Hey everyone! I've been grinding Valorant and currently sitting at Platinum. I'm curious if my gear is holding me back from reaching higher ranks, specifically Diamond or Ascendant. Right now, I'm using an Intel Core i3-10105F CPU with a GTX 1060 GPU and 16GB of RAM, all on a 180Hz monitor. Generally, I get around 180-200 FPS, but during intense gunfights, it drops to about 140-150 FPS, which is starting to cause some stuttering and frame drops, especially when I have Discord running in the background.
Here are my main questions:
1. Is my i3-10105F sufficient for 180Hz gaming even in 2026?
2. Would upgrading to an i5-12400F along with a B660 or H610 motherboard help me better match my monitor's refresh rate?
3. How does the FPS drop from 180 to 140-150 impact my aim and climbing potential in the game?
Also, I'm thinking about splurging on some new skins like the Shorty. Any advice would be super helpful! Thanks!
1 Answer
Honestly, your i3 is a bit limiting for performance. Upgrading that should be a priority. The GTX 1060 isn't terrible, but it’s getting pretty old. If you can, look for something better like a used RTX 2080, or an RX 6600 XT for a solid boost. You'll definitely notice the difference in gameplay with an upgrade!
What about switching to AMD or just sticking with Intel and going for the i5-12400? That could be a good move.