Minimum

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a performance profile that scales decisively with resolution in Minimum. At 1920x1080, the combination is overwhelmingly fast, posting an average of 267.7 FPS on Low settings and never dropping below the 60 FPS threshold even at the most demanding preset. Moving to 2560x1440, the combo retains a commanding lead, with all four tested settings clearing 60 FPS, including an 82.8 FPS average at Ultra. At 3840x2160, the data shows a clear boundary: High settings fall to 57.6 FPS, just under the 60 FPS playability threshold, while Ultra drops further to 44.1 FPS. The measured results indicate this configuration is a high-refresh-rate powerhouse at 1080p and 1440p, but requires settings adjustments to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this CPU-GPU combination in Minimum reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are exceptionally high across the board. Low settings produce an average of 267.7 FPS, Medium hits 201.8 FPS, High reaches 168.9 FPS, and even Ultra maintains a robust 133.8 FPS average. No minimum or maximum FPS values were recorded in the data, so the analysis relies solely on average performance, which remains far above the 60 FPS playable threshold at every preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are noticeable but still leave ample headroom. Low settings yield 172.3 FPS, Medium delivers 132.9 FPS, High achieves 108.6 FPS, and Ultra settles at 82.8 FPS. Each preset at this resolution keeps the average comfortably above 60 FPS, indicating that the combination can handle the higher pixel count without compromising smoothness. The step from 1080p to 1440p reduces performance by roughly 35-38% depending on the preset, which is consistent with the increased GPU load.

The 3840x2160 results show the first signs of strain. Low settings still deliver a playable 92.3 FPS average, and Medium maintains 71.7 FPS, both clearing the 60 FPS threshold. However, High drops to 57.6 FPS, falling just short of the playability cutoff, and Ultra falls further to 44.1 FPS. The data shows that at 4K, the RTX 3080's 10 GB memory buffer and 320-bit bus are no longer sufficient to maintain high frame rates at the upper preset levels. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep, with average FPS dropping by roughly 46-50% across presets, highlighting the resolution's heavy demand on the GPU.

Across all resolutions, the gap between Low and Ultra presets widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 133.9 FPS (267.7 vs 133.8); at 1440p, it is 89.5 FPS (172.3 vs 82.8); and at 4K, it narrows to 48.2 FPS (92.3 vs 44.1). This contraction suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, reducing the impact of preset changes on overall performance.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 60 FPS on 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 133.8, which is more than double the 60 FPS playable threshold. All four presets at this resolution clear 60 FPS, with Low at 267.7, Medium at 201.8, and High at 168.9.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 2560x1440 that stays above 60 FPS?

A: Ultra is the best preset at 1440p, with an average of 82.8 FPS. The data lists High, Low, Medium, and Ultra as all playable at this resolution, but Ultra provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the combination maintain 60 FPS at 3840x2160?

A: Only on Low and Medium presets. Low averages 92.3 FPS and Medium averages 71.7 FPS. High falls to 57.6 FPS and Ultra drops to 44.1 FPS, both below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 3080's performance compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA P106-100, scores 23249, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 and AMD Radeon RX 6600M score 23250 and 23273 respectively, both showing a 0.3-0.4% delta. The AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276, also 0.4% higher. These differences are negligible in real-world terms.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K sits in the 95th percentile against all CPUs, indicating top-tier performance. Its average benchmark score is 79097, with its closest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF, scoring 79371 (0.3% higher).

Q: Which component is more critical at 4K resolution for this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 3840x2160. The CPU's strong single-core score (2262.5 in Cinebench R23) is sufficient for the game's demands, but the RTX 3080's average FPS drops significantly at 4K, particularly on High and Ultra presets, showing the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute limits are the primary constraint.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS scaling across resolutions reveals how the CPU and GPU divide responsibilities in Minimum. At 1920x1080, the combination produces extremely high frame rates, with Low settings hitting 267.7 FPS. This suggests the CPU, with its 24 cores and 32 threads and boost clock of 6.00 GHz, is feeding the GPU efficiently enough to saturate its output. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and single-core score of 2262.5 indicate ample processing headroom for the game's logic at 1080p.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops across all presets, but the relative performance between presets remains similar. For instance, Low goes from 267.7 to 172.3 FPS (a 35.6% reduction), while Ultra goes from 133.8 to 82.8 FPS (a 38.1% reduction). This uniform scaling suggests that the GPU is now the primary driver of performance, as the CPU has enough headroom to maintain consistent frame delivery even as pixel count rises.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's role becomes even more dominant. The FPS drop from 1440p to 4K is substantial: Low falls from 172.3 to 92.3 FPS (46.4% reduction), and Ultra falls from 82.8 to 44.1 FPS (46.7% reduction). The RTX 3080's 10 GB GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth are likely the bottlenecks here, as the game's textures and geometry at 4K exceed what the GPU can process efficiently. The CPU's performance, meanwhile, remains largely unchanged, as evidenced by its strong benchmark scores and the fact that even at 4K Low, the average FPS is still above 90.

The preset scaling also highlights the GPU's importance. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 133.9 FPS, but at 4K it narrows to 48.2 FPS. This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU can push higher frame rates, and the GPU has more headroom to render additional visual effects. At 4K, the GPU is already near its limit, so changing presets has a smaller absolute impact. The data supports a conclusion that the RTX 3080 is the binding constraint at higher resolutions, while the i9-14900K provides more than enough processing power for the game at any setting.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 1092 out of 3712 total combos for Minimum. This places it in the upper third of all tested systems, specifically at the 70.6th percentile (calculated as 1 - 1092/3712). The rank reflects a strong overall performance, driven primarily by the CPU's exceptional compute capabilities and the GPU's solid 1080p and 1440p results.

The CPU's percentile of 95 against all CPUs is significantly higher than the GPU's percentile of 68 against all GPUs. This discrepancy suggests that the i9-14900K is a top-tier processor, while the RTX 3080, though capable, is not at the same relative level. In the context of Minimum, the combo's rank of 1092 indicates that many other pairings with newer or higher-end GPUs outperform it, particularly at 4K where the RTX 3080's limitations become apparent.

The GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks, such as the NVIDIA P106-100 and AMD Radeon RX 6600M, all score within 0.4% of the RTX 3080. This cluster of similar scores suggests that the GPU's real-world performance is closely matched by a range of other cards, which may contribute to the combo's mid-tier rank. The CPU's nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i9-14900KF and AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, also show minimal deltas (0.3-1.7%), indicating that the i9-14900K is firmly in a competitive performance tier.

Given the rank of 1092 out of 3712, the combo sits above the median but well below top-tier configurations. For a game like Minimum, which appears to be GPU-bound at higher resolutions, the CPU's high percentile does not fully compensate for the GPU's mid-range standing. The data shows that this combination is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but its overall rank is tempered by 4K performance.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 can run Minimum at 60 FPS across most tested configurations. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with the lowest average being 133.8 FPS at Ultra. At 2560x1440, the same holds true, with Ultra averaging 82.8 FPS and Low at 172.3 FPS. Both resolutions provide a clear 60 FPS pass.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is conditional. Low and Medium presets are playable, with averages of 92.3 FPS and 71.7 FPS respectively. High settings fall short at 57.6 FPS, and Ultra is not playable at 44.1 FPS. Therefore, for 4K gaming, users must select Medium or lower to maintain smooth performance. The data shows that this PC is a capable 1080p and 1440p machine for Minimum, but 4K requires preset compromises.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 133.8 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a substantial margin above the playable threshold. Lower presets offer even higher frame rates—Medium at 201.8, High at 168.9, and Low at 267.7—but Ultra is the best balance of quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is again the best playable preset, averaging 82.8 FPS. This keeps the game smooth while utilizing the full visual feature set. High delivers 108.6 FPS, Medium 132.9 FPS, and Low 172.3 FPS, all exceeding 60 FPS, but Ultra is the recommended choice for the highest fidelity.

For 3840x2160, the best playable preset is Medium, with an average of 71.7 FPS. This is the highest setting that clears the 60 FPS threshold. Low averages 92.3 FPS, providing a smoother experience at reduced visual quality, but Medium offers the optimal compromise. High at 57.6 FPS and Ultra at 44.1 FPS are not recommended due to sub-60 FPS averages.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79371 (0.3% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus at 79574 (0.6% higher). These processors would behave nearly identically to the i9-14900K in Minimum, given the minimal deltas. The AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041 (1.2% higher), while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 77740 (1.7% lower), all within a tight performance band.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are clustered even closer. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249 (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 scores 23250 (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23273 (0.4% higher), and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276 (0.4% higher). These GPUs would deliver virtually the same frame rates in Minimum, making them viable alternatives if the RTX 3080 is unavailable. The data suggests that swapping to any of these components would yield nearly identical in-game performance, with differences well under 1%.