Minimum

Minimum is a third-person shooter released in 2014, and the recorded data for this Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 580 combination shows a system that is highly dependent on resolution and settings. The measurements reveal a clear pattern: 1080p is the only viable territory for maintaining a smooth experience, while higher resolutions quickly fall below the 60 FPS playability threshold. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across all tested configurations, examines the roles of the CPU and GPU, and identifies the best settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of how this combination handles Minimum across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below playable levels. The Low preset produces an average of 32 FPS, which drops to 24 FPS on Medium with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS. The High preset averages 20 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 15 FPS. None of these configurations come close to the 60 FPS target, indicating that 4K is not a realistic option for this hardware in this game.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance improves but remains insufficient for smooth gameplay. The Low preset reaches an average of 59 FPS, just one frame short of the playable threshold. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. High settings produce an average of 38 FPS, while Ultra drops to 29 FPS. The data indicates that even at the lowest settings, 1440p cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS, making this resolution a poor fit for the hardware.

At 1920x1080, the system finally demonstrates playable performance. The Low preset averages 91 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the threshold. Medium settings average 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS, which keeps the experience mostly smooth with occasional dips. High settings average 58 FPS, just below the target, and Ultra averages 45 FPS. The 1080p results show a clear progression: lower presets deliver higher frame rates, and only Low and Medium meet the 60 FPS requirement.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of FPS across resolutions reveals the relative importance of the CPU and GPU in this game. At 1080p, the GPU has less work to do, and the frame rates are higher, suggesting that the graphics card is the limiting factor in most scenarios. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p is 21 FPS, from 91 to 70, while the jump from Medium to High is 12 FPS, from 70 to 58. This indicates that as settings increase, the GPU workload grows, and the frame rate drops correspondingly.

At 1440p, the GPU becomes even more dominant. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, which is 32 FPS lower than the same preset at 1080p. This significant drop highlights the increased pixel count and its impact on the Radeon RX 580. The Intel Core i5-12600KF, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, is unlikely to be the bottleneck at this resolution, as the CPU has ample headroom for a 2014 title. The consistent frame rate reduction from 1080p to 1440p and then to 2160p points to the GPU as the primary constraint.

At 2160x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. The Low preset averages 32 FPS, which is 27 FPS lower than at 1440p and 59 FPS lower than at 1080p. The Ultra preset at 4K averages just 15 FPS, showing that the RX 580 cannot handle the pixel throughput required at this resolution. The CPU's role diminishes further as resolution increases, and the data strongly suggests that any attempt to improve performance should focus on the graphics card, not the processor.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the recorded data shows no playable settings, as every preset averages below 60 FPS. The best option would be the Low preset, which achieves 32 FPS, but this is far from the playable threshold. There is no configuration at this resolution that can deliver a smooth experience with this hardware.

At 2560x1440, the situation is similar. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target, and no other preset comes close. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets are lower still. The data indicates that 1440p is not playable, regardless of settings.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 70 FPS. This provides a playable experience with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. The Low preset offers even higher performance at 91 FPS, but Medium is the best balance of quality and speed that meets the threshold. High settings average 58 FPS, which is just below the target, so Medium is the recommended choice.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear: this PC can run Minimum at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, but it cannot maintain 60 FPS at 1440p or 2160p. At 1920x1080, the playable settings are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best option at 70 FPS average. The High preset at 1080p averages 58 FPS, narrowly missing the threshold, and Ultra averages 45 FPS. For 2560x1440, the recorded data lists no playable settings, as even the Low preset falls one frame short at 59 FPS. At 3840x2160, no settings are playable, with the best case being Low at 32 FPS. The system is capable of delivering a smooth experience only at 1080p, and users should stick to Medium settings for the best visual quality without sacrificing frame rate.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12600KF provide context for its performance in this system. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D has an average score of 27896, which is 0.3 percent higher than the i5-12600KF's average of 27799. The Intel Core i9-10900K scores 27872, also 0.3 percent higher, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 27887, again 0.3 percent higher. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 27712, which is 0.3 percent lower. These differences are minimal, meaning that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would likely produce very similar frame rates in Minimum, as the GPU remains the bottleneck.

For the AMD Radeon RX 580, the nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile with an average score of 12940, which is 0.1 percent higher than the RX 580's 12928. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12986, 0.4 percent higher, while the AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870, 0.5 percent lower. The AMD FirePro W5100 scores 12847, 0.6 percent lower. These close scores indicate that any of these GPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in this game, so the measured FPS data would be a reliable estimate for those alternatives as well.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 3383 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the lower portion of the database, reflecting the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. The CPU is a strong performer, with a percentile of 79 among all CPUs, but the GPU sits at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs. The combination's rank is heavily influenced by the graphics card, which struggles with the demands of 1440p and 4K. For a game from 2014, the hardware is sufficient for 1080p gaming, but it cannot compete with higher-end combinations in the database.

FAQ

Q: What is the best playable setting for this PC at 1920x1080?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 70 FPS, a minimum of 59 FPS, and a maximum of 80 FPS.

Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 2560x1440?

A: No, the recorded data shows no playable settings at 1440p. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K with the Low preset?

A: At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 32, which is well below the playable threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12600KF compare to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X3D has an average score of 27896, which is 0.3 percent higher than the i5-12600KF's score of 27799. The performance difference is negligible.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon RX 580 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average score of 12986, which is 0.4 percent higher than the RX 580's score of 12928. The difference is small, so performance in Minimum would be similar.

Q: What is the rank of this combo in the database for Minimum?

A: The combo ranks 3383 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the database.