Minimum

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT delivers a performance profile that is heavily dependent on resolution and graphical presets in Minimum. The data shows a system capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, solid playability at 1440p, and a clear limitation at 4K. The recorded measurements, which include average FPS only, provide a straightforward picture of what this combination can achieve without stutter or frame-time analysis.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, this combo is exceptionally strong. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 166, which is a massive headroom for any high-refresh-rate monitor. Medium settings still deliver an average of 127.6 FPS, while High settings come in at 110.9 FPS. Even at the most demanding Ultra preset, the system maintains an average of 83.2 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The scaling between presets is predictable, with a drop of roughly 38 FPS from Low to Medium, another 17 FPS from Medium to High, and a further 28 FPS from High to Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very playable, but the margins tighten. Low settings produce an average of 108.3 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings average 84.1 FPS, and High settings average 72.8 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 54.3 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold and indicates a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality at this resolution. The gap between High and Ultra here is nearly 20 FPS, making Ultra a less attractive option for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates on higher presets. The Low preset is the only setting that clears the 60 FPS bar, with an average of 60.7 FPS. Medium settings drop to 45 FPS, High settings fall to 37.2 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 29.7 FPS. The performance curve at 4K is steep, suggesting that the GPU is heavily taxed by the pixel count, and only the most minimal settings allow for a stable experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the primary performance driver in this pairing, especially as resolution increases. The transition from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows a consistent and significant reduction in average FPS across all presets, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 110.9 at 1080p to 72.8 at 1440p and then to 37.2 at 4K. This scaling pattern demonstrates that the GPU's rendering throughput is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The Intel Core i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, appears sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p, where the frame rates are high. The fact that the 1080p Low preset reaches 166 FPS suggests the CPU is capable of handling a high instruction rate without becoming a bottleneck. However, the role of the CPU becomes less critical as the resolution climbs, because the GPU's workload increases more than the CPU's. At 4K, the CPU is likely idling more, waiting for the GPU to complete its rendering tasks, as evidenced by the dramatic FPS drops that are purely resolution-driven.

The scaling between presets also highlights the GPU's dominance. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is about 83 FPS, while at 4K, the same preset change results in a difference of only 31 FPS. This compression of the FPS range at higher resolutions is a direct result of the GPU becoming fully saturated, meaning the CPU has less influence on the final frame rate. In short, for this game and this combo, the RX 5700 XT is the deciding factor, and the i5-9400 provides a stable foundation without adding noticeable overhead.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The recorded average FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 60.7, which is just above the 60 FPS playability threshold. Medium settings average 45 FPS, High settings average 37.2 FPS, and Ultra settings average 29.7 FPS, all of which are below the threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use at 1440p for this combo?

A: The data indicates High settings are the best choice for 2560x1440, delivering an average FPS of 72.8. This is the highest preset that remains above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings at this resolution average 54.3 FPS, which is not playable.

Q: How does the RX 5700 XT perform with this CPU at 1080p on Ultra settings?

A: The combination easily handles 1080p Ultra, with an average FPS of 83.2. This is well above the playable threshold and leaves room for a high refresh rate display, though it is the lowest average FPS recorded at this resolution.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck for the RX 5700 XT in this game?

A: Based on the frame rate scaling, the CPU does not appear to be a major bottleneck. At 1080p, the system achieves 166 FPS on Low settings, which indicates the CPU can push high frame rates. The performance drops at higher resolutions are consistent with GPU limitations, not CPU ones.

Q: What is the playable settings list for this PC at 1080p?

A: All four presets are playable at 1920x1080. The verdict data shows High, Low, Medium, and Ultra all clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra being the best settings option at an average of 83.2 FPS.

Q: Which resolution offers the most headroom above the 60 FPS threshold?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings provides the most headroom, reaching an average of 166 FPS. This is the highest recorded average FPS in the measured data and gives a significant buffer above the playability threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ranks 2679 out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all possible pairings, indicating that while it is capable of running the game, there are many other hardware combinations that yield higher performance. The rank suggests that the system is not a top-tier performer, but it is far from being an unusable setup.

The CPU itself sits at the 47th percentile when compared to all CPUs in the database, which is a mid-range position. The GPU, on the other hand, is at the 59th percentile compared to all GPUs, putting it slightly above average. This combination of a mid-pack CPU and a slightly better-than-mid-pack GPU results in the overall combo rank, which is dragged down by the CPU's relative position. The data implies that the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting, and the CPU is a limiting factor in achieving a higher ranking, especially in scenarios that are less GPU-intensive.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-9400 is closely matched by a few other processors. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average benchmark score of 2259, which is only 0.2% higher than the i5-9400's score of 2254. The Intel Core i3-10305 is similarly close, with a score of 2264, a 0.4% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 and Intel Core i7-10710U are also within a tight band, with scores of 2246 and 2248 respectively. For gaming purposes, swapping the i5-9400 for any of these CPUs would result in virtually identical frame rates, as the performance delta is negligible.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has a set of rivals that are remarkably close in average benchmark score. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M has a score of 16351, a 0.1% difference from the RX 5700 XT's 16361. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell and AMD Radeon PRO W7500 are also within a fraction of a percent, with scores of 16408 and 16415 respectively. Even the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2, with a score of 16504, is only 0.9% higher. In practical terms, any of these GPUs would produce the same measured FPS in Minimum as the RX 5700 XT, making them direct replacements for this specific game's performance profile.

The Verdict

This PC can definitively run Minimum, but the experience varies sharply by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is a powerhouse, with all presets clearing the 60 FPS threshold. The best settings option is Ultra, which averages 83.2 FPS, providing a smooth and visually rich experience. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable on High, Low, and Medium settings. The best option is High, which averages 72.8 FPS, but users should avoid Ultra, as it drops to 54.3 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system is only playable on Low settings, with an average FPS of 60.7, which just meets the playability standard. Higher settings at 4K are not viable for smooth gameplay.

For a 1080p gamer, this combo is an excellent choice, offering high frame rates even at maximum settings. For a 1440p gamer, it is a solid performer as long as you stay away from the Ultra preset. For a 4K gamer, it is a marginal setup, limited to the lowest visual quality to maintain 60 FPS. The data confirms that the sweet spot for this pairing is 1080p and 1440p, with 4K being a compromise rather than a target.