Minimum

The Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination delivers a categorical performance victory in Minimum, producing frame rates that are decisively above the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution and preset tested. The data confirms this pairing is not merely capable, but overwhelmingly dominant, with even the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K producing an average of 67 FPS. Across the board, the bottleneck shifts so heavily toward the GPU that the 14700F's 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample headroom, ensuring that the RTX 4090's raw power is fully utilized.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data reveals a linear scaling pattern that speaks to the efficiency of both components. At 1920x1080, the pairing is effectively unconstrained, with frame rates reaching levels that exceed the refresh rate of nearly all consumer monitors. The Low preset produces an average of 394 FPS, while Medium climbs to 301 FPS (with a minimum of 256 and maximum of 347). High settings yield 253 FPS, and even the Ultra preset—which typically imposes the heaviest load—maintains a staggering 193 FPS average. At 1080p, the GPU is never the limiting factor; the data suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the RTX 4090 at rates that approach the practical limits of the interface.

Moving to 2560x1440, the resolution increase begins to exert a measurable influence, though the performance remains exceptional. The Low preset delivers 254 FPS, a negligible drop from the 1080p figure, indicating that the GPU is still far from saturated. Medium settings produce 194 FPS (minimum 165, maximum 223), while High averages 163 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p registers 124 FPS, which is more than double the playability threshold and still smooth enough for high-refresh-rate displays. The progression from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a disciplined scaling curve, with each preset tier costing approximately 30-40 FPS, a pattern consistent with a GPU-bound scenario.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090 finally begins to show meaningful workload, though the results remain far above any playability concern. The Low preset produces 137 FPS, which is remarkable for 4K and indicates that the game's engine is not particularly demanding. Medium settings average 105 FPS (minimum 89, maximum 120), representing the first time the minimum dips below the 100 FPS mark. High settings sustain 88 FPS, while the Ultra preset—the most demanding configuration tested—still maintains a 67 FPS average. This 4K Ultra result is critical: it clears the 60 FPS threshold with a 11.7% margin, making it the definitive proof point for this combination's capability. Notably, the absence of min/max data for several entries suggests that frame pacing is consistent enough that extreme dips are not a concern, with the only recorded minimums (89 FPS at 4K Medium, 165 FPS at 1440p Medium, 256 FPS at 1080p Medium) all being comfortably above playable levels.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database's comprehensive testing of 3,712 combinations, this specific CPU-GPU pairing achieves a rank of 126. This places it in the top 3.4% of all tested configurations, a position that underscores its elite status. The percentile data corroborates this: the i7-14700F sits in the 91st percentile among all CPUs, while the RTX 4090 ranks in the 88th percentile among all GPUs. When combined, these components produce a synergy that boosts the pair above what either component might achieve with a less capable partner.

The rank of 126 out of 3,712 is particularly telling because it reflects not just raw component strength, but the optimization of the pairing. Many combinations with theoretically faster GPUs might rank lower if their CPU is a bottleneck; here, the 14700F's impressive single-thread performance (4,958 in Cinebench R23 single-core) and massive multi-thread capability (35,122 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) ensure that the RTX 4090 operates without constraint. The data indicates that this combo outperforms the vast majority of alternatives, with only 125 other configurations—likely featuring newer or more specialized hardware—surpassing it. For a game released in 2014, this pairing is effectively overkill, but the rank confirms that it is not just sufficient; it is among the best-performing setups ever tested for this title.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Minimum at 4K with the highest settings?*

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the combination produces an average of 67 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This makes Ultra settings at 4K fully playable.

Q: What is the maximum FPS achievable with this hardware?

A: The highest recorded average is 394 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This indicates that the combination can drive frame rates far beyond typical display refresh rates.

Q: How does performance scale between 1080p and 4K?

A: Across the Ultra preset, performance decreases from 193 FPS at 1080p to 124 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 67 FPS at 4K. This shows a predictable reduction of roughly 35% per resolution step, consistent with GPU-bound scaling.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data suggests no. At 1080p Low, the combination reaches 394 FPS, which indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU at very high rates. The 14700F's 28 threads and 5.40 GHz boost clock provide sufficient headroom.

Q: What is the lowest recorded frame rate across all tests?

A: The lowest minimum FPS reported is 89, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. This is still 48% above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating excellent frame stability.

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

A: It ranks 126th out of 3,712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 3.4% of all configurations tested for this game.

The Verdict

This combination does not merely run Minimum—it dominates it. The verdict data is unambiguous: at every resolution tested (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160), all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are classified as playable, meaning they all clear the 60 FPS threshold. The highest fidelity option, 4K Ultra, achieves an average of 67 FPS, which is the sole data point that is close to the threshold, yet it still maintains a comfortable margin. For gamers prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, the 1080p Low preset delivers 394 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play on high-refresh-rate monitors.

The practical implication is that users can select any settings combination without fear of dropping below playable levels. At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 124 FPS, making it ideal for 120Hz displays, while at 4K, the High preset (88 FPS) offers a smoother experience than Ultra (67 FPS) if one prefers higher refresh rates over maximum visual quality. The data confirms that this system is future-proof for this title, with headroom that suggests it could handle significantly more demanding games. The only caveat is that the GPU's End-of-life production status and the CPU's active status mean that while this is a top-tier combination today, it represents the peak of the current generation rather than an upgradeable platform.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Examining the nearest rivals provides context for what other hardware might deliver comparable results. For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700F (average benchmark score 53,620) is closely matched by the Intel Xeon 6505P (53,701, a -0.2% difference) and the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (53,469, +0.3% difference). These processors would produce statistically indistinguishable CPU-bound performance in Minimum. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53,288, +0.6% difference) and AMD EPYC 7313P (53,206, +0.8% difference) also fall within a narrow 1% band, meaning that any of these CPUs paired with an RTX 4090 would yield nearly identical results. The performance delta is so small that it would rarely translate into more than 1-2 FPS difference in game.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (average benchmark score 60,347) has a fascinating set of rivals. The Intel Arc Pro A60 (60,326, 0% difference) is a statistical dead heat, suggesting that in some workloads, this professional Intel card could match the 4090—though its real-world gaming performance would likely diverge significantly. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60,140, +0.3% difference) is similarly close in synthetic benchmarks, but the RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth would provide a substantial advantage in texture-heavy scenes. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61,896, -2.5% difference) actually scores slightly higher, while the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (58,657, +2.9%) scores slightly lower. These professional-grade GPUs are unlikely to be found in gaming rigs, but the data shows that in pure compute terms, they are not far from the 4090.

For a gamer seeking similar performance, the practical takeaway is that any of the listed CPUs combined with a 4090 would produce near-identical FPS. The GPU alternatives are more theoretical than practical, as none of these rivals are consumer gaming cards, but they indicate that the 4090's performance envelope is well-understood.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is identified, with the exact measured performance:

• 1920x1080: Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 193 FPS. This is 222% above the 60 FPS threshold, providing exceptional smoothness on any display. Even with maximum visual fidelity, there is enormous headroom.

• 2560x1440: Ultra preset remains the optimal selection, achieving an average of 124 FPS. This is 107% above the threshold, making it ideal for 120Hz monitors. The data shows that this resolution is the sweet spot, balancing visual quality with high refresh rates.

• 3840x2160: Ultra preset is still playable, averaging 67 FPS, which is 11.7% above the threshold. For users who prioritize maximum visual quality, this is viable. However, for those seeking a smoother 4K experience, the High preset at 88 FPS offers a 31% improvement in frame rate with only a modest reduction in visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 105 FPS is another option for those who want both high frame rates and reasonable detail, though it is notably even at 4K, the system never requires a compromise below High for a comfortable experience.