Minecraft: Java Edition

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for Minecraft: Java Edition with the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti shows a wide performance spread across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional headroom: Low settings produce an average of 303.8 FPS, Medium reaches 241.2 FPS, High runs at 191.2 FPS, and even Ultra stays well above playable thresholds at 117.5 FPS. The 1080p results indicate that this pairing is effectively CPU-bound at lower presets, as the frame rates scale dramatically with settings changes rather than being limited by the GPU.

Moving to 2560x1440, the recorded averages remain strong but show the expected drop from pixel-count pressure. Low settings deliver 189.3 FPS, Medium hits 149.6 FPS, High runs at 122.5 FPS, and Ultra maintains 75.2 FPS. Every preset at this resolution clears the 60 FPS playable threshold, which points to a balanced configuration that can handle higher visual loads without compromising smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes noticeably. Ultra settings fall below playable, averaging only 38.9 FPS, which makes that preset unsuitable for smooth gameplay. High settings stay just above the threshold at 61.8 FPS, Medium improves to 79.7 FPS, and Low reaches 102.2 FPS. The 4K data reveals that the GTX 1660 Ti becomes the limiting factor at the highest preset, while lower settings still provide ample performance for a playable experience.

The min and max FPS values are not recorded in the database for this title, so the analysis relies on average frame rates. The scaling pattern across resolutions is consistent: each step down in resolution roughly doubles or nearly doubles the frame rate at the same settings, which is typical for a game with moderate graphical demands like Minecraft: Java Edition.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the Intel Core i5-11400F sits in a tightly packed cluster of CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 17177 places it 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7H12 (score 17120) and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (score 17074). Conversely, it trails the Intel Core i5-12450H by 0.4% (score 17239) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G by 0.6% (score 17278). These deltas are small enough that in Minecraft: Java Edition, which is known for its single-thread sensitivity, any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7723, ranking it in the 41st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all AMD or Intel parts with slightly lower scores: the AMD Radeon 540 is 0.7% behind (score 7673), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 is 1.9% behind (score 7580), the AMD Radeon R7 250 is 2.2% behind (score 7557), and the Intel Arc A310 is 2.3% behind (score 7550). These differences are marginal, so a system with any of these GPUs would deliver nearly indistinguishable performance in Minecraft: Java Edition at the same CPU and settings.

The practical implication is that users considering this CPU-GPU combo could swap in any of these rival components and see essentially the same measured FPS results. The CPU rivals are all within a fraction of a percent in aggregate benchmarks, and the GPU rivals are within about 2% of each other. In a game like Minecraft: Java Edition, where the rendering load is modest and the frame rates are already high at most settings, these small deltas would not produce noticeable gameplay differences.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database records playable settings based on a 60 FPS threshold, and the verdict by resolution provides clear guidance for optimal configuration.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 61.8 FPS. Low and Medium also qualify as playable, but High offers the best visual quality while remaining just above the threshold. Ultra is not playable at this resolution, as it averages only 38.9 FPS.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, and the best setting is Ultra with an average of 75.2 FPS. This gives users full visual fidelity at 1440p without dropping below the 60 FPS line. The margin is comfortable, with roughly 15 FPS of headroom above the threshold.

At 1920x1080, the best setting is also Ultra, and it delivers a strong 117.5 FPS average. This is nearly double the playable threshold, so users can enable the highest graphical options with confidence. The 1080p results show that the GPU is not stressed at this resolution, leaving room for other tasks or higher simulation distances in the game.

The pattern is straightforward: at 1080p and 1440p, Ultra settings are fully playable; at 4K, users must drop to High to stay above 60 FPS. This suggests that the combo is best suited to 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring a trade-off between visual quality and smoothness.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Minecraft: Java Edition at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 38.9, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest playable preset at 4K is High, which averages 61.8 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: At 2560x1440, all presets are playable. The best setting is Ultra, which delivers an average of 75.2 FPS, staying comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its closest rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7723. The AMD Radeon 540 is 0.7% behind, the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 is 1.9% behind, the AMD Radeon R7 250 is 2.2% behind, and the Intel Arc A310 is 2.3% behind. These differences are minor enough that gameplay performance would be nearly identical.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more limiting at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the frame rates are extremely high across all presets (from 117.5 FPS at Ultra to 303.8 FPS at Low), suggesting the GPU is not the bottleneck. The CPU likely plays a larger role at this resolution, as the game's simulation and chunk-loading threads become the limiting factor at such high frame rates.

Q: Does the i5-11400F outperform its direct rivals?

A: The i5-11400F scores 17177 on average. It is 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7H12 and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, but 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-12450H and 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G. The differences are within a fraction of a percent, so all of these CPUs would perform nearly equivalently in this game.

Q: What is the maximum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS in the database is 303.8, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 241.2 at Medium settings and 191.2 at High settings, both at the same resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the CPU and GPU divide responsibilities across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rates scale from 303.8 FPS at Low to 117.5 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of about 61% when moving to the highest preset. This steep drop indicates that the GPU becomes more involved as settings increase, but even at Ultra, the average remains far above the 60 FPS threshold. The fact that Low settings reach over 300 FPS suggests the CPU is capable of feeding frames at a very high rate, and the GPU is not a limiting factor until higher presets demand more shading work.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. Low averages 189.3 FPS, while Ultra averages 75.2 FPS, a reduction of about 60% across the preset range. The GPU is clearly doing more work per pixel at 1440p, yet the combo still delivers playable performance at every setting. The CPU's contribution is still substantial, as the game's single-threaded nature benefits from the i5-11400F's 868 single-thread score in 3dmark and 2981 in Passmark single-thread tests.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. Ultra drops to 38.9 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, while High manages 61.8 FPS. The resolution scaling from 1440p to 4K at the same settings shows a larger relative drop than from 1080p to 1440p, indicating that the GTX 1660 Ti's 6 GB GDDR6 memory and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are stretched at 4K. The CPU, by contrast, is likely still capable of higher frame rates, as the bottleneck shifts to pixel throughput.

The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU plays a more significant role in maintaining high frame rates, especially at lower presets where the GPU has less work. At 4K, the GPU is the primary limiter, particularly at Ultra settings. Users with high-refresh 1080p monitors will find the CPU matters more, while 4K users will need to adjust settings to accommodate the GPU's bandwidth and shading limits.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti combination ranks 1491 out of 1727 tested combos in the database for Minecraft: Java Edition. This places the pairing in the lower portion of the ranking, which is somewhat surprising given the strong absolute frame rates recorded. The rank reflects the fact that many other tested combos include newer or higher-end hardware that can push even higher averages, particularly at 1080p where the CPU matters more.

The percentile data supports this context: the CPU is in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 41st percentile of all GPUs. The combo's rank of 1491 out of 1727 (about 86th percentile from the bottom) indicates that while this system is fully capable of playable performance at most settings, it does not compete with the top-tier combinations that dominate the upper ranks. The GPU's relatively modest percentile is the likely reason for the lower combo rank, as many rival systems feature stronger graphics hardware.

Despite the ranking, the practical conclusion from the measured FPS is positive. The combo clears the 60 FPS threshold at every resolution except 4K Ultra, and even at 4K, High settings provide a playable 61.8 FPS. For users targeting 1080p or 1440p, this pairing offers significant headroom above the playable threshold, and the rank should not be interpreted as a sign of inadequacy. The database shows that the combination is well-suited for Minecraft: Java Edition at typical gaming resolutions, with the only real compromise being at 4K with maximum settings.