Minimum

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a broad range of performance in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. Benchmark data shows this combination is highly capable at conventional resolutions, with 1080p and 1440p gameplay exceeding the 60 FPS threshold even at the highest preset. At 4K, however, the system becomes more constrained, with only the Low preset maintaining playable frame rates. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, compares the components to their nearest hardware rivals, and provides specific settings recommendations based on the collected data.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this system each sit near distinct performance clusters based on aggregate benchmark scores. The Intel Core i3-12100F, with an average benchmark score of 13494, places in the 68th percentile of all tested CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core 3 N355 (average score 13492, delta 0%), the Intel Core i5-9500 (average score 13452, delta 0.3% slower), the Intel Core 5 120UL (average score 13594, delta 0.7% faster), and the Intel Core i7-1250U (average score 13351, delta 1.1% slower). These deltas are all within roughly one percent, meaning the i3-12100F should deliver nearly identical frame pacing in CPU-bound scenarios as these four alternatives. The Core i5-9500 is a particularly notable comparison, as it represents an older generation desktop part with similar multi-threaded throughput.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 posts an average benchmark score of 17639, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (average score 17666, delta 0.2% faster), the AMD Radeon 780M (average score 17588, delta 0.3% slower), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (average score 17551, delta 0.5% slower), and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (average score 17509, delta 0.7% slower). The delta between the RTX 4060 and the HD 7790 is remarkably small, despite the generational gap; in terms of aggregate compute capability, these cards are effectively interchangeable. For Minimum, a game that is not particularly demanding by modern standards, any of these GPU alternatives would produce similar average frame rates at the same settings and resolution, assuming the CPU can keep up.

When considering the full combo, the system ranks 1997 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the middle of the overall distribution. This suggests that while the individual components are solid mid-range performers, many other CPU-GPU pairings offer higher combined throughput. However, the ranking is heavily influenced by more powerful modern hardware; for this specific game, the measured FPS data indicates the combo is more than sufficient for high-refresh-rate 1080p play and very comfortable 1440p play.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets reveals which component dominates Minimum's frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset yields an average of 98.4 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 201.6 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 103.2 FPS, indicating that GPU load scales significantly with visual fidelity. Moving to 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to 66.9 FPS, and Low stays at 129.5 FPS. The resolution increase from 1080p to 1440p costs approximately 32 FPS at Ultra settings (from 98.4 to 66.9) and 72 FPS at Low settings (from 201.6 to 129.5). This larger absolute drop at Low settings suggests that at lower presets, the frame rate is more sensitive to pixel count, pointing to a stronger GPU bottleneck at 1080p Low.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. The Ultra preset falls to 33.9 FPS, while Low remains at 69.3 FPS. The step from 1440p to 4K at Ultra costs 33 FPS (from 66.9 to 33.9), which is a 49% reduction. At Low settings, the drop is 60.2 FPS (from 129.5 to 69.3), a 46% reduction. These proportional decreases indicate that at 4K, the GPU is the primary limiter across all presets. The CPU, with its four cores and eight threads, is unlikely to be a bottleneck at 4K given the lower absolute frame rates. The data shows that the RTX 4060's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus become the limiting factors at this resolution, particularly at higher presets where the Ultra setting only manages 33.9 FPS.

Between presets, the scaling also clarifies roles. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium adds 48.4 FPS (from 201.6 to 153.2, a 24% reduction), while Medium to High costs 20 FPS (153.2 to 133.2), and High to Ultra costs 34.8 FPS (133.2 to 98.4). The diminishing returns are not linear, with Ultra being disproportionately heavier. At 1440p, the pattern repeats: Medium is 97.4 FPS, High is 86.9 FPS, and Ultra is 66.9 FPS. At 4K, the preset spread narrows in absolute terms (Low 69.3, Medium 52.0, High 45.8, Ultra 33.9), confirming that resolution scaling masks the CPU's capability and exposes the GPU's raw throughput limits.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset. The 4K Low setting averages 69.3 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 52.0 FPS, High to 45.8 FPS, and Ultra to 33.9 FPS, all of which fall below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset at 2560x1440 for a 60 FPS target?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 1440p, averaging 66.9 FPS. This is the most demanding setting that stays above 60 FPS. Lower presets also work: High averages 86.9 FPS, Medium 97.4 FPS, and Low 129.5 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest GPU rival in aggregate performance?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639, while the AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, a delta of 0.2% in favor of the AMD card. The Radeon 780M trails by 0.3% with a score of 17588, and the Radeon Pro 560 is 0.5% slower at 17551.

Q: Is the i3-12100F a bottleneck at 1080p with the RTX 4060?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 1080p. The frame rate scales heavily with preset quality (201.6 FPS at Low vs 98.4 FPS at Ultra), which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-9500, is within 0.3% performance, and the i3-12100F's 68th percentile ranking indicates adequate headroom for this game.

Q: What is the difference between 1080p and 1440p Ultra performance?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the system averages 98.4 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 66.9 FPS. This is a reduction of 31.5 FPS, or approximately 32%, when moving up one resolution step.

Q: Does the combo rank in the top half of tested systems?

A: Yes. The combo ranks 1997 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the 46th percentile of all tested combos. This is slightly below the median, but the measured FPS in Minimum shows strong absolute performance due to the game's age and lower requirements.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 can run Minimum with playable frame rates at all three tested resolutions, provided the right settings are selected. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 98.4 FPS. This makes 1080p the most flexible resolution, suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors even at maximum quality. At 2560x1440, the system also maintains 60+ FPS across all presets, with Ultra averaging 66.9 FPS, leaving a small but comfortable margin above the playable threshold. The situation changes at 3840x2160, where only the Low preset (69.3 FPS) remains playable. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets at 4K fall to 52.0, 45.8, and 33.9 FPS respectively, all below the 60 FPS target. For users seeking 4K play, the Low preset is the only option, and even that leaves only 9.3 FPS of headroom before hitting the threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 201.6 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suggests the game is heavily GPU-bound at this setting. Medium averages 153.2 FPS, High averages 133.2 FPS, and Ultra averages 98.4 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is the largest single-preset drop at 48.4 FPS, while the transition from High to Ultra costs 34.8 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS values were recorded, so only average frame rates are available for analysis.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but proportionally lower. Low averages 129.5 FPS, Medium 97.4 FPS, High 86.9 FPS, and Ultra 66.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 62.6 FPS, which is smaller in absolute terms than at 1080p (103.2 FPS) but similar in percentage terms. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the only one that comes close to the 60 FPS threshold, with a 6.9 FPS margin.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates compress significantly. Low averages 69.3 FPS, Medium 52.0 FPS, High 45.8 FPS, and Ultra 33.9 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 35.4 FPS, and no preset at this resolution exceeds 70 FPS. The data shows a clear cliff between Low and Medium, with a 17.3 FPS drop that pushes the Medium preset below the playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 98.4 FPS. This leaves 38.4 FPS of headroom above the threshold, making it a safe choice for consistent frame delivery. All lower presets also qualify, but Ultra provides the best visual quality without risking playability.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the best option, averaging 66.9 FPS. The margin above 60 FPS is only 6.9 FPS, which is tighter than at 1080p but still playable. Users seeking more headroom can drop to High (86.9 FPS) or Medium (97.4 FPS), but the data confirms Ultra is viable.

At 3840x2160, the only preset that clears 60 FPS is Low, averaging 69.3 FPS. The Medium preset at 52.0 FPS is the closest alternative but falls 8 FPS short of the threshold. Therefore, Low is the recommended setting for 4K play, with the understanding that visual fidelity will be significantly reduced compared to lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i3-12100F and RTX 4060 combination ranks 1997 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the 54th percentile of the database (i.e., 54% of tested combos ranked below it). This is a mid-pack ranking that reflects the modest CPU performance (68th percentile among CPUs) and the mid-range GPU performance (61st percentile among GPUs). The ranking is not a measure of absolute playability; rather, it positions this combo against all other CPU-GPU pairings tested in this game. The data shows that despite being below the median, this combo delivers high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, with the 4K limitation being the only significant drawback. The CPU's nearest rival, the Core i5-9500, would likely produce near-identical results, as would the GPU's nearest rival, the Radeon HD 7790, although the latter would struggle more with the 8 GB VRAM requirement at 4K. Overall, this combo is a solid mid-range choice for Minimum, with the verdict being clearly playable at 1080p and 1440p, and conditionally playable at 4K on Low settings.