Minimum

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a combination that lands in the 883rd position out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places the setup in the top 24% of all configurations tested for this title, which is a strong showing for a pairing that mixes a low-cost, four-core CPU with a high-end current-generation GPU. The percentile rankings for the individual components tell a similar story: the CPU sits at the 68th percentile among all processors, while the GPU is at the 55th percentile among all graphics cards. The data suggests this combo is not a bottleneck-heavy pairing for this game, but rather one that delivers performance well above the median tested system.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's overall rank of 883 out of 3712 is a clear indicator that this system sits comfortably in the upper quartile of tested configurations for Minimum. This is a notable achievement considering the CPU is a 4-core/8-thread part, while the GPU is a top-tier RDNA 4.0 card. The ranking implies that the game is not extremely demanding on the processor, allowing the RX 9070 XT to stretch its legs. In terms of overall performance, the average benchmark score for this pairing, derived from the CPU's 13494 and the GPU's 13543, is well above the median for the database. The data shows that this combination is capable of running the game at high frame rates across most settings, with the only exception being the most demanding preset at 4K.

The rank of 883 also suggests that there is a significant number of combinations that outperform this one, likely those with more powerful CPUs like Core i5 or Ryzen 5 parts paired with the same GPU. However, the delta between this combo and those ranked higher is likely small in actual gameplay, given the game's release date in 2014 and its relatively modest system requirements. The benchmark results indicate that the i3-12100F is not holding back the RX 9070 XT to a large degree, as evidenced by the high frame rates achieved at 1080p and 1440p. The data positions this as a very capable gaming system for Minimum, with performance headroom that is only fully challenged at 4K with Ultra settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions provides a clear picture of how the CPU and GPU share the workload in Minimum. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial, with the average frame rate dropping from 278.6 FPS to 135.2 FPS. This 143.4 FPS gap is primarily driven by the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom at this resolution to feed frames. The fact that the Low preset achieves 278.6 FPS indicates that the i3-12100F is not a limiting factor at 1080p, even at its stock 3.30 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock. The GPU's shading units and texture rate are the primary drivers of the frame rate here.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates remain high, ranging from 180.3 FPS on Low to 85.7 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a predictable drop, with the High preset going from 178.6 FPS to 113.6 FPS, a reduction of 65 FPS or roughly 36%. This indicates that the GPU is now working harder, but the CPU is still keeping up. At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, with the Ultra preset falling to 46.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset at 4K manages 62.6 FPS, showing that the RX 9070 XT is capable of 4K gaming, but only when the graphical load is reduced. The data shows that the CPU's role is consistent across all resolutions, providing a stable foundation, while the GPU's performance scales directly with the resolution and preset demands.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering this exact CPU, the benchmark data shows that the Intel Core i3-12100F has an average score of 13494, placing it in close competition with several other processors. The nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, has an average score of 13492, a delta of 0%. This means that in terms of raw CPU compute, these two are virtually identical. The Intel Core i5-9500 is also a close match with a score of 13452, just 0.3% behind. On the other side, the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, which is 0.7% ahead, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, which is 1.1% behind. For gaming in Minimum, these differences are negligible, and users would not notice a practical difference between these CPUs in this title.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has an average score of 13543, and its nearest rivals are all older or lower-tier cards. The AMD Radeon HD 7770M scores 13536, a 0.1% delta, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13515, a 0.2% delta. The NVIDIA P106-090 and AMD Radeon Pro 555 score 13470 and 13407, respectively, with deltas of 0.5% and 1%. It is important to note that these rival GPUs are significantly less powerful in real-world gaming scenarios, despite having similar average benchmark scores. The benchmark data for the RX 9070 XT shows a PassMark G3D score of 26795, which is an order of magnitude higher than what these older cards would achieve. The similarity in average score is likely an artifact of the specific benchmark suite used, and in Minimum, the RX 9070 XT will vastly outperform these alternatives.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly answers the question: this PC can run Minimum at 60 FPS or above in most scenarios. According to the verdict by resolution, at 1920x1080, all four settings presets are playable, with the best being Ultra at an average of 135.2 FPS. This is more than double the 60 FPS threshold, providing a very smooth experience. At 2560x1440, all presets are also playable, with Ultra achieving 85.7 FPS. This is still well above the playable threshold, making 1440p gaming a strong option for this combo. At 4K (3840x2160), the verdict shows that High, Low, and Medium presets are playable, with High being the best at 62.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K falls to 46.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and is therefore not considered playable according to the data.

The results indicate that this system is a very strong performer for Minimum. The only scenario where it fails to meet the 60 FPS target is at 4K with Ultra settings, which is an extreme demand for a game from 2014. For the vast majority of players, this combo will provide an excellent experience at 1080p and 1440p, with the ability to max out the settings. The data shows that the i3-12100F is sufficient to drive the RX 9070 XT to high frame rates, and the GPU is powerful enough to handle the game's demands at all but the most extreme settings.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 60 FPS on a 4K monitor?*

A: Yes, the data shows that at 3840x2160, the High, Low, and Medium presets all exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset achieves an average of 62.6 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, drops to 46.1 FPS and is not playable.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best option, achieving an average of 85.7 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS target, allowing for maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, which is essentially identical to the Intel Core 3 N355 at 13492 (0% delta). The difference in performance between these two is negligible for gaming.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the data shows that at 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 278.6 FPS and the Ultra preset achieves 135.2 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, and the CPU is not limiting the frame rate.

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

A: The highest playable setting at 3840x2160 is High, with an average frame rate of 62.6 FPS. The Ultra setting falls below the 60 FPS threshold at 46.1 FPS.

Q: Are there any settings that are not playable at 1440p?

A: No, all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) at 2560x1440 have average frame rates above 60 FPS. The lowest is Ultra at 85.7 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured data, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS varies by resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 135.2 FPS, which provides a high level of visual fidelity with a frame rate that is more than double the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the best option, with an average of 85.7 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience with all graphical features enabled. At 3840x2160, the High preset is the best playable option, achieving an average of 62.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is not viable as it drops to 46.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS requirement. These selections represent the optimal balance between visual quality and performance, as defined by the playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates show a consistent scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 278.6 FPS, which is the highest figure recorded for this combo. The Medium preset follows at 214.4 FPS, then High at 178.6 FPS, and finally Ultra at 135.2 FPS. This shows a clear step-down in performance as graphical demands increase. At 2560x1440, the same pattern is evident: Low averages 180.3 FPS, Medium 138.9 FPS, High 113.6 FPS, and Ultra 85.7 FPS. The drops are proportional to the resolution increase.

At 3840x2160, the performance is understandably lower. The Low preset averages 95.5 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 76.1 FPS, and the High preset averages 62.6 FPS, which is just above the playable line. The Ultra preset at 4K is the only configuration that falls below the threshold, with an average of 46.1 FPS. The data does not include min or max FPS values, but the average figures are sufficient to determine playability. The absence of min/max data means that frame pacing and stutter cannot be assessed, but the high average frame rates suggest a generally smooth experience in the playable presets.