Minimum

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture (Raphael). It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which positions it as a mid-range desktop part with strong single-thread performance. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 999 in 3DMark single-thread and 1,852 in Cinebench R23 single-core, indicating solid per-core capability. Its multi-threaded scores are equally respectable: 6,503 in 3DMark max threads, 12,735 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 13,413 in Geekbench multi-core.

The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB L2 per core help feed data to the cores efficiently, which matters in a third-person shooter like Minimum where game logic, physics, and draw calls can create bursts of single-threaded work. The 65 W TDP and 5 nm process node (TSMC) suggest efficient operation, but the more important takeaway from the data is how this CPU interacts with the GPU at various settings.

In this game, the CPU role becomes evident when examining frame rates at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 417 FPS average, which is exceptionally high. This number indicates that the Ryzen 5 7600 has ample headroom to feed the RTX 5090 D even at low graphical loads. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 1,938 and 4-thread score of 3,686 show that the processor scales well with modest thread counts, which is relevant for a game from 2014 that may not utilize all 12 threads fully.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 7600 sits at a 78th percentile versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26,324. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX is 0.2% ahead, the AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS is 0.3% behind, the Intel Core i9-11900KF is 0.4% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U is 0.5% ahead. These are all within a 1% band, meaning the 7600 is statistically tied with those parts in aggregate CPU benchmarks. For Minimum specifically, the CPU's ability to maintain high frame rates at 1080p (417 FPS Low) suggests that even at Ultra settings (210 FPS), the processor is not the limiting factor — the GPU takes over that role as resolution increases.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a massive GPU built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. The chip (GB202) contains 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs. Clock speeds are listed at 2017 MHz base and 2407 MHz boost, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The GPU's compute capabilities are substantial: 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 and 104.8 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1), with a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s.

In synthetic tests, the RTX 5090 D scores 14,326 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 310,674 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 376,915 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its Passmark G3D score is 44,065, and it holds a 92nd percentile ranking versus all GPUs. The nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (1.1% ahead), AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (1.6% behind), NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB (2.1% behind), and NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (2.4% behind). These deltas are all within 2.5%, placing the 5090 D in a tightly contested performance band for aggregate benchmarks.

For Minimum, the GPU's role is most visible at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo produces 73 FPS average, while at 4K Low it reaches 149 FPS. This scaling — from 417 FPS at 1080p Low to 73 FPS at 4K Ultra — demonstrates that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck once resolution and settings increase. The 32 GB VRAM is far beyond what a 2014 title requires, but the sheer compute throughput of the RTX 5090 D is what drives the high frame rates. The 512-bit memory bus and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth ensure that texture streaming and memory-bound operations do not throttle performance, even at 4K with Ultra settings.

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 across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 417 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 277 FPS; and at 4K Low, it falls to 149 FPS. This represents a 64% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. Similarly, at Ultra settings, the progression is 210 FPS (1080p) → 136 FPS (1440p) → 73 FPS (4K), a 65% drop from 1080p to 4K.

These percentages are remarkably consistent across settings, which indicates that the scaling is driven primarily by pixel count and GPU load rather than by CPU limitations. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at 1080p regardless of settings, but the data shows that at 1080p, Low (417 FPS) is nearly double Ultra (210 FPS). This 2x difference at the same resolution is a hallmark of GPU-bound scenarios — the CPU is capable of feeding frames well above 400 FPS, but the GPU's workload at Ultra settings reduces throughput.

The 4K to 1080p ratio for Medium settings tells a similar story: 114 FPS at 4K versus 329 FPS at 1080p, a 65% decline. The 1440p results sit approximately midway: 277 FPS Low, 212 FPS Medium, 178 FPS High, and 136 FPS Ultra. This linear scaling with resolution suggests that the RTX 5090 D has sufficient bandwidth and compute to handle the increased pixel load, but the GPU is clearly the limiting component at 4K, especially at Ultra where the 73 FPS average indicates a heavy shader and fill-rate workload.

For a game released in 2014, these frame rates are extraordinarily high. The data indicates that at 1080p and 1440p, the combo provides a very smooth experience even at Ultra settings (210 FPS and 136 FPS respectively). At 4K, the experience remains playable but requires a settings adjustment to hit higher refresh rates — Low (149 FPS) or Medium (114 FPS) are viable, while High (96 FPS) and Ultra (73 FPS) target standard 60-100 Hz displays.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high refresh rates?

A: At 1080p, all settings exceed 210 FPS, with Low reaching 417 FPS and Medium hitting 329 FPS. At 1440p, Low (277 FPS) and Medium (212 FPS) both exceed 200 FPS, while High (178 FPS) and Ultra (136 FPS) remain above 120 FPS. For 144Hz monitors, 1440p Medium appears optimal, while 4K requires Low (149 FPS) or Medium (114 FPS) for similar smoothness.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 7600 has an average benchmark score of 26,324, placing it at the 78th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX is 0.2% ahead, the Intel Core i9-11900KF is 0.4% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U is 0.5% ahead. The AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS is 0.3% behind. All four rivals are within a 1% band, making them statistically equivalent in overall CPU benchmarks.

Q: What does the 4K Ultra frame rate of 73 FPS indicate about the system?

A: The 73 FPS average at 4K Ultra, compared to 210 FPS at 1080p Ultra, shows that the GPU is the limiting component. The 65% drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is consistent with other settings, confirming that the RTX 5090 D's workload scales with resolution while the CPU maintains sufficient headroom throughout.

Q: Is the 32 GB VRAM on the RTX 5090 D necessary for this game?

A: The data does not indicate VRAM usage, but the 32 GB GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus with 1.79 TB/s bandwidth provides ample capacity and bandwidth. For a 2014 title like Minimum, this memory configuration is far beyond the game's requirements, meaning memory is not a constraint at any resolution or settings level.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 28th out of 2,939 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the top 1% of all configurations. This high ranking reflects the combination of the Ryzen 5 7600's strong single-thread performance and the RTX 5090 D's massive compute throughput.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low produces 277 FPS average, while Ultra produces 136 FPS. This is a 51% reduction, indicating that Ultra settings double the GPU workload per frame. Medium (212 FPS) and High (178 FPS) sit between these extremes, offering a balanced trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target refresh rate and resolution. At 1080p, the combo delivers 417 FPS on Low, 329 FPS on Medium, 276 FPS on High, and 210 FPS on Ultra. For a 240Hz monitor, Ultra (210 FPS) is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while still exceeding 200 FPS. For a 360Hz display, High (276 FPS) or Medium (329 FPS) would be necessary, with Medium offering a 19% frame rate increase over High.

At 1440p, the data shows 277 FPS on Low, 212 FPS on Medium, 178 FPS on High, and 136 FPS on Ultra. For a 165Hz monitor, High (178 FPS) is the recommended setting, as it exceeds the refresh rate while providing better visuals than Medium. For a 240Hz display, Medium (212 FPS) is the best option, with Low (277 FPS) available for those prioritizing maximum smoothness. Ultra (136 FPS) is suitable for 144Hz displays, though High offers a 31% higher frame rate with presumably similar visual impact.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. Low (149 FPS) and Medium (114 FPS) are the only settings that exceed 100 FPS, making them the recommended options for high-refresh 4K monitors. High (96 FPS) and Ultra (73 FPS) are best for standard 60Hz displays or for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate. The 4K Medium setting (114 FPS) with its min FPS of 97 and max FPS of 131 provides a consistent experience, making it the best overall recommendation for 4K gaming on this combo.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo produces the following average frame rates: Low 417 FPS, Medium 329 FPS (min 280, max 379), High 276 FPS, and Ultra 210 FPS. The Medium setting's min-max range of 280-379 FPS shows a 35% variation, indicating some frame time spikes, but the average remains well above any standard refresh rate.

At 2560x1440, the measured results are: Low 277 FPS, Medium 212 FPS (min 180, max 244), High 178 FPS, and Ultra 136 FPS. The Medium range of 180-244 FPS represents a 36% spread, similar to 1080p, suggesting consistent frame pacing characteristics across resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the data shows: Low 149 FPS, Medium 114 FPS (min 97, max 131), High 96 FPS, and Ultra 73 FPS. The Medium setting's min of 97 FPS and max of 131 FPS indicates that even at 4K, the combo maintains a playable experience without severe drops. The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution is roughly linear in terms of frame rate reduction, with Ultra being approximately half the frame rate of Low in all three resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 28th out of 2,939 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the top 0.95% of all configurations. This high ranking is notable given that the CPU is a mid-range 6-core part, suggesting that the game's performance is heavily GPU-dependent and that the Ryzen 5 7600 provides sufficient CPU headroom to not impede the RTX 5090 D.

The rank of 28 among 2,939 combos means that only 27 configurations achieve higher frame rates in this game. Given that the RTX 5090 D is one of the most powerful GPUs available, the combos ranked above likely feature higher-end CPUs (such as flagship models with more cores or higher clock speeds) paired with the same or similar GPUs. However, the delta between the 7600 and its nearest CPU rivals is less than 0.5% in aggregate benchmarks, indicating that CPU choice has minimal impact on the final ranking for this GPU-bound title.

The data demonstrates that for Minimum, the RTX 5090 D is the dominant factor in determining performance. The Ryzen 5 7600's 78th percentile CPU ranking does not translate to a similar GPU ranking — the combo's 28th position out of 2,939 is driven almost entirely by the GPU's 92nd percentile performance. This suggests that users with a 6-core CPU like the 7600 can achieve near-top-tier results in this game without needing a more expensive processor, as long as the GPU is sufficiently powerful.