Minimum

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers exceptional performance in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. Benchmark data shows this combination is not just capable of running the game, but it obliterates the 60 FPS playability threshold at every tested resolution and preset, with performance scaling impressively as resolution decreases. The measured FPS figures place this combo in the upper echelon of tested configurations, making it a formidable choice for high-refresh-rate gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 3840x2160 (4K), the combo maintains a smooth experience in all settings. With the Ultra preset, the average FPS is 61, which exactly meets the playable threshold. Dropping to High increases the average to 79 FPS, while Medium pushes it to 95 FPS with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 109. The Low preset at 4K delivers a substantial jump to an average of 124 FPS, showcasing the headroom available even at the most demanding resolution.

At 2560x1440, performance scales significantly. The Ultra preset averages 112 FPS, which is nearly double the 4K Ultra result. High settings produce an average of 148 FPS, while Medium reaches 176 FPS with a minimum of 149 and a maximum of 202 FPS. The Low preset at 1440p is exceptionally fast, hitting 230 FPS on average, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

The 1920x1080 results are nothing short of staggering. Even at the Ultra preset, the average FPS is 174. High settings reach 229 FPS, and Medium achieves 273 FPS with a minimum of 232 and a maximum of 313 FPS. The Low preset at 1080p produces a massive 356 FPS average, which far exceeds the refresh rate capabilities of most displays. This data indicates that the i3-12100F and RTX 4080 combination is rarely bottlenecked at 1080p, delivering frame rates that are purely GPU-bound in the best possible way.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 246th out of 3,712 tested combinations for Minimum. This puts it in the top 6.6% of all tested configurations, a strong showing that reflects its ability to handle the game’s demands with ease. The rank is a composite measure of performance across all resolutions and settings, and the high placement indicates that the combination is well-balanced for this title.

The ranking is particularly noteworthy given the CPU’s modest specifications. The Core i3-12100F sits in the 68th percentile for all CPUs based on its average benchmark score, while the RTX 4080 is in the 86th percentile for all GPUs. Despite the CPU being a lower-tier part relative to the GPU, the combination still achieves a top-tier rank in this game, suggesting that Minimum is not heavily CPU-dependent at the tested settings. This data point is crucial for understanding the performance ceiling: the GPU is doing the heavy lifting, and the CPU is sufficient to keep up without dragging down the overall frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals the division of labor between the CPU and GPU. At 4K, the GPU is the primary performance driver. The difference between the Ultra and Low presets at 3840x2160 is 63 FPS (from 61 to 124), which is a 103% increase. This substantial scaling indicates that the GPU’s rendering load is the main constraint, and reducing graphical quality directly translates to higher frame rates.

At 1440p, the scaling pattern shifts slightly. The jump from Ultra to Low is 118 FPS (from 112 to 230), a 105% increase. This is a larger absolute gain than at 4K, but the relative scaling is similar. The GPU remains the dominant factor, though the CPU’s ability to feed frames becomes more relevant as resolution drops.

At 1080p, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent. The difference between Ultra and Low is 182 FPS (from 174 to 356), a 105% increase. However, the absolute frame rates are so high that the CPU’s single-thread performance, as indicated by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 893 and passmark_single_thread score of 3444, is sufficient to avoid significant bottlenecks. The data shows that even at the lowest preset with 356 FPS, the CPU can keep up, meaning the i3-12100F is not a limiting factor in this title. The GPU, with its 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, is clearly the dominant component across all resolutions, but the CPU provides enough headroom to maximize the GPU’s potential at lower resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 4K with the Ultra preset?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 61, which meets the 60 FPS playable threshold exactly. The verdictByResolution data confirms that Ultra is the best playable setting at this resolution.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS at 1920x1080 is 356, achieved with the Low preset. This is the top score across all tested settings and resolutions.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54,209, a delta of 0.1%. This indicates the two GPUs perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks, and in-game performance would be expected to be very similar.

Q: Is the Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, no. At 1080p with the Low preset, the combo reaches 356 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate. The CPU’s single-thread performance is sufficient to avoid limiting the GPU at all tested settings and resolutions.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The minimum FPS for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is 149 FPS, with an average of 176 and a maximum of 202 FPS.

Q: How does the i3-12100F’s multi-thread performance compare to the Core i5-9500?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13,494, while the Core i5-9500 scores 13,452, a delta of 0.3%. This makes them effectively equivalent in overall CPU performance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13,494. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core 3 N355 with a score of 13,492 (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13,452 (0.3% delta), the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13,594 (-0.7% delta), and the Intel Core i7-1250U at 13,351 (1.1% delta). Users with any of these processors would experience nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Minimum, meaning the choice between them would not meaningfully alter frame rates in this game.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER at 54,209 (0.1% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X at 54,828 (-1.1% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB at 55,698 (-2.6% delta), and the AMD Radeon 8060S at 55,757 (-2.7% delta). These GPUs would produce almost identical frame rates in Minimum, with the RTX 4080 SUPER being the closest match.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that maintains an average FPS at or above 60 is the Ultra setting at every resolution. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is the highest quality setting that remains playable. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers a much more comfortable 112 FPS average, providing a high-quality experience with significant headroom. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset reaches 174 FPS on average, which is far above the playability threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays.

For users seeking maximum performance, the Low preset offers the highest frame rates: 124 FPS at 4K, 230 FPS at 1440p, and 356 FPS at 1080p. The Medium preset provides a balance, with 95 FPS at 4K, 176 FPS at 1440p, and 273 FPS at 1080p. All settings at all resolutions are above the 60 FPS threshold, so the choice is purely one of visual quality versus frame rate headroom.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Minimum, and it does so with remarkable ease. The verdictByResolution data confirms that all four settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at all three tested resolutions. The lowest average FPS recorded across the entire test matrix is 61 FPS, which occurs at 4K with the Ultra preset. This means the combo clears the 60 FPS threshold at every single configuration tested.

For the best visual experience, 4K Ultra is viable with an average of 61 FPS, though users may prefer High at 79 FPS for a more consistent margin. At 1440p, Ultra at 112 FPS is the clear recommendation, offering both high quality and smooth performance. At 1080p, the Ultra preset at 174 FPS is the optimal choice, providing a high-fidelity experience that takes full advantage of high-refresh-rate monitors. The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a powerful pairing for Minimum, delivering excellent performance across the board with no compromises needed.