Minecraft: Java Edition

Minecraft: Java Edition is notoriously CPU-bound, but the benchmark data for this specific combination of an Intel Core i5-9400 and an AMD Radeon RX 570 reveals a delicate balance between the processor and graphics card, heavily dependent on the chosen settings and resolution. The data shows that the RX 570 is capable of delivering high frame rates, but the i5-9400’s six cores without hyper-threading create a ceiling that becomes apparent at lower resolutions and higher settings. The measured results place this combo at rank 1622 out of 1727 tested combinations, a position that underscores its limitations in a demanding title like Minecraft with modern shaders and render distances, yet the 1080p Low and Medium presets show that a smooth experience is entirely within reach. The analysis below breaks down the specific performance characteristics across resolutions and settings, drawing directly from the measured FPS data.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about which component is under the heaviest load. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 117.4 at 1920x1080 to 72.8 at 2560x1440, a reduction of roughly 38%, and then plummets to 37.5 at 3840x2160, a further 48% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep, progressive decline indicates that at High settings, the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases, with the RX 570’s 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth being saturated by the higher resolution textures and rendering workload.

However, the scaling pattern changes dramatically at Low settings. Here, the 1080p average of 186.2 FPS drops to 119.6 at 1440p (a 36% reduction), and then to 64.6 at 4K (a 46% reduction from 1440p). While the percentage drops are similar, the absolute FPS values are much higher, suggesting that the CPU is keeping up better at lower graphical loads. The fact that 4K Low (64.6 FPS) is nearly double the frame rate of 4K High (37.5 FPS) shows that the GPU’s workload is the dominant variable; reducing settings has a massive impact at 4K. Conversely, the gap between 1080p Low (186.2) and 1440p Low (119.6) is substantial, indicating that even with low graphical demands, the GPU is still struggling to push those extra pixels, but the CPU is not the sole bottleneck at these resolutions.

The Ultra preset reveals the most extreme scaling. At 1080p, the average is 72.6 FPS, which drops to 48.9 at 1440p and then to 25.1 at 4K. This shows that Ultra settings place a massive load on the RX 570, and the performance degradation is steep and consistent. The data points to a system where the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K across all settings, while the CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p, particularly when the GPU is not fully saturated, as seen in the high frame rates at Low and Medium settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, built on the Coffee Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores, such as 3346 in Cinebench R20 multicore and 472 in single-core, place it at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, indicating a mid-range performer. In Minecraft, which is known for being heavily dependent on single-thread performance, the i5-9400’s single-core score of 1125 in Cinebench R23 is relevant. The data suggests that at 1080p with Low settings, the CPU is able to push frame rates to 186.2 FPS, demonstrating that its single-core strength is sufficient for less demanding scenes.

However, the lack of hyper-threading means that when the game needs to handle complex world generation, entity processing, or physics calculations, the six threads can become saturated. This is evident in the 1080p High result of 117.4 FPS, which is significantly lower than the Low setting’s 186.2 FPS. While part of this drop is due to the GPU working harder, the CPU’s performance ceiling is also a factor. The i5-9400 is not the bottleneck at 1080p Low, but it becomes more of a limiting factor as settings increase and the game engine requests more work per frame. The 50th percentile ranking for the CPU, compared to the GPU’s 74th percentile, suggests that the processor is the weaker link in this pairing, and the measured FPS data supports this by showing that frame rates do not scale linearly with GPU load at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 570 places this system at rank 1622 out of 1727 tested combos in Minecraft: Java Edition. This is a low ranking, sitting in the bottom 6% of all tested combinations, which indicates that this hardware configuration is not well-suited for high-end Minecraft play with demanding settings. The GPU’s individual ranking is much stronger; the RX 570 scores in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 30158. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (deltaPct 0.2) and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (deltaPct 0.2), which are far more modern and powerful cards, yet the RX 570’s average score is remarkably close to them, showing its raw compute capability is still competitive.

The CPU, however, is a different story. The i5-9400 sits at the 50th percentile, and its closest rivals, such as the Intel Core i3-10305 (deltaPct 0.2) and the Intel Xeon E-2134 (deltaPct 0.4), are similar in performance. This suggests that the CPU is a mid-range part that is holding the system back in a game that is often CPU-limited. The combination of a strong GPU with a mediocre CPU results in the low combo rank, as the CPU fails to feed the GPU enough data to maximize its potential, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU is more likely to be the bottleneck. The data clearly indicates that for Minecraft, the i5-9400 is the limiting factor in this pairing, which is why the combo ranks so poorly despite the GPU’s respectable standing.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Minecraft at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it achieves an average of 64.6 FPS. At High settings, the average drops to 37.5 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 25.1 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At Medium settings, it delivers 152.1 FPS, and at High settings, 117.4 FPS, both of which are excellent for a smooth experience on a 60Hz or 144Hz monitor.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the primary bottleneck at 1080p, as evidenced by the large frame rate drop from Low (186.2 FPS) to High (117.4 FPS) settings, which is not proportional to the GPU workload increase. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i3-10305 and 0.4% higher than the Intel Xeon E-2134. It is 0.6% slower than the Intel Core i7-8809G.

Q: How does the RX 570 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RX 570 has an average benchmark score of 30158, which is 0.2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and 0.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT. It is 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla M60.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS for 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 96.6 FPS, which is a very playable frame rate for most users.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is built on the Polaris 20 chip with a 14 nm process and GCN 4.0 architecture. It has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1244 MHz. The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. Its measured performance in Minecraft shows that it can handle 1080p very well, achieving 186.2 FPS at Low settings and 152.1 FPS at Medium. The GPU’s 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is a solid performer, but its 4 GB VRAM is a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings.

At 4K, the RX 570 struggles significantly. The average FPS at 4K High is 37.5, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 25.1, which is not a playable experience. The data shows a clear trend: the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are insufficient for 4K gaming in Minecraft with this CPU. However, at 1440p, the RX 570 performs admirably, with 119.6 FPS at Low and 96.6 FPS at Medium. This suggests that the GPU is best suited for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming. The launch MSRP of the RX 570 was 169 USD, and its performance in this benchmark reflects a card that is capable but not advanced. The GPU’s nearest rivals, including the RTX 5060 and RX 7700 XT, are significantly more powerful, yet the RX 570’s average benchmark score is within 0.2% of them, which is surprising but shows that raw compute benchmarks do not always translate directly to game performance, especially in a CPU-bound title like Minecraft.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this hardware, the measured data points directly to 1920x1080 with Medium settings as the optimal choice. This configuration delivers an average of 152.1 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while still providing a visual quality upgrade over Low settings. The jump from Low to Medium is significant in terms of visuals, but the frame rate cost is only from 186.2 FPS to 152.1 FPS, a 18% reduction that is well worth it. High settings at 1080p are also viable at 117.4 FPS, but the extra graphical fidelity comes at a higher performance cost.

At 2560x1440, the best option is Medium settings, which yields 96.6 FPS. This is a good balance for a 1440p monitor, offering a playable frame rate with decent visuals. Low settings at 1440p offer 119.6 FPS, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. For 4K gaming, the only playable option is Low settings, which gives 64.6 FPS. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as they produce average frame rates of 37.5 and 25.1 FPS, respectively, which will result in a stuttery and unpleasant experience. The Ultra preset is generally not recommended for this combo at any resolution, as it only achieves 72.6 FPS at 1080p and falls below 50 FPS at 1440p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the average FPS measured for each resolution and settings combination:

1920x1080:

• Low: 186.2 FPS
• Medium: 152.1 FPS
• High: 117.4 FPS
• Ultra: 72.6 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 119.6 FPS
• Medium: 96.6 FPS
• High: 72.8 FPS
• Ultra: 48.9 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 64.6 FPS
• Medium: 51.9 FPS
• High: 37.5 FPS
• Ultra: 25.1 FPS

The 1080p results show a clear hierarchy, with Low settings providing the highest frame rate and Ultra the lowest. The 1440p results follow a similar pattern, but the absolute values are lower across the board. The 4K results are the most telling, showing that only Low settings achieve a frame rate above 60 FPS, while Ultra is nearly unplayable. The data confirms that this system is best utilized at 1080p, with 1440p being a secondary option for users willing to compromise on settings. The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution is substantial, highlighting the GPU’s sensitivity to graphical load.