Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a wide performance envelope in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. The measured data shows that this combination is overwhelmingly capable, with playable frame rates at every tested resolution and preset, though the ceiling of the Ultra preset at 4K requires a careful look. The benchmark results indicate a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K demands a slight compromise in graphical fidelity to maintain a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data set provides average, minimum, and maximum frame rates for four presets across three resolutions. The most complete data is available for the Medium preset, which includes all three metrics, while other presets only list averages.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system starts strong with the Low preset averaging 93 FPS. Stepping up to Medium yields an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. The High preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which meets the standard playable threshold. However, the Ultra preset drops to an average of 45 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance headroom becomes substantial. The Low preset averages 172 FPS, which is nearly three times the playable threshold. The Medium preset averages 132 FPS, with a minimum of 112 FPS and a maximum of 151 FPS. High settings push the average to 110 FPS, and even the demanding Ultra preset maintains a solid 84 FPS average.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system is barely challenged. The Low preset averages a remarkable 267 FPS. Medium settings provide an average of 204 FPS, with a minimum of 174 FPS and a maximum of 235 FPS. The High preset reaches 171 FPS average, while Ultra still delivers 131 FPS. These numbers suggest the CPU-GPU combination is far from a bottleneck at this resolution, leaving significant headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 4K with the High preset?*

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 60 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings. This exactly meets the playable threshold of 60 FPS, making it a viable option, though there is no headroom for dips.

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 2560x1440, averaging 84 FPS. This is the most demanding preset tested, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold comfortably.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Low settings is 267 FPS, while Ultra averages 131 FPS. This represents a performance difference of roughly double the frame rate when dropping from Ultra to Low.

Q: Is the Medium preset at 4K smooth?

A: Yes, the Medium preset at 3840x2160 averages 71 FPS, with a reported minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. This indicates consistent performance that stays above the playable threshold.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in the tested configurations?

A: The only configuration with an average below 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, which averages 45 FPS. The 4K High preset averages exactly 60 FPS, and all other tested presets at 1440p and 1080p have averages well above 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for a 1080p gaming session?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 131 FPS, which is both the most demanding and still far above the 60 FPS requirement. This makes it the ideal choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results show a clear shift in bottleneck behavior depending on resolution. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are extraordinarily high across all presets, with the Low preset reaching 267 FPS. This suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 3080 at this resolution. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop from 267 FPS to 131 FPS, which is a reduction of about 51%. This indicates that the GPU is beginning to take on more work as settings increase, but the CPU is not limiting overall performance.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the average frame rates drop across all presets, but the relative performance remains high. The Low preset still achieves 172 FPS, and Ultra maintains 84 FPS. The scaling between presets remains consistent, suggesting that the GPU is now the primary driver of performance, as the pixel count increases demand on the graphics card.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's role becomes even more dominant. The Low preset averages 93 FPS, while Ultra drops to 45 FPS. This 48 FPS difference is a direct result of the increased graphical load at 4K, where the RTX 3080's 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 8704 shading units are pushed harder. The CPU's influence is minimal at this resolution, as the frame rates are determined almost entirely by the GPU's ability to render the higher pixel count. The data shows that at 1080p and 1440p, the RTX 3080 is the limiting factor at higher presets, while at 4K, the GPU is the sole bottleneck. The 20-thread CPU is never a constraint, as even the highest frame rates at 1080p do not show signs of CPU saturation.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K sits in a tight performance cluster. The Intel Xeon 6511P has an average benchmark score that is 0.2% lower, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 is 0.7% lower. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is 1% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is 1.3% higher. These deltas are all within a narrow band, meaning that swapping the Core Ultra 7 265K for any of these processors would result in nearly identical in-game performance for Minimum. The choice between these CPUs would come down to other factors like platform features, as the gaming frame rates would be virtually indistinguishable.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are more varied in name but similar in score. The NVIDIA P106-100 has a score 0.3% lower, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 is 0.3% lower, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M is 0.4% lower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X is 0.4% lower. These differences are negligible in real-world terms, meaning that any of these GPUs would provide similar average frame rates in Minimum. However, it is important to note that the RTX 3080 has a benchmark percentile of 68 against all GPUs, while the CPU has a percentile of 94 against all CPUs. This suggests that the GPU is a more mid-range performer relative to the entire market, while the CPU is a top-tier part. In practice, for this specific game, the GPU's performance at 4K Ultra is the only area where the system shows weakness, and a rival GPU with a similar score would behave the same way.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages exactly 60 FPS. The Medium preset offers a higher average of 71 FPS and is a safer choice for maintaining a framerate buffer above the threshold. The Low preset is also viable at 93 FPS, but High provides the best visual quality among the playable options.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 84 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available and it clears the 60 FPS requirement with significant headroom. There is no need to drop to lower presets, as even the most demanding option performs well.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is again the best, averaging 131 FPS. This provides the maximum visual fidelity while still delivering more than double the playable threshold. The system has ample performance to run the game at its highest settings without any concerns about smoothness.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Minimum across all tested resolutions, but the experience varies by preset. At 1920x1080, the system is fully playable at every preset, with the Ultra preset averaging 131 FPS and the Low preset reaching 267 FPS. This makes it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate displays. At 2560x1440, all presets are also playable, with Ultra averaging 84 FPS, providing a great balance of visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The High preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which is playable but leaves no margin for error. The Medium preset is a stronger recommendation, averaging 71 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS, ensuring a consistent experience. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 45 FPS and is not playable by the 60 FPS standard. Overall, the system is a capable 4K machine for this game as long as the user selects the High or Medium preset, and it is a superb performer at 1080p and 1440p where it can run at maximum settings.