Minimum

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 delivers a decisive performance profile for Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. Across all three tested resolutions, the combination clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every settings preset, with headroom that allows for maximum graphical fidelity. The data indicates a system that is not merely capable, but one that consistently operates at frame rates far above the minimum requirement, making it a robust choice for high-refresh-rate displays and demanding visual settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

For players targeting a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data shows that this hardware combination can run the game at its highest preset, Ultra, at every resolution tested. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra in all cases.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset delivers an average of 63 FPS. This is the only resolution where the system approaches the 60 FPS threshold, but it does so successfully. For those who prefer a higher refresh rate at this resolution, the High preset yields an average of 82 FPS, while Medium and Low provide 98 and 128 FPS, respectively.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset maintains an average of 117 FPS, offering ample margin above the playable threshold. The High and Medium presets provide averages of 153 and 182 FPS, which are well-suited for 144Hz or even 165Hz monitors. The Low preset reaches an exceptionally high average of 238 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset achieves an average of 181 FPS. This configuration is ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming, as even the most demanding setting leaves significant performance on the table. The High preset reaches 237 FPS, Medium 283 FPS, and Low an extraordinary 369 FPS, making the system capable of pushing well beyond standard 144Hz displays.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and settings reveals distinct roles for the CPU and GPU in Minimum. The data shows a clear trend: as resolution increases, the load shifts more heavily onto the GPU, while at lower resolutions, the CPU becomes a more significant factor in determining peak frame rates.

Comparing the 1080p and 4K results at the Ultra preset, the average FPS drops from 181 to 63, a reduction of approximately 65%. This significant scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the increased pixel count demands more from the graphics card. The RTX 5080’s 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 960.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient to handle the load, but the frame rate reduction shows the GPU is working progressively harder.

Conversely, at 1080p, the frame rates are exceptionally high, reaching 369 FPS at the Low preset. This suggests that the CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve these extreme frame rates. The performance difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is substantial (369 vs 181 FPS), indicating that the GPU is still the main driver of performance, but the CPU’s single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2160, is sufficient to avoid becoming a limiting factor.

The Medium preset data, which includes min and max FPS values, further illustrates this dynamic. At 1080p Medium, the average is 283 FPS with a minimum of 240 and a maximum of 325. At 1440p Medium, the average is 182 FPS with a minimum of 155 and a maximum of 210. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 98 FPS with a minimum of 83 and a maximum of 113. The narrowing of the range between min and max FPS at higher resolutions (from an 85 FPS spread at 1080p to a 30 FPS spread at 4K) indicates that the GPU becomes the dominant constraint, reducing frame-time variance as the workload becomes more consistent.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions. The following breakdown details the exact average, minimum, and maximum FPS figures where available.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 369 FPS. The Medium preset averages 283 FPS, with a minimum of 240 and a maximum of 325 FPS. High settings produce an average of 237 FPS. The Ultra preset, the most demanding, still maintains a high average of 181 FPS. The data shows a consistent degradation in performance as settings are increased, but even the lowest figure at this resolution far exceeds the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers an average of 238 FPS. Medium settings average 182 FPS, with a minimum of 155 and a maximum of 210 FPS. High settings yield an average of 153 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 117 FPS, demonstrating that even at this higher resolution, the system retains substantial headroom for all settings.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset reaches an average of 128 FPS. Medium settings average 98 FPS, with a minimum of 83 and a maximum of 113 FPS. High settings produce an average of 82 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that approaches the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 63 FPS. This is the most demanding scenario tested, and while playable, it offers the least margin for error.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally shows that this PC can run Minimum at every resolution and settings preset tested. The verdict by resolution confirms that all settings, including Ultra, are playable at 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160.

At 3840x2160, the system achieves playable performance at all settings, with Ultra averaging 63 FPS. This is a pass, but the margin is thinner than at lower resolutions. Players who insist on 4K Ultra should be aware that frame rates may dip below 60 FPS in more demanding scenes, given the average is only 3 FPS above the threshold.

At 2560x1440, the system performs exceptionally well, with Ultra averaging 117 FPS. This resolution offers an ideal balance between visual fidelity and performance, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. All other settings are equally playable, with even the lowest preset, Low, averaging 238 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system is overwhelmingly powerful for this game. The Ultra preset averages 181 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience on any monitor. The data shows that this resolution is where the CPU and GPU combination truly shines, delivering frame rates that are suitable for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The benchmark data shows an average of 63 FPS at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 117 FPS at 2560x1440. This provides a high level of visual detail while maintaining a frame rate well above the playable threshold.

Q: How much performance is gained by lowering settings from Ultra to Low at 1080p?

A: The data shows a significant difference. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 181 FPS, while the Low preset averages 369 FPS. This represents an increase of 188 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this system at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 155 FPS. The average is 182 FPS, with a maximum of 210 FPS.

Q: Does this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K with all settings presets?

A: Yes, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) at 3840x2160 have average FPS values above 60. The lowest average is 63 FPS at Ultra, and the highest is 128 FPS at Low.

Q: How does the performance at 1080p compare to 4K at the High preset?

A: At the High preset, the system achieves an average of 237 FPS at 1920x1080, compared to 82 FPS at 3840x2160. This indicates a significant performance drop at the higher resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination ranks 209th out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places the system in the top 5.6% of all configurations tested, indicating a high level of overall performance. The rank reflects the system’s ability to handle the game’s demands across various resolutions and settings.

This high ranking is consistent with the individual performance of the components. The CPU has a percentile rank of 94 against all CPUs, and the GPU has a percentile rank of 87 against all GPUs. The combination of a top-tier CPU and a high-end GPU results in a system that is well-positioned to excel in this title, as evidenced by its strong performance in the measured FPS data.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this system. These alternatives are based on aggregate benchmark scores and offer a comparison point for potential upgrades or substitutions.

For the Intel Core i7-14700K, the closest rival is the AMD EPYC 9115, which has an average benchmark score 0.1% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 0.2% lower, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 0.7% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 0.9% lower. These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Minimum.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon 8060S, which scores 0.6% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 0.7% higher, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 2.3% higher. On the other side, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 2.2% lower. These GPUs would produce similar frame rates, with differences within a few percentage points of the RTX 5080.

In practical terms, swapping the CPU or GPU for any of these near-identical alternatives would result in a negligible change in performance for Minimum. The measured FPS at each resolution and settings preset would remain effectively unchanged, maintaining the same playability verdict.