Valorant

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers exceptional performance in Valorant, producing frame rates that far exceed the requirements of high-refresh-rate monitors across all tested settings. The data shows this combination ranks in the 55th percentile of all tested combos, with a rank of 1292 out of 2883, indicating that while it is not the absolute fastest setup available, it provides a level of performance that is overwhelmingly sufficient for competitive play. The most striking result is the 1920x1080 Low preset, which achieves an average of 656 FPS, demonstrating that this CPU-GPU pairing is heavily overqualified for the game's demands at standard resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and its benchmark scores place it in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs. While Valorant is typically considered a game that relies heavily on single-core performance, the data from this benchmark run shows that the processor's substantial multi-core capabilities are not a hindrance; the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and single-core score of 5960 indicate a balanced performance profile that handles the game's engine without bottlenecking the GPU.

The processor's cache hierarchy, consisting of 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache, provides the low-latency access to game data that is critical for maintaining high minimum frame rates in fast-paced shooters. The measured results support this, as the lowest average FPS recorded across all resolutions and settings is 267 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is still far above the 144Hz refresh rate that most competitive players target. In comparison to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 7 265 sits within a tight performance band: it is 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 4464P, 0.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, 0.7% faster than the AMD EPYC 7343, and 0.7% slower than the AMD EPYC 9124, according to average benchmark scores.

The PassMark tests further illuminate the CPU's strengths for gaming workloads. The single-thread score of 4689 and the physics score of 2923 are particularly relevant, as these metrics correlate with the ability to process game logic and render frames quickly. The data compression score of 522983 and the floating-point math score of 172776 suggest that the processor has ample headroom for background tasks, such as streaming or recording, without impacting game performance. This is a crucial consideration for a game like Valorant, where consistent frame delivery is more important than peak output, and the data shows that the CPU's 65-watt TDP belies its capability to sustain high clock speeds under load.

The processor's memory support for DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth provides sufficient data throughput for the game's assets, and the PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes ensures that the GPU and other components can communicate without bandwidth constraints. The integrated graphics of Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 32EU are irrelevant for this test since a discrete GPU is present, but they do not interfere with the dedicated graphics card's operation. Overall, the CPU role in this benchmark is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain the high frame rates observed, and the benchmark results confirm that it performs this role admirably, with no evidence of the processor becoming the limiting factor at any tested setting.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Its base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and it has a TDP of 215 W. The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 18169 and a PassMark GPU Compute score of 7557. While the GPU is not the newest or most powerful available, its performance in Valorant is more than sufficient, as the game's engine is not particularly demanding on graphics hardware, especially at lower resolutions.

The GPU's role in this benchmark is primarily to render the game at high frame rates, and the data shows that it is successful in this task. The memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is ample for the textures and shaders used in Valorant, and the 8 GB of VRAM is never a limiting factor, as the game's requirements are modest. The GPU compare to its nearest rivals shows it is 1% slower than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, 1.2% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, 1.3% slower than the Intel Arc B570, and 1.5% slower than the Intel Arc A750, based on average benchmark scores. These small deltas indicate that the RTX 2070 SUPER is positioned in a competitive performance tier, but its actual in-game results are what matter most.

The measured frame rates show that the GPU can push well beyond 400 FPS at 1080p, which is a domain where many modern GPUs struggle due to CPU bottlenecks. The fact that the 1920x1080 High preset still achieves an average of 412 FPS demonstrates that the GPU is not being fully utilized at this resolution, and the limiting factor is likely the game's engine or the CPU's single-thread performance, which is excellent. At 4K resolution, the GPU's load increases, but the average FPS at 4K High is still 281, which is playable on high-refresh-rate 4K monitors, though most competitive players would prefer lower resolutions for maximum frame rates.

The GPU's 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units provide the raw compute power needed for the game's particle effects and character models. The 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores are not utilized in Valorant, as the game does not support ray tracing or DLSS, but their presence does not detract from performance. The memory clock of 1750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective speed ensures that the GDDR6 memory operates efficiently, and the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface is sufficient for the data transfer rates required by the game. In summary, the GPU role is to provide consistent, high frame rates, and the data shows that the RTX 2070 SUPER accomplishes this with significant headroom, making it a capable component for this specific game.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 656, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is significantly higher than the 560 FPS at 2560x1440 Low and the 447 FPS at 3840x2160 Low.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations in Valorant?

A: The combo ranks 1292 out of 2883 total tested combos, placing it in the 55th percentile. This indicates that it performs better than the majority of other CPU-GPU pairings tested for this game.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 267, which is the lowest average across all settings. The data does not specify a bottleneck, but the CPU's high single-core score of 5960 in Cinebench R23 suggests it is not the limiting factor, leaving the GPU as the more likely constraint at this high resolution.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 656 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 392 FPS. This is a difference of 264 FPS, showing that reducing settings from Ultra to Low provides a substantial performance increase.

Q: Are the minimum FPS values available for all settings?

A: No, minimum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings across all resolutions. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum FPS is 367, at 2560x1440 Medium it is 313, and at 3840x2160 Medium it is 251.

Q: How does this combo's performance at 1440p compare to its performance at 1080p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 334 (Ultra) to 560 (Low), while at 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 392 (Ultra) to 656 (Low). The 1440p scores are consistently lower, but the gap narrows at higher settings, with the Ultra preset showing only a 58 FPS difference between the two resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's refresh rate and resolution priorities. For competitive play at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 656 FPS, which is more than enough to take advantage of the highest refresh rate monitors available. The Low preset also provides the most stable frame delivery, as the data shows no minimum FPS drops below 367 FPS even at Medium settings, and Low would likely be even higher.

For users with 1440p monitors, the Low preset again offers the best performance, with an average of 560 FPS, which is still far above the 360Hz refresh rate that is the current high-end standard. The High preset at 1440p yields 351 FPS, which is still excellent, but the drop from Low to High is 209 FPS, making Low the better choice for those who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 1440p provides a compromise with 369 FPS average and a minimum of 313 FPS, ensuring no drops below the 300 FPS threshold.

At 4K resolution, the situation changes slightly. The Low preset delivers 447 FPS, which is still very high, but the gap between Low and Medium is much smaller at 152 FPS (447 vs 295). For 4K users, the Medium preset might be the best balance, as it provides an average of 295 FPS with a minimum of 251 FPS, ensuring that the frame rate stays above the 240Hz refresh rate that is common on high-end 4K monitors. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 267 FPS average, which is still playable, but the Medium preset offers better frame consistency without a significant visual penalty.

Overall, the data suggests that the Low preset is the best choice for maximizing frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, while Medium is recommended for 4K to balance performance and quality. The High preset offers a middle ground, but it does not provide a significant advantage over Medium in terms of frame rate, and the Ultra preset is only recommended for users who prioritize visual quality over competitive performance. The measured rows show that the combo has enough headroom to run the game at High settings with high frame rates, but the Low preset is where the hardware truly shines.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER has a combo rank of 1292 out of 2883 tested combinations, placing it in the 55th percentile. This rank indicates that the setup outperforms more than half of all other CPU-GPU pairings tested in Valorant, but it is not in the top tier of performance. The rank is primarily driven by the CPU's strong single-core and multi-core performance, as the GPU's percentile rank of 65 is slightly lower than the CPU's 93rd percentile rank.

The combo's placement in the middle of the pack is likely due to the GPU's age, as the RTX 2070 SUPER is an end-of-life product that has been surpassed by newer generations. However, the data shows that the combo still delivers frame rates that are far above the requirements for competitive play, and the rank does not reflect the real-world experience of playing Valorant at high refresh rates. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking suggests that it is a top-tier processor, and the GPU's 65th percentile ranking is adequate for this game's graphics demands.

When compared to other combos, the data does not provide specific rival combos, but the individual component benchmarks offer context. The CPU is 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 4464P and 0.7% slower than the AMD EPYC 9124, while being 0.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and 0.7% faster than the AMD EPYC 7343. The GPU is 1% slower than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, 1.2% slower than the RTX 3070 Mobile, 1.3% slower than the Intel Arc B570, and 1.5% slower than the Intel Arc A750. These small deltas suggest that the combo's rank is competitive, and the actual in-game performance is more than acceptable.

The rank of 1292 out of 2883 means that there are 1591 combos that perform worse and 1291 combos that perform better. This places the setup in the upper-middle tier, which is a reasonable expectation for a CPU from 2025 and a GPU from 2019. The data indicates that the CPU is the stronger component, and users looking to improve performance would benefit more from upgrading the GPU than the CPU. However, for Valorant specifically, the current combo is more than sufficient, and the rank does not diminish the exceptional frame rates measured in the benchmark.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS of 656, followed by the Medium preset at 432 FPS, the High preset at 412 FPS, and the Ultra preset at 392 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with reported minimum and maximum FPS values, showing a range of 367 to 497 FPS, which indicates a stable frame delivery with no significant drops.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset again leads with an average of 560 FPS, followed by Medium at 369 FPS, High at 351 FPS, and Ultra at 334 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum FPS is 313 and maximum is 424, showing a tighter range than the 1080p Medium preset, which is expected due to the higher resolution increasing the GPU load. The difference between Low and Medium at 1440p is 191 FPS, which is a substantial drop, but the Medium preset still offers frame rates that are far above any competitive requirement.

At 3840x2160, the performance scaling is more pronounced. The Low preset averages 447 FPS, Medium averages 295 FPS with a minimum of 251 and maximum of 339, High averages 281 FPS, and Ultra averages 267 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 152 FPS, which is smaller than at lower resolutions, indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases. The Ultra preset at 4K produces the lowest average FPS across all tests, but it still exceeds 240 FPS, making it viable for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming.

The data reveals that the combo's performance is heavily dependent on resolution, with 1080p offering the highest frame rates and 4K offering the lowest. The settings preset also has a significant impact, with Low being consistently faster than Ultra by 264 FPS at 1080p, 226 FPS at 1440p, and 180 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset provides a good balance, with minimum FPS values that are above 250 FPS at all resolutions, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense combat scenarios. The measured rows show that this combo is capable of delivering frame rates that are suitable for the most demanding competitive play, with the 1080p Low preset being the standout performance configuration.