Minimum

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-9400 sits in a tightly packed group of processors according to aggregate benchmark scores. The database places it at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals are all within a fraction of a percent: the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, which is 0.2% ahead; the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% ahead; the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% behind; and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% behind. In practical terms, any of these four processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound behavior in Minimum, as the performance deltas are too small to produce a measurable difference in frame pacing or average frame rate. A system builder swapping between these chips would not observe a meaningful change in this title's performance profile.

On the graphics side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 holds the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21035. Its closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL at 21153, just 0.6% higher. The NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379, 1.6% higher, while the AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237, 1% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is the only nearby rival that trails, scoring 20713, which is 1.6% lower. For Minimum specifically, the RTX 5050 and these three slightly faster cards would produce nearly indistinguishable frame rates, while the RX 5600 XT would be marginally slower but still within the same performance class. Users coming from any of these GPUs should expect similar graphics-limited behavior, particularly at higher resolutions where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Core i5-9400 and the RTX 5050 ranks 2274 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. That places this pairing in the lower-middle portion of the database, roughly at the 61st percentile of all tested system configurations. The ranking reflects a system that is well above the minimum playable threshold at most settings, but not one that dominates the upper tiers of the chart. The processor's 47th percentile standing and the GPU's 66th percentile standing combine to produce a system that is clearly capable in this game, though it sits behind a substantial number of higher-end pairings. The rank suggests that while the RTX 5050 carries most of the graphical workload, the i5-9400 does not hold the system back to a significant degree at 1080p or 1440p, where frame rates are consistently high. At 4K, however, the system falls to the bottom of its playable range, and the rank reflects that limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this pairing covers three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 179 FPS. Medium settings average 137 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. High settings average 115 FPS. Ultra settings average 88 FPS. Every setting at 1080p stays well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, and even the minimum recorded frame rate at Medium, 117 FPS, exceeds the threshold by a wide margin.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU working harder. Low settings average 116 FPS. Medium settings average 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS. High settings average 74 FPS. Ultra settings drop to an average of 57 FPS, which falls just below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Medium preset at 1440p maintains a minimum of 75 FPS, comfortably above the threshold, while High averages 74 FPS but does not have a recorded minimum in the data.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5050 is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 62 FPS, barely clearing the threshold. Medium settings average 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS, meaning even the peak frame rate stays below the playable threshold. High settings average 40 FPS. Ultra settings average 30 FPS. The 4K results show a steep drop-off as settings increase, with the gap between Low and Ultra representing a 32 FPS average difference. The 4K Medium data is the only resolution and setting combination in the entire dataset that includes both minimum and maximum values, and both confirm that the system cannot sustain playable performance at that configuration.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Minimum at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 88 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Ultra is listed as playable at this resolution.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 74 FPS, which is the highest preset that remains at or above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra at this resolution averages 57 FPS, which is below the threshold.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings. The 3840x2160 Low preset averages 62 FPS, just above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 48, 40, and 30 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rival, the RX 5600 XT?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, which is 1.6% higher than the RX 5600 XT's score of 20713. The RX 5600 XT is the only nearby rival that scores lower than the RTX 5050.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1080p?

A: Ultra settings at 1920x1080 average 88 FPS, and it is the highest preset available. All four presets at this resolution are playable, with Low averaging 179 FPS, Medium averaging 137 FPS, and High averaging 115 FPS.

Q: How does the Core i5-9400 compare to the Core i7-10710U?

A: The Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, which is 0.3% higher than the Core i7-10710U's score of 2248. Both processors are effectively equivalent in aggregate performance.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Core i5-9400 and the RTX 5050 shifts noticeably across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU has ample headroom, and the GPU is the primary driver of performance differences between settings. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p costs 91 FPS on average, from 179 FPS down to 88 FPS, a reduction of roughly half. This steep scaling indicates that the GPU is fully engaged and that the i5-9400 is not starving the frame pipeline at this resolution. The 1080p Medium preset, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS, shows consistent frame delivery, reinforcing that the CPU can feed the GPU without bottlenecks.

At 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more stressed, and the scaling between presets tightens. Low averages 116 FPS, Medium averages 88 FPS, High averages 74 FPS, and Ultra averages 57 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 59 FPS, smaller than at 1080p, which suggests that the GPU is approaching its throughput ceiling. The CPU still has enough headroom to keep the system from becoming CPU-limited, as evidenced by the fact that even the lowest preset at 1440p, Low at 116 FPS, is lower than the 1080p Low result of 179 FPS. That difference is attributable to the increased pixel count, not CPU limitations.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5050 is clearly the dominant constraint. Low settings average 62 FPS, Medium averages 48 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 32 FPS drop, and the system cannot reach 60 FPS at any preset above Low. The i5-9400's role at 4K is effectively moot, as the GPU is saturated and the CPU has no opportunity to become the bottleneck. The data shows that the i5-9400 is sufficient to keep up with the RTX 5050 at every resolution tested, and that the GPU dictates playability in all cases. The system is never CPU-limited in this title, based on the measured results.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 88 FPS. This is the highest preset available, and the system clears the threshold comfortably. All four presets at 1080p are playable, but Ultra delivers the best visual quality while maintaining a healthy margin above the threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is High, with an average of 74 FPS. Ultra at this resolution averages 57 FPS, which falls short of the 60 FPS threshold. High provides a 14 FPS margin over the threshold, while Medium averages 88 FPS and Low averages 116 FPS for users who prefer higher frame rates over visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the only playable setting is Low, with an average of 62 FPS. This barely clears the 60 FPS threshold, leaving only a 2 FPS margin. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the playable threshold, with averages of 48, 40, and 30 FPS respectively. For 4K gaming, users should select Low and accept the minimal margin, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a more comfortable performance buffer.