Minimum

This PC combination, pairing an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, sits in the middle of the pack for Minimum, ranking 1990th out of 3712 tested combos. The data shows a system that is far from the top of the leaderboard but comfortably capable of playing the game at most settings, with the CPU providing a massive reservoir of processing power that the GPU can leverage at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1990 out of 3712 tested configurations, placing it in the 54th percentile of all tested systems. This positioning is interesting because it suggests the ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU, which only sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, whereas the CPU is in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. The disparity between the two components means the RTX 4060 is likely the limiting factor, holding the combo back from a higher rank despite the Ryzen 9 9900X's exceptional processing power. The rank is not a reflection of inadequacy; rather, it shows a pairing where the CPU is overqualified relative to the GPU for this particular title. Benchmark results indicate the system is decisively mid-tier, with the GPU’s performance ceiling preventing the CPU from fully asserting its dominance in the overall standings.

CPU and GPU Roles

In Minimum, the division of labor between the CPU and GPU is clearly visible in the scaling of frame rates across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system produces an average of 204.4 FPS at Low settings, which indicates that the GPU is not heavily strained. However, the CPU’s high single-thread and multi-thread scores from its benchmarks (such as 1286 in 3dmark_single_thread and 32172 in cinebench_r23_multicore) suggest it is more than capable of feeding the GPU. As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings drops to 128.5, a performance decrease that points to the GPU taking on more of the rendering load. By 3840x2160, the average at Low settings falls further to 71.9 FPS, which is a dramatic reduction from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is classic evidence of GPU-bound behavior at higher resolutions; the CPU’s role diminishes as the pixel count rises, and the RTX 4060’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit memory bus become the bottleneck. The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is the star, but at 4K, the GPU’s limits dominate the experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles at the highest presets. Ultra settings yield an average of 31.7 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. High settings improve to an average of 46 FPS, but this is still insufficient for smooth gameplay. Medium settings produce 53.4 FPS, narrowly missing the 60 FPS target. Only Low settings clear the bar, delivering an average of 71.9 FPS. This resolution is clearly demanding on the GPU, and the data shows that only the lowest preset is viable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves significantly. Low settings produce a high average of 128.5 FPS, while Medium settings achieve 101 FPS. High settings reach an average of 81.7 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 64.5 FPS. Every setting at this resolution stays above the 60 FPS playable threshold, indicating that the RTX 4060 has enough headroom here when paired with the Ryzen 9 9900X.

At 1920x1080, the combo excels. Low settings deliver an average of 204.4 FPS, which is exceptionally high. Medium settings average 157.3 FPS, and High settings reach 132.2 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, still achieves an average of 98.7 FPS. This resolution is where the system truly shines, with all presets providing frame rates that far exceed the playable threshold. The absence of min and max FPS data means the analysis relies on averages, but the consistency across settings suggests stable performance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide context for what other hardware would behave similarly. For the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, the closest matches are the AMD EPYC 9015, which has an average score of 57555 and a delta of -0.1%, and the AMD EPYC 7313, with an average score of 57399 and a delta of 0.2%. The Intel Core i9-14900 is also nearby, scoring 58115 with a delta of -1.1%, as is the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, which scores 58323 with a delta of -1.4%. These deltas are all within 1.4% of the Ryzen 9 9900X’s average benchmark score of 57498, meaning that swapping to any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical performance in Minimum, provided the GPU remains the same.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the nearest rivals are more surprising. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 has an average score of 17666, which is just 0.2% higher than the RTX 4060’s average of 17639. The AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% lower with a score of 17588, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 is 0.5% lower at 17551. The AMD Radeon Pro 460 is 0.7% lower, scoring 17509. These close scores indicate that, based on aggregate benchmarks, these GPUs would produce similar frame rates in this game, although the RTX 4060’s modern architecture and features like ray tracing cores and DLSS support might offer benefits that are not reflected in the raw score. The data suggests that users with any of these GPUs would see comparable average FPS, but the RTX 4060’s driver support and feature set could influence real-world gameplay beyond the measured averages.

Best Settings per Resolution

The verdict by resolution clearly defines the best settings for each display resolution. At 3840x2160, the only playable setting is Low, which achieves an average of 71.9 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, but it is the minimum preset available. Medium settings at 53.4 FPS and High settings at 46 FPS are below the threshold, so they are not recommended for a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is Ultra, which produces an average of 64.5 FPS. This is remarkable because it means the system can run the game at the highest visual quality while still maintaining playable frame rates. The lower presets—High, Medium, and Low—all perform better, with averages of 81.7, 101, and 128.5 FPS respectively, but Ultra offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 1920x1080, the best setting is also Ultra, with an average of 98.7 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the system has enough headroom to handle even the most demanding preset. The other settings—High at 132.2 FPS, Medium at 157.3 FPS, and Low at 204.4 FPS—are also excellent, but the Ultra preset is the clear choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The data shows that this resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, allowing for the highest settings without compromise.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 71.9 FPS. Medium settings average 53.4 FPS, which is below the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 2560x1440 resolution?

A: The Ultra preset is the best setting, achieving an average of 64.5 FPS. All settings at this resolution—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with averages ranging from 64.5 to 128.5 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 57498, which is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 9015 (57555, -0.1% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7313 (57399, 0.2% delta). The Intel Core i9-14900 and Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M are also close, with deltas of -1.1% and -1.4% respectively.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 1920x1080?

A: The data suggests the GPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p. The average FPS at Low settings is 204.4, and even at Ultra settings it remains high at 98.7 FPS. The CPU’s strong benchmark scores, such as 3010 in geekbench_singlecore, indicate it can keep up with the GPU’s output.

Q: What is the playable threshold for this game?

A: The playable threshold is 60 FPS. Any setting that produces an average FPS at or above this value is considered playable. At 3840x2160, only Low settings meet this criterion. At 2560x1440 and 1920x1080, all settings meet this criterion.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666, -0.2% delta) and the AMD Radeon 780M (17588, 0.3% delta). These scores are within 0.7% of each other, indicating similar aggregate performance.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Minimum, and the data shows it does so with considerable strength at most resolutions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, the system is only playable at Low settings, where it averages 71.9 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, but it requires sacrificing visual quality. At 2560x1440, the system is playable at all settings, with the best being Ultra at 64.5 FPS. This is a strong result, allowing for high visual fidelity without dropping below playable frame rates. At 1920x1080, the system is fully playable at all settings, with Ultra averaging 98.7 FPS and even Low settings reaching 204.4 FPS. The combination of the Ryzen 9 9900X and RTX 4060 is well-suited for this game, with the CPU providing ample headroom for the GPU to perform at lower resolutions. The only caveat is 4K, where the GPU’s limitations become apparent, but for the vast majority of players using 1080p or 1440p displays, this combo delivers a smooth and enjoyable experience. The data confirms that this is a capable gaming system for Minimum, with the caveat that 4K Ultra settings are out of reach.