Minimum

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 3144 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This places the configuration in the lower half of the database, but the context matters: Minimum is a 2014 third-person shooter, and the recorded data shows this pairing still delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p under specific settings. The rank reflects the combination's overall standing across all tested hardware pairings, not its suitability for this particular title. Within the database, the CPU sits at the 68th percentile among all processors, while the GPU sits at the 53rd percentile among all graphics cards. These percentile positions indicate a mid-range pairing that leans slightly more on CPU performance than GPU performance relative to other components in the database.

The rank of 3144 out of 3712 means roughly 85% of tested combos outperform this one in aggregate benchmark scores. However, the measured FPS data for Minimum tells a more nuanced story. The combo clears the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p on every settings preset, and at 1440p on Low and Medium presets. At 4K, no preset reaches 60 FPS, with the best result being 46.5 FPS on Low settings. The rank is a broad measure, while the per-game measurements show that this older title is well within the reach of this hardware.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded measurements show a clear pattern: resolution scaling affects this combo more than settings scaling. At 1080p, the average frame rates range from 64.1 FPS at Ultra to 133.5 FPS at Low. Moving to 1440p, the same settings range drops to 41.4 FPS at Ultra and 81.6 FPS at Low. At 4K, the range tightens to 22.3 FPS at Ultra and 46.5 FPS at Low. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is substantial: High settings drop from 86.3 FPS to 52.8 FPS, a 33.5 FPS difference. The gap between 1440p and 4K is even steeper: High settings drop from 52.8 FPS to 32.1 FPS, a 20.7 FPS difference.

The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU, allowing frame rates to scale with settings. At 1440p, the GPU starts to constrain performance, and at 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The CPU's 12 threads and 6 cores provide sufficient compute for Minimum's workload at lower resolutions, but the GTX 1660 SUPER's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K. The scaling between Low and Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent pattern: Ultra settings cost roughly half the frame rate of Low settings at every resolution. At 1080p, Low delivers 133.5 FPS versus Ultra's 64.1 FPS. At 1440p, Low delivers 81.6 FPS versus Ultra's 41.4 FPS. At 4K, Low delivers 46.5 FPS versus Ultra's 22.3 FPS. This consistent ratio suggests the GPU's rendering pipeline is the primary constraint across all resolutions, with the CPU providing adequate support throughout.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 60 FPS on a 1080p monitor?

A: Yes. The recorded data shows all four settings presets at 1920x1080 exceed 60 FPS. Low averages 133.5 FPS, Medium averages 101.9 FPS, High averages 86.3 FPS, and Ultra averages 64.1 FPS.

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

A: Medium is the best preset that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 63.6 FPS. Low averages 81.6 FPS, but the verdict data lists Medium as the best playable setting because it offers higher visual quality while still clearing the 60 FPS threshold. High averages 52.8 FPS and Ultra averages 41.4 FPS, both below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware in Minimum?

A: No. The verdict data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average frame rate at 4K is 46.5 FPS on Low settings, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold. High averages 32.1 FPS, Medium averages 37.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 22.3 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14185. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E with a score of 14163 and a 0.2% delta, the Intel Core 7 160UL with a score of 14232 and a -0.3% delta, the AMD EPYC 7552 with a score of 14115 and a 0.5% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C with a score of 14277 and a -0.6% delta. All four rivals are within 1% of the i5-10400F's aggregate score.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 12986. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile with a score of 12940 and a 0.4% delta, the AMD Radeon RX 580 with a score of 12928 and a 0.4% delta, the NVIDIA Tesla M2090 with a score of 13075 and a -0.7% delta, and the AMD Radeon 740M with a score of 12870 and a 0.9% delta. The RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and RX 580 are essentially tied with the GTX 1660 SUPER in aggregate scores.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The recorded average is 64.1 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by a small margin. This is the most demanding preset at 1080p, and the data shows it remains playable, though with less headroom than lower presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database are all within 1% of its average benchmark score. The Intel Xeon 6756E scores 14163, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-10400F's 14185. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD EPYC 7552 scores 14115, which is 0.5% lower. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14277, which is 0.6% higher. Any of these processors would deliver virtually identical performance in Minimum, since the game's CPU demands are modest and the frame rate data shows the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The GPU's nearest rivals are similarly close. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile scores 12940, which is 0.4% lower than the GTX 1660 SUPER's 12986. The AMD Radeon RX 580 scores 12928, which is 0.4% lower. The NVIDIA Tesla M2090 scores 13075, which is 0.7% higher. The AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870, which is 0.9% lower. For Minimum specifically, the RX 580 and RTX 3050 Ti Mobile would produce nearly identical frame rates at every resolution and settings preset, since their aggregate benchmark scores are within a fraction of a percent. The Tesla M2090, despite being a compute-oriented card, would also perform similarly in this title based on its score.

For users seeking slightly more headroom, the data does not list any alternative combo that ranks significantly higher within the same performance class. The nearest rivals all cluster within 1% of the respective CPU and GPU scores, meaning the measured FPS values for this combo would apply almost exactly to any of those replacements. The practical takeaway is that this combo's performance in Minimum is representative of a broad family of mid-range hardware from the same era.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong results across all presets. Low settings average 133.5 FPS, Medium averages 101.9 FPS, High averages 86.3 FPS, and Ultra averages 64.1 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 69.4 FPS, showing that settings have a significant impact at this resolution. All presets exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold, with Ultra being the closest at 64.1 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 81.6 FPS, Medium averages 63.6 FPS, High averages 52.8 FPS, and Ultra averages 41.4 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 40.2 FPS. Only Low and Medium clear the 60 FPS threshold. High falls 7.2 FPS short, and Ultra falls 18.6 FPS short. The Medium preset offers the best balance, with 63.6 FPS average and higher visual quality than Low.

At 3840x2160, the combo cannot maintain playable frame rates at any preset. Low settings average 46.5 FPS, Medium averages 37.1 FPS, High averages 32.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 22.3 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 24.2 FPS. The gap between 1440p Medium and 4K Medium is 26.5 FPS, and the gap between 1440p Low and 4K Low is 35.1 FPS. These large drops confirm that 4K resolution is beyond the practical reach of this GPU for Minimum.

The recorded data does not include minimum or maximum frame rate values, only averages. The average frame rates at 1080p all exceed 60 FPS, which suggests the combo can sustain playable performance even during demanding scenes, though the absence of min/max data means transient dips cannot be quantified from the database.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER can run Minimum at 60 FPS, but only at specific resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold. The best setting is Ultra, which averages 64.1 FPS, providing the highest visual quality while remaining playable. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium presets clear 60 FPS. Medium is the best playable setting, averaging 63.6 FPS. High falls short at 52.8 FPS, and Ultra falls short at 41.4 FPS. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. Low comes closest at 46.5 FPS, but this still falls 13.5 FPS below the playable threshold.

The verdict data lists 1920x1080 as fully playable with all settings, 2560x1440 as playable on Low and Medium, and 3840x2160 as not playable on any setting. For users with 1080p monitors, this combo provides a comfortable experience with room to spare at every preset, including Ultra. For 1440p users, Medium is the ceiling for 60 FPS gameplay, and dropping to Low provides additional headroom at 81.6 FPS. 4K users would need to accept sub-60 FPS performance or reduce resolution. The CPU and GPU both sit in the mid-range of the database, and the measured data confirms they pair well for this 2014 title, which does not demand the extreme resources that newer games require. The combo's rank of 3144 out of 3712 may look low, but the per-game measurements show it handles Minimum effectively at mainstream resolutions.