Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers a strong performance profile for Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter, with measured frame rates that comfortably exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold at most settings. Benchmark data shows this pairing ranks in the 24th percentile of tested combos for this title, indicating significant headroom above the average system tested, while the individual components sit near the top of their respective performance charts. The following analysis breaks down how this hardware behaves, where it stands relative to alternatives, and what settings users should select for optimal results.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU each have distinct nearest rivals that would behave comparably in Minimum. For the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, the closest match is the Intel Xeon 6520P, which posts an average benchmark score of 93,786 against the 270K Plus’s 93,785—a difference of 0%. This means both processors deliver effectively identical compute performance in generic workloads, and users moving between these two would see no measurable difference in frame rates. Slightly ahead, the AMD EPYC 4564P scores 95,183, representing a 1.5% advantage over the 270K Plus; the AMD EPYC 9175F and AMD EPYC 4565P follow at 95,615 (1.9% higher) and 95,764 (2.1% higher), respectively. These deltas are negligible for gaming, so any of these CPUs would produce near-identical results in Minimum.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA Tesla P4, which scores 37,628 against the RTX 4070’s 37,648—a 0.1% difference that is statistically indistinguishable. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 trails by just 0.4% (37,507), while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile posts a 1.3% higher score at 38,135. The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is the most distant rival at 1.3% lower (37,157). For Minimum specifically, these small deltas translate to single-digit FPS differences at most; the RTX 4070 and Tesla P4 would produce essentially identical frame rates, while the RTX 4080 Mobile might offer 1–3 additional FPS at 1080p Ultra. None of these alternatives would change the overall verdict—all are capable of exceeding 60 FPS at the settings where the RTX 4070 does.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 achieves a combo rank of 885 out of 3,712 tested combinations in Minimum. This places the system in the top 23.8% of all combos benchmarked for this game, meaning roughly three-quarters of tested hardware configurations perform worse. The rank reflects a balance of CPU and GPU capability: the 270K Plus sits in the 96th percentile among all CPUs (average benchmark score 93,785), while the RTX 4070 ranks in the 81st percentile among GPUs (average score 37,648). The GPU percentile is notably lower, suggesting the graphics card is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, though the CPU’s high percentile ensures no bottleneck at lower settings where frame rates exceed 200 FPS.

Data indicates the combo’s rank is driven primarily by the GPU’s 81st-percentile standing, as the CPU’s 96th-percentile performance is far beyond what Minimum requires. At 1080p Low, the system produces 278 FPS, which is over 4.6 times the 60 FPS threshold—a result that would be impossible without the CPU’s strong single-thread performance. Conversely, at 4K Ultra, the system drops to 47 FPS, below the playable threshold, which aligns with the GPU’s lower relative standing. The rank of 885 suggests that while the combo is strong, many systems with higher-end GPUs (e.g., RTX 4080-class or above) would outperform it at 4K, but few CPUs would push frame rates higher at 1080p Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four preset levels each. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, results are exceptionally high. Low settings yield an average of 278 FPS with no recorded min/max. Medium averages 213 FPS with a minimum of 181 and maximum of 245—a 64 FPS spread indicating smooth scaling. High averages 179 FPS, while Ultra drops to 136 FPS. All 1080p results exceed the 60 FPS threshold by a wide margin, with even the lowest Ultra average being 2.27 times the playable minimum.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but scales down predictably. Low settings average 179 FPS, Medium averages 137 FPS (min 117, max 158), High averages 115 FPS, and Ultra averages 88 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 91 FPS, showing a 51% reduction from the lowest to highest preset. Every 1440p setting clears the 60 FPS bar, with Ultra’s 88 FPS average still 47% above the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show limits. Low averages 97 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS (min 63, max 85), High averages 62 FPS, and Ultra averages 47 FPS. The High preset sits just 2 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold, making it technically playable but with minimal headroom for frame drops. Ultra falls below the threshold by 13 FPS, rendering it unplayable by the 60 FPS standard. The scaling from 1080p Low (278 FPS) to 4K Ultra (47 FPS) represents an 83% reduction, illustrating the GPU’s dominant role at higher resolutions.

The Verdict

This PC can run Minimum at 60 FPS or above across most tested configurations. At 1920x1080, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—clear the threshold, with the highest playable setting being Ultra at an average of 136 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same four presets are playable, and Ultra delivers 88 FPS on average, providing comfortable headroom above the 60 FPS minimum. At 3840x2160, three presets are playable: Low (97 FPS), Medium (74 FPS), and High (62 FPS). The Ultra preset at 4K fails the test, averaging 47 FPS.

The verdict by resolution confirms: 1080p and 1440p are fully playable at any settings, while 4K requires reducing to High or below. The High preset at 4K averages 62 FPS, which is only 2 FPS above the threshold—users seeking consistent performance should prefer Medium (74 FPS) for safety. The 60 FPS threshold is met or exceeded in 11 of 12 tested scenarios, with only 4K Ultra falling short. This system is therefore suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p and 1440p, and for 4K gaming at High settings or lower.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains 60 FPS at 4K?

A: The High preset averages 62 FPS at 3840x2160, which is the most demanding setting that clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 74 FPS and Low averages 97 FPS, but High is the best visual quality option that remains playable.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 278 at 1920x1080 to 97 at 3840x2160—a 65% reduction. At Ultra, the drop is from 136 FPS at 1080p to 47 FPS at 4K, a 65% reduction as well, indicating consistent scaling across presets.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this game?

A: The CPU’s 96th-percentile standing (average benchmark score 93,785) versus the GPU’s 81st percentile (37,648) suggests the GPU is the primary limitation. At 1080p Low, the system hits 278 FPS, which exceeds the CPU’s practical gaming output, indicating no CPU bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the 47 FPS result aligns with GPU-bound behavior.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 1440p?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 88 FPS, which is 47% above the 60 FPS threshold. The minimum recorded FPS for Medium at 1440p is 117, and no min/max data is provided for Ultra, but the average indicates consistent playability.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest GPU rival in performance?

A: The RTX 4070’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, scores 37,628 versus the RTX 4070’s 37,648—a 0.1% difference. In Minimum, this would translate to a difference of less than 1 FPS at any resolution, so the two GPUs are effectively interchangeable for this game.

Q: What is the lowest playable setting at 4K?

A: The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 97 FPS, which is the highest frame rate among 4K settings. However, the High preset at 62 FPS is the most demanding playable option; Low is only necessary if the user prioritizes maximum frame rate over visual quality.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, averaging 136 FPS. This provides significant headroom for frame drops while delivering the highest visual quality. Medium (213 FPS) and High (179 FPS) are also excellent choices for users with high-refresh-rate displays, but Ultra is the optimal balance for most players.

At 2560x1440, Ultra remains the best choice, averaging 88 FPS. This is comfortably above the threshold and offers the full visual experience without compromise. High (115 FPS) and Medium (137 FPS) are viable alternatives for those seeking higher frame rates, but the 88 FPS Ultra result means no setting sacrifice is necessary.

At 3840x2160, the best playable preset is High, averaging 62 FPS. This is only 2 FPS above the threshold, so users should be aware that frame drops could occur during intense scenes. Medium (74 FPS) is a safer option that still looks good, while Low (97 FPS) maximizes smoothness. Ultra at 47 FPS is not recommended unless the user accepts sub-60 FPS performance.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU’s high percentile (96th) enables frame rates up to 278 FPS at Low settings, which is far beyond what the GPU alone could sustain. The 142 FPS difference between Low (278) and Ultra (136) at 1080p suggests the GPU becomes more relevant as settings increase, but even at Ultra, the 136 FPS result is CPU-friendly. The CPU’s role is dominant at 1080p because the GPU has ample spare capacity at lower resolutions.

At 2560x1440, the GPU’s workload increases, and the scaling from Low (179 FPS) to Ultra (88 FPS) shows a 91 FPS drop. The CPU still prevents bottlenecks, as evidenced by the 179 FPS Low result, but the GPU is now the limiting factor at Ultra. The CPU’s contribution remains important for maintaining high minimum frame rates, though the data shows no min/max values for most presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmingly the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 97 FPS, which is still above the threshold, but the Ultra preset drops to 47 FPS—a 50 FPS reduction from Low. This 52% performance loss across presets is characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios. The CPU’s role diminishes at 4K because the GPU cannot generate frames fast enough to stress the processor; the 97 FPS Low result indicates the CPU is still capable of higher output, but the GPU caps it. The 62 FPS High result at 4K, which barely clears the threshold, underscores that users should prioritize GPU settings over CPU-dependent options at this resolution.