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 360 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 360 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 303 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 500% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti) for Valorant. The Core i7-9700K is 125% above the recommended CPU (Core i3-4150).
The Core i7-9700K 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: $1849. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 360 FPS, equivalent to 0.19 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.195 fps/$ | 0.164 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
At 1080p low, the Core i7-9700K sets the ceiling at about 360 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 700 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 49% (FPS gap: 340 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i7-9700K 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 49% | CPU Limits GPU 40% | CPU Limits GPU 28% | CPU Limits GPU 20% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 45% | CPU Limits GPU 40% | CPU Limits GPU 28% | CPU Limits GPU 20% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 34% | CPU Limits GPU 29% | CPU Limits GPU 22% | CPU Limits GPU 22% |
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) | CPU34% - 53% <> GPU24% - 45% <> | CPU34% - 53% <> GPU24% - 45% <> | CPU42% - 59% <> GPU26% - 52% <> | CPU55% - 66% <> GPU27% - 55% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU37% - 59% <> GPU25% - 53% <> | CPU37% - 59% <> GPU25% - 53% <> | CPU45% - 68% <> GPU27% - 61% <> | CPU53% - 64% <> GPU26% - 59% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU34% - 45% <> GPU26% - 50% <> | CPU34% - 45% <> GPU26% - 50% <> | CPU43% - 50% <> GPU28% - 58% <> | CPU47% - 51% <> GPU27% - 58% <> |
The Core i7-9700K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 34% and 68% and GPU utilization between 24% and 61%. Core i7-9700K stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 37% at 1080p to 40% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 50% to 44%.
The utilization pattern is relatively balanced. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 44% average at its highest-load preset, while the Core i7-9700K peaks at 60% average, with no single component consistently acting as a hard bottleneck.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 50% and GPU 37%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 53% and GPU 41%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 44% and GPU 40%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1440p (2K QHD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 56% (45-68%) and GPU 44% (27-61%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i7-9700K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i7-9700K and GeForce RTX 4090 remain reasonably matched for this title.
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 125% above and your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+125%vsrecommended
+500%vsrecommended
+251%vsminimum
+2484%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i7-9700K paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Valorant smoothly up to 4k achieving around 303 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 125% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1849 ($200 CPU (Rank #274 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 i7-9700K 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 i7-9700K 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.
