Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER pairing delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. The data shows a system that scales predictably with settings and resolution, with the CPU holding its own while the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher pixel counts.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a clear and consistent degradation as resolution increases, a pattern that points directly at the graphics card as the limiting component. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 84 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average by 30 frames to 54 FPS, a 35.7% reduction. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, cutting the average down to 29 FPS, which represents a 65.5% loss from the 1080p High result. This steep curve is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario where the pixel throughput demands of the renderer outpace the GTX 1660 SUPER's capabilities.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 131 FPS at 1080p to 85 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 46 FPS at 4K. This means even when the graphical load is minimized, the transition from 1080p to 4K still costs 85 FPS on average. The relative drop is slightly smaller at Low settings compared to High, suggesting that the gap between the CPU's potential and the GPU's delivery narrows as resolution climbs. The data indicates that at 1080p, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is capable of feeding the GTX 1660 SUPER sufficiently, but that headroom evaporates quickly as resolution increases.

For Ultra settings, the pattern holds, but the absolute numbers are much lower. The average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 64, which drops to 41 at 1440p and bottoms out at 22 at 4K. This 4K Ultra result is the weakest in the entire measured set, reinforcing that this configuration is not suited for maximum fidelity at maximum resolution. The frame rate deltas between resolutions are not linear; the 1080p to 1440p drop is generally larger in absolute terms than the 1440p to 4K drop, which is typical for a GPU that is being pushed past its comfortable operating range.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the decisive factor in the upper resolutions. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the game's demands, but the core itself struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The GPU's boost clock is listed at 1785 MHz, and its PassMark G3D score of 12699 places it at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs. This mid-range standing is reflected in the measured performance, where the card delivers playable results at 1080p but falls below the 60 FPS threshold at 4K High and Ultra.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (score 12940, deltaPct 0.4), the AMD Radeon RX 580 (score 12928, deltaPct 0.4), and the AMD Radeon 740M (score 12870, deltaPct 0.9). The GTX 1660 SUPER's average benchmark score of 12986 is within a fraction of a percent of these competitors, indicating that its raw compute capabilities are closely matched. However, the measured FPS in Minimum shows that this level of performance translates to a 29 FPS average at 4K High, which is below the commonly accepted threshold for smooth gameplay.

The 12 nm Turing architecture, while older, still supports DirectX 12 (12_1), which is relevant for a game from 2014 that may rely on newer API features. The GPU's FP32 performance of 5.027 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s are modest by modern standards, but they are the numbers that drive the observed results. At 1080p Low, the card produces 131 FPS, showing that it has no trouble with light loads. The bottleneck is clearly the pixel fill rate and shader throughput at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra average of 22 FPS. The GPU's launch MSRP was 229 USD, and its production status is end-of-life, which is consistent with its mid-tier positioning.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average frame rate is 54 FPS. This is a significant drop from the 1080p High result of 84 FPS, indicating that the GTX 1660 SUPER is starting to struggle with the increased pixel count.

Q: Is this system capable of 60 FPS at 4K?

A: No. The data shows no 4K preset achieves a 60 FPS average. The best 4K result is 46 FPS at Low settings, while High, Medium, and Ultra presets yield 29, 35, and 22 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500X3D compare to its closest rival in CPU benchmarks?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 37018, which puts it at the 85th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, scores 36945, a deltaPct of 0.2. The performance difference is negligible, with the 5500X3D being only 0.2% faster.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1080p?

A: Based on the measured data, High settings at 1080p produce an average of 84 FPS, which is above 60. Medium settings yield 100 FPS, and Low settings produce 131 FPS. All presets at 1080p exceed the 60 FPS mark.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium is 55 FPS. The average for this preset is 65 FPS, with a maximum of 74 FPS, suggesting some frame time variance but generally stable performance.

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

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER is at the 53rd percentile, based on its average benchmark score of 12986. This places it in the middle of the performance distribution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows strong performance across all settings. Low settings produce the highest average at 131 FPS, which is a very high frame rate suitable for competitive play. Medium settings average 100 FPS, with a minimum of 85 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS, showing good consistency. High settings average 84 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS standard. Ultra settings are the most demanding at 1080p, yielding an average of 64 FPS. This demonstrates that the GTX 1660 SUPER can handle the game at 1080p with any preset, though Ultra is the only one that dips close to the 60 FPS line.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. Low settings average 85 FPS, which is still playable but a 46 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 65 FPS, with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS. This is the first preset where the minimum FPS falls below 60, indicating potential stutters in demanding scenes. High settings average 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Ultra settings average 41 FPS, making this resolution the point where high-fidelity gaming becomes difficult.

At 3840x2160, the system is heavily GPU-bound. Low settings are the only preset that comes close to playable, with an average of 46 FPS. Medium settings average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. High settings average 29 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 22 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is not a viable resolution for this configuration, regardless of settings. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is excellent, 1440p is acceptable at Low and Medium, and 4K is only usable at Low settings for a less demanding experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a 96 MB shared L3 cache. This large cache is a defining feature of the X3D series, and it likely contributes to the CPU's strong performance in gaming workloads. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score is 2941, and its multithread score is 20363, with an average benchmark score of 37018. This places it at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong overall processing power.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU does not appear to be the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops between 1080p and 4K are substantial, which is a hallmark of GPU limitation. However, at 1080p Low, the average of 131 FPS demonstrates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve high frame rates. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (score 37093, deltaPct -0.2) and the Intel Core i9-12900T (score 37112, deltaPct -0.3), are all within a fraction of a percent of the 5500X3D's score, showing that its performance is competitive with other modern mid-range and high-end parts.

The CPU's memory support for DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is sufficient for the game's requirements. The 7 nm process node and 74 mm² die size are efficiency-focused, and the 105 W TDP suggests it is a power-hungry part relative to its core count. The data indicates that the CPU's role is to provide a stable foundation, and it does so effectively. Even at 1080p High, where the GPU is more stressed, the CPU still allows for an 84 FPS average, which is a solid result for a game from 2014. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU, especially as resolution increases past 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience at 1080p, the data strongly supports using High settings. The average of 84 FPS is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and it provides a visual quality upgrade over Medium and Low that does not come at a significant performance cost. While Ultra settings also clear 60 FPS with an average of 64 FPS, the margin is thinner, and High offers a more comfortable buffer against frame rate dips. For players who prioritize maximum frame rates, Low settings at 131 FPS is the optimal choice, but High offers the best balance of image quality and performance.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. High settings average 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, making it a less desirable choice for smooth gameplay. Medium settings average 65 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold, but the minimum of 55 FPS suggests occasional dips below the target. Low settings average 85 FPS, providing a much smoother experience. For 1440p, the data suggests that Medium is the highest preset that can consistently maintain playable frame rates, but Low is the safest choice for a stable experience.

At 4K, no preset achieves a 60 FPS average. Low settings at 46 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, but it is still below the standard. Medium, High, and Ultra all produce averages below 40 FPS, which are generally considered too low for a smooth third-person shooter. The data indicates that this system is not suitable for 4K gaming in Minimum. The optimal configuration for this hardware is 1080p with High settings, which delivers the best combination of visual fidelity and performance, with 1440p Low as a viable alternative for those who prefer a higher resolution over visual effects.