Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER presents a clear picture for running Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. The recorded data shows a system that handles the game comfortably at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, the balance between CPU and GPU demands, and how this combination compares to other hardware in the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination delivers strong performance across all four tested presets. The Low preset reaches an average of 170 FPS, which is the highest recorded figure for this setup. Medium averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS. High averages 109 FPS, while Ultra drops to 83 FPS. Every preset at this resolution clears the 60 FPS threshold by a wide margin, with even the most demanding Ultra setting remaining 23 FPS above the playable mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low averages 110 FPS, still well above the threshold. Medium averages 84 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 97 FPS. High averages 71 FPS. Ultra, however, falls to 54 FPS, which is 6 FPS below the 60 FPS playable line. This means that at 1440p, the three lighter presets are fully playable, but Ultra requires a compromise.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. Low averages 59 FPS, just one frame short of the 60 FPS target. Medium averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. None of the 4K presets reach the playable threshold, and the gap between Low and Ultra is 30 FPS, showing how heavily the resolution taxes the GPU.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: each resolution step down from 4K to 1440p to 1080p brings a substantial FPS increase at every preset. For example, High goes from 38 FPS at 4K to 71 FPS at 1440p to 109 FPS at 1080p, nearly tripling across the two resolution drops. Similarly, Medium goes from 45 FPS at 4K to 84 FPS at 1440p to 130 FPS at 1080p. The scaling is not linear, but it is steady and predictable.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data indicates that the GPU is the dominant factor in this configuration, particularly as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the RTX 2060 SUPER efficiently, allowing the GPU to push frame rates from 83 FPS at Ultra to 170 FPS at Low. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 87 FPS, which shows that the GPU is the primary limiter even at this modest resolution.

At 1440p, the GPU becomes more stressed. The drop from 170 FPS at 1080p Low to 110 FPS at 1440p Low represents a 35% reduction, which is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 2 part with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, does not appear to bottleneck the system at these settings, as the FPS reductions track closely with the pixel count increase.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. The RTX 2060 SUPER, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit bus, cannot maintain 60 FPS even at Low settings, where it averages 59 FPS. The CPU’s role diminishes further, as the GPU’s rendering workload dominates. The fact that Low at 4K only hits 59 FPS, while Medium drops to 45 FPS and Ultra to 29 FPS, indicates that the GPU’s raw throughput, not the CPU, is the limiting factor.

The CPU’s benchmark scores support this interpretation. It scores 2092 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 8899 and single-core score of 1593. These figures place the CPU in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it is a strong performer for gaming workloads. The GPU, by contrast, sits in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, which is more modest. The data suggests that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom at 1080p and 1440p.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 83 FPS. This is the best visual quality available while maintaining a playable frame rate. The Medium preset, at 130 FPS, offers a smoother experience if needed, but Ultra is the clear choice for maximum fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the most demanding option that clears the threshold, with an average of 71 FPS. The Medium preset, at 84 FPS, provides more headroom, but High delivers better visuals while still sitting 11 FPS above the playable line. The Ultra preset, at 54 FPS, is not viable for consistent play.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The Low preset comes closest at 59 FPS, just one frame short of the target. This means the system cannot deliver a playable experience at 4K, regardless of settings. The best option for 4K would require a more powerful GPU, as the RTX 2060 SUPER is insufficient for this resolution in Minimum.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals in the database provide context for its performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has an average score of 34222, which is 0.1% higher than the Ryzen 7 3700X’s 34260. The AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220, also 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333, which is 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H scores 34083, which is 0.5% lower. These deltas are small, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Minimum when paired with the same GPU.

The GPU’s nearest rivals show similarly close scores. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile has an average score of 18159, which is 0.4% lower than the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 18093. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189, 0.5% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373, which is 1.5% higher, and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18383, 1.6% higher. These differences are minor, so swapping the RTX 2060 SUPER for any of these GPUs would result in similar FPS numbers in this game, within a few frames per second.

For a user considering alternatives, the data indicates that the Ryzen 7 3700X and RTX 2060 SUPER combination is well-matched. A CPU from the rival list would not change the outcome, as the GPU remains the limiting factor at higher resolutions. Similarly, a GPU from the rival list would not meaningfully alter the playability verdict, as all of them fall within a 1.6% performance band.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Minimum at 1920x1080 with the highest settings?*

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 83 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 170 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 2560x1440?

A: The High preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 71 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 54 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: No, none of the 4K presets reach 60 FPS. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, just below the threshold, while Medium averages 45 FPS, High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to the RTX 3060 Mobile?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, while the RTX 3060 Mobile scores 18159, which is 0.4% higher. The performance difference is negligible in practice.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X sits in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, based on its average benchmark score of 34260.

Q: Which component limits performance at 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The RTX 2060 SUPER cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K even at Low settings, while the CPU’s strong benchmark scores indicate it is not the bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and RTX 2060 SUPER combination ranks 2602 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the lower portion of the database, around the 70th percentile of tested systems. The ranking reflects the GPU’s mid-tier position, as the RTX 2060 SUPER is in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU is stronger at the 84th percentile.

The rank suggests that many other combinations in the database deliver better performance in this game, likely due to more powerful GPUs. However, the rank does not tell the full story, as the system still handles the game well at 1080p and 1440p. The low rank is driven primarily by the 4K results, where the GPU falls short. At lower resolutions, the system performs competitively with many higher-ranked combinations.

The gap between the CPU’s and GPU’s percentiles highlights the imbalance: the Ryzen 7 3700X has ample processing power, but the RTX 2060 SUPER holds back the overall score. For users who prioritize 1080p or 1440p gaming, this combination is effective, but for 4K, it is not competitive.

The Verdict

The data shows that this system can run Minimum at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440, but not at 3840x2160. At 1080p, all four presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 83 FPS and Low reaching 170 FPS. The best settings at this resolution are Ultra, which provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 1440p, the High preset is the most demanding option that stays playable, averaging 71 FPS. The Low and Medium presets also clear the threshold, with averages of 110 FPS and 84 FPS, respectively. The Ultra preset, at 54 FPS, is not recommended for consistent play.

At 4K, the system fails to reach 60 FPS on any preset. The Low preset comes closest at 59 FPS, which is just short of the target. Medium averages 45 FPS, High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. Users seeking 4K performance would need a more powerful GPU.

In summary, this combination is a capable choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Minimum, with solid headroom above the playable threshold. The 4K results are the weak point, and the system should be paired with a stronger GPU for that resolution. The CPU’s high percentile ranking ensures it will not bottleneck the GPU at any tested resolution, making the RTX 2060 SUPER the key factor in determining overall performance.