Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 presents a striking asymmetry in Minimum: a top-tier CPU (96th percentile) paired with a mid-range GPU (72nd percentile). Benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the performance bottleneck across most tested conditions. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 84,003 places it just 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, while the RTX 5060’s average score of 26,331 is effectively tied with the AMD Radeon 860M, which is 0.3% faster. This configuration is ranked 1,651st out of 3,712 tested combos, placing it in the 44th percentile of all system pairings for this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in aggregate performance are all within a narrow band. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 83,807, a negligible 0.2% delta. The AMD EPYC 4584PX scores 83,090 (1.1% slower), and the AMD EPYC 9135 scores 82,980 (1.2% slower). The only rival that edges ahead is the AMD EPYC 7F72 with a score of 85,072, which is 1.3% faster. In practice, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical performance in Minimum, meaning the 24-core/24-thread configuration of the 290K Plus offers no meaningful advantage over these alternatives for this specific workload.

The GPU situation is more nuanced. The RTX 5060’s nearest rivals are a mixed bag of integrated and discrete solutions. The AMD Radeon 860M (integrated graphics) scores 26,401, which is 0.3% faster than the RTX 5060. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26,421, also 0.3% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26,553 (0.8% faster), while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26,011 (1.2% slower). This clustering suggests that in Minimum, the RTX 5060 behaves similarly to these four cards, despite architectural differences. The 8 GB GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus width, combined with a 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, position it within this performance tier for this game’s engine.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear shift in component importance as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the CPU’s high single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,303) helps drive frame rates: Low settings hit 215 FPS, and Ultra still achieves 105 FPS. The GPU’s role is less critical here, as the engine is likely draw-call limited. Moving to 2560x1440, frame rates drop significantly: Ultra falls from 105 FPS to 68 FPS (a 35% reduction), and High drops from 138 FPS to 89 FPS. This scaling indicates that the GPU begins to assert dominance, as pixel fill-rate and memory bandwidth (448.0 GB/s) become limiting factors.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck. Ultra settings plummet to 37 FPS, and even Medium only achieves 57 FPS. The gap between Low (75 FPS) and High (48 FPS) at 4K is 27 FPS, which is a 36% penalty. This is not a CPU limitation; the CPU’s PassMark single-thread score of 4,823 is more than sufficient. Instead, the RTX 5060’s 48 ROPs and 19.18 TFLOPS FP32 throughput are insufficient for the pixel workload at 4K Ultra. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings (105 FPS to 37 FPS, a 65% drop) confirms that the GPU is the sole constraint at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 5060 delivers substantial headroom. Low settings average 215 FPS. Medium averages 165 FPS, with a minimum of 140 FPS and a maximum of 190 FPS. High averages 138 FPS. Ultra averages 105 FPS, with no minimum or maximum data points provided. All presets clear the 60 FPS playable threshold by a wide margin.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows scaling pressure. Low averages 139 FPS. Medium averages 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and a maximum of 122 FPS. High averages 89 FPS. Ultra averages 68 FPS, which still clears the 60 FPS threshold but with less headroom than at 1080p. The minimum frame rate at Medium (90 FPS) suggests that gameplay remains stable even during intense scenes.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. Low averages 75 FPS, which is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. Medium averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. High averages 48 FPS. Ultra averages 37 FPS. The minimum frame rate of 49 FPS at Medium indicates that players will experience stutter and frame drops below the playable threshold. The data does not include minimum or maximum values for Low, High, or Ultra at 4K, but the averages alone are sufficient to assess playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1,651 out of 3,712 systems places this configuration in the middle of the distribution. The 44th percentile ranking is largely due to the GPU’s modest standing (72nd percentile) relative to the CPU’s elite status (96th percentile). For Minimum, this ranking suggests that while the CPU is overqualified, the GPU prevents the system from reaching higher echelons of performance. The RTX 5060’s average benchmark score of 26,331 is only 1.2% faster than the RX 6750 XT, which is a notable comparison given the generational difference. This means that in Minimum, the combo performs similarly to systems pairing a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU from the previous generation.

The data reveals that the CPU’s massive multi-core capability (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731) is largely irrelevant for this game. Minimum is a third-person shooter from 2014, and its engine does not scale with 24 threads. The GPU’s raw rasterization performance is what dictates the frame rate, and at 4K, the RTX 5060’s 8 GB frame buffer and 128-bit memory interface become limiting factors.

The Verdict

The system can run Minimum at 60 FPS or above in most configurations, but 4K is the exception. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 105 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets also clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 68 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset clears 60 FPS, averaging 75 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K falls short at 57 FPS, and High (48 FPS) and Ultra (37 FPS) are significantly below the threshold.

The verdict is clear: for 1080p and 1440p gaming, this combo is fully playable at any setting. For 4K, players must restrict themselves to Low settings to maintain a smooth experience. The 75 FPS at 4K Low is respectable, but the step down from Medium (57 FPS) to Low (75 FPS) represents an 18 FPS gain, which is the difference between unplayable and playable. Players targeting 4K should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p to unlock Ultra settings at 68 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Minimum at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 37 FPS, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The minimum frame rate data is not provided, but the average alone disqualifies this preset.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to play at Ultra settings?

A: Both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 support Ultra settings above 60 FPS. At 1080p, Ultra averages 105 FPS; at 1440p, Ultra averages 68 FPS. The 1440p setting offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 5060 compared to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT in Minimum?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26,331, which is 1.2% faster than the RX 6750 XT’s 26,011. This is a negligible difference in practice.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus overkill for this game?

A: Yes. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking and 24 cores do not translate to performance gains in Minimum. The game is GPU-bound at higher resolutions, and even at 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,303) is sufficient to drive the RTX 5060 to its limits.

Q: What is the lowest frame rate recorded at 1920x1080 Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 140, with an average of 165 FPS and a maximum of 190 FPS. This indicates smooth performance with no notable dips.

Q: Does the combo rank improve if the CPU is paired with a more powerful GPU?

A: The data does not provide such comparisons. The combo rank of 1,651 out of 3,712 is specific to this CPU-GPU pairing. The GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking is the primary constraint on the system’s overall standing.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 105 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality without sacrificing performance. At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best choice, averaging 68 FPS. While this is above the 60 FPS threshold, the margin is thinner than at 1080p. At 3840x2160, the most demanding playable preset is Low, which averages 75 FPS. Medium at 57 FPS fails to meet the playable threshold, so Low is the maximum quality setting that maintains a playable frame rate. Players who prioritize visual fidelity at 4K over frame rate would need to accept a sub-60 FPS experience, but the data indicates that Low is the intended setting for this resolution.