Minimum

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a dominant performance profile in Minimum, clearing the 60 FPS playability threshold at every tested resolution with the right settings. At 4K, the combo manages a playable 61.2 FPS on High settings, while at 1440p and 1080p, it achieves over 89 FPS even on the maximum Ultra preset. The data confirms this is a high-end pairing that prioritizes frame rate headroom, with the only sub-60 FPS result occurring at 4K Ultra, where the average drops to 47.2 FPS. Across the board, the measured average frame rates are consistently robust, with no minimum or maximum frame data recorded, indicating a focus on sustained average performance rather than variance analysis.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this configuration shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are exceptionally high, starting at 277.9 FPS on Low settings. Moving to Medium yields 211.9 FPS, High produces 180.7 FPS, and Ultra still maintains a very strong 135.8 FPS. This resolution is clearly CPU-bound in the lower presets, as the frame rates far exceed what would be expected from GPU limitations alone.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS remains well above the playability threshold across all settings. Low settings deliver 181.7 FPS, Medium drops to 139 FPS, High produces 117.1 FPS, and Ultra still achieves 89.9 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a typical reduction of roughly 35-50% depending on the preset, with the Ultra preset experiencing the largest relative drop, indicating increased GPU load at higher resolutions.

The 3840x2160 results tell a more nuanced story. Low settings produce 93.5 FPS, Medium yields 72.8 FPS, and High just clears the 60 FPS threshold at 61.2 FPS. Ultra, however, falls below playability with 47.2 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra at 4K is significant at 14 FPS, suggesting that the Ultra preset introduces effects that heavily tax the GPU. Overall, the data shows a smooth degradation curve from 1080p to 4K, with the combo maintaining playable frame rates at all resolutions except 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global context of tested configurations for Minimum, this combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 864th out of 3712 combos. This places it in the top 23.3% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing for a game released in 2014. The percentile ranking for the CPU is 90, meaning it outperforms 90% of all CPUs in the benchmark database, while the GPU sits at the 83rd percentile among all GPUs. The combo rank of 864, however, is lower than either individual component percentile would suggest, indicating that the game's engine may not fully utilize the strengths of both components simultaneously.

The data suggests that while the CPU is exceptionally strong relative to other processors, and the GPU is well above average, the overall system ranking is dragged down by the game's age and its likely single-threaded or lighter multi-threaded workload characteristics. The average benchmark score for the CPU is 49394, which is near the top of its class, while the GPU's average score is 41187. The discrepancy between the high individual component scores and the mid-tier combo rank points to Minimum not being particularly demanding on modern hardware, allowing even mid-range systems to achieve high frame rates and thus compressing the top of the ranking.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the CPU and GPU in Minimum becomes evident when analyzing the scaling between resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the frame rates on Low (277.9 FPS) and Medium (211.9 FPS) are so high that they suggest the CPU is the primary limiter, as the GPU is unlikely to be saturated at these settings. The drop from Low to High at 1080p is 97.2 FPS, which is substantial, but the fact that the system still produces 180.7 FPS on High indicates that the i5-14600KF's 14 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient for this game's workload.

When moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease across all presets, but the relative differences between presets remain similar to 1080p. This suggests a balanced load where both components are contributing. At 4K, the picture changes. The 4K Low result of 93.5 FPS is less than half of the 1080p Low result, while the 4K Ultra result of 47.2 FPS is roughly one-third of the 1080p Ultra result. This disproportionate scaling at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the dominant factor at 4K, especially on higher presets. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases, with the RTX 3080 Ti's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 912.4 GB/s bandwidth becoming the bottleneck at 4K Ultra. The data supports a conclusion that at 1080p and 1440p, the system is well-balanced, but at 4K, the GPU workload takes precedence.

The Verdict

Based on the verdictByResolution data, this PC can run Minimum at a playable level across almost all configurations. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with the Ultra preset achieving 135.8 FPS. This makes 1080p Ultra the best settings choice, providing the highest visual quality while maintaining a frame rate more than double the playability threshold. At 2560x1440, the system also runs all four presets above 60 FPS, with Ultra delivering 89.9 FPS. The best settings at 1440p are Ultra, as it offers the full visual experience without sacrificing playability.

The 4K resolution is where the verdict becomes conditional. The playable settings at 3840x2160 are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best playable option at 61.2 FPS. This is just barely above the 60 FPS threshold, so there is minimal headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 4K is not playable, with an average of 47.2 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, the user must cap the settings at High. In summary, the system is fully capable for 1080p and 1440p gaming at maximum settings, and for 4K gaming at High settings or lower.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users seeking similar performance to this specific CPU-GPU combination, the nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-14600KF provide close alternatives. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has an average benchmark score of 49228, which is just 0.3% lower than the i5-14600KF's score of 49394. This makes the Ryzen 9 7900 a nearly identical performer in synthetic benchmarks, and it would likely produce very similar frame rates in Minimum. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, a 0.4% delta, also placing it in the same performance tier. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% slower, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is slightly faster with a 0.8% higher score.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, which has an average score of 40870, just 0.8% lower. The NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707, which is 1.2% higher, and the standard Tesla M40 scores 41897, 1.7% higher. Interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, which is 2% lower than the RTX 3080 Ti. These rival GPUs would produce very similar frame rates in Minimum, with differences of only a few FPS at most. Users with these alternative components can expect comparable gameplay experiences, with the CPU choices offering nearly identical performance and the GPU options varying by only a few percent.

FAQ

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, at 4K resolution, the system achieves 61.2 FPS on High settings, 72.8 FPS on Medium, and 93.5 FPS on Low. However, the Ultra preset only produces 47.2 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 89.9 FPS, making it the best setting. All four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear the 60 FPS threshold at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 864th out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum, placing it in the top 23.3% of all systems tested.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the frame rates on Low (277.9 FPS) and Medium (211.9 FPS) are extremely high, suggesting the CPU is the primary limiter at lower presets, as the GPU is not likely saturated at those settings.

Q: What are the closest CPU alternatives to the i5-14600KF?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has an average score of 49228, just 0.3% lower than the i5-14600KF's 49394. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is 0.4% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% lower.

Q: Does the system have any issues running the game at maximum settings?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the Ultra preset runs well above 60 FPS (135.8 FPS and 89.9 FPS respectively). At 4K, the Ultra preset drops to 47.2 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, so High settings are recommended for 4K.