Minecraft

Minecraft is a game that behaves differently from most modern titles, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER reflects that unique dynamic. The measured FPS across all resolutions and settings is exceptionally high, showing a system that is never truly stressed by the game’s requirements. The data reveals a clear scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, with the performance deltas between settings shrinking as resolution climbs, which points to where the bottleneck shifts in this particular combination.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are standard for its generation, and its 65 W TDP classifies it as a mainstream desktop part. In the context of Minecraft, the CPU’s role is often more significant than in other games, because the game’s world generation and entity logic are heavily single-threaded. The benchmark scores confirm this: the single-thread performance, at 868 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2981 in Passmark single-thread, is solid but not class-leading, placing it in the 71st percentile among all CPUs.

What the measured FPS data shows is that this CPU is rarely the limiting factor in this pairing. At 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 560 FPS, which is a figure that suggests the CPU is working hard but still has headroom. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and single-core score of 2024 indicate that the processor can handle the game’s physics and world updates without creating a severe frame cap. The nearest rival data shows the i5-11400F sits within 0.6% of the AMD EPYC 7H12 and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U in average benchmark score, which tells us that its compute capabilities are competitive with a wide range of server and mobile parts, but for Minecraft, the single-thread performance is what matters most. The 3dmark_2_threads score of 1691 is particularly relevant, as Minecraft often relies on a few threads for rendering and simulation, and this score suggests the CPU can deliver the necessary per-thread throughput to feed even a high-end GPU.

The data implies that the i5-11400F’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for Minecraft’s demands, as the frame rates do not collapse when more entities are present or when the render distance increases. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz is a key factor here, as it allows the processor to respond quickly to the game’s intermittent spikes in CPU load. Compared to the benchmark of the CPU itself, the measured FPS in Minecraft at 1080p High (445 FPS) is far above what most systems achieve, indicating that the CPU is not holding back the GPU in this scenario. However, the data does suggest that at 1080p Low, where the GPU workload is minimal, the CPU is likely the primary driver of the 560 FPS figure, as the GPU is capable of far higher frame rates in less demanding scenes.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its base clock runs at 1980 MHz with a boost of 2475 MHz, and the memory clock is 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). These specifications place it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 43223, which is within 1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile in the nearest rivals list. For Minecraft, the GPU’s role is to render the world, handle shaders, and manage draw calls, and the RTX 4070 SUPER handles these tasks with ease based on the measured FPS.

At 4K Ultra, the GPU delivers 92 FPS, which is the lowest figure in the entire dataset but still smooth for most players. This drop to below 100 FPS at the highest settings and resolution shows that the GPU is finally being tasked, as the pixel count increases by 4x compared to 1080p. The 12 GB of VRAM is ample for Minecraft, even with high-resolution texture packs, as the game typically uses less than 4 GB at 1080p. The memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s ensures that texture streaming is not a bottleneck, which is supported by the fact that the 4K Medium setting (185 FPS) is still far above refresh rates of most monitors. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 198.0 GPixel/s are theoretical figures that align with the observed performance, but in Minecraft, the game is often CPU-bound at lower resolutions, so the GPU’s raw power is only fully utilized at 4K Ultra.

The data shows that the RTX 4070 SUPER is overkill for Minecraft at 1080p, where it produces 445 FPS on High and 560 FPS on Low. This suggests that the GPU is idling much of the time, waiting for the CPU to send draw commands. At 4K, the GPU begins to show its limits, but the 92 FPS at Ultra is still a playable figure, and the 147 FPS at High at the same resolution demonstrates that there is headroom in the settings. The nearest rival data for the GPU shows it is within 1% of the RTX 4090 Mobile in average score, but in Minecraft, the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER’s higher boost clock and full power envelope give it an edge that is reflected in the measured FPS.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases, which helps identify the limiting component at each stage. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS at High settings drops from 445 to 281, a reduction of 37%. From 1440p to 4K, the High setting average drops from 281 to 147, a further reduction of 48%. This progressive decline indicates that the GPU becomes more involved as resolution climbs, but the CPU is still keeping pace. At 1080p Low, the system hits 560 FPS, and at 1440p Low it drops to 447, a 20% reduction. At 4K Low, the average is 234, a 48% drop from 1440p. This pattern shows that the CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p, as the GPU can easily render the frame, but the CPU cannot feed it fast enough to exceed 560 FPS.

At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 92, which is a 67% drop from 1080p Ultra (278 FPS). This steep decline is a classic sign of GPU limitation, as the pixel count increases 4x, and the shading workload becomes the bottleneck. The data implies that between 1080p and 1440p, the system is still partially CPU-bound, as the FPS drop is not proportional to the pixel count increase (1080p to 1440p is a 78% increase in pixels, but the FPS drop is only 37% at High). This suggests that the CPU is managing the increased render demand without losing much performance. However, from 1440p to 4K, the pixel count increases by 125%, and the FPS drop is 48% at High, which is closer to what would be expected if the GPU were the sole limiter. The fact that the 4K Medium setting (185 FPS) is still very high indicates that the GPU has enough headroom to handle the resolution as long as the settings are moderate.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (560 FPS) and Ultra (278 FPS) is 282 FPS. At 4K, the difference is 142 FPS (234 vs 92). This suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU can still push high frame rates even with more complex rendering, but at 4K, the GPU’s workload becomes more dominant, and the settings have a larger relative impact on performance. This analysis points to a system where the CPU is the bottleneck at 1080p, and the GPU becomes the bottleneck at 4K Ultra, with a transition zone around 1440p where both components are balanced.

FAQ

Q: Why does the FPS at 1080p Low (560) not double when the resolution is halved from 4K Low (234)?

A: The FPS difference is 326 frames, but the pixel count increases 4x, so the GPU workload at 4K is much higher. The CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p, capping the frame rate, while at 4K, the GPU is more involved, but the scaling is not linear due to other bottlenecks like memory bandwidth.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER overkill for Minecraft at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 1080p High, the system achieves 445 FPS, which is far above any monitor refresh rate. The GPU is not being fully utilized, as the CPU limits the frame rate to 560 FPS at Low settings, indicating the GPU has significant headroom.

Q: What is the best setting for a 1440p monitor with a 144 Hz refresh rate?

A: At 1440p High, the measured average is 281 FPS, and at Medium it is 354 FPS. Both are well above 144 Hz, so even the Ultra setting (176 FPS) exceeds the refresh rate, meaning any setting will provide a smooth experience.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance affect Minecraft?

A: The i5-11400F has a 3dmark_single_thread score of 868 and a Passmark single-thread score of 2981. Minecraft relies heavily on single-thread performance for world generation, and these scores are sufficient to support frame rates above 500 FPS at 1080p, as shown in the data.

Q: Does the 12 GB VRAM matter for Minecraft?

A: Minecraft does not heavily use VRAM, and the 12 GB on the RTX 4070 SUPER is more than enough. Even with high-resolution textures, the game would not exceed this amount, so the VRAM is not a limiting factor in any of the measured scenarios.

Q: Why is the 4K Ultra FPS (92) so much lower than 4K High (147)?

A: The Ultra preset likely includes additional effects like advanced lighting and shadow quality, which increase the GPU workload. The data shows a 37% drop from High to Ultra at 4K, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor at these settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 733rd out of 3710 tested combos in Minecraft, placing it in the top 20% of all systems. This ranking is impressive considering that the CPU is an older mid-range part and the GPU is a high-end model, but the data shows that the pairing is well-balanced for this game. The rank of 733 suggests that there are 732 combos that achieve higher average FPS, likely featuring newer CPUs with higher single-thread performance or more powerful GPUs that can push beyond the 560 FPS ceiling at 1080p. However, for practical purposes, the measured FPS values are so high that the rank difference is negligible for most players.

The combo’s rank is influenced by the fact that Minecraft is CPU-sensitive, and the i5-11400F’s single-thread performance, while solid, is not top-tier. The percentileVsAllCpus score of 71 indicates that the CPU is better than 71% of all CPUs, but the top 29% likely have higher boost clocks or newer architectures that can drive even higher frame rates. The GPU’s percentileVsAllGpus score of 83 shows it is better than 83% of all GPUs, but the GPU is not the limiting factor in most of the measured scenarios. The data implies that this combo is in the upper echelon of systems for Minecraft, but it is not at the very top because the CPU holds back the GPU at lower resolutions. Future combos with newer CPUs like the Intel Core i5-12450H, which is a nearest rival with a 0.4% higher average score, could potentially rank higher due to better single-thread performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on the resolution of the display. At 1080p, even the Ultra setting (278 FPS) is far above any refresh rate, so players can choose Ultra for the best visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. At 1440p, the Ultra setting (176 FPS) is still above 144 Hz, so it is recommended for high-refresh monitors, while the High setting (281 FPS) offers even more headroom for 240 Hz displays. At 4K, the Medium setting (185 FPS) provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, as it is above 144 Hz and shows a minimum FPS of 157, ensuring smooth gameplay. The Ultra setting at 4K (92 FPS) is playable on a 60 Hz or 90 Hz monitor, but the High setting (147 FPS) is better for 144 Hz displays.

For players with a 4K 60 Hz monitor, the Ultra setting is acceptable, but the data shows that High (147 FPS) is overkill for the refresh rate, so Medium (185 FPS) is a better choice to reduce GPU load and potentially lower temperatures. At 1440p, the Medium setting (354 FPS) with a minimum of 301 FPS is the most consistent, but the Ultra setting (176 FPS) is still smooth for most users. The data suggests that the Low setting is only useful for competitive play where maximum frame rates are needed, as the difference between Low and High at 1080p is 115 FPS, but the visual impact is significant. For this combo, the High setting at any resolution provides the best balance, offering high frame rates without the performance cost of Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS across settings is as follows: Low settings produce 560 FPS, Medium settings produce 515 FPS with a minimum of 438 FPS and a maximum of 592 FPS, High settings produce 445 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 278 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 282 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom even at the highest settings. The Medium setting’s minimum FPS of 438 indicates that there are occasional drops, but they are still far above any refresh rate, making this resolution entirely CPU-bound at all settings.

At 2560x1440, the measured averages are: Low settings at 447 FPS, Medium settings at 354 FPS with a minimum of 301 FPS and a maximum of 407 FPS, High settings at 281 FPS, and Ultra settings at 176 FPS. The FPS drops from 1080p are 20% for Low, 31% for Medium, 37% for High, and 37% for Ultra, showing that the GPU is beginning to take on more workload at this resolution. The Medium setting’s minimum FPS of 301 is still above 144 Hz, making it a strong choice for high-refresh 1440p monitors.

At 3840x2160, the measured averages are: Low settings at 234 FPS, Medium settings at 185 FPS with a minimum of 157 FPS and a maximum of 213 FPS, High settings at 147 FPS, and Ultra settings at 92 FPS. The FPS drops from 1440p are 48% for Low, 48% for Medium, 48% for High, and 48% for Ultra, showing a consistent scaling pattern as the GPU becomes the primary limiter. The Ultra setting at 4K is the only scenario where the average FPS drops below 100, indicating that this is the most demanding configuration in the dataset. The Medium setting’s minimum FPS of 157 ensures that even the lowest frame rates are above 144 Hz, making it the recommended setting for 4K gaming with this combo.