Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER pairing represents a study in asymmetrical hardware generations, combining a modern 6-core processor with a previous-generation mid-range GPU. The benchmark data from Minimum shows a combination that is entirely GPU-limited at higher resolutions but reveals a strong CPU foundation that scales effectively when the graphical load is reduced. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, contextualizes the component roles, and explains how this combo ranks against 2,938 other tested configurations.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is built on the Zen 4 Raphael architecture using a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The processor's cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 pool is critical for gaming performance, as it allows the CPU to store more game data on-die, reducing the need to access slower system memory. The CPU supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, providing 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform with PCIe Gen 5 connectivity.

In the context of Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014, the CPU's performance is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 170 FPS. This high frame rate is a direct result of the CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its PassMark single-thread score of 3494. The processor's multi-thread score of 25047 also indicates that it handles background tasks and game logic without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU's average benchmark score of 44573 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (0.2% ahead), Intel Core i9-13950HX (0.5% ahead), and AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (0.6% ahead). Conversely, it is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600.

The cache configuration is particularly noteworthy. With 96 MB of L3 cache, the 7500X3D is designed to excel in gaming workloads that exhibit high data locality. While the measured FPS in Minimum at 4K Ultra (29 FPS) suggests the GPU is the limiting factor, the CPU's capability is evident in the scaling between settings. When moving from 1080p Ultra (83 FPS) to 1080p Low (170 FPS), the average frame rate more than doubles, indicating that the CPU has ample headroom to push the GPU harder when the graphical settings are lowered. The processor's TDP of 65 W is modest, and its launch MSRP is $269. This combination of high cache, modern architecture, and efficient power draw makes it a capable gaming processor, though its locked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked: false) limits overclocking potential.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process, featuring the TU106 chip. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is listed at 1750 MHz, with an effective data rate of 14 Gbps. The GPU's base clock is 1470 MHz, with a boost clock of 1650 MHz. It houses 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, along with 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores. This hardware configuration provides a pixel rate of 105.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 224.4 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 7.181 TFLOPS.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM capacity is a defining characteristic for this pairing. In Minimum, the game's demands at various settings show how this memory capacity interacts with resolution. At 4K Ultra, the combo produces an average of 29 FPS, while at 4K High it reaches 38 FPS. The GPU's performance percentile is 62, with an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (0.4% ahead), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (0.5% ahead), and AMD Radeon RX 460 (1.5% ahead), while it is 1.6% ahead of the Intel Arc A770M. These rivals are closer in performance than the CPU's rivals, indicating the RTX 2060 SUPER is a mid-range part that competes with both mobile and desktop offerings.

The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in most tested scenarios. At 1440p High, the combo achieves 71 FPS, dropping to 54 FPS at 1440p Ultra. At 1080p, the Ultra setting yields 83 FPS, while Low yields 170 FPS. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a reduction from 170 FPS to 59 FPS, a drop of 111 FPS, which points directly to the GPU's inability to maintain frame rates as pixel count increases. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for this older title, but the raw compute power of the TU106 chip is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The GPU's TDP is 175 W, and it requires a suggested PSU of 450 W, with a single 8-pin power connector. It is a dual-slot card measuring 229 mm in length.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions paints a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p Low, the combo delivers 170 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 110 FPS, a 35% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 59 FPS, which is a 65% reduction from the 1080p Low figure. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is struggling to fill the increasing number of pixels, and the CPU's high performance cannot compensate for the GPU's render workload.

The scaling is similar for Medium settings: 1080p Medium shows 130 FPS (with a minimum of 111 and maximum of 150), 1440p Medium shows 84 FPS (min 71, max 97), and 4K Medium shows 45 FPS (min 38, max 52). The percentage drops are consistent — roughly 35% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 46% from 1440p to 4K. For High settings, the values are 109 FPS at 1080p, 71 FPS at 1440p, and 38 FPS at 4K. The Ultra settings show 83 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K.

This data strongly suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting component across all resolutions. The CPU's role is to provide a stable frame delivery platform, which it does effectively, as evidenced by the high 1080p Low result. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU's compute units and memory bandwidth are saturated, preventing the CPU from reaching its full potential. The fact that the FPS drops by more than half from 1080p to 4K at every setting level confirms that this is a GPU-bound scenario. For a game like Minimum, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K, even at Low settings where the average is just 59 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2047 out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum. This places the pairing in the lower half of all configurations tested, specifically in the 30th percentile of combos. This rank is notable because the CPU itself is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. The disparity between the CPU's high percentile and the combo's lower rank indicates that the GPU is dragging down the overall system performance relative to other tested systems.

The rank of 2047 suggests that many other combinations, likely those with more balanced or higher-end GPUs paired with mid-range CPUs, outperform this setup in Minimum. The data shows that the combo's performance is limited by the GPU, so any combination with a stronger GPU would likely rank higher, regardless of CPU choice. Conversely, combinations with a weaker CPU but a similar GPU might rank similarly, as the game is not CPU-intensive at higher resolutions. This rank is a practical indicator for builders: this combo is not optimized for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming, but it can handle 1080p and 1440p with solid frame rates. The 2047 rank out of 2939 combos means that roughly 70% of tested systems perform better, which is a sobering statistic for a CPU that is otherwise top-tier in its class.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 170 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo, showing the CPU's ability to push frames when the GPU load is minimal.
• Medium: Average 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and maximum of 150 FPS. The frame time variance is moderate, indicating a stable experience.
• High: Average 109 FPS. A solid result for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors.
• Ultra: Average 83 FPS. This is still playable, but the drop from Low to Ultra is 87 FPS, showing the GPU's limits.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 110 FPS. A 35% reduction from 1080p Low, reinforcing the GPU bottleneck.
• Medium: Average 84 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and maximum of 97 FPS. The minimum is close to the average, suggesting consistent performance.
• High: Average 71 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for most titles, but not high-refresh territory.
• Ultra: Average 54 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra is 17 FPS, indicating that Ultra settings are demanding on the GPU.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 59 FPS. This is barely above the 60 FPS target, and the GPU is clearly struggling.
• Medium: Average 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS. The minimum FPS suggests noticeable stutters at times.
• High: Average 38 FPS. This is below the playable threshold for most users.
• Ultra: Average 29 FPS. This is not a playable experience for a fast-paced third-person shooter.

The data shows that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates at all settings. At 1440p, it can manage 60+ FPS on Low and Medium settings, but falls below 60 FPS on High and Ultra. At 4K, it only approaches 60 FPS on Low settings, and the experience degrades significantly with higher quality presets.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU-GPU combo good for 1080p gaming?

A: Yes, the data shows strong performance at 1080p. The combo achieves 170 FPS on Low, 130 FPS on Medium, 109 FPS on High, and 83 FPS on Ultra settings. This indicates that it can handle high-refresh-rate monitors at this resolution.

*Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 59 FPS. At Medium, High, and Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 45, 38, and 29 respectively, which are not ideal for a third-person shooter.

Q: What is the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU's performance is high (89th percentile), but the GPU's lower performance (62nd percentile) causes a significant FPS drop when moving from 1080p to 4K, such as a 111 FPS reduction from Low at 1080p to Low at 4K.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44573. It is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, 0.5% slower than the Intel Core i9-13950HX, and 0.6% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, but it is 0.7% faster than the Intel Core i5-14600.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093. It is 0.4% slower than the RTX 3060 Mobile, 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, and 1.5% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 460, but it is 1.6% faster than the Intel Arc A770M.

*Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in Minimum?*

A: The combo ranks 2047 out of 2939 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all systems tested, which is consistent with the GPU being the limiting factor in this pairing.