Minecraft

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS for this PC at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers an average of 206 FPS at 1920x1080 on Ultra settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K (3840x2160) with any settings?

A: Yes, all four tested settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) at 3840x2160 clear the 60 FPS threshold. The lowest average is 68 FPS at Ultra, while Low reaches 173 FPS.

Q: What is the most demanding setting that stays above 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 130 FPS, so all presets, including Ultra, remain well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 7600 XT's average score of 17083. The two GPUs are effectively matched in performance.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all tested processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 sits in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254 across the recorded tests.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 1920x1080 Medium is 352, with an average of 414 and a maximum of 477.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-9400's nearest rivals in the database are all within a very tight performance band. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259 on average, just 0.2% lower than the i5-9400's 2254. The Intel Core i7-10710U sits 0.3% higher at 2248, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% difference. The Intel Core i3-10305 rounds out the group at 2264, which is 0.4% above the i5-9400. For gaming workloads in Minecraft, any of these processors would produce nearly identical frame rates, since the delta between them is negligible and well within measurement variance.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which scores 17083, a 0.7% gap. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M are also listed as nearby alternatives, with scores of 17037 and 17019 respectively, representing 1% and 1.1% differences. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher. None of these alternatives would meaningfully change Minecraft's performance profile, as the recorded deltas are all under 2%. A system pairing any of these CPUs with any of these GPUs would land in the same performance class, with frame rates that differ by only a handful of FPS in the game's most demanding scenarios.

For Minecraft specifically, the CPU's single-threaded performance matters more than its multi-core throughput. The i5-9400's nearest CPU rivals all share similar architectural characteristics, and the benchmark deltas confirm that swapping between them would not alter the gameplay experience. Similarly, the RTX 3070's rivals are close enough in raw compute that the game's frame pacing and average FPS would remain statistically indistinguishable.

CPU and GPU Roles

Minecraft is a title where the CPU and GPU interact in a distinctive way. The data shows that the Intel Core i5-9400, with a 47th percentile ranking among all CPUs, is sufficient to feed the RTX 3070 at every resolution tested. However, the scaling between resolutions reveals where each component becomes the limiting factor.

At 1920x1080, the GPU is heavily underutilized. The Low preset produces 455 FPS, while Ultra drops to 206 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 249 FPS, which indicates that the GPU is doing most of the work as settings increase. However, even at Ultra, the 206 FPS average suggests the CPU is still capable of keeping up with the GPU's output. The CPU's single-core performance, measured at 935 in Cinebench R23 single-core, is adequate for Minecraft's primary simulation thread.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale downward in a predictable manner. Low produces 330 FPS, Medium 262 FPS, High 208 FPS, and Ultra 130 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is 76 FPS, a 37% drop. This indicates the GPU is becoming more of a bottleneck as pixel count rises, but the CPU still has headroom. The CPU's multi-core score of 6629 in Cinebench R23 suggests it can handle the game's background tasks while the main thread drives the rendering pipeline.

At 3840x2160, the GPU bottleneck becomes pronounced. Ultra drops to 68 FPS, while Low still manages 173 FPS. The scaling from 1440p Ultra (130 FPS) to 4K Ultra (68 FPS) represents a 48% reduction, which is a larger proportional drop than the 37% seen when moving from 1080p to 1440p. This pattern confirms that the RTX 3070 is the limiting factor at 4K, while the i5-9400 remains a capable partner. The CPU's role is consistent across resolutions: it provides enough throughput to avoid holding back the GPU, and the recorded data shows no signs of CPU-induced frame pacing issues at any setting.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 with RTX 3070 combination ranks 1612 out of 3710 tested combos in the database for Minecraft. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all recorded system configurations. The rank reflects the combination's overall capability, which is strong for 1080p and 1440p gaming but less exceptional at 4K.

The rank of 1612 is notable because Minecraft is not a graphically demanding title by modern standards. The RTX 3070's 61st percentile ranking among all GPUs is the primary driver of this combo's position. The CPU's 47th percentile ranking is secondary, as the game's performance is more heavily influenced by the GPU at higher resolutions. The combination's rank sits close to the midpoint of all tested systems, which means a majority of tested combos outperform it, but it also means it outperforms a significant portion of the database.

For context, the RTX 3070's nearest GPU rivals would all produce similar ranks when paired with the i5-9400. The 0.7% delta to the RX 7600 XT is too small to alter the combo's standing by more than a few positions. The CPU's rivals, with deltas under 0.5%, would also leave the rank essentially unchanged. This suggests that the combo's position is stable and representative of a mid-to-high tier system for this game.

The Verdict

This PC can run Minecraft at all tested resolutions and settings, according to the recorded data. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: every setting combination at every resolution clears the 60 FPS playability threshold.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers 68 FPS on average, which is 8 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset produces 108 FPS, Medium 137 FPS, and Low 173 FPS. All four settings are marked as playable in the database's verdict.

At 2560x1440, the margin is much larger. Ultra settings produce 130 FPS, which is more than double the threshold. High delivers 208 FPS, Medium 262 FPS, and Low 330 FPS. Every preset at this resolution offers a smooth experience with substantial headroom.

At 1920x1080, the system is overwhelmingly capable. Ultra settings average 206 FPS, while High reaches 329 FPS, Medium 414 FPS, and Low 455 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS at any setting is 352, which occurs at Medium settings. This means the system never dips below 352 FPS at 1080p, far exceeding the 60 FPS threshold.

The verdict is clear: this configuration is fully playable at all settings, with the 4K Ultra preset being the only setting that approaches the threshold. Users seeking the highest visual quality at 4K can enable Ultra with confidence, as the 68 FPS average provides a playable experience with minor dips possible.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 68 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it clears the threshold by 8 FPS. Users who prefer higher frame rates can select High for 108 FPS or Medium for 137 FPS, but Ultra remains playable.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is Ultra with an average of 130 FPS. This provides a substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for 1440p displays. The visual quality is maximized while still delivering more than double the required frame rate.

At 1920x1080, Ultra is again the best setting, averaging 206 FPS. This is the optimal configuration for 1080p, as it combines maximum visual fidelity with a frame rate that is over three times the playability threshold. The system has enough headroom to handle any in-game scene without dropping below the minimum recorded of 352 FPS at Medium settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160 (4K UHD):

• Low: Average 173 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded.
• Medium: Average 137 FPS, minimum 116 FPS, maximum 157 FPS. The minimum stays well above the 60 FPS threshold.
• High: Average 108 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded.
• Ultra: Average 68 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded. This is the only setting at 4K that approaches the 60 FPS threshold.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 330 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded.
• Medium: Average 262 FPS, minimum 222 FPS, maximum 301 FPS. The minimum is comfortably above 60 FPS.
• High: Average 208 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded.
• Ultra: Average 130 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded. This setting still delivers more than double the threshold.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 455 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded.
• Medium: Average 414 FPS, minimum 352 FPS, maximum 477 FPS. The minimum is the highest recorded minimum across all resolutions and settings.
• High: Average 329 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded.
• Ultra: Average 206 FPS. No minimum or maximum recorded. This is the most demanding setting tested, yet it still provides over 200 FPS on average.

The recorded data shows consistent frame rates across all settings, with the only significant dip occurring at 4K Ultra, where the average drops to 68 FPS. The Medium preset at each resolution includes minimum and maximum values, and all of them stay far above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The system exhibits no instability or severe frame drops in the measured results.