Minimum

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a strong combination for Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The data shows this combo handles the game with ease at standard resolutions, with 1440p Ultra delivering 61.9 FPS average and 1080p Ultra reaching 99.1 FPS average. At 4K, however, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and only Low settings keep the frame rate above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 204.5 FPS, Medium drops to 154.1 FPS, High yields 132.4 FPS, and Ultra still maintains a strong 99.1 FPS average. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is never close to struggling, with even the most demanding preset leaving ample headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains solid but shows a predictable decline. Low settings average 128.6 FPS, Medium falls to 102.3 FPS, High hits 86.8 FPS, and Ultra dips to 61.9 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is particularly noteworthy because it sits just above the 60 FPS playable threshold, meaning the combo can run the game at maximum quality at this resolution without dropping below playable framerates. The gap between Medium and High at 1440p is 15.5 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 24.9 FPS, showing that Ultra carries a steeper performance cost.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. Low settings average 71 FPS, which is playable, but Medium falls to 53.3 FPS, High drops to 46.6 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 31.9 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep: at Ultra, the average frame rate falls from 61.9 to 31.9, a reduction of 30 FPS. At High, the drop is from 86.8 to 46.6, a 40.2 FPS loss. This indicates that 4K is a significant burden for the RTX 4060, which has an 8 GB GDDR6 memory buffer and a 128-bit bus. The data does not include min or max FPS values, so the analysis relies on averages, but the trend is clear.

The settings scaling within each resolution follows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium costs 50.4 FPS, Medium to High costs 21.7 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 33.3 FPS. At 1440p, the deltas are 26.3, 15.5, and 24.9 FPS respectively. At 4K, the deltas are 17.7, 6.7, and 14.7 FPS. The smaller absolute differences at 4K suggest the GPU is nearing its limit, so preset changes have less relative impact on the final frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Core i7-14700K and the RTX 4060 shifts as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU has more influence because the GPU can render frames quickly, so the processor must keep up with the data feeding it. The i7-14700K is well-equipped for this task, with 20 cores, 28 threads, and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5 and single-core score of 2160 indicate ample processing power. The high frame rates at 1080p Low (204.5 FPS) show that the GPU is not the bottleneck at lower settings.

As resolution rises to 1440p, the GPU begins to take a more prominent role. The frame rate drops from 128.6 FPS at Low to 61.9 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 66.7 FPS, while the CPU workload remains relatively constant. This suggests the RTX 4060 is becoming the limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU dominates the performance equation. The difference between Low (71 FPS) and Ultra (31.9 FPS) is 39.1 FPS, and even the best case at 4K is below 1440p Ultra. The RTX 4060's specs — 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs — are modest for 4K rendering, and its 272.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is a constraint at higher resolutions.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this interpretation. At Low settings, moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces the average from 204.5 to 128.6 FPS, a 37% drop. Moving from 1440p to 4K reduces it from 128.6 to 71 FPS, a 45% drop. At Ultra settings, the drops are 37 FPS from 1080p to 1440p (99.1 to 61.9) and 30 FPS from 1440p to 4K (61.9 to 31.9). The larger relative drop at 4K Low suggests that pixel throughput becomes the primary constraint, pointing to the GPU as the main limiter.

The i7-14700K's strengths are less visible in this game because Minimum is an older title that likely does not stress modern multi-core processors heavily. However, the CPU's high single-thread performance ensures it does not hold back the GPU at any resolution. For players using lower resolutions with very high refresh rates, the CPU's capability matters more, but at 4K, the RTX 4060's architecture and memory subsystem are the decisive factors.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS average. Based on the measured data, the best settings for each resolution are determined by the most demanding preset that stays at or above this threshold.

At 3840x2160, the only playable setting is Low, which delivers an average of 71 FPS. Medium falls to 53.3 FPS, so it misses the threshold. High and Ultra are not viable, with averages of 46.6 and 31.9 FPS respectively. Therefore, for 4K gaming, Low is the recommended preset. This yields a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, but there is no room for higher quality settings.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable. Low averages 128.6 FPS, Medium 102.3 FPS, High 86.8 FPS, and Ultra 61.9 FPS. Since Ultra stays above 60 FPS, it is the best setting. The 61.9 FPS average is close to the threshold, so players who prefer a larger safety margin might choose High, but the data supports Ultra as playable.

At 1920x1080, every preset exceeds 60 FPS by a wide margin. Ultra delivers 99.1 FPS, which is the best quality available. Low averages 204.5 FPS, Medium 154.1 FPS, and High 132.4 FPS. Ultra is the clear choice for maximum visual fidelity, and the frame rate remains well above the playable threshold.

In summary, the combo can run Minimum at Ultra settings at both 1080p and 1440p, but 4K requires Low settings to maintain playable frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-14700K provide context for its performance. The CPU's average benchmark score is 69355, and it sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitor is the AMD EPYC 9115, with an average score of 69288, putting it 0.1% behind the i7-14700K. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, 0.7% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, 0.9% higher. These deltas are small, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Minimum, where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the average benchmark score is 17639, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666, just 0.2% higher. The AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, 0.3% lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 17551, 0.5% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro 460 scores 17509, 0.7% lower. These differences are negligible in practice, so any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Minimum. The RTX 4060 is end-of-life, and its successors in the GeForce 50 series would offer different performance, but the data does not include those comparisons.

When considering the full combo, the CPU's rivals are all high-end desktop or mobile parts, while the GPU's rivals are older or integrated solutions. This suggests the GPU is the weaker link in the pairing. For 4K gaming, swapping the RTX 4060 for a more powerful GPU would yield larger gains than upgrading the CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1985 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is consistent with the hardware's positioning. The CPU is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier processor, but the GPU is only in the 61st percentile, pulling the overall ranking down. The rank of 1985 means roughly 53.5% of tested combos perform better, and about 46.5% perform worse.

The ranking reflects that Minimum is not a demanding game by modern standards, so even mid-range GPUs can achieve high frame rates. The RTX 4060's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K results show its limitations. The high CPU score does not translate into a top overall rank because the game does not heavily utilize multi-core processors. Players with this combo should expect solid performance at mainstream resolutions, but not a top-tier showing among all tested systems.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K with High settings?*

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 46.6, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Low settings are required for 4K, delivering 71 FPS average.

Q: What is the best quality preset for 1440p gaming?

A: Ultra settings are playable at 2560x1440, with an average of 61.9 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS, so it is the recommended choice.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639, while the HD 7790 scores 17666. The HD 7790 is 0.2% faster, a difference that would have no noticeable impact on frame rates in Minimum.

Q: Is the Core i7-14700K overkill for this game?

A: The CPU is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs with an average score of 69355, but Minimum appears to be GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The CPU's power does not significantly affect frame rates at 4K, where the RTX 4060 is the bottleneck.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 154.1. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience.

Q: How many tested combos does this setup outperform?

A: This combo ranks 1985 out of 3712 tested combos, meaning it performs better than 1727 combinations and worse than 1985. It sits near the middle of the overall distribution.