Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a commanding performance profile in Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014. The data shows that this pairing not only clears the 60 FPS playability threshold at every tested resolution but does so with substantial headroom, making it an exceptionally strong choice for high-refresh-rate displays. The measured results indicate a system that is largely overqualified for the title, particularly at lower resolutions where frame rates skyrocket.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for this configuration is measured across three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a complete picture of its capabilities. At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates are as follows: with Low settings, the system produces 124 FPS; moving to Medium, the average dips to 95 FPS with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 109; High settings yield 79 FPS; and the demanding Ultra preset still manages a solid 61 FPS average. This demonstrates that even at 4K with maximum details, the combo remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.

Stepping down to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance scales dramatically. The Low preset averages 230 FPS, while Medium hits 176 FPS (min 149, max 202). High settings produce 148 FPS, and the Ultra preset delivers a robust 112 FPS. The frame rates here are more than sufficient for smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate monitors, with the Ultra preset still nearly doubling the playability threshold.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the results are extraordinary. The Low preset reaches an average of 356 FPS, which is likely beyond the refresh rate of most displays. Medium settings average 273 FPS (min 232, max 313), High settings produce 229 FPS, and even the Ultra preset maintains a very high 174 FPS average. The data indicates that at 1080p, the primary bottleneck shifts away from the GPU, allowing the CPU's strength to push frame rates to extreme levels.

The frame time consistency, where provided, shows stable performance. For instance, at 1440p Medium, the gap between the average (176 FPS) and minimum (149 FPS) is only about 15%, suggesting minimal stuttering. Similarly, at 4K Medium, the min of 80 FPS is well within the playable range, indicating a smooth experience even during demanding scenes.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU depending on the resolution. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the primary driver of performance. This is evident from the scaling between presets: the average FPS drops from 124 at Low to 61 at Ultra, a reduction of roughly 51%. This significant decrease shows that the RTX 4080 is heavily utilized, and its workload increases substantially with graphical fidelity. The CPU, an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D with 12 cores and 24 threads, has ample headroom at this resolution to feed the GPU without becoming a limiting factor.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The performance scaling between Low (230 FPS) and Ultra (112 FPS) is still steep, a 51% drop, but the absolute frame rates are much higher. This suggests the GPU is still the main constraint, but the CPU's role becomes more pronounced as the frame rate targets rise. The high average FPS at Medium (176) and High (148) indicates that the CPU is capable of keeping up with the GPU's output without issue.

The 1920x1080 results clearly demonstrate where the CPU's strength lies. The frame rates at Low (356 FPS) are exceptionally high, but the scaling from Low to Ultra (174 FPS) shows a 51% reduction, which still points to a GPU bottleneck. However, the sheer magnitude of these numbers—even at Ultra—suggests that the CPU is no longer the limiting factor. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6739, ensures that it can process game logic and draw calls faster than the GPU can render frames at this resolution. The data implies that for users with 1080p monitors, the GPU will be the component determining the final frame rate, but the CPU ensures that frame times remain consistent and that the GPU is always fed with data.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals according to aggregate benchmark scores are a set of Intel processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has an average score 0.6% lower than the Ryzen 9 9900X3D, indicating near-identical overall performance. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is just 1.3% slower. The Intel Xeon 6505P and Intel Core i7-14700F are 2.0% and 2.1% slower, respectively. In a game like Minimum, which is likely sensitive to single-thread performance, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's high boost clock of 5.50 GHz and its leading single-thread scores (e.g., Geekbench single-core of 3041) would suggest it holds a slight edge over these rivals, but the differences are small enough that gamers would perceive virtually identical frame rates.

On the GPU side, the closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which has an average score a mere 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080. This makes the two cards effectively interchangeable in performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% slower, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are 2.6% and 2.7% slower, respectively. In practical terms, any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Minimum at the same settings. The RTX 4080 SUPER, in particular, would be a direct drop-in alternative for users seeking the same experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this specific CPU-GPU combination at rank 246 out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the top 6.6% of all systems tested, which is an impressive showing. The high rank is a direct result of the exceptional frame rates measured at all resolutions. This ranking also contextualizes the performance: while it is not the absolute fastest system possible, it is within a very elite tier. The data suggests that a significant majority of other tested combinations will produce lower frame rates, making this pairing a high-performance choice that will not struggle with this game.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Minimum exceptionally well. The verdict by resolution is unanimous: all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are listed as playable at every resolution. This means the system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold in all scenarios.

At 3840x2160, the "best settings" are Ultra, with an average frame rate of 61 FPS. This is a playable experience, though it sits closest to the threshold. For users who prioritize higher frame rates over maximum visual fidelity, dropping to High (79 FPS) or Medium (95 FPS) provides a more comfortable margin.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is Ultra with an average of 112 FPS. This provides a high-refresh-rate experience with maximum details, fully utilizing the capabilities of a 144Hz monitor.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 174 FPS. This is an excellent result for competitive play, as it exceeds the refresh rates of most high-end gaming monitors. The system is more than capable of delivering a buttery-smooth experience at 1080p.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 4K with maximum settings?*

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 148 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, providing a very smooth experience.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 or the Ryzen 9 9900X3D more important for this game at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, as seen in the performance scaling between presets. However, the CPU's high single-thread performance ensures it can keep up, allowing for very high frame rates like 356 FPS on Low settings.

Q: How does this CPU compare to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average benchmark score that is 0.6% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, making them near-identical in overall performance.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K to get the highest frame rate?

A: For the highest frame rate at 3840x2160, the Low preset yields the best average at 124 FPS. However, the Ultra preset is still playable at 61 FPS, and the High preset offers a balance at 79 FPS.

Q: Is the performance of this combo in the top tier for this game?

A: Yes, the combo ranks 246th out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 6.6% of all systems tested for Minimum.