Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a wide spread of performance in Minimum, depending on the resolution and quality preset selected. Benchmark data shows a clear pattern: at 1920x1080, the combination is overwhelmingly capable, with average frame rates ranging from 177 FPS on Low settings down to 87 FPS on Ultra. At 2560x1440, performance remains strong, with averages between 114 FPS on Low and 56 FPS on Ultra, though the Ultra preset dips below the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the combo struggles more significantly; only the Low preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, while Medium averages 47 FPS, High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra falls to 30 FPS. The data indicates a robust 1080p and 1440p experience, with 4K limited to the lowest settings for smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data for this CPU-GPU combination in Minimum reveals how performance scales across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 177 FPS, which is the highest recorded figure for this combo. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS, showing consistent frame pacing. The High preset yields an average of 114 FPS, while the Ultra preset, the most demanding at this resolution, still maintains a solid 87 FPS average. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the hardware is never bottlenecked, and even the heaviest settings leave ample headroom above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. The Low preset averages 114 FPS, which is identical to the 1080p High result, suggesting the GPU is still the limiting factor but with plenty of reserve. Medium settings produce an average of 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS, keeping gameplay fluid. High settings drop the average to 73 FPS, still comfortably above the playable mark. The Ultra preset, however, falls to an average of 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is too demanding for smooth play at 1440p.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens considerably. The Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 61 FPS, which barely clears the 60 FPS line. Medium settings average 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS, showing noticeable dips that would be visible during intense scenes. High settings average 39 FPS, and Ultra drops to 30 FPS, both of which are well below the playable threshold. The data shows a clear resolution ceiling for this combo: 4K gaming is only viable on the lowest settings, and even then, the margin is slim.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Minimum?*

A: The highest recorded average is 177 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset.

*Q: Can this system run Minimum at 2560x1440 on Ultra settings?*

A: No. The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 produces an average of 56 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at this resolution is High, with an average of 73 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: Yes, but only on the Low settings preset. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 61 FPS, which just clears the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets at 4K, including Medium (47 FPS), High (39 FPS), and Ultra (30 FPS), are below playable levels.

Q: How does the performance at 1920x1080 Ultra compare to 2560x1440 High?

A: The 1080p Ultra preset averages 87 FPS, while the 1440p High preset averages 73 FPS. This shows a 14 FPS difference, indicating that the resolution increase has a significant impact on frame rate, even when using a lower quality setting.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum frame rates recorded for the Medium preset at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum frame rate is 115 FPS and the maximum is 156 FPS, with an average of 135 FPS. This tight range suggests consistent performance without major stutters.

Q: How many total combinations were tested for this game, and where does this combo rank?

A: This combo ranks 2422 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of all tested systems for Minimum.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination ranks 2422 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum, which places it in the 65th percentile of performance. This ranking indicates that while the system is capable of running the game smoothly at lower resolutions and settings, it is far from the top tier of hardware. The CPU itself sits in the 72nd percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683, while the GPU is in the 65th percentile against all GPUs, with an average score of 19765. These percentile values suggest the CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU when compared to their respective pools, which aligns with the observed performance where the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The combo's rank of 2422 out of 3712 means that a substantial number of other hardware pairings deliver higher frame rates in this game. This is expected given the mid-range positioning of both components. The data shows that the system performs best when the resolution is kept at 1920x1080, where it can handle even the Ultra preset with an average of 87 FPS. At 2560x1440, it can manage High settings at 73 FPS but falls short on Ultra. At 4K, only the Low preset is viable. This ranking reflects a versatile but not exceptional performer, suitable for 1080p gaming with high refresh rates and acceptable 1440p gaming on medium to high settings.

The Verdict

Based on the verdict by resolution data, this PC can run Minimum at 1920x1080 with all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — all of which clear the 60 FPS target. The best setting at this resolution is Ultra, which delivers an average of 87 FPS, providing a fully smooth experience with maximum visual quality. At 2560x1440, the system can run Low, Medium, and High presets above 60 FPS, with High being the best playable option at 73 FPS average. The Ultra preset at 1440p, averaging 56 FPS, is not recommended for smooth gameplay. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset surpasses the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets at 4K all fall below playable levels, with averages of 47, 39, and 30 FPS respectively. Therefore, the system is best suited for 1080p gaming at maximum settings or 1440p gaming at high settings, with 4K limited to the lowest quality preset.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the CPU and GPU each contribute to performance in Minimum across different resolutions. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as evidenced by the performance scaling from Low to Ultra. The average frame rate drops from 177 FPS on Low to 87 FPS on Ultra, a 90 FPS difference that is directly attributable to increased GPU load from higher quality settings. The CPU, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz and 12 threads, has ample headroom at this resolution, as even the most demanding preset does not cause the frame rate to dip near the CPU's limits. The data suggests that at 1080p, the RX 6650 XT is the limiting factor, and the i5-12400 is more than sufficient to feed it.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's role becomes even more pronounced. The frame rate drops from 114 FPS on Low to 56 FPS on Ultra, a 58 FPS reduction, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. The increase in resolution from 1080p to 1440p places a greater demand on the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth, which are rated at 168.6 GPixel/s and 280.3 GB/s respectively. The CPU's performance, as measured by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989, is not the limiting factor here, as the frame rate scales consistently with GPU load. At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmingly the dominant constraint. The frame rate drops to 61 FPS on Low and 30 FPS on Ultra, showing that the GPU is fully saturated at this resolution. The CPU's performance remains steady, indicating that the i5-12400 is not holding back the system even at 4K, where the GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 2048 shading units are the primary determinants of performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 87 FPS. This setting provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. For 2560x1440, the best playable setting is High, with an average of 73 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance, as the Ultra preset at this resolution falls to 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. For 3840x2160, the only preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 61 FPS. This setting is the sole viable option for 4K gaming, and while it may not offer the best visuals, it provides playable frame rates. The data shows that the system's optimal configuration is 1080p Ultra for maximum quality, 1440p High for a balanced experience, and 4K Low for those who prioritize resolution over detail.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12400, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD EPYC 7643 with a score of 18697 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core i7-1355U with 18730 (0.3% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 with 18811 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core i3-14100F with 18519 (0.9% higher). These CPUs have comparable average scores, meaning they would likely deliver similar frame rates in Minimum when paired with the same GPU. The i3-14100F, with a score just 0.9% higher than the i5-12400, could be considered a close substitute, though it has fewer cores and threads, which may affect performance in other games.

For the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT, the nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla K40m with a score of 19885 (0.6% lower), the AMD FirePro D300 with 19637 (0.7% higher), the AMD FirePro W7000 with 19905 (0.7% lower), and the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 with 19602 (0.8% higher). These GPUs have very similar average benchmark scores, indicating that they would produce nearly identical frame rates in Minimum. However, the RX 6650 XT has a specific feature set, including 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, which may not be fully matched by the older workstation-class cards. For a direct gaming replacement, the Quadro K5200, with a score 0.8% higher, is the closest match in raw performance, though its driver support and memory configuration differ. Overall, any of these alternatives would provide a similar gaming experience in Minimum at the tested resolutions and settings.