Minimum

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. Measured performance data shows this pairing handles the game with substantial headroom at every tested resolution and preset, with the most demanding 4K Ultra setting being the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system produces outstanding numbers across all presets. The Low setting achieves an average of 311 FPS, while Medium reaches 234.7 FPS and High delivers 198.7 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a robust 151.7 FPS average. No minimum or maximum frame rate values were recorded for this resolution, leaving only the averages for analysis.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains exceptionally strong. The Low preset yields 197.6 FPS average, Medium drops to 153.6 FPS, and High produces 126 FPS. The Ultra setting still comfortably clears 60 FPS with a 97.1 FPS average. Again, the dataset does not include minimum or maximum frame time values.

At 3840x2160, the scaling pattern continues but with more pronounced impact from the increased pixel count. The Low preset averages 104.3 FPS, Medium averages 83.6 FPS, and High averages 70.3 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration tested that falls below the playable threshold, producing a 54.1 FPS average. This is the sole instance across all twelve measurement points where the combination fails to maintain at least 60 FPS on average.

The absence of min/max FPS data means the analysis relies entirely on average frame rates. However, the margins are substantial enough that even potential frame dips would likely remain well above playable levels for most settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. Comparing the 1080p and 4K results for identical presets shows the expected performance drop from pixel throughput demands. The Low preset falls from 311 FPS at 1080p to 104.3 FPS at 4K, a reduction to roughly one-third. The Medium preset scales from 234.7 FPS down to 83.6 FPS, while High drops from 198.7 FPS to 70.3 FPS. Ultra declines from 151.7 FPS to 54.1 FPS.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions where frame rates exceed 200 FPS. At 1080p Low, the 311 FPS result indicates the Intel Core i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads boosting to 6.00 GHz, is providing sufficient single-thread throughput to avoid bottlenecking the RTX 4070 SUPER. The GPU's 35.48 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are the limiting factors as resolution climbs.

Preset scaling within each resolution reinforces the GPU-centric interpretation. At 1440p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces frame rate from 197.6 to 97.1 FPS, a 50.9% drop. At 4K, the same preset transition cuts performance from 104.3 to 54.1 FPS, a 48.1% decline. These consistent proportional drops across resolutions suggest the rendering pipeline is uniformly GPU-limited rather than encountering CPU constraints at any specific configuration.

The CPU's benchmark scores substantiate its capability. Cinebench R23 multi-core results of 39399.5 points and single-core of 2262.5 points place it in the 95th percentile among all CPUs. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 29995 and 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate it is the more modest component in this pairing, though still highly capable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination ranks 676th out of 3712 tested configurations in this game, placing it in the top 18.2% of all systems evaluated. This position reflects the strength of both components relative to the broader hardware landscape tested for Minimum.

The ranking is particularly notable given the game's age and its relatively modest system requirements. A 2014 title would typically show diminishing returns for flagship-class hardware, yet this combo still outperforms roughly 82% of tested systems. The high ranking stems primarily from the GPU's 12 GB GDDR6X memory and 192-bit bus, which provide ample bandwidth for even the most demanding 4K textures, combined with the CPU's exceptional single-thread performance that handles the game's older engine logic without constraint.

FAQ

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

A: No. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 54.1 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest playable 4K setting is High, which averages 70.3 FPS.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 97.1 FPS, making it both the highest quality and comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. All four presets at this resolution are playable.

Q: How much performance is lost moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings?

A: Using the Medium preset as an example, frame rate drops from 234.7 FPS at 1920x1080 to 83.6 FPS at 3840x2160, a 64.4% reduction. For High, the drop is from 198.7 FPS to 70.3 FPS, a 64.6% reduction.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to limit performance?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system produces 311 FPS, and the proportional performance decline across resolutions matches GPU-bound scaling. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking and 6.00 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom.

Q: Does this system stay above 60 FPS in all playable configurations?

A: Yes, with one exception. The 4K Ultra preset at 54.1 FPS is the only configuration below 60 FPS. All other eleven measured configurations exceed the threshold, with the lowest playable average being 70.3 FPS at 4K High.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i9-14900K's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79371 average benchmark points versus the 14900K's 79097, a mere -0.3% delta. This KF variant lacks integrated graphics but would deliver essentially identical gaming performance. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574 (-0.6% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041 (-1.2% delta), both within 1.2% of the 14900K's average score, making them statistically equivalent for this title.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB is the closest match with an average score of 43262 versus the RTX 4070 SUPER's 43223, a -0.1% delta. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268 (-0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43301 (-0.2% delta). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667 (-1% delta). All four alternatives fall within 1% of the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER's average score, indicating they would produce nearly identical frame rates in Minimum.

These near-identical benchmark scores suggest that swapping either component for its nearest rival would change measured FPS by less than 1-2% in practice. A system with the 14900KF or Ultra 9 290HX Plus paired with any of the four listed GPUs would deliver essentially the same gaming experience.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is both the highest quality and fully playable, averaging 151.7 FPS. This is the recommended configuration for maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing fluidity.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again provides the best experience, averaging 97.1 FPS. The 60 FPS threshold is cleared with substantial margin, making this the optimal choice for 1440p displays.

At 3840x2160, the High preset is the most demanding setting that maintains 60 FPS, averaging 70.3 FPS. The Ultra preset falls short at 54.1 FPS, so High represents the best balance of quality and performance at 4K.

For players prioritizing frame rate over visual quality, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 311 FPS, at 1440p delivers 197.6 FPS, and at 4K delivers 104.3 FPS—all exceptionally high values suitable for high-refresh-rate displays.

The Verdict

This system can unquestionably run Minimum at playable frame rates for the vast majority of configurations. At 1920x1080, all four presets—Low (311 FPS), Medium (234.7 FPS), High (198.7 FPS), and Ultra (151.7 FPS)—clear the 60 FPS threshold by wide margins. At 2560x1440, the same is true: Low (197.6 FPS), Medium (153.6 FPS), High (126 FPS), and Ultra (97.1 FPS) all exceed 60 FPS comfortably.

At 3840x2160, three of four presets are playable: Low (104.3 FPS), Medium (83.6 FPS), and High (70.3 FPS). The Ultra preset at 54.1 FPS is the only configuration that fails to reach the playable threshold. Players targeting 4K should select the High preset for the best visual quality that still maintains 60 FPS, or accept the Ultra preset's 54.1 FPS average if they prioritize maximum fidelity over the threshold.

The data shows this is a powerful pairing that handles a decade-old game with exceptional ease, ranking in the top 18% of all tested combos and delivering playable performance at every resolution and setting except one extreme configuration.