Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers exceptional performance in Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014. The measured data shows this system not only clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested setting and resolution but does so with significant headroom, making it a top-tier performer for this title. The benchmark results indicate a system that is largely GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo spans three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a comprehensive look at performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the system is massively overqualified, with frame rates that far exceed display refresh rates. The Low preset delivers an average of 357.2 FPS, which is the highest recorded figure in the entire dataset. Moving to Medium reduces the average to 269.6 FPS, while High still maintains a very robust 225.5 FPS average. Even the most demanding Ultra preset at this resolution produces an average of 172 FPS, which is nearly three times the playable threshold of 60 FPS. These numbers suggest that the CPU and GPU combination has ample headroom to prevent any bottleneck at 1080p, even in cpu-intensive scenes.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally high, though the scaling from 1080p shows a predictable increase in GPU load. The Low preset yields an average of 231.1 FPS, a significant drop from the 1080p figure but still far beyond what most displays can show. The Medium preset averages 175.3 FPS, and High comes in at 143.3 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution still manages an average of 110 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and indicates that this combo can handle high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming with ease. The frame rate deltas between presets at this resolution are consistent, suggesting a balanced workload distribution between the CPU and GPU.

The 3840x2160 resolution presents the most demanding scenario, yet the system still performs admirably. The Low preset averages 123.3 FPS, which is a substantial figure for 4K gaming. Medium drops to 92.1 FPS, and High settles at 80.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K produces an average of 61.1 FPS, which just barely clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. This shows that while the RTX 4080 SUPER is powerful, the most extreme settings at 4K will push the GPU to its limits, leaving only a slim margin for frame rate fluctuations. The data suggests that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the safer choice, as the Ultra preset’s 61.1 FPS average could dip below 60 in intense moments, although no min FPS data is available to confirm this.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Examining the nearest rivals for both components provides context for how this system compares to other hardware combinations. The CPU’s nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9015, which has an average score that is 0.1% lower, indicating near-identical performance. The AMD EPYC 7313 is 0.2% slower, while the Intel Core i9-14900 is 1.1% faster and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M is 1.4% faster. These deltas are minimal, meaning any of these CPUs would likely produce very similar frame rates in Minimum, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The Ryzen 9 9900X’s high single-thread score of 1286 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2253 in Cinebench R23 single-core suggests it is well-suited for games that rely on a few fast cores.

For the GPU, the nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, which has an average score that is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080 SUPER. This indicates that the original RTX 4080 would perform nearly identically in this game. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 2.7% slower. The AMD Radeon 8060S is 2.8% slower. These differences are relatively small, so a system with an RTX 4080 would be the most direct alternative, offering almost the same experience. The benchmark results imply that users with any of these GPU alternatives would see frame rates within a few percent of the RTX 4080 SUPER, meaning the overall verdict for Minimum would remain unchanged.

How This Combo Ranks

The system’s performance in Minimum places it at rank 340 out of 3712 tested combinations. This puts it in the top 9.2% of all tested systems, a strong showing that reflects the high-end nature of both components. The data shows that 3,372 other combinations performed worse, while 339 performed better. This ranking is influenced by both the CPU and GPU, but given that the game is from 2014 and is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the high rank is expected. The combination of the Ryzen 9 9900X’s 92nd percentile ranking among all CPUs and the RTX 4080 SUPER’s 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests that this system is well above average, and its performance in this specific game aligns with those standings.

The rank of 340 is notable because it shows that a significant number of other systems, likely those with even more powerful GPUs or CPUs, can outperform this combo. However, for the vast majority of users, the difference between rank 340 and rank 100 would be imperceptible in actual gameplay, especially at frame rates above 100 FPS. The data indicates that this combo is more than sufficient for a smooth experience, and the ranking primarily serves as a benchmark point rather than a practical limitation.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Minimum at 4K with the highest settings?*

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 61.1 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is just above the 60 FPS playable threshold, but the slim margin suggests that High settings, which average 80.6 FPS, would be a safer choice for consistent performance.

Q: What is the best setting for 1080p gaming on this combo?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 delivers an average of 172 FPS, which is the most demanding preset and still far exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. All presets at this resolution are playable, with Low reaching 357.2 FPS average.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its closest rival in this game?

A: The nearest rival, the RTX 4080, has an average benchmark score that is 0.1% lower. This means the two GPUs would perform nearly identically in Minimum, with the SUPER variant offering a negligible advantage.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the GPU is likely the primary factor, as frame rates drop from 357.2 FPS at 1080p Low to 231.1 FPS at 1440p Low. The CPU’s high single-thread performance ensures it does not bottleneck, but the increased resolution places more load on the GPU.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 4K?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 is playable with an average of 61.1 FPS. The High preset averages 80.6 FPS, providing more headroom, but Ultra is technically above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the system’s rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 340th out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 9.2% of all systems tested for Minimum.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals a clear shift in bottleneck behavior across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU’s role is more prominent, as evidenced by the massive frame rates at Low settings (357.2 FPS) that indicate the GPU is not fully saturated. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 185.2 FPS drop, which is likely due to increased GPU load rather than CPU limitations. The Ryzen 9 9900X’s strong single-thread score of 1286 in 3dmark_single_thread suggests it can feed the GPU efficiently at these high frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more influential. The Low preset drops to 231.1 FPS, a 35.3% decrease from 1080p, which is a larger relative drop than the 4K scaling to Low at 123.3 FPS (a 46.6% decrease from 1440p). This pattern indicates that the GPU is increasingly the limiting factor as resolution rises. The CPU’s performance remains constant, but the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s become more critical.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant component. The Ultra preset’s 61.1 FPS average is barely above the threshold, suggesting the RTX 4080 SUPER is nearly maxed out. The CPU’s role diminishes further, as the frame rate differences between presets at 4K are more compressed than at lower resolutions. The data shows that for this game, the Ryzen 9 9900X provides sufficient headroom at all resolutions, but the RTX 4080 SUPER’s capabilities define the playable ceiling at 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 172 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it still provides more than double the playable threshold, making it the optimal choice for visual fidelity without compromising smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again qualifies as the best setting, with an average of 110 FPS. This offers a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, ensuring that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate is unlikely to drop below the threshold. The High preset at 143.3 FPS is also an option, but Ultra provides the best visual experience while remaining well within playable territory.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 61.1 FPS. This is a close call, as the margin is only 1.1 FPS. The High preset at 80.6 FPS would be a more stable choice for competitive play, but for those prioritizing visual quality, Ultra is technically playable. The data suggests that for a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, High is the recommended setting, but Ultra is viable for less demanding scenarios.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER can absolutely run Minimum, and the verdict data confirms this across all tested conditions. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with the lowest average being 172 FPS at Ultra. This means the system is not only playable but exceptionally fast, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the system also clears 60 FPS on all presets, with the Ultra preset achieving an average of 110 FPS. This provides a significant performance buffer, ensuring smooth gameplay even in the most visually intensive scenes. The system is more than capable of handling this resolution with maximum settings.

At 3840x2160, the system clears 60 FPS on all presets, including Ultra, which averages 61.1 FPS. While this is a slim margin, it still meets the playable threshold. The High preset at 80.6 FPS offers more headroom for those concerned about frame rate dips. Overall, the data shows that this combination is a top-tier choice for Minimum, capable of delivering a high-quality experience at any resolution, with the only caveat being a tight margin at 4K Ultra. The system’s rank of 340 out of 3712 combinations reinforces its status as a high-performance setup for this title.