Minecraft

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS for this combo at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 169 FPS. This is the lowest average among the four tested settings at this resolution, while Low settings reach 429 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 3700X compare to its closest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 34260, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34222) and the AMD EPYC 4244P (34220). It trails the Intel Core i5-13450HX (34333) by 0.2%.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 20282 is about 1.5% lower than the Intel Arc A750 (20582), its closest higher-performing rival.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in Minecraft among tested combinations?

A: This combination ranks 2136 out of 3710 tested combos in Minecraft. That places it in the lower-middle portion of the overall distribution for this game.

Q: Does the game favor the CPU or GPU more heavily based on the FPS scaling across resolutions?

A: The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at the same settings indicates a significant GPU load. At High settings, 1080p yields 270 FPS while 4K drops to 89 FPS, a roughly 67% reduction, which points to the GPU being the primary limiter at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GPU?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER had a launch MSRP of 499 USD.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor from the 3000 series, built on the Zen 2 (Matisse) architecture using TSMC's 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes.

In Minecraft, a game that historically relies heavily on single-thread performance for chunk rendering and game logic, this CPU's single-core capabilities are relevant. The passmark_single_thread score is 2656, and the geekbench_singlecore score is 1593. These numbers are modest by modern standards, but the game's relatively simple geometry and block-based world means the CPU can still push high frame rates when the GPU is not the bottleneck. The multi-threaded scores are stronger, with a passmark_multithread score of 22458 and a cinebench_r15_multicore score of 2092, though Minecraft's core usage is typically limited to a few threads.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 84 against all CPUs shows it is above average overall, but its nearest rivals are mixed. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34222) and AMD EPYC 4244P (34220) are essentially tied with the 3700X's average score of 34260, with deltas of 0.1%. The Intel Core i5-13450HX (34333) is slightly ahead by 0.2%, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (34083) trails by 0.5%. This indicates that the 3700X is competitive with newer mid-range parts in synthetic benchmarks, but its single-thread performance may not scale as well in CPU-bound scenarios.

At lower resolutions and settings, where the GPU has less work to do, the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more critical. The measured data supports this: at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 429 FPS, which is likely close to the CPU's practical limit in this game. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz helps in such scenarios, but the Zen 2 architecture's IPC is not as high as newer designs. The 32 MB L3 cache is beneficial for keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores, which can reduce latency in chunk generation and block updates.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck for most of the tested configurations, except possibly at the very highest frame rates. The 8-core, 16-thread layout ensures that background tasks and game threads do not starve each other, which helps maintain consistent frame pacing even when the game world is complex. However, the lack of integrated graphics means the discrete GPU is always required, and the CPU's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is sufficient for Minecraft's modest data demands.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU built on TSMC's 12 nm process, with a die size of 545 mm² and 13,600 million transistors. It has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. The GPU includes 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores, though these are not heavily utilized in Minecraft's standard rendering path. The base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s with 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM.

This GPU is a capable mid-high-end part from 2019, sitting in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 20282, and its nearest rivals are all within a narrow band. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (20480) is 1% ahead, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534) is 1.2% ahead, and the Intel Arc B570 (20556) is 1.3% ahead. The Intel Arc A750 (20582) leads by 1.5%. These small deltas indicate that the RTX 2070 SUPER is still competitive with newer mid-range parts, though it lacks the latest features like full DirectX 12 Ultimate support (it does support 12 Ultimate with 12_2) and newer ray tracing performance.

In Minecraft, the GPU's role is to render the block-based world efficiently. The game is not graphically intensive by modern standards, but it can become GPU-bound at high resolutions and with certain settings like render distance and fancy graphics. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU can handle 4K at Medium settings with 112 FPS average, but Ultra settings at 4K drop to 56 FPS, indicating a significant load increase. The 8 GB of VRAM is more than enough for Minecraft's texture requirements, even with high-resolution texture packs, so the memory capacity is not a constraint in this scenario.

The pixel rate of 113.3 GPixel/s and texture rate of 283.2 GTexel/s are sufficient for the game's simple geometry. The FP32 performance of 9.062 TFLOPS is ample for the shader work required. The GPU's 215 W TDP and dual-slot design mean it requires adequate cooling, but the data shows it sustains high frame rates across the board. The boost clock of 1770 MHz is the key factor in maintaining performance, as Minecraft's frame time consistency benefits from sustained clock speeds rather than burst performance.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals is tight, but in Minecraft specifically, the measured FPS at 1080p High (270 FPS) and 1440p High (170 FPS) shows that it is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The data indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K, especially at Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 56, which is below the ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 2136 out of 3710 tested combos in Minecraft. This places it in the 57.6th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it performs better than just over half of the configurations tested. Given that the CPU is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs and the GPU is in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, the combo's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's lower relative standing.

The rank suggests that while this is a competent pairing for Minecraft, there are many combinations that yield higher frame rates. The CPU's strong multi-threaded performance does not translate directly to Minecraft's single-threaded nature, and the GPU's mid-tier position limits 4K performance. The combo's rank of 2136 is slightly below the median of 1855, indicating that it is in the lower half of tested configurations.

Compared to the CPU's nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 3700X holds its own in synthetic benchmarks, but the GPU's nearest rivals are all slightly ahead. The Intel Arc A750, which is 1.5% ahead of the RTX 2070 SUPER in average GPU score, would likely yield a slightly higher combo rank in Minecraft if paired with a similar CPU. The same applies to the RTX 3070 Mobile and Arc B570, which are 1.2% and 1.3% ahead respectively.

The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it achieves high frame rates. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the combo's rank reflects this limitation. The 3710 total combos tested include many with newer and more powerful GPUs, so the 2136 rank is a reasonable outcome for a 2019-era CPU and GPU pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but the best balance of visual quality and performance is Medium settings, which yield 340 FPS average with a minimum of 289 FPS and a maximum of 391 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors without the visual downgrades of Low settings (429 FPS) or the unnecessary load of High (270 FPS) or Ultra (169 FPS).

At 1440p, Medium settings again offer the best experience with 214 FPS average, a minimum of 182 FPS, and a maximum of 247 FPS. This is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common at this resolution. High settings at 1440p (170 FPS) are also viable if visual fidelity is prioritized, but Ultra (106 FPS) is still above 60 FPS and acceptable for single-player play.

At 4K, the recommendation shifts. Medium settings (112 FPS average, 95 FPS minimum, 129 FPS maximum) are the sweet spot, as they provide a playable experience above 60 FPS with decent visuals. High settings (89 FPS) are playable but not ideal for fast-paced gameplay, while Ultra (56 FPS) dips below 60 FPS and may cause noticeable stutter on some displays. Low settings (141 FPS) are only recommended if maximum frame rate is the sole priority, as the visual quality degradation is significant.

For the best overall experience, Medium settings at 1440p offer the highest frame rate per visual quality cost, with the minimum FPS of 182 ensuring no drops below the 144 Hz threshold. If playing on a 4K display, Medium settings are the only option that consistently stays above 60 FPS, making it the recommended preset for this combo.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS across settings ranges from 169 to 429. Low settings produce 429 FPS, Medium produces 340 FPS with a minimum of 289 FPS and a maximum of 391 FPS, High produces 270 FPS, and Ultra produces 169 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 260 FPS, which highlights the significant impact of visual settings on frame rate at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS values are 271 for Low, 214 for Medium (minimum 182, maximum 247), 170 for High, and 106 for Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with the largest absolute drop occurring at Low (from 429 to 271, a 158 FPS reduction). The Ultra setting drops from 169 to 106, a 63 FPS reduction.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are 141 for Low, 112 for Medium (minimum 95, maximum 129), 89 for High, and 56 for Ultra. The 4K resolution significantly stresses the GPU, with Ultra settings falling below 60 FPS. The minimum FPS of 95 at Medium settings is still above 60, but the margin is thinner than at lower resolutions.

The data shows a consistent pattern: Medium settings offer the best balance of performance and quality across all resolutions, with the minimum FPS remaining above 60 at all tested resolutions. Low settings provide the highest frame rates but sacrifice visual quality, while Ultra settings are only recommended at 1080p where the average FPS of 169 is still high.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU-bound nature of this combo at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 270 at 1080p to 170 at 1440p (a 37% reduction) and then to 89 at 4K (a 67% reduction from 1080p). This progressive decline is characteristic of a GPU that is increasingly saturated as pixel count rises.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 340 FPS at 1080p, 214 at 1440p (a 37% reduction), and 112 at 4K (a 67% reduction from 1080p). The consistency of these percentages across settings suggests that the GPU's rendering pipeline is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU can maintain high frame rates even at 1080p.

At Low settings, the scaling is steeper: 429 FPS at 1080p, 271 at 1440p (a 37% reduction), and 141 at 4K (a 67% reduction). The absolute drop of 288 FPS from 1080p to 4K is the largest of any setting, indicating that even at Low settings, the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The Ultra settings show a slightly different pattern: 169 FPS at 1080p, 106 at 1440p (a 37% reduction), and 56 at 4K (a 67% reduction). This setting is the most demanding, and the 4K average of 56 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that the GPU cannot sustain playable frame rates at the highest settings and resolution.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the primary limiter at any resolution above 1080p. The consistent 37% drop from 1080p to 1440p and the 67% drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings point to the GPU's fill rate and shader throughput as the determining factors. The Ryzen 7 3700X has sufficient headroom to feed the RTX 2070 SUPER, but the GPU's 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is exhausted as resolution increases. For users targeting 4K, the recommendation is to use Medium settings, which maintains an average of 112 FPS and a minimum of 95 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience without sacrificing too much visual quality.