FPS, which is the lowest minimum frame rate recorded in the entire dataset. This indicates that while the average is still high, there is more variance at 4K, likely due to the GPU's increased workload. The data shows a clear pattern: the CPU is the dominant factor at 1080p, the balance shifts slightly towards the GPU at 1440p, and at 4K, the GPU still has ample headroom, but the absolute frame rates remain high enough that the CPU's single-thread performance is the ultimate constraint on the combo's maximum output.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Valorant?

A: The highest recorded average is 508 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in Valorant?

A: The data indicates that the CPU is the primary limiter at lower resolutions, as shown by the 32% frame rate drop from 1080p Low to 4K Low (508 to 347 FPS), which is less than what would be expected if the GPU were the sole constraint.

Q: Can this combo run Valorant at 4K with high refresh rates?

A: At 4K, the Ultra preset averages 207 FPS, which is above 144 Hz but below 240 Hz. The Low preset at 4K averages 347 FPS, making it suitable for 240 Hz displays.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested configurations in Valorant?

A: It holds a rank of 2227 out of 2883 combinations, placing it in the upper quartile of all tested combos.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest minimum frame rate reported is 194 FPS, which occurs at 4K with the Medium preset.

Q: Is the Arc B570's 10 GB of VRAM sufficient for Valorant?

A: Yes, the data shows no VRAM-related performance degradation, as the frame rates at 4K Ultra (207 FPS) are still high, indicating that the memory capacity is more than adequate for this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. In Valorant, which is a game that is heavily dependent on single-thread performance, the CPU's ability to boost to 5.40 GHz on a single core is critical. The benchmark data shows that the CPU's single-core performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4958 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2429. These scores, while not the highest in the database, are sufficient to drive the frame rates seen in the measured results.

The CPU's role is most evident at 1080p, where the frame rates are the highest. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 508 FPS, which is a figure that is almost entirely dependent on the CPU's ability to process game logic and issue draw calls. The fact that the frame rate drops by only 15% when moving to 1440p and 32% when moving to 4K at Low settings suggests that the CPU is still the bottleneck, as a GPU-bound scenario would show a more dramatic drop with the increased pixel count. The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache also contribute to its ability to handle the game's data efficiently, reducing latency and improving frame pacing.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals further contextualizes its role. With an average benchmark score of 53620, it is statistically tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which has a delta of +0.6%. This means that in a CPU-bound game like Valorant, the i7-14700F is competitive with one of AMD's top parts, though the Ryzen 9 7900X might have a slight edge in some scenarios. The CPU's 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms that it is a high-end part, but not the absolute best. For Valorant, this translates to a situation where the CPU is rarely the limiting factor at typical gaming resolutions, but it does set a ceiling on the maximum frame rate achievable, as evidenced by the 508 FPS cap at 1080p Low.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is based on the Xe2-HPG architecture and is built on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster operation units, with a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU has 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. In Valorant, the GPU's role is less demanding than in many other modern titles, as the game's engine is not particularly graphically intensive. The measured frame rates show that the Arc B570 is more than capable of handling the game at any resolution, with the lowest average being 207 FPS at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's performance is highlighted by its ability to maintain high frame rates even at 4K. The fact that the Ultra preset at 4K (207 FPS) is only 32% lower than the Low preset at 1080p (508 FPS) indicates that the GPU is not the bottleneck in this scenario. The Arc B570's 10 GB of VRAM is ample for Valorant, which likely uses less than 4 GB even at 4K, and the memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s is sufficient to feed the GPU's shading units without any stuttering or frame drops. The GPU's average benchmark score of 20556 places it in the 65th percentile, and its nearest rival is the Intel Arc A750, which is essentially identical in performance (a delta of -0.1%).

The GPU's role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions, but even then, the data shows that it is not the limiting factor. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across all presets, suggesting that the GPU's workload scales linearly with pixel count, but the absolute frame rates remain high enough that the CPU's single-thread performance is still the primary constraint. The Arc B570's 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is more than sufficient for Valorant, and its 18 ray tracing cores are not utilized by this game, meaning the GPU is operating well within its comfort zone. For players, this means that the GPU will not be a source of frustration in Valorant, as it is powerful enough to deliver smooth gameplay at any resolution or setting, allowing the CPU to dictate the overall performance ceiling.