Valorant

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Valorant, placing the system in the 61st position out of 3708 tested combos. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that is overwhelmingly CPU-limited at lower resolutions, with the GPU only becoming a more significant factor as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across settings and resolutions, focusing strictly on the data provided.

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

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. Its benchmark profile shows exceptional single-thread performance, which is the primary driver for Valorant’s frame rates. In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 2262.5 points in single-core and 39399.5 points in multi-core tests. This single-core strength is critical because Valorant’s engine typically relies heavily on a few primary threads for game logic and draw call submission.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 713 FPS, which is the highest average recorded across all configurations. This high frame rate, coupled with the fact that the GPU is far from saturated at this resolution, points to the CPU’s ability to feed the rendering pipeline rapidly. The processor’s 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache also help reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for maintaining high and consistent framerates in fast-paced scenarios.

The i9-14900K’s nearest rivals in overall CPU benchmarks include the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 0.3% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, which is 0.6% higher. The AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% higher, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% lower. These small deltas suggest that the 14900K is at the top of the performance tier for its class, but the specific game performance is more about the architecture’s efficiency. The boost clock of 6.00 GHz is particularly notable, as it allows for rapid execution of the single-threaded tasks that dominate gameplay, ensuring that the GPU receives a constant stream of instructions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end graphics card with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. Its boost clock is 2550 MHz, and it features 10240 shading units. In this game, the GPU’s role is to render the final image, but the data shows that it is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 4K, however, the GPU begins to take on a more critical role, as the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are tested more heavily.

The RTX 4080 SUPER’s benchmark scores are indicative of its raw power. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 6600, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it achieves 260075 points. Its PassMark G3D score is 34245. These numbers place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, which is only 0.1% slower. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% slower, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 2.7% slower. This performance parity with the non-SUPER RTX 4080 suggests that the extra capabilities are not fully utilized in a game like Valorant, which is more CPU-bound.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s workload increases. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is 123 FPS (628 vs 505), which is a 24% drop. This indicates that the GPU is being pushed harder at this resolution, but it still delivers over 500 FPS even at Ultra settings. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for Valorant, as the game’s textures and assets are not demanding in terms of memory capacity. The card’s 320-watt TDP is a measure of its power draw, but the performance data shows it is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming.

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

The measured FPS data shows that the Low preset offers the highest average frame rates at every resolution, but the differences between presets are not always dramatic. At 1920x1080, Low yields 713 FPS, Medium yields 608 FPS, High yields 598 FPS, and Ultra yields 588 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium is a 105 FPS reduction (about 14.7% lower), which is significant for competitive play. The difference between Medium and Ultra is smaller, at 20 FPS (about 3.3% lower).

For players with high-refresh-rate monitors (e.g., 360 Hz or 500 Hz), the Low preset is the clear choice to maximize frame rates, especially at 1080p. The data shows that Low at 1440p still delivers 676 FPS, which is higher than any preset at 4K. At 4K, Low provides 628 FPS, which is still exceptionally high, but the drop from 1080p Low is 85 FPS (11.9% lower). This suggests that even at the highest resolution, the system is not truly GPU-bound until higher settings are applied.

The Medium preset offers a balanced option, with a minimum FPS recorded at 517 (at 1080p), 490 (at 1440p), and 455 (at 4K). These minimums are still well above typical refresh rates, making Medium a viable choice for those who want a mix of visual quality and performance. The High and Ultra presets provide only marginal gains in visual fidelity over Medium in this game, but the FPS penalty is moderate. Given the data, the Low preset is recommended for pure performance, while Medium is the best "sweet spot" for those who want to ensure no frame drops below 500 FPS at any resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 61st out of 3708 tested combinations in Valorant. This places it in the top 1.6% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a top-tier configuration for this game. The rank is determined by the aggregate performance across all resolutions and settings, but the data shows that this combo excels particularly at higher resolutions where the GPU’s power is more relevant.

The ranking is influenced by the fact that many other combos may feature even faster CPUs (e.g., those with higher boost clocks or better single-thread scores) that push FPS higher at 1080p. The i9-14900K, while excellent, is not the absolute fastest in single-thread performance compared to some rivals. However, the RTX 4080 SUPER ensures that the GPU does not become a bottleneck at 4K, which likely helps the combo’s ranking versus systems with weaker GPUs. The 61st rank out of 3708 is a strong result, confirming that this pairing is well-balanced for Valorant, with no single component severely limiting the other across the tested resolution range.

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

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo, and at what settings?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 713, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How much does the average FPS drop when moving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 713 at 1080p Low to 628 at 4K Low, a reduction of 85 FPS (about 11.9% lower).

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER significantly faster than the standard RTX 4080 in this game?

A: Based on the nearest rivals data, the RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score that is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080, indicating near-identical performance in synthetic tests. The game-specific FPS data does not show a direct comparison, but the delta is negligible.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 490.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 505, which is 123 FPS lower than 4K Low (628). This larger drop suggests the GPU is becoming a more significant factor at higher settings and resolutions, but the CPU still provides enough headroom to avoid being the primary bottleneck.

Q: What percentile does this GPU fall into compared to all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score.

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

The measured data provides a complete matrix of performance. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from a high of 713 on Low to a low of 588 on Ultra. The Medium preset shows an average of 608, with a minimum of 517 and a maximum of 699. High settings at 1080p yield an average of 598 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are slightly lower: Low delivers 676 FPS, Medium delivers 577 FPS (minimum 490, maximum 663), High delivers 567 FPS, and Ultra delivers 558 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 118 FPS, which is a 17.5% reduction. This indicates that the resolution increase has a modest impact on frame rates, but the system remains well above 500 FPS even at Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down further. Low settings produce 628 FPS, Medium produces 535 FPS (minimum 455, maximum 616), High produces 527 FPS, and Ultra produces 505 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 123 FPS, which is a 19.6% reduction. The minimum FPS of 455 at 4K Medium is still exceptionally high, showing that the combo maintains playable and competitive frame rates even at the highest resolution. The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in settings reduces the average FPS, but the absolute numbers remain far above the refresh rates of most monitors.

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

The scaling from 1080p to 4K is non-linear and reveals the shift in bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 713 at 1080p to 676 at 1440p (a 5.2% reduction), and then to 628 at 4K (a 11.9% reduction from 1080p). This relatively small drop at Low settings indicates that the CPU is the primary limiter; the GPU is not being fully utilized, so increasing resolution has a minimal impact until the pixel count becomes high enough to engage more of the GPU’s resources.

At Ultra settings, the drop is more pronounced. The average FPS falls from 588 at 1080p to 558 at 1440p (a 5.1% reduction), and then to 505 at 4K (a 14.1% reduction from 1080p). The larger percentage drop at 4K Ultra compared to 4K Low (14.1% vs 11.9%) suggests that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor when both resolution and settings are maxed out. However, the absolute difference between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra is 83 FPS, which is less than the 85 FPS drop seen at Low settings.

This pattern indicates that the system is CPU-bound at 1080p and 1440p, regardless of settings. The GPU only starts to exert a greater influence at 4K with higher presets, but even then, it is not a hard bottleneck. The fact that the i9-14900K’s single-thread performance is so high means that the GPU can be fed with instructions rapidly, and the RTX 4080 SUPER has enough raw power to render frames at over 500 FPS even at 4K Ultra. The data shows that for Valorant, this combo is over-provisioned for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with the CPU being the primary driver of the extreme frame rates, while the GPU’s role becomes more apparent only at 4K.