Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination is a capable pairing for the 2014 third-person shooter Minimum, but its performance varies significantly by resolution. The recorded data shows a clear trend: this system handles high refresh rates at 1080p, remains highly playable at 1440p with settings adjustments, and falls short of the 60 FPS playable threshold at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS results, compares the components against their nearest rivals, and provides specific settings recommendations based on the database's measurements.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains measured FPS data for this CPU and GPU combo across three resolutions and four quality presets. The results are comprehensive, showing both average and, where recorded, minimum and maximum frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 170 FPS, which is the highest recorded average for this system. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. The High preset produces an average of 109 FPS, while the Ultra preset still comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold with an average of 83 FPS. All four presets at this resolution clear the 60 FPS mark, making 1080p fully playable regardless of quality settings.

At 2560x1440, performance remains solid but requires more careful preset selection. The Low preset delivers an average of 110 FPS, which is still well above the playable threshold. Medium averages 84 FPS, with recorded minimum and maximum values of 71 and 97 FPS respectively. High averages 71 FPS, which exactly matches the minimum recorded value at the Medium preset, suggesting that High maintains a stable frame rate with minimal dips. The Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 54 FPS, making it the only non-playable option at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, just one frame below the 60 FPS playable threshold, and is the closest any 4K preset comes to being playable. Medium averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 and maximum of 52 FPS. High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. None of the 4K presets reach the 60 FPS threshold, so 4K gaming is not viable with this hardware configuration.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU each sit near specific rivals in the database's benchmark rankings, providing context for how this combo compares to other hardware pairings.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, placing it in the 89th percentile among all tested CPUs. Its nearest rivals show remarkably similar performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 46030, a delta of 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 46098, a delta of -0.1% higher. The AMD EPYC 4364P scores 45970, a delta of 0.2% lower, and the AMD EPYC 7303 scores 45960, also a delta of 0.2% lower. These deltas are negligible, meaning users of this CPU would see virtually identical CPU-bound performance from any of these four processors.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile among all tested GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile with a score of 18159, a delta of -0.4% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189, a delta of -0.5% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373, a delta of -1.5% lower, and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18383, a delta of -1.6% lower. The RTX 2060 SUPER edges out all four rivals, though the performance differences are small enough that any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Minimum.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Minimum at 60 FPS on a 1080p monitor?

A: Yes, all four presets at 1920x1080 exceed 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 83 FPS, High averages 109 FPS, Medium averages 130 FPS, and Low averages 170 FPS.

Q: What is the highest quality preset that maintains 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: The High preset is the most demanding playable option at 1440p, averaging 71 FPS. The Ultra preset falls short with an average of 54 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: No, the database shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The best 4K result is the Low preset at 59 FPS, which is one frame below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, Intel Core i9-13900HX, AMD EPYC 4364P, and AMD EPYC 7303. All deltas are within 0.2%, so CPU-bound performance is nearly identical across these processors.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile by 0.4%, the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 by 0.5%, the AMD Radeon RX 460 by 1.5%, and the Intel Arc A770M by 1.6% in average benchmark score.

Q: What is the best settings configuration for maximum visual quality at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining an average of 83 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

The Verdict

The verdict is clear based on the verdictByResolution data. At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. Every preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold, with the Low preset closest at 59 FPS. This system cannot run Minimum at 4K with playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the system can run the game with three playable presets: Low, Medium, and High. The best playable setting is High, which achieves an average of 71 FPS. This provides good visual quality while maintaining smooth gameplay.

At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable. The best setting is Ultra, which averages 83 FPS. This is the optimal configuration for players who want the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing smooth performance.

In summary, this combo is fully capable of running Minimum at 60 FPS at 1080p with maximum settings and at 1440p with High settings, but it cannot reach 60 FPS at 4K with any preset.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database identifies the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS for each resolution.

At 3840x2160, no preset meets the 60 FPS threshold, so there is no recommended best setting. The closest option is Low at 59 FPS, but it does not clear the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is High, which averages 71 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that remains playable at this resolution. Medium averages 84 FPS and Low averages 110 FPS, both also playable, but High offers better visual quality while still clearing 60 FPS with a comfortable margin.

At 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, which averages 83 FPS. This is the most demanding preset available and it still provides a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold. High averages 109 FPS, Medium averages 130 FPS, and Low averages 170 FPS, but Ultra is the recommended choice for maximum visual quality at playable performance.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 2602 out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the lower portion of the database's tested configurations, roughly in the 30th percentile of all combos. The ranking reflects the fact that while the system handles 1080p and 1440p well, it cannot achieve playable frame rates at 4K, which limits its overall standing.

The rank is influenced by the GPU's mid-tier position, as it sits in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU is much stronger at the 89th percentile. This imbalance means the GPU is the limiting factor for this game at higher resolutions, preventing the combo from ranking higher despite the CPU's strength.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear pattern of which component matters more at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the CPU's strength is more evident, as the frame rates are high enough that the GPU is not the sole bottleneck. The Ultra preset at 83 FPS and High at 109 FPS suggest that the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently, allowing it to produce high frame rates across all settings. The scaling from Low at 170 FPS to Ultra at 83 FPS shows a 51% reduction in performance as settings increase, indicating that the GPU becomes more involved as visual quality rises.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to dominate the performance picture. The frame rates drop considerably compared to 1080p: Low goes from 170 to 110 FPS, a 35% reduction, and High goes from 109 to 71 FPS, a 35% reduction. This consistent drop across settings indicates that the GPU's rendering load is the primary constraint, as the CPU has sufficient headroom to handle the increased pixel count without additional strain.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The frame rates fall below the playable threshold at every preset, with Low at 59 FPS and Ultra at 29 FPS. The 51% reduction from Low to Ultra at 4K mirrors the 1080p scaling, but at a much lower absolute level. The CPU's role diminishes entirely at this resolution, as the GPU cannot process enough pixels to keep up with the CPU's output. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield the largest performance gain at 4K, while the CPU would remain sufficient for this game at all resolutions.