Minimum

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a formidable combination for Minimum, delivering playable frame rates at every tested resolution and settings preset. The data places this combo at rank 1119 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 30% of all configurations. Across all resolutions, the system only fails to maintain 60 FPS at the Ultra preset in 4K, where it drops to 45 FPS, but it comfortably handles every other scenario. This is a high-performance pairing that prioritizes raw frame throughput, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1440p and 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 9070 achieves a rank of 1119 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This percentile placement indicates strong overall performance, placing the system well ahead of the median configuration. The CPU itself is a top-tier performer, sitting in the 90th percentile among all CPUs tested, while the GPU sits in the 69th percentile among all GPUs. This disparity suggests the CPU is a stronger relative performer than the GPU, but both are well above average. The measured frame rates confirm this ranking: the combo produces a minimum of 45 FPS at the most demanding setting (4K Ultra) and reaches as high as 262 FPS at 1080p Low. The system’s overall benchmark average score of 48618 for the CPU and 23877 for the GPU underscores a balanced, high-end build that is more than capable for this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

In Minimum, the balance between CPU and GPU shifts predictably with resolution. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as evidenced by the massive frame rate headroom. At Low settings, the combo produces 262 FPS, which is 93 FPS higher than the High preset’s 169 FPS. This scaling shows that at lower resolutions and settings, the GPU has ample resources, and the CPU’s strong single-core performance (a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2064) ensures it does not become a limiting factor. The frame rate drops from Low to High are entirely attributable to increased GPU load.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but indicate a more balanced workload. The system achieves 169 FPS at Low and 83 FPS at Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is 86 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU is still heavily taxed by higher presets. However, the CPU’s 14 cores and 20 threads (with a Passmark multithread score of 38682) ensure that even at 1440p, the system doesn’t become CPU-bound, as the minimum frame rates remain solid. At 3840x2160, the GPU’s role becomes dominant. The 4K Ultra preset yields 45 FPS, while Low yields 91 FPS. The 46 FPS difference between settings is significant, but the GPU’s 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient, as the system remains playable at Medium with 70 FPS. The data shows that scaling from 1080p to 4K at the same preset (e.g., High) results in a performance drop from 169 FPS to 59 FPS, clearly showing the GPU’s workload intensifies with resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

For a consistent 60 FPS or higher experience, the benchmark data identifies the optimal settings for each resolution.

3840x2160 (4K): The best playable setting is Medium, which delivers an average of 70 FPS. While Low achieves 91 FPS and is also playable, Medium offers a superior visual experience while remaining above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset falls below the threshold at 45 FPS and is not recommended. High also falls short at 59 FPS, making Medium the clear choice for 4K.

2560x1440 (1440p): All settings are playable, but the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 83 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High (109 FPS) and Medium (130 FPS) are also excellent options for higher refresh rates, but Ultra is the top recommendation for maximum fidelity.

1920x1080 (1080p): The Ultra preset is the best option, achieving an average of 128 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the system has enough headroom to run the most demanding settings. Even at Ultra, the frame rate is high enough for a 120Hz or 144Hz display, though users with higher refresh rates could drop to High (169 FPS) or Medium (201 FPS) for even smoother motion.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rivals in the benchmark database, several alternative components would produce very similar performance in Minimum.

For the CPU, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is the closest match, with an average benchmark score of 48698, which is only 0.2% higher than the Core i5-14600K’s 48618. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is also nearly identical, scoring 48995, a 0.8% difference. These processors would behave almost indistinguishably in game. The AMD EPYC 4345P (score 48470) and Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (score 48287) are also within 0.7% or less, meaning any of these CPUs would yield essentially the same frame rates in Minimum when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, with an average score of 23736, just 0.6% lower than the RX 9070’s 23877. The AMD Radeon RX 6800S is also very close, scoring 24063, a 0.8% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile (23628, 1.1% away) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (24170, 1.2% away) round out the list. In practice, users with these GPUs should expect nearly identical performance in Minimum, with less than a 2% variation in average frame rates. A system with an RTX 2080 SUPER, for instance, would deliver frame rates within a few FPS of the RX 9070 at any given resolution and preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides exact average frame rates for all tested configurations. Minimum and maximum frame rates are only available for the Medium preset at each resolution.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 91 FPS.
• Medium: Average 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80 FPS.
• High: Average 59 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 45 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 169 FPS.
• Medium: Average 130 FPS, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149 FPS.
• High: Average 109 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 83 FPS.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 262 FPS.
• Medium: Average 201 FPS, with a minimum of 171 and a maximum of 231 FPS.
• High: Average 169 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 128 FPS.

The data shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern: moving from Low to Ultra settings halves the frame rate at 1080p (262 to 128 FPS) and at 1440p (169 to 83 FPS), while at 4K the drop is more severe (91 to 45 FPS). The Medium preset at each resolution shows that minimum frame rates stay within 10-12% of the average, indicating stable performance without major drops. At 4K Medium, the minimum of 59 FPS is just below the 60 FPS threshold, but the average of 70 FPS confirms sustained playability.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K with maximum settings?*

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is Medium, which yields 70 FPS.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combination can achieve?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 262 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. At 1080p Ultra, it still produces a very high 128 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in terms of performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48618. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, scores 48698, which is a 0.2% difference. This means the two CPUs perform virtually identically in this game.

Q: Is the RX 9070 significantly faster than the RTX 2080 SUPER?

A: No. The RX 9070 has an average GPU score of 23877, while the RTX 2080 SUPER scores 24170. The RTX 2080 SUPER is actually 1.2% faster in average benchmark score, meaning in-game frame rates would be nearly identical.

Q: At which resolution does the system perform best relative to the 60 FPS threshold?

A: At 1920x1080, the system delivers 128 FPS at Ultra settings, which is more than double the 60 FPS threshold. Even at 4K, it achieves 70 FPS at Medium, showing strong performance at all resolutions.

Q: Why is the Ultra preset not recommended at 4K?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 produces an average of 45 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold of 60 FPS. The Medium preset, at 70 FPS, is the highest quality setting that maintains a playable frame rate.