Riot Games designed Valorant to run on a wide range of hardware by heavily modifying Unreal Engine 4. The game is intentionally CPU-bound to ensure competitive integrity, prioritizing visual clarity over heavy effects. However, Windows 11 users should note the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements for the Vanguard anti-cheat, which necessitates relatively modern hardware (Intel 8th Gen / Ryzen 2000 or newer) despite the game's low graphical demands. For those aiming for a stable 360 FPS, high CPU clock speeds and low-latency RAM are key.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 230 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 230 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 230 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 500% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti) for Valorant. The Core i5-8600T is 44% above the recommended CPU (Core i3-4150).
The Core i5-8600T determines the performance ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GPU has headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1862. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 230 FPS, equivalent to 0.12 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
At 1080p low, the Core i5-8600T sets the ceiling at about 230 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 700 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 67% (FPS gap: 470 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i5-8600T is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 67% | CPU Limits GPU 62% | CPU Limits GPU 54% | CPU Limits GPU 49% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 65% | CPU Limits GPU 62% | CPU Limits GPU 54% | CPU Limits GPU 49% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 57% | CPU Limits GPU 53% | CPU Limits GPU 49% | CPU Limits GPU 39% |
We estimate the maximum FPS the processor can sustain and the maximum FPS the graphics card can sustain in each setting, then compare those limits directly.
Limit Factor formula: (stronger - weaker) / stronger. Example: if CPU ceiling is 200 FPS and GPU ceiling is 140 FPS, then GPU limits CPU by 30%.
CPU Limits GPU means the processor ceiling is lower. GPU Limits CPU means the graphics ceiling is lower. Balanced means the FPS ceilings are close enough that the gap is negligible.
The displayed percentages are derived from FPS ceilings, not generic utilization heuristics.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU79% - 97% <> GPU27% - 41% <> | CPU79% - 97% <> GPU27% - 41% <> | CPU88% - 100% <> GPU28% - 51% <> | CPU74% - 88% <> GPU29% - 56% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU80% - 99% <> GPU30% - 49% <> | CPU80% - 99% <> GPU30% - 49% <> | CPU89% - 100% <> GPU31% - 59% <> | CPU73% - 87% <> GPU28% - 60% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU80% - 100% <> GPU30% - 46% <> | CPU80% - 100% <> GPU30% - 46% <> | CPU89% - 100% <> GPU31% - 56% <> | CPU73% - 87% <> GPU28% - 58% <> |
The Core i5-8600T + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 73% and 100% and GPU utilization between 27% and 60%. Core i5-8600T reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 38% at 1080p to 41% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 88% to 89%.
This profile is CPU-bound. At 1080p (Full HD) High, the Core i5-8600T reaches 94% average load (88-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 40% (28-51%), which points to CPU-side frame preparation limits.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 88% and GPU 38%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 89% and GPU 42%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 89% and GPU 41%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.
1440p (2K QHD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 80% (73-87%) and GPU 44% (28-60%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-8600T remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the CPU. The Core i5-8600T reaches 94% average load at 1080p (Full HD) High while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively underutilized, so a faster processor would improve frame-time consistency and top-end FPS.
Understanding Hardware Utilization & Bottlenecks: These percentages represent how much of your component's maximum processing power is actively being used during gameplay. This is the key to identifying performance bottlenecks in any system.
Data generated by our Machine Learning engine trained on real-world benchmarks. Shows the approximate average utilization at each setting.
See how your processor and graphics card compare against the game official minimum and recommended system specs. The placement of your hardware is calculated using relative synthetic performance scores to help you gauge overall playability.
Your CPU is 44% above and your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.
+44%vsrecommended
+500%vsrecommended
+124%vsminimum
+2484%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i5-8600T paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Valorant smoothly up to 4k achieving around 230 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 44% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1862 ($213 CPU (Rank #365 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Since the CPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger processor will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).
For Valorant, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i5-8600T is currently the limiting factor — the GeForce RTX 4090 has extra headroom that a faster processor could take advantage of. This is especially noticeable at 1080p where CPU performance matters more. CPU-limited at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.
Valorant does not currently support Frame Generation technologies like DLSS 3 or FSR 3. Your performance is based entirely on native rendering. If the game adds support in a future update, newer GPUs will benefit the most.
Valorant requires at minimum a Core 2 Duo E8400 (CPU) and GeForce GT 730 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 23 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i3-4150 and GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 8 GB RAM. Your Core i5-8600T and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Valorant FPS results are not arbitrary numbers. They come from calculations informed by thousands of real gaming benchmarks, and the typical accuracy range is around 10% to 15%. That makes them far more useful than generic FPS calculators that simply invent values without a benchmark foundation. Actual in-game performance can still vary with drivers, updates, RAM configuration, cooling, and the exact scene being rendered.
Performance estimates are based on synthetic benchmarks and hardware capabilities.
Results may vary based on drivers, OS, and background processes.
