Minimum

The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination delivers a commanding performance profile for Minimum, with benchmark data showing that every resolution tested is capable of exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold at most settings. The most demanding preset tested, Ultra at 4K, is the only configuration that falls short, averaging 55.8 FPS. At 1440p and 1080p, this system clears 60 FPS at every preset, including Ultra, making it a high-refresh-rate powerhouse for this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data places the RTX 5070 Ti within a tightly clustered group of GPUs, with its average benchmark score of 49957 landing at the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest performance rival is the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, which posts an average score of 50001, a negligible -0.1% difference. This indicates that, in terms of raw GPU compute, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX Vega 64 would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Minimum. The Intel Arc A550M is also close, with an average score of 49737, sitting just 0.4% behind the RTX 5070 Ti. At the upper end of this group, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT scores 50951, which is 2% higher, suggesting it would provide a modest performance edge. Conversely, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT scores 48477, placing it 3.1% behind the RTX 5070 Ti, making it a slightly slower alternative in this game.

On the CPU side, the Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287, placing it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-13600T, which scores 35305, a difference of only -0.1%. This effectively puts the two processors on par for gaming workloads. The Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365, which is -0.2% relative to the 12700K, indicating near-identical performance. The Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, just -0.3% higher, while the Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, a -0.4% difference. In practice, a system built with any of these CPUs would behave almost indistinguishably from the i7-12700K when paired with the same GPU in Minimum, as the performance deltas are all within a fraction of a percent.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals that the RTX 5070 Ti is the dominant component in this configuration, but the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial: Low averages 337.5 FPS, while Ultra averages 167.5 FPS. This gap of 170 FPS indicates that at 1080p, the GPU is heavily utilized even at Low settings, but the CPU is capable of feeding it enough data to reach very high frame rates. The i7-12700K, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, provides sufficient single-thread performance to avoid becoming a bottleneck at these frame rates.

As resolution increases to 1440p, the frame rates drop across all settings, but the pattern remains consistent. Low averages 219.9 FPS, while Ultra averages 104.8 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra shows a reduction from 167.5 to 104.8 FPS, a 37% decrease, which is primarily driven by the GPU's pixel throughput demands. At 2160p, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Ultra drops to 55.8 FPS, while High averages 76.9 FPS. This resolution scaling indicates that the RTX 5070 Ti is the primary determinant of performance, with the CPU providing ample headroom at all settings. The data suggests that even at 4K Ultra, the CPU is not the bottleneck; the GPU's rendering load is what pushes the frame rate below 60 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is High, which achieves an average of 76.9 FPS. The Medium preset averages 89.1 FPS, and Low averages 115.8 FPS, but High is the optimal balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls short, averaging 55.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, all presets clear the 60 FPS mark, with Ultra delivering an average of 104.8 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it still provides a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. Low averages 219.9 FPS, Medium averages 170.7 FPS, and High averages 139.8 FPS, but Ultra is recommended for the best visual experience without sacrificing playability.

At 1920x1080, the system performs exceptionally well, with Ultra averaging 167.5 FPS. This is the most demanding preset, and it provides a very high frame rate suitable for fast-paced gameplay. Low averages 337.5 FPS, Medium averages 258.8 FPS, and High averages 219 FPS, but Ultra is the clear choice for maximum visual fidelity while maintaining far more than 60 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can run Minimum with excellent results across most configurations. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best option at an average of 76.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution is not playable, as it averages 55.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, all settings are playable, and Ultra is the best choice, averaging 104.8 FPS. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with Ultra averaging 167.5 FPS, making it the best setting for this resolution. In summary, the only scenario where this system fails to hit 60 FPS is at 4K Ultra, which is an extreme configuration for a game from 2014. For all other tested resolutions and presets, the system provides a smooth and responsive experience, with the RTX 5070 Ti and i7-12700K proving to be a formidable pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 115.8 FPS, Medium produces 89.1 FPS, High produces 76.9 FPS, and Ultra produces 55.8 FPS. The progression shows a steady decline as visual quality increases, with the largest drop occurring between High and Ultra, where the frame rate falls by 21.1 FPS. This indicates that the Ultra preset introduces a significant rendering load that pushes the GPU beyond its comfortable limit at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are considerably higher across the board. Low settings average 219.9 FPS, Medium averages 170.7 FPS, High averages 139.8 FPS, and Ultra averages 104.8 FPS. The scaling is more linear here, with each preset step reducing the frame rate by roughly 30-35 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is still the primary constraint, but it has enough headroom to handle all presets well above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak performance. Low settings average 337.5 FPS, Medium averages 258.8 FPS, High averages 219 FPS, and Ultra averages 167.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 170 FPS, which is the largest absolute difference across all resolutions. This shows that at 1080p, the CPU and GPU work together efficiently, with the GPU able to render frames at very high rates even at demanding settings.

FAQ

*Q: Can the Intel Core i7-12700K and RTX 5070 Ti run Minimum at 4K Ultra settings?*

A: No, at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system averages 55.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset at this resolution averages 76.9 FPS and is the most demanding playable option.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gameplay?

A: At 2560x1440, all presets are playable, and Ultra is the best choice, averaging 104.8 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64?

A: The RTX 5070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 49957, while the RX Vega 64 scores 50001, a difference of -0.1%. This indicates that the two GPUs would perform nearly identically in Minimum.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the data shows that at 1920x1080, the system reaches up to 337.5 FPS on Low settings and 167.5 FPS on Ultra. The i7-12700K provides sufficient performance to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at these frame rates.

Q: Which resolution provides the highest frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which averages 337.5 FPS. For a balanced experience, 1080p Ultra averages 167.5 FPS.

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the CPU and GPU combination?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287, placing it at the 84th percentile of CPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 49957, placing it at the 86th percentile of GPUs.