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 159 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 159 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 159 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 500% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti) for Valorant. The Xeon E3-1290 v2 is 1% below recommended, but 55% above minimum.
The Xeon E3-1290 v2 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: $1774. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 159 FPS, equivalent to 0.09 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ | 0.090 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
At 1080p low, the Xeon E3-1290 v2 sets the ceiling at about 159 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 700 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 77% (FPS gap: 541 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Xeon E3-1290 v2 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 77% | CPU Limits GPU 74% | CPU Limits GPU 68% | CPU Limits GPU 65% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 76% | CPU Limits GPU 74% | CPU Limits GPU 68% | CPU Limits GPU 65% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 71% | CPU Limits GPU 69% | CPU Limits GPU 66% | CPU Limits GPU 59% |
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.
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 1% below recommended and your GPU is 500% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-1%vsrecommended
+500%vsrecommended
+55%vsminimum
+2484%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon E3-1290 v2 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Valorant smoothly up to 4k achieving around 159 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 500% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 1% below the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1774 ($125 CPU + $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 Xeon Platinum 8454H is a great upgrade option for around $6540 (Rank #1 for value).
For Valorant, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Xeon E3-1290 v2 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 setup meets the minimum requirements but falls short of the recommended specs. You may need to lower some settings for smooth performance.
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.
