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 450 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 414 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 318 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 500% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti) for Valorant. The Core i9-12900KS is 579% above the recommended CPU (Core i3-4150).
The Core i9-12900KS determines the performance ceiling at 1440p ultra, 4k (high/ultra), while the GPU has headroom. The system is well balanced at all 1080p settings, 1440p (low/medium/high), 4k (low/medium).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2034. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 450 FPS, equivalent to 0.22 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.344 fps/$ | 0.295 fps/$ | 0.246 fps/$ | 0.221 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.296 fps/$ | 0.280 fps/$ | 0.235 fps/$ | 0.204 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.259 fps/$ | 0.237 fps/$ | 0.193 fps/$ | 0.156 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
At 4k ultra, the Core i9-12900KS sets the ceiling at about 319 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 385 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 17% (FPS gap: 66 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 3/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 9/12.
The Core i9-12900KS and GeForce RTX 4090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 8% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 15% | CPU Limits GPU 17% |
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) | CPU41% - 64% <> GPU26% - 35% <> | CPU41% - 64% <> GPU26% - 35% <> | CPU43% - 67% <> GPU28% - 47% <> | CPU57% - 70% <> GPU32% - 50% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU43% - 69% <> GPU29% - 36% <> | CPU43% - 69% <> GPU29% - 36% <> | CPU48% - 75% <> GPU31% - 49% <> | CPU58% - 69% <> GPU32% - 47% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU41% - 53% <> GPU29% - 30% <> | CPU41% - 53% <> GPU29% - 30% <> | CPU45% - 53% <> GPU31% - 43% <> | CPU50% - 55% <> GPU32% - 41% <> |
The Core i9-12900KS + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 41% and 75% and GPU utilization between 26% and 50%. Core i9-12900KS stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 35% at 1080p to 33% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 56% to 49%.
The utilization pattern is relatively balanced. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 41% average at its highest-load preset, while the Core i9-12900KS peaks at 64% average, with no single component consistently acting as a hard bottleneck.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 56% and GPU 35%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 60% and GPU 36%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 49% and GPU 33%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1080p (Full HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 64% (57-70%) and GPU 41% (32-50%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-12900KS remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i9-12900KS 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 579% above and your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+579%vsrecommended
+500%vsrecommended
+960%vsminimum
+2484%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i9-12900KS paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Valorant smoothly up to 4k achieving around 318 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 579% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2034 ($385 CPU (Rank #149 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Core i9-12900KS provides phenomenal top-tier performance but at a premium enthusiast price. Since you are essentially at the ceiling of current hardware capabilities, there are no meaningful performance upgrades available. However, if you wanted a more cost-effective build that still delivers a great experience, you could theoretically step down to a high-end processor with a significantly better value rating. For example, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).
Your Core i9-12900KS is already an incredibly powerful processor. While it's technically the first component to hit its limit (which is completely normal in state-of-the-art builds), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Valorant performance right now. CPU fully utilized at: 1440p ultra, 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 i9-12900KS 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.
