Minimum

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is a highly capable combination for Minimum, delivering playable frame rates across the vast majority of tested configurations. At 1080p and 1440p, this combo clears the 60 FPS threshold with ease at every preset, including Ultra, while 4K remains playable at Medium settings. The data indicates this system is overkill for 1080p gaming in this title, but provides a solid high-refresh-rate experience at 1440p and a respectable 4K experience when settings are moderated.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 3,712 tested hardware combinations in Minimum, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 1,328th. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all possible configurations, though the ranking is heavily influenced by the sheer number of more powerful, modern components in the database. The percentile data for the individual components is more revealing: the Core i7-14700KF sits in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, while the RTX 3070 Ti is in the 75th percentile among all GPUs. This disparity suggests the CPU has significant headroom over the GPU in this title.

The GPU is the primary bottleneck in this pairing. The RTX 3070 Ti's average benchmark score of 29,945 is notably lower than the CPU's average of 70,163, which indicates that the graphics card will limit performance in graphically intensive scenarios. However, the CPU's massive compute advantage ensures that it will never hold the system back, even at lower resolutions where CPU load is typically higher. The combo rank of 1,328 reflects a system where the processor is far more powerful than the graphics card, a balance that works well for a game like Minimum that appears to scale significantly with GPU load.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets clearly shows that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is the determining factor for frame rates in Minimum. The data shows a dramatic shift in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K, which is characteristic of GPU-bound workloads. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 118 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, this drops to 41 FPS — a reduction of 65% as pixel count quadruples. This steep decline is a textbook sign that the GPU is working at its limit.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits 240 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame delivery capability for this title. The Core i7-14700KF, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is clearly not the limiting factor here. The difference between 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra is 122 FPS, while the difference between 1440p Low and 1440p Ultra is 79 FPS, and between 4K Low and 4K Ultra is 43 FPS. This pattern confirms that as resolution increases, the GPU workload grows, and the CPU's influence on the final frame rate diminishes.

Preset scaling also highlights the GPU's dominance. At 1440p, moving from Low to High yields a 55 FPS drop, while moving from High to Ultra yields a 24 FPS drop. This non-linear scaling is typical of a GPU that is being pushed progressively harder. The CPU, by contrast, shows no signs of bottlenecking even at the lowest settings, where frame rates are highest. The i7-14700KF's single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,235, is more than sufficient for this game's engine.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the combo's capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 240 FPS, Medium averages 184 FPS with a minimum of 156 and maximum of 212, High averages 155 FPS, and Ultra averages 118 FPS. Even the most demanding 1080p preset stays well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, with the Ultra setting offering a 58 FPS margin over that mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong. Low settings average 155 FPS, Medium averages 119 FPS with a range of 101 to 137, High averages 100 FPS, and Ultra averages 76 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p still clears the 60 FPS threshold by 16 FPS, making it a viable option for gamers with 1440p monitors. The minimum frame rate recorded at 1440p Medium is 101 FPS, indicating consistent performance without significant dips.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limitations. Low settings average 84 FPS, Medium averages 64 FPS with a minimum of 54 and maximum of 74, High averages 54 FPS, and Ultra drops to 41 FPS. The 4K Medium preset is the only configuration at this resolution that maintains an average above 60 FPS, though its minimum of 54 FPS suggests occasional dips below the threshold. High and Ultra presets at 4K fall short of playable frame rates, with averages of 54 and 41 FPS respectively.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data provides several points of comparison for both the CPU and GPU, allowing for an understanding of what other hardware would deliver similar results. For the Intel Core i7-14700KF, the nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which scores 69,996 (0.2% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which scores 69,875 (0.4% lower). The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69,515 (0.9% lower), while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K scores 70,879 (1% higher). These deltas are minimal, meaning any of these processors would perform nearly identically in Minimum, given the game's apparent GPU bottleneck.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti's nearest rivals are closely matched. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile scores 29,928, just 0.1% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 6800 scores 30,095 (0.5% higher). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti scores 29,783, which is 0.5% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6700 scores 30,433, which is 1.6% higher. These small percentage differences translate to negligible frame rate variations in practice. A system with any of these GPUs paired with a similarly performing CPU would produce frame rates within a few FPS of those measured here.

The practical implication is that users with a Ryzen 7 9700F or a Ryzen 9 7950X, or those with an RTX 2080 Ti or RX 6800, should expect nearly identical performance in Minimum. The RTX 5070 Mobile, despite being a mobile part, matches the desktop RTX 3070 Ti's average score almost exactly, suggesting that laptop users with this GPU would see comparable results at similar power limits.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 118 FPS. This is the recommended setting for full visual fidelity, as it provides a 58 FPS buffer over the playable threshold. The system has ample headroom at this resolution, and even the most demanding settings do not come close to stressing the hardware.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best playable preset, with an average of 76 FPS. This is 16 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a stable experience for most users. The High preset offers an even larger margin at 100 FPS, but Ultra's 76 FPS average is sufficient for smooth gameplay, particularly on monitors with adaptive sync.

At 3840x2160, the best playable preset is Medium, which averages 64 FPS. This is the only 4K setting that meets the 60 FPS criterion. While the average is acceptable, the minimum of 54 FPS indicates that the system will occasionally dip below the threshold during intense scenes. Low settings at 4K provide a more comfortable margin at 84 FPS, but Medium is the highest preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can definitively run Minimum with excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, and with acceptable performance at 4K. According to the verdict by resolution, at 1920x1080, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable, with Ultra delivering the best visual experience at 118 FPS average. At 2560x1440, the same is true, with Ultra achieving 76 FPS average. The system is fully capable of high-refresh-rate gaming at these resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the playable settings are limited to Low and Medium, with Medium being the best choice at 64 FPS average. The High and Ultra presets at 4K fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 54 and 41 FPS respectively. Gamers with 4K displays will need to compromise on visual quality, but the Medium preset offers a balanced experience.

The verdict is clear: this combination of Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is more than sufficient for Minimum. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking ensures it will not bottleneck any GPU configuration, and the GPU's 75th percentile ranking provides strong 1080p and 1440p performance. For 4K gaming, the system is borderline but playable with reduced settings. This setup is recommended for gamers targeting high frame rates at 1440p, where it excels, and it remains a viable option for those exploring 4K with moderate expectations. The data confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, but the overall package delivers a smooth and responsive experience across the majority of settings.