Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. At 4K, the combination remains playable but requires a reduction in settings from the maximum preset. The data indicates a strong overall pairing, with the GPU being the primary performance driver at higher resolutions, while the CPU's solid single-thread and multi-thread benchmark scores ensure it does not become a limiting factor at lower settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest graphics preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at 3840x2160?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding option that stays above the playable threshold, averaging 73.1 FPS. The High preset averages 57.8 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, and the Ultra preset drops to 42.3 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 2560x1440 compared to 4K?

A: At 2560x1440, the system can run the Ultra preset with an average of 83.3 FPS, which is a significant improvement over the 4K Ultra average of 42.3 FPS. The performance headroom at this resolution is substantial, allowing for maximum settings without issue.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 or the Core i5-12400 more influential for this game's performance?

A: The data shows that performance scales significantly with resolution changes, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck. For instance, when moving from 1920x1080 Ultra (133.5 FPS) to 3840x2160 Ultra (42.3 FPS), the frame rate drops by over 68%, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 169.9 FPS. This is far above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating the hardware is underutilized at this resolution and settings level.

Q: Does the CPU's benchmark score suggest it will bottleneck the GPU?

A: The Core i5-12400 has a Passmark single-thread score of 3456 and a multi-thread score of 18747, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Given these robust scores, the data suggests the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output, especially in a game from 2014 that is not likely to be heavily multi-threaded.

Q: What is the best playable setting for 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is the best playable setting at this resolution, achieving an average of 83.3 FPS. All four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) at 2560x1440 clear the 60 FPS threshold, so the choice comes down to maximizing visual quality.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the Core i5-12400 and RTX 3080 handle Minimum at different resolutions. The goal is to identify the highest visual preset that still delivers a playable experience, defined as an average frame rate of 60 FPS or higher.

At 3840x2160, the system hits its performance ceiling. The Low preset runs at 90.9 FPS, and the Medium preset runs at 73.1 FPS, both comfortably above the threshold. However, the High preset drops to an average of 57.8 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. Consequently, the Medium preset is the optimal choice for 4K, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a smooth 73.1 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance headroom increases substantially. All four presets—Low (174.9 FPS), Medium (131.6 FPS), High (108.2 FPS), and Ultra (83.3 FPS)—are well above the 60 FPS threshold. Since the Ultra preset remains highly playable, it is the best setting for this resolution, delivering the full visual experience without compromising frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the hardware is vastly overqualified. The lowest preset, Low, produces 264.6 FPS, while the highest, Ultra, still manages 133.5 FPS. The Ultra preset is the clear recommendation here, as the frame rate is more than double the playable threshold, leaving ample performance for any potential frame rate spikes or background tasks.

CPU and GPU Roles

Benchmark results across resolutions and presets reveal a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i5-12400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 in Minimum. The game's performance scaling indicates that the GPU is the dominant factor, especially as resolution increases.

The evidence for GPU-bound behavior is strong when comparing the same preset across different resolutions. For example, the Ultra preset yields 133.5 FPS at 1920x1080, drops to 83.3 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally falls to 42.3 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 68% performance reduction from 1080p to 4K. A CPU-bound scenario would not show such a dramatic decline, as the processing load per frame would remain relatively constant; instead, the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth demands of the RTX 3080 are being saturated.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the frame rate reaches 264.6 FPS. This high number suggests that the CPU, with its strong single-thread performance (3dmark single-thread score of 910) and capable multi-threading (Passmark multi-thread score of 18747), is able to feed the GPU with enough draw calls and game logic updates to reach such high frame rates. At this point, the system is likely hitting a soft limit imposed by the game engine's frame update rate, rather than a hardware constraint.

At 4K, the CPU's workload per frame is relatively lower because the GPU is spending more time rendering pixels. The fact that the i5-12400 does not bottleneck the RTX 3080 in this scenario is evidenced by the fact that the FPS scales linearly with the pixel count and preset complexity. The core i5's 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, are sufficient to handle the game's logic, which is typical for a 2014 title that predates the current trend of heavy multi-threading.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is ranked 1086 out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the top 30% of all systems tested for this game, which is a strong result given the age of the title and the high-end nature of the GPU.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the RTX 3080's raw power. The GPU scores in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23172. While this is not the absolute top-tier card in the database, it is a high-performing part. The CPU, while not a flagship, sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, which means it is a solid match for the GPU. A weaker CPU might cause a larger bottleneck, but the data shows this combo is well-balanced.

This rank of 1086 suggests that many other combinations, likely with newer or more expensive parts, can outperform it. However, for a game released in 2014, the performance is more than sufficient, and the ranking primarily reflects the potential for very high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, rather than any difficulty in running the game itself.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rival data for the CPU and GPU, there are several hardware combinations that would yield similar performance levels in Minimum. It is important to note that the rivals are listed based on average benchmark scores, not specific game performance, but they provide a guide for what other parts might behave similarly.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. The closest rivals are the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697, -0.1% delta), the Intel Core i7-1355U (18730, -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18811, -0.7%). These processors have nearly identical average scores, meaning that in a game like Minimum, which is not highly CPU-dependent, the frame rates would be essentially the same. The Intel Core i3-14100F (18519, +0.9%) is also very close, being slightly slower but within a 1% margin. A system with any of these CPUs paired with an RTX 3080 would likely produce very similar FPS numbers.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, -0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250, -0.3%), and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, -0.4%). These GPUs are statistically tied with the RTX 3080 in synthetic benchmarks. In practice, a user with a P106-100 or a Radeon RX 6600M would see virtually the same average frame rates in Minimum as the RTX 3080, provided the CPU is not a limiting factor.

The Verdict

The data clearly answers whether this PC can run Minimum: it can, and with significant headroom in most scenarios. The verdict by resolution is straightforward.

At 1920x1080, the system excels. Every preset, from Low to Ultra, is playable, with the Ultra preset delivering an average of 133.5 FPS. This is a definitive yes for high-refresh-rate monitors, as the frame rate is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the system also passes with flying colors. The most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 83.3 FPS, which is comfortably above the playable threshold. This is the sweet spot for this combination, offering a great balance of visual fidelity and smooth performance.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is a conditional yes. The system can run the game, but not at maximum settings. The Medium preset is the highest playable option, achieving 73.1 FPS. The High preset dips to 57.8 FPS, which is not quite smooth enough for a consistent 60 FPS experience. Therefore, at 4K, the user must compromise on settings to maintain full playability.

Overall, the Intel Core i5-12400 and RTX 3080 is a potent pairing for Minimum. It provides a stellar experience for 1080p and 1440p players, and remains fully playable at 4K with a moderate settings adjustment.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination in Minimum. No minimum or maximum frame rate data was recorded, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS figures.

3840x2160

• Low: 90.9 FPS
• Medium: 73.1 FPS
• High: 57.8 FPS
• Ultra: 42.3 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 174.9 FPS
• Medium: 131.6 FPS
• High: 108.2 FPS
• Ultra: 83.3 FPS

1920x1080

• Low: 264.6 FPS
• Medium: 206.6 FPS
• High: 169.9 FPS
• Ultra: 133.5 FPS

This breakdown shows a consistent scaling pattern. For each resolution, dropping from Ultra to Low yields a substantial FPS increase, demonstrating the GPU's sensitivity to rendering load. The gap between settings is most pronounced at 4K, where the Ultra preset is 53% slower than the Low preset, reinforcing the conclusion that the RTX 3080's pixel throughput is the limiting factor at that resolution.