Is Intel Core i3 good for Valorant?

Can you run Valorant with an i3 processor?

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Valorant, the free-to-play 5v5 shooter by Riot Games, allows you to enjoy intense, action-packed, and strategically-driven gameplay with your friends. The game’s popularity completely skyrocketed over the last few years, and it’s now a staple in the competitive shooter genre, along with the likes of CS:GO and Apex Legends.

If you’re looking to pick up Valorant yourself, you’ll need a competent processor capable of running the game at a high FPS for a seamless and comfortable gaming experience. Today, we’re focusing on Core i3 processors. Let’s find out – Is Intel Core i3 good for Valorant?

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Is an Intel Core i3 processor good for playing Valorant?

Core i3 processors vary significantly in their specs over generations. The older Core i3 CPUs, such as the 4150, were hyperthreaded duo-cores, meaning they had 2 cores and 4 threads.

As you can imagine, these processors offer very little performance, and I would not recommend them today, even for a game as computationally undemanding as Valorant.

You would be able to run the game at 60FPS or slightly more at the very lowest settings but with inconsistent frame times and stutters during high-intensity shootouts – when steady performance matters the most.

Core i3 processors generation 8 and 9 are quad-cores without hyperthreading. With one of these processors, you’ll be able to run Valorant at a steady 120 or 144FPS, which allows you to be on the same playing field as your opponents in this highly competitive shooter.

Best Intel Core i3 processor for Valorant

Then we have 10th gen and newer Core-i3 processors, finally equipped with hyperthreading. Core i3 CPUs generation 10 to 13 have been 4-core, 8-thread CPUs with higher-than-ever-before clock speeds.

Believe it or not, this upgrade has made them excellent gaming processors. If you’re looking for a Core i3 processor to play Valorant, one of your best options is the recently released Core i3-13100F, which retails at around $100 but offers you incredible in-game performance and seamless gameplay.

Intel Core i3-13100F

Brand

Intel

CPU Model

Core i3

Cores (Threads)

4 (8)

CPU Speed

4.5 GHz

CPU Socket

LGA 1151

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This processor is perfect for 120 or 144FPS valorant gaming, and can even tackle 240FPS gaming, particularly in Valorant. However, it’s only worth getting a 240Hz monitor with a system powerful enough to deliver high framerates in multiple games, and not just Valorant.

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What are the CPU requirements for Valorant?

Riot Games recommends you equip yourself with an Intel Core i3-4150 or an AMD Ryzen 3 1200 CPU (or equivalent) to enjoy the game at its fullest. The Core i3-4150 is a rather weak, 2-core, 4-thread CPU with a 3.5GHz core clock. The Ryzen 3 1200 is a 4-core, 4-thread processor with a max clock speed of 3.4GHz.

If you know your processors, you can probably tell that these specs are shallow by modern standards. While the above two processors can run the game, your experience will be pretty mediocre.

Valorant is a well-optimized game that doesn’t demand a lot from your hardware, so you won’t need an exceptionally powerful processor.

However, the thing is, competitive shooters are best played at a high framerate. Even if you have a monitor with a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz, you will still enjoy a reduction in input lag by running the game at a higher FPS.

With that in mind, how good are Core i3 processors for Valorant?

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Final thoughts – Is Intel Core i3 good for Valorant?

Intel Core i3 is indeed good for Valorant, but only if you’re using a processor that’s at least generation 8 or newer, and ideally generation 10 or newer. The Core i3-12100F and 13100F are especially great options and rank among the best CPUs for Valorant.

Intel Core i3-12100F

Core (threads)

4/8

Boost clock

4.3 GHz

Socket

Lga 1700

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If you’re using one of the older 2-core, 4-thread Core i3 processors, you’ll have a hard time competing with other players who have a reaction-time advantage over you due to a higher monitor refresh rate and lower input lag.