Minimum

Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 delivers a clear picture for Minimum: this is a 1080p and 1440p machine, with 4K as a stretch goal only at the lowest settings. The data shows a strong CPU (96th percentile among all CPUs) paired with a mid-pack GPU (57th percentile among all GPUs), which creates a combo ranking of 2549 out of 3712 tested configurations. Benchmark results indicate that the CPU has ample headroom, as the measured FPS scales predictably with resolution and settings, pointing to the GPU as the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS does not exist. The highest average FPS at 4K is 59, achieved at Low settings, which is just below the playable threshold. Medium settings drop to 45 FPS average, High falls to 38, and Ultra bottoms out at 29. Since no preset clears 60 FPS, the verdict for 4K is unplayable by the 60 FPS standard.

At 2560x1440, the best settings that maintains 60 FPS is High, with an average of 71 FPS. Medium settings also clear the threshold at 84 FPS average, and Low reaches 110 FPS. Ultra settings fall short at 54 FPS average, so High is the optimal choice for visual quality while staying above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 84 FPS. This is the full experience. High settings hit 110 FPS average, Medium reaches 131, and Low pushes to 171. All four presets at 1080p clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra being the highest quality option that still maintains a comfortable margin above the playable line.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this CPU-GPU pair in Minimum is 2549 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the 31st percentile of all tested systems. This rank reflects the GPU’s modest standing: the RX 7600 sits at the 57th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15171. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, scores 15199, which is 0.2% higher—a negligible difference. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X trails by 0.6%, and the AMD Radeon 680M leads by 0.7%, showing the RX 7600 is tightly clustered with these mid-range parts.

The CPU, by contrast, is a top-tier performer. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores 84003 on average, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83807—just 0.2% lower. The AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% behind, and the AMD EPYC 9135 trails by 1.2%. The only rival ahead is the AMD EPYC 7F72, which leads by 1.3%. This CPU is clearly not the bottleneck in this pairing; the GPU’s mid-range positioning defines the combo’s overall rank.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured FPS shows a steep drop as settings increase. Low settings average 59 FPS. Medium settings average 45 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 52. High settings average 38 FPS. Ultra settings average 29 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 30 FPS, a 51% reduction, which underscores the GPU’s struggle at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the FPS climbs significantly. Low settings average 110 FPS. Medium settings average 84 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 97. High settings average 71 FPS. Ultra settings average 54 FPS. The range from Low to Ultra spans 56 FPS, but even the lowest preset at 1440p is far above the 60 FPS threshold, while Ultra falls just below it.

At 1920x1080, the GPU has ample room. Low settings average 171 FPS. Medium settings average 131 FPS, with a minimum of 111 and a maximum of 150. High settings average 110 FPS. Ultra settings average 84 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 40 FPS drop, and from Medium to Ultra is another 47 FPS, but every preset remains well above 60 FPS.

The data shows consistent scaling: dropping from 4K to 1440p roughly doubles the FPS at each setting, and dropping from 1440p to 1080p adds another 50-60% on top. This linear behavior indicates the GPU is the primary constraint, as the CPU’s performance does not show signs of saturation at any resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 59 at Low settings, which is just below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium averages 45 FPS, High averages 38, and Ultra averages 29, so no preset is playable at 4K.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p?

A: High settings, with an average of 71 FPS. Medium also clears the threshold at 84 FPS average, and Low reaches 110 FPS, but High offers the best visual quality while staying above 60 FPS. Ultra falls short at 54 FPS average.

Q: Is Ultra settings playable at 1080p?

A: Yes. Ultra settings average 84 FPS at 1920x1080, which is 24 FPS above the playable threshold. High averages 110 FPS, Medium averages 131, and Low averages 171, so all presets are playable at this resolution.

Q: How does the RX 7600 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15171, placing it at the 57th percentile of GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, scores 15199, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X trails by 0.6%, and the AMD Radeon 680M leads by 0.7%, showing these parts are statistically similar.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU scores 84003 on average, ranking in the 96th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 83807, just 0.2% lower. The AMD EPYC 4584PX is 1.1% behind, and the AMD EPYC 9135 trails by 1.2%. The AMD EPYC 7F72 leads by 1.3%, making the 290K Plus a top-tier performer.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2549 out of 3712 tested configurations, placing it in the 31st percentile. This rank is driven by the GPU’s mid-range standing, as the CPU is a top-tier part that is not the limiting factor.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear division of labor. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the sole bottleneck. The FPS drops from 59 at Low to 29 at Ultra, a 51% reduction, while the CPU’s performance remains far above what this game’s workload demands. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking and strong multi-threaded scores (51731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) indicate it is not stressed by Minimum’s engine, which is a 2014 third-person shooter.

At 2560x1440, the GPU still dominates. The FPS ranges from 110 at Low to 54 at Ultra, showing that the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity are the limiting factors. The CPU’s single-thread performance (7303 in Cinebench R23 single-core) is more than sufficient for the game’s logic and physics, so the 56 FPS spread across presets is entirely attributable to the GPU.

At 1920x1080, the GPU has enough headroom to push frame rates well above the threshold. The FPS ranges from 171 at Low to 84 at Ultra, and the CPU’s role becomes more visible only at the lowest settings where the GPU is less stressed. However, even at Ultra, the 84 FPS average suggests the GPU is still the primary driver, as the CPU would need to be heavily loaded to drop below that figure.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this: moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by roughly 35-45% at each setting, and moving from 1440p to 4K reduces FPS by another 45-50%. This consistent degradation with resolution is the signature of a GPU-limited system. The CPU’s performance metrics—such as 60860 in Passmark multithread and 4823 in Passmark single-thread—are far above what a 2014 game title can fully utilize, confirming that the processor is not a constraint at any resolution tested.

The Verdict

This PC can run Minimum, but the playable experience depends entirely on resolution. At 1920x1080, the combo clears 60 FPS on all presets, with Ultra averaging 84 FPS, making it fully playable at maximum settings. At 2560x1440, High settings average 71 FPS and Medium averages 84 FPS, so the system is playable at high and medium presets, but Ultra falls short at 54 FPS. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS, with Low maxing out at 59 FPS average, so 4K is not playable by the 60 FPS standard.

The verdict by resolution confirms this: 1440p lists High, Low, and Medium as playable, with High as the best settings at 71 FPS. 1080p lists all four presets as playable, with Ultra as the best settings at 84 FPS. 4K lists no playable settings. For a 2014 third-person shooter, this combo delivers a smooth experience at 1080p and a solid one at 1440p, but it is not a 4K machine. The CPU’s top-tier performance ensures no processor-side stutters, while the GPU’s mid-range capabilities define the boundaries of what is playable.