Valorant

Valorant is an esports-focused FPS where frame rate consistency often matters more than absolute visual fidelity, and the measured results for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 reflect a system built for high refresh-rate play. The data shows this combo delivers extremely high average frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, with the CPU's strong single-threaded performance and the GPU's mature Turing architecture combining to push well past the 200 FPS mark even at 4K Ultra. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is heavily skewed toward CPU performance at lower resolutions, while the GPU begins to assert its influence as the resolution climbs, though never to a degree that hampers playability.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This configuration is notable for Valorant because the game is famously sensitive to single-core throughput; the 5.00 GHz boost clock provides the high-frequency headroom that competitive shooters leverage for input responsiveness and consistent frame pacing. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed game data close at hand, reducing latency spikes that could otherwise translate into stutters during fast-paced firefights.

The processor's benchmark data underscores its strength in this context. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 2085 in single-core and 14769 in multi-core, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4516 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. These numbers are directly relevant to Valorant's engine, which typically relies on a primary game thread that benefits from raw clock speed rather than raw core counts. The 14 cores are more than sufficient for the game's background tasks, but the boost clock is the star here; it allows the CPU to keep up with the GPU's output without becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ultra 5 235 sits in a tight performance band. Its average benchmark score of 46062 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, deltaPct 0.1), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, deltaPct -0.1), and the AMD EPYC 4364P (45970, deltaPct 0.2). This means that while the Ultra 5 235 is not a runaway leader in raw compute, its architectural strengths — high boost clock and modern Arrow Lake design — are well-suited to a game like Valorant that prioritizes single-thread speed over multi-threaded workloads. The data suggests the CPU is never the limiting factor in this combo, as even the 4K Low result of 370 FPS indicates the processor can feed the GPU far more frames than the GPU can render at that resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination ranks 2070 out of 2883 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the lower third of all pairings on record. This rank might seem surprising given the high absolute FPS numbers, but it reflects the competitive nature of the benchmark database where many combos feature newer, higher-end GPUs and CPUs. The 2070th position out of 2883 indicates that while this setup delivers excellent playable performance, it is not among the top-tier configurations for this specific title, which is dominated by flagship components.

The rank is likely dragged down by the RTX 2060's age and its 6 GB GDDR6 memory, which is modest by modern standards. The GPU's percentileVsAllGpus of 58 shows it sits slightly above average, but it is outpaced by newer mid-range cards. For context, the RTX 2060's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (avgScore 15283, deltaPct 0), the AMD Radeon 680M (15270, deltaPct 0.1), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, deltaPct 0.6), and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (15171, deltaPct 0.8). These deltaPct values are all within 1%, meaning the GPU's raw compute is competitive with those cards, but the combination's rank in Valorant is also influenced by how the CPU and GPU interact in this specific game.

In practical terms, the rank suggests that users with this combo will get a smooth experience, but they will not be topping leaderboards in terms of raw FPS when compared to systems with RTX 40-series or Radeon RX 7000-series cards. The data shows that the combo is more than adequate for competitive play, but it is not designed to push 500+ FPS at 1080p like some higher-end pairings. The 2070th rank is a reminder that Valorant's performance ceiling is high, and this combo sits comfortably in the mid-range of what is possible.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases, which provides insight into which component is the primary bottleneck at each setting. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 543 FPS average, but dropping to 1440p Low yields 463 FPS, and 4K Low yields 370 FPS. This represents a 32% drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, indicating that the GPU is taking on more work as pixel count rises, but the CPU still has ample headroom. The fact that 1080p Low exceeds 500 FPS shows that the Ultra 5 235 is capable of feeding the RTX 2060 far beyond its rendering limits at that resolution.

Moving to High settings, the pattern continues but with a steeper drop. At 1080p High, the average is 341 FPS; at 1440p High, it falls to 291 FPS; and at 4K High, it reaches 232 FPS. This is a 32% reduction from 1080p to 4K, identical to the Low settings drop, which suggests that the GPU's load is scaling linearly with resolution while the CPU remains consistently ahead. However, the absolute numbers at High settings are lower across the board, indicating that the increased graphical fidelity — likely more detailed textures and effects — places additional strain on the RTX 2060's 6 GB memory and 1920 shading units.

At Medium settings, the data includes min and max FPS values, which add another dimension to the analysis. At 1080p Medium, the average is 358 FPS with a min of 304 and max of 411; at 1440p Medium, the average drops to 305 FPS with a min of 259 and max of 351; and at 4K Medium, the average falls to 244 FPS with a min of 207 and max of 280. The min FPS values are particularly telling: they show that even at 4K Medium, the system never drops below 207 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate that most competitive monitors use. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, but it is still powerful enough to maintain a smooth experience.

The Ultra settings follow the same trend, with 1080p Ultra at 324 FPS, 1440p Ultra at 277 FPS, and 4K Ultra at 221 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 32%, consistent with other settings. This uniformity suggests that the RTX 2060's performance scales predictably with resolution, and the CPU is never the bottleneck in this pairing. The data clearly shows that the GPU is the constraining component at 1440p and above, while the CPU's high boost clock ensures it remains ahead of the GPU's output at all times.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings tiers. At 1920x1080, the combo starts with a Low setting average of 543 FPS, which is the highest score recorded in the dataset. The Medium preset delivers 358 FPS average, with a minimum of 304 FPS and a maximum of 411 FPS. High settings produce 341 FPS average, while Ultra yields 324 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 219 FPS, showing that the GPU can be pushed significantly harder without causing frame rate drops below competitive thresholds.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings average 463 FPS, Medium averages 305 FPS with a min of 259 and max of 351, High averages 291 FPS, and Ultra averages 277 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 186 FPS, a smaller gap than at 1080p, which indicates the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution rises. Notably, the Medium preset at 1440p has a min FPS of 259, which is still above the 240 Hz refresh rate that many high-end monitors offer, ensuring a fluid experience.

At 3840x2160, the combo still delivers impressive numbers. Low settings average 370 FPS, Medium averages 244 FPS with a min of 207 and max of 280, High averages 232 FPS, and Ultra averages 221 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K narrows to 149 FPS, further confirming that the RTX 2060 is the primary constraint at this resolution. The Min FPS of 207 at 4K Medium is the lowest recorded value in the entire dataset, but it is still comfortably above 144 FPS, meaning the system can drive a 144 Hz 4K monitor without dropping frames.

The data also shows that the Medium preset consistently provides the best balance of frame rate and visual quality, as it maintains high averages while also being the only setting with recorded min/max values. At every resolution, Medium delivers a higher average FPS than High or Ultra, while still offering improved visuals over Low. The min FPS values at Medium are also well above the averages of the High preset at the same resolution, indicating that Medium provides a more stable experience.

FAQ

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

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 543, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the combo maintain a playable frame rate at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 221, which is well above the 144 Hz threshold and suitable for competitive play.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 2085 in Cinebench R23 single-core, and its average benchmark score of 46062 is within 0.2% of its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 207, achieved at 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 1080p resolution?

A: At 1080p, the CPU is not the bottleneck; the high boost clock of 5.00 GHz allows it to feed the GPU far more frames than it can render, as evidenced by the 543 FPS Low result.

Q: How does this combo rank against all tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2070 out of 2883 tested combos in Valorant, placing it in the lower third of all pairings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best experience for this combo across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the system averages 358 FPS with a minimum of 304 FPS, which is a significant improvement over High (341 FPS) and Ultra (324 FPS) while still providing better visuals than Low. The Medium preset also has the most complete data, with min/max values that indicate consistent frame pacing, which is crucial for a competitive shooter. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 305 FPS with a min of 259, still well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors, while High and Ultra fall to 291 and 277 FPS respectively.

For users with 4K displays, Medium remains the optimal choice. The 4K Medium average of 244 FPS with a min of 207 is the highest among Medium, High, and Ultra at that resolution, and it comfortably exceeds the 144 Hz target. High settings at 4K only produce 232 FPS, and Ultra drops to 221 FPS, making Medium the clear winner in terms of both average and minimum performance. The data suggests that the RTX 2060's 6 GB memory and 1920 shading units are best utilized at Medium settings, where the visual enhancements do not cause a disproportionate frame rate penalty.

Low settings are viable for competitive purists who prioritize maximum frame rates, especially at 1080p where 543 FPS is achievable. However, the jump from Low to Medium is only a 185 FPS drop at 1080p, and the increase in visual fidelity is substantial. For most players, Medium provides the best balance of responsiveness and graphical quality, ensuring that the system never dips below 200 FPS even at 4K. The Ultra preset, while playable at 221 FPS minimum, offers diminishing returns over Medium and is not recommended for serious competitive play where frame time consistency is paramount.