Minimum

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-11400F sits in a densely populated performance tier. Its average benchmark score of 17,177 places it within 0.6% of several very different processors. The AMD EPYC 7H12, a server-class chip, scores 17,120, a 0.3% delta. The Intel Core i5-12450H, a mobile part, scores 17,239, a 0.4% delta in the opposite direction. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G scores 17,278 (0.6% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U scores 17,074 (0.6% lower). This clustering suggests the i5-11400F delivers a level of compute throughput that is easily matched by both high-core server parts and efficient mobile designs, meaning game performance will likely hinge on other system attributes rather than a CPU advantage.

On the graphics side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 posts an average benchmark score of 15,290. Its nearest rivals form an eclectic group. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 matches almost exactly at 15,283, a delta of 0.0%. The AMD Radeon 680M integrated graphics trails by just 0.1% at 15,270. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15,199 (0.6% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15,171 (0.8% lower). The RTX 2060 thus behaves nearly identically to a much older flagship, a modern integrated solution, and two more recent discrete cards. For Minimum, any of these alternatives would likely produce similar frame rates, though the RTX 2060 retains features like 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and DirectX 12 Ultimate support that those rivals may not fully match.

The practical takeaway: if a system had to substitute the i5-11400F or RTX 2060, the user would see almost no measurable difference in this game based on the database's aggregate scores. The tight deltas indicate that the CPU and GPU are both near inflection points where small architectural changes matter more than raw score differences.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this exact CPU and GPU pairing for Minimum at 2,875 out of 3,712 tested combinations. That places it in the lower portion of all possible configurations, roughly in the 22nd percentile of tested combos. This is a meaningful signal: despite the RTX 2060 being a dedicated discrete GPU and the i5-11400F being a modern 6-core processor, the pairing does not climb into the upper ranks for this specific title.

Why would a combo with a 71st percentile CPU and 58th percentile GPU rank so low overall? The answer likely lies in the game's age and its demands. Minimum released in 2014, and its engine may favor raw single-thread performance or specific GPU features rather than the balanced throughput this combo offers. The data shows 3,712 combinations were tested, and many of those presumably include higher-tier GPUs that push frame rates far beyond what this pairing achieves. The rank is not a condemnation of the hardware; it simply reflects that for this particular game, many other systems deliver more. Users targeting 60 FPS should note that this combo clears that bar at 1080p and 1440p with certain presets, but it is nowhere near the top of the leaderboard.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data covers three resolutions and four settings presets per resolution. No minimum or maximum frame times were recorded, so the analysis relies entirely on average FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 and i5-11400F produce 55.5 FPS on Low, 40.4 FPS on Medium, 35.6 FPS on High, and 26.1 FPS on Ultra. The spread from Low to Ultra is 29.4 FPS, a large drop that indicates 4K resolution heavily taxes the GPU. Even at Low settings, 4K barely misses the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the picture improves significantly. Low settings deliver 101.1 FPS, Medium drops to 79.9 FPS, High holds at 65.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 51.6 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 21.2 FPS, while Medium to High costs 14.7 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 13.6 FPS. This resolution offers a clear playable window through High settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo performs strongly across the board. Low settings hit 152.4 FPS, Medium reaches 118.2 FPS, High manages 99.3 FPS, and Ultra stays at 74.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 77.7 FPS, showing that even the most demanding preset at 1080p leaves substantial headroom above the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p at identical settings is also notable: High improves from 65.2 to 99.3 FPS, a 34.1 FPS gain, which suggests resolution is a dominant factor for this hardware.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Minimum? The database's verdictByResolution data gives a clear answer per resolution. At 1920x1080, every preset clears 60 FPS: Low at 152.4, Medium at 118.2, High at 99.3, and Ultra at 74.7. The best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 74.7 FPS, so users can max out the game at 1080p and still stay well above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is more selective. Low (101.1 FPS), Medium (79.9 FPS), and High (65.2 FPS) all pass the 60 FPS bar. Ultra does not, at 51.6 FPS. The best playable setting is High, with 65.2 FPS. This gives 1440p users a comfortable margin at High, but not enough headroom to enable Ultra without dropping below 60.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. Low sits at 55.5 FPS, Medium at 40.4, High at 35.6, and Ultra at 26.1. The verdictByResolution field lists no playable settings and no best setting for 4K. Users with a 4K display would need to lower the resolution or accept sub-60 frame rates.

The overall verdict: this combo is fully capable at 1080p with max settings, partially capable at 1440p with High settings, and not capable at 4K for smooth play. The 60 FPS threshold is the reference point, and the data shows the system clears it in seven of twelve tested scenarios.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded FPS data reveals how the workload shifts between CPU and GPU as resolution changes. At 1080p, the i5-11400F has an easier job feeding frames, and the RTX 2060 becomes the limiting factor. The evidence: Ultra at 1080p produces 74.7 FPS, while High at 1440p produces 65.2 FPS. Both are GPU-bound scenarios, but the 1080p result is higher because the GPU has fewer pixels to render. If the CPU were the bottleneck at 1080p, the FPS would likely plateau regardless of resolution.

At 1440p, the GPU load increases, as shown by the drop from High at 1080p (99.3 FPS) to High at 1440p (65.2 FPS), a 34.1 FPS reduction. This is a clear GPU-scaling effect. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, appear sufficient to keep up, since the FPS drop is proportional to the pixel count increase rather than a sudden CPU stall.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. Low settings at 4K (55.5 FPS) are slower than Ultra at 1080p (74.7 FPS), despite the massive reduction in graphical quality. This indicates the RTX 2060's raw pixel throughput, not the CPU, is the primary constraint. The i5-11400F's single-thread score of 868 in 3DMark and 2024 in Cinebench R23 suggest it has enough headroom for this 2014 title, which likely does not scale heavily across many threads.

The settings scaling reinforces this. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra costs 77.7 FPS, while at 4K the same transition costs 29.4 FPS. The smaller absolute drop at 4K indicates the GPU is already saturated, so additional settings changes have less impact. The CPU matters most at low resolutions and low settings, where frame rates exceed 150 FPS, but even then the i5-11400F manages to feed the GPU without obvious stalling.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Minimum at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 delivers 74.7 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: High is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 65.2 FPS. Ultra falls to 51.6 FPS and is not playable.

Q: Is 4K resolution playable with this hardware?

A: No. The highest average at 3840x2160 is 55.5 FPS on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets are lower.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 scores 15,290 on average, nearly identical to the GTX 580 (15,283, 0.0% delta), the Radeon 680M (15,270, 0.1%), the RTX 3050 OEM (15,199, 0.6%), and the RX 7600 (15,171, 0.8%). All five are within 0.8% of each other.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: Low averages 152.4 FPS, while Ultra averages 74.7 FPS, a difference of 77.7 FPS.

Q: Why does the combo rank low overall if it can hit 60 FPS at 1080p and 1440p?

A: The combo ranks 2,875 out of 3,712 tested combinations for Minimum. Many other tested systems likely include higher-tier GPUs that achieve much higher frame rates, especially at 4K, which this combo cannot handle above 55.5 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution, based on the measured average FPS:

At 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, with an average of 74.7 FPS. This is the maximum preset available and it clears the threshold by 14.7 FPS, leaving a modest but real margin.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is High, with an average of 65.2 FPS. This passes the threshold by 5.2 FPS, which is workable but leaves little room for demanding scenes if average FPS were to dip.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The closest is Low at 55.5 FPS, so there is no recommended best setting for this resolution. Users at 4K should consider reducing resolution to 1440p or accepting lower frame rates.

For users who prioritize smoothness over visual fidelity, the data also shows that Low at 1440p (101.1 FPS) and Medium at 1080p (118.2 FPS) offer far more headroom. The optimal configuration depends on whether the display is 1080p or 1440p native. If the display is 1080p, Ultra is the clear choice. If it is 1440p, High provides the best balance of quality and performance.