Minimum

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a high-end desktop combination that, according to measured data, handles the 2014 third-person shooter Minimum with ease at most resolutions. The CPU carries a launch MSRP of $409 and the GPU a launch MSRP of 599 USD. Across the tested configurations, the combo delivers frame rates well above the 60 FPS playable threshold at 1080p and 1440p, and only at 4K Ultra does it dip below that mark. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and practical settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The table below lists all measured average, minimum, and maximum frame rates for the Intel Core i7-12700K + RTX 4070 SUPER combo in Minimum. Where min/max values are not provided, they are marked as "—".

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 69 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 108 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 82 | 70 | 95 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 53 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | High | 128 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 200 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 153 | 130 | 176 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 98 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | High | 199 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 310 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 237 | 202 | 273 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 152 | — | — |

At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast: even the most demanding Ultra preset averages 152 FPS, while Low reaches 310 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra still averages 98 FPS, and at 4K, High manages 69 FPS. The only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold is 4K Ultra at 53 FPS. Medium presets consistently show tighter min/max ranges—at 1080p Medium the range is 202–273 FPS, at 1440p Medium 130–176 FPS, and at 4K Medium 70–95 FPS—indicating stable frame pacing in that setting.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals which component becomes the limiting factor. When moving from 1080p Low to 4K Low, average FPS drops from 310 to 108—a reduction to roughly one-third of the 1080p value. This steep decline with resolution increase points to the GPU becoming the primary constraint at higher pixel counts. Conversely, at 1080p, the CPU’s capability is highlighted: the combo achieves 310 FPS at Low, a figure far beyond what most displays can refresh, suggesting the processor has ample headroom to feed the GPU even in light rendering scenarios.

The settings scaling within each resolution is nearly proportional. At 1080p, Low (310) to Ultra (152) yields about half the frame rate; the same pattern appears at 1440p (200 to 98) and 4K (108 to 53). This consistent halving across resolutions implies that the performance drop from Low to Ultra is driven by the GPU’s rendering workload, not by CPU limitations, because the relative penalty remains constant regardless of pixel count. However, the absolute numbers tell a more nuanced story: at 4K Ultra, the 53 FPS average indicates the GPU is saturated, while at 1080p Ultra, the 152 FPS average suggests the CPU still has headroom—the bottleneck has shifted to the GPU only when resolution and settings are both maximized.

Benchmark results reinforce this interpretation. The CPU’s average benchmark score is 35,287, with a single-thread score of 1,043 in 3DMark, while the GPU’s average score is 43,223. These synthetic scores, combined with the measured FPS data, indicate that in Minimum, the RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant factor at 4K, while the i7-12700K provides sufficient processing power to avoid bottlenecks at lower resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU, based on average benchmark scores, are all within 0.4% of the i7-12700K’s performance. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35,305 (−0.1%), the Core i7-12700KF scores 35,365 (−0.2%), the Core i7-13700T scores 35,403 (−0.3%), and the Core 5 213PE scores 35,428 (−0.4%). Any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Minimum, making them viable substitutes if the i7-12700K is unavailable.

On the GPU side, the nearest rivals are similarly close. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43,262 (−0.1%), the GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43,268 (−0.1%), the Quadro M6000 scores 43,301 (−0.2%), and the RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43,667 (−1.0%). The RTX 4090 Mobile is the only rival that differs by a full percentage point, yet even that difference would translate to a negligible change in Minimum’s frame rates—likely less than 1 FPS in most settings. Thus, swapping to any of these alternatives would yield behavior very similar to the tested combo.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K Ultra?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 4K Ultra is 53, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest playable preset at 4K is High, averaging 69 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, all presets exceed 60 FPS. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 98 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 644th out of 3,712 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the upper tier of the database.

Q: Which CPU would give nearly the same performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600T has an average benchmark score of 35,305, just 0.1% lower than the i7-12700K’s 35,287. Other close options include the Core i7-12700KF and Core i7-13700T.

Q: Are there GPU alternatives that perform similarly?

A: Yes. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, RTX 5050 Mobile, and Quadro M6000 all have average scores within 0.2% of the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 43,223. The RTX 4090 Mobile is 1% lower, still a negligible difference.

Q: Does the combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K Medium?

A: Yes, 4K Medium averages 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 95 FPS, comfortably above the playable threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global database of tested CPU/GPU combinations for Minimum, this pairing holds the 644th position out of 3,712 entries. That places it in the upper portion of the list, though not at the very top—indicating that while it delivers strong performance, there are more powerful combinations that achieve higher frame rates, particularly at 4K Ultra. The rank reflects the balance between the i7-12700K’s solid multi-threaded capabilities and the RTX 4070 SUPER’s high-end rendering power, but the 4K Ultra shortfall keeps it from breaking into the top tier.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows:

• 3840x2160: High — averages 69 FPS. Ultra falls to 53 FPS, so High is the best playable preset.
• 2560x1440: Ultra — averages 98 FPS. All presets are playable, and Ultra provides the highest visual quality while still exceeding 60 FPS.
• 1920x1080: Ultra — averages 152 FPS. Even the most demanding preset offers more than double the playable threshold.

For players prioritizing smoothness over visual fidelity, 4K Low (108 FPS) and 4K Medium (82 FPS) are also viable options, but High is the recommended balance at 4K.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Minimum effectively. At 1920x1080 and 2560x1440, every preset—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold, with Ultra averaging 152 FPS and 98 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, the combo remains playable on High, Medium, and Low, with High delivering 69 FPS. The only configuration that fails to clear 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, which averages 53 FPS. Therefore, for most users, this combination is more than sufficient for Minimum, and even at 4K, only the absolute maximum settings require a compromise.