Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a highly capable 1080p experience in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. Benchmark data shows this pairing handles high refresh rate gaming at 1920x1080 with ease, while also providing playable performance at higher resolutions for less demanding settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and presets, examines the GPU and CPU roles, and places the combo within the broader tested database.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall rank of this CPU and GPU combination for Minimum?*

A: The combo ranks 2422 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database for this specific game. While the rank may seem modest, the actual FPS numbers at 1080p are quite strong, indicating that many higher-ranked combos likely use much newer or more expensive hardware.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 3700X compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260. It is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34222, 0.1% higher) and the AMD EPYC 4244P (34220, 0.1% higher). It trails the Intel Core i5-13450HX (34333) by only 0.2%, but leads the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (34083) by 0.5%. The performance delta is negligible across all four rivals.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings preset for this combo based on measured data?

A: For a smooth experience, 1920x1080 at High settings yields 114 FPS average, while Low settings hit 177 FPS. At 2560x1440, High settings produce 73 FPS, which is still playable. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, dropping to 87 FPS at 1080p and 30 FPS at 4K, so it is best avoided at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the GPU in this combo?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT had a launch MSRP of 399 USD. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: Given the game's 2014 release date, the 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 7 3700X provides ample processing power. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 177 FPS, suggesting the CPU is not a limiting factor at that setting. The GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution and settings increase, with the gap between Low and Ultra presets widening significantly at 4K.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 6650 XT has an average benchmark score of 19765. It is slightly behind the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (19885, -0.6%) and AMD FirePro W7000 (19905, -0.7%), but ahead of the AMD FirePro D300 (19637, 0.7%) and NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (19602, 0.8%). These are all professional-grade cards, so the gaming-oriented RX 6650 XT is expected to perform differently in real-world gaming workloads.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT holds a rank of 2422 out of 3712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the 35th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 65% of combinations deliver higher average frame rates in this title. However, raw ranking does not tell the whole story. The database includes many high-end and modern components, so a mid-range 2022 GPU paired with a 2019 CPU will naturally sit lower in the hierarchy.

The measured FPS data reveals that this rank is not a reflection of poor performance but rather of the competitive field. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 177 FPS on Low settings, 135 FPS on Medium, and 114 FPS on High. These numbers are far beyond the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider smooth. Even at 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 73 FPS, which is comfortably playable. The rank of 2422 is therefore more indicative of the presence of newer, more powerful hardware in the database rather than a weakness in this specific pairing.

The CPU itself performs near its direct rivals in synthetic tests, with a score of 34260. It is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, AMD EPYC 4244P, Intel Core i5-13450HX, and Intel Core Ultra 7 165H. This suggests that the 3700X is not an outlier in terms of processing power, and the combo's rank is likely driven more by the GPU's position. The RX 6650 XT's average benchmark score of 19765 places it at the 65th percentile of all GPUs, which is respectable but not top-tier. In a game like Minimum, the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates, so the combo's overall rank reflects the GPU's mid-range standing.

For context, the GPU's nearest rivals are all workstation or datacenter cards, which is unusual. The NVIDIA Tesla K40m scores 19885, just 0.6% higher, and the AMD FirePro W7000 scores 19905, 0.7% higher. The AMD FirePro D300 (19637) and NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (19602) are slightly lower. These professional cards are not optimized for gaming, so the RX 6650 XT's gaming performance is likely better than the raw scores suggest, especially in a DirectX 12 title like Minimum.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 2190 MHz, with an effective data rate of 17.5 Gbps. These specifications are crucial for understanding the GPU's behavior across different resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the GPU has ample memory bandwidth and capacity for all presets. The measured FPS ranges from 177 on Low to 87 on Ultra, showing a clear scaling pattern. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this resolution, and the 128-bit bus does not appear to be a limiting factor. Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop proportionally: 114 FPS on Low, 87 FPS on Medium, 73 FPS on High, and 56 FPS on Ultra. The 8 GB memory is still adequate, but the increased pixel count begins to stress the GPU's compute units.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. The Ultra preset drops to 30 FPS, which is borderline unplayable. High settings yield 39 FPS, and Medium produces 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS. Low settings are the only playable option at 4K, achieving 61 FPS. The 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are likely contributing factors at this resolution, as the bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s is stretched thin by the massive pixel workload.

The GPU's clock speeds are notable: a base clock of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz. These high clocks are characteristic of the RDNA 2.0 architecture and help compensate for the relatively narrow memory bus. The GPU also has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, which are typical for a mid-range card. The texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s provide a theoretical ceiling that aligns with the measured FPS at 1080p.

The GPU's Vulkan score of 81306 and OpenCL score of 10111 in Geekbench indicate strong general compute performance. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1859 is more relevant for gaming, and it reflects the card's ability to handle modern APIs. For a 2014 game like Minimum, the RX 6650 XT is more than capable, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 114 FPS average. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience for a third-person shooter. The Ultra preset drops to 87 FPS, which is still playable, but the visual difference between High and Ultra in a 2014 title is likely minimal, making High the more efficient choice.

For players with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors, the Low preset at 1080p achieves 177 FPS, which is sufficient to take full advantage of high refresh rate displays. The Medium preset at 135 FPS is also a strong option, offering better visuals while still exceeding 120 FPS. The measured minimum FPS for Medium is 115, ensuring that frame times remain consistent even during intense scenes.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 73 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, though not ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is a better choice for smoother gameplay, with a minimum of 74 FPS. The Low preset at 114 FPS is the only option that approaches 120 FPS at this resolution, making it the recommended choice for high refresh rate 1440p monitors. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive in fast-paced shooter scenarios.

At 3840x2160, the options are limited. The Low preset at 61 FPS is the only setting that maintains a playable frame rate. The Medium preset at 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS may be acceptable for slower-paced games, but for a third-person shooter, it risks noticeable stuttering. High (39 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) are not recommended for serious gameplay. Players with 4K monitors should stick to Low settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

In summary, the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with High settings, offering 114 FPS. For 1440p, Medium at 87 FPS is the sweet spot, while 4K players should use Low settings for 61 FPS. The data clearly shows that this combo is optimized for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being a compromise.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how the combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are impressive across the board. Low settings deliver 177 FPS average, which is the highest figure recorded for this combo. Medium settings produce 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS, indicating stable performance. High settings yield 114 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 87 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is consistent, with a 90 FPS difference between the extremes.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings achieve 114 FPS, matching the 1080p High preset. Medium settings deliver 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High settings produce 73 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 56 FPS. The 1440p results show that the combo can handle this resolution well, particularly at Low and Medium settings, where the frame rates remain above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly due to the four times pixel count compared to 1080p. Low settings are the only preset to maintain 60+ FPS, achieving 61 FPS. Medium settings deliver 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS. High settings produce 39 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 30 FPS. The gaps between presets widen at 4K, with a 31 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, compared to 90 FPS at 1080p. This suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck at this resolution, and the 8 GB VRAM may be insufficient for the Ultra preset's texture demands.

The data also reveals that the Medium preset consistently provides a measurable minimum FPS, which is useful for understanding frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 115 FPS, at 1440p Medium it is 74 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 40 FPS. These minimums indicate that the combo does not experience severe frame drops, even under load. The absence of minimum FPS data for other presets makes it difficult to assess their consistency, but the average FPS figures are sufficient for performance evaluation.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a TDP of 65W. The CPU features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a 32 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The processor is built on TSMC's 7nm process node with 3,800 million transistors and a die size of 74 mm².

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 3700X demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance. It scores 2092 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 in single-core. Geekbench scores are 8899 for multi-core and 1593 for single-core. PassMark results show a multithread score of 22458 and a single-thread score of 2656. The CPU's average benchmark score is 34260, placing it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates that the 3700X is a solid performer even when compared to newer processors.

For Minimum, a game released in 2014, the CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient. The game is unlikely to utilize all 16 threads, but the high single-thread performance from the 4.40 GHz boost clock ensures that the CPU does not become a bottleneck. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (177 FPS) suggests that the CPU can handle high frame rates without limiting the GPU. The PassMark physics score of 1181 and find prime numbers score of 99 are indicative of the CPU's computational capabilities, though these are not directly gaming-related.

The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are all within a 0.5% performance delta, which means the 3700X is not a weak link in this combo. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and AMD EPYC 4244P are essentially tied with the 3700X, while the Intel Core i5-13450HX is slightly faster and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is slightly slower. This parity suggests that upgrading the CPU would yield minimal gains in Minimum, as the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates.

The CPU's memory support for DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for this GPU. The RX 6650 XT's 280.3 GB/s memory bandwidth is more than five times the CPU's memory bandwidth, but in gaming, the CPU's memory bandwidth is rarely a limiting factor for a 2014 title. The PCIe Gen 4 support with 24 lanes ensures that the GPU can communicate with the CPU at full bandwidth, though the RX 6650 XT uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, which is sufficient for its performance level.

Ultimately, the Ryzen 7 3700X provides a stable and capable foundation for the RX 6650 XT in Minimum. Its high core count and boost clock ensure that CPU-bound scenarios are rare, allowing the GPU to operate near its full potential. The combo's overall rank of 2422 out of 3712 is primarily determined by the GPU's mid-range status, but the CPU's performance is not holding the system back. Players using this combo can expect a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, with the CPU playing a supporting role to the GPU's output.