Is Intel Core i3 CPU Enough For Valorant?

Valorant has kicked up a storm worldwide, and many people wish to play the game. Many gamers with i3 systems have been wondering “is intel core i3 good for Valorant”. Let us see if your computer has what it takes to play the game.

To play Valorant, you will need a CPU that is at least as powerful as an Intel Core i3-370M. However, the game’s makers recommend that you play it with a CPU that is more than or equivalent to an Intel Core i3-4150. Make sure you have at least 8 GB of RAM to run Valorant to its maximum capacity.

System requirements to run Valorant on Intel i3 PC or laptop

These are the system requirements if you wish to play Valorant on your device

Minimum Requirements	Maximum Requirements
OS: Windows 7 64-bit	OS: Windows 10 64-bit
File Size: 20 GB	File Size: 20 GB
CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 or Ryzen 3 1200	CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F or Ryzen 5 2600X
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 or Radeon R7 240	Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon R7 370
Memory: 4 GB RAM	Memory: 4 GB

Can my Intel Core i3 CPU computer run Valorant?

Most devices are able to run Valorant as the specifications for the game are quite low. What’s more, the game’s file size is on the lower side of 20 GB as well. So FPS will not be an issue as long as you have a device that meets the minimum requirements. 

However, as you can see from the required specifications, having a very old Core i3 CPU i.e. older than 4th gen, you can have issues playing valorant on it. With at least a 4th generation i3 CPU, you can expect 60 FPS on low or medium graphics settings. If you can get a 10th generation i3, you can expect >60 FPS pretty easily. The 12th Generation i3 will allow you to get the best out of this game.

Minimum specifications of Valorant

To play this game without hiccups, we recommend that you have at least Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11. Note that if your Windows version is 32-bit, you must update to 64-bit to play the game. To meet the prerequisites, we also recommend that you have a minimum of 1 GB RAM or a recommended 4 GB RAM installed.

A graphics card at least as powerful as an Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 200 is also required, and your processor should match or surpass the capabilities of an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or AMD Athlon 200GE. Finally, if you can do all of that, your matches should run at a minimum of 30FPS.

The minimum CPU specifications are Intel Core 2 DUO E8400 or AMD Athlon 200GE. With these CPUs along with 4GB RAM and 1GB VRAM, you can expect 30 FPS in VALORANT.

Recommended specifications of Valorant

If graphics are important to you and you want to play Valorant more comfortably, you should have a GPU like AMD Radeon R7 240. We also recommend a CPU of at least Intel Core i3-4150. This way, you will have a minimum of 60FPS and great visuals in the game.

However, if you want to play Valorant with the best graphics and FPS, then refer to the high-end specifications below.

High-end system specifications

With a GPU of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or the AMD Radeon R7 370 and an i5 CPU (preferably Intel Core i5-9400F), you will be able to play the game at 144FPS and experience top-notch immersive graphics.

Commonly faced issues in Valorant gameplay

1. Unable to meet minimum requirements

• To improve and increase frame rate, try lowering Material Quality, Texture Quality, and Detail Quality to the lowest numbers.
• If you have anti-aliasing activated in the Valorant preferences panel, try reducing it down or off entirely.
• Additionally, always use the most recent NVIDIA/AMD graphics card drivers for best performance.

2. New acts are highly demanding

The game used to operate efficiently on low-end devices, allowing gamers to enjoy it without the need for a powerful gaming PC or laptop. However, since a new generation of gamers is looking to play the game and its recent acts, Valorant is also upgrading its systems.

Valorant has increased the minimum requirements for the latest acts to cater to the gamers that demand high-quality visuals and graphics. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult for gamers who use low-end devices.

The only solution here is to upgrade the inner components if you are on a PC, or buy a new laptop.

3. Ping lag issues

• If feasible, try switching to a wired connection.
• Examine the ping time to various online sources.
• Contact your service provider because there might be a problem occurring from their end.

4. FPS lag issues

• Close any other software that is presently operating in the background.
• Reduce the quality of your graphics by going to settings > video > graphics quality. In general, the most helpful parameters to adjust are material, texture, detail, and UI quality.
• Also, play with sharpness, bloom, distortion, and cast shadows.

5. Network issues

• To keep track, turn on in-game packet loss graphs for both incoming and outgoing packets.
• If feasible, restart your router or switch to a wired connection.
• Enabling network buffering reduces the amount of traffic on your network.
• Since the issue might be with your internet cables, you should contact your ISP with this information.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. Can I play Valorant on a low-end PC?

Absolutely. As long as you have Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11 that is 64-bit, along with the minimum specifications, you should be able to achieve a 30FPS framerate while playing the game.

2. Can I play Valorant for free?

Riot Games’ Valorant is a free-to-play title. This means you do not have to buy the video game to play it on your computer; nevertheless, once you start playing, you can opt to make in-game purchases.

3. Can I use VPN to play Valorant?

Yes, if your country does not have servers for Valorant, you may use a VPN to access the game.