Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 delivers a playable but inconsistent experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. At 1080p the combination is generally smooth, but 4K Ultra pushes the GTX 1070 to its limits, resulting in frame rates that fall below typical playability thresholds. The data shows a clear pattern: resolution and settings scaling are dominated by the GPU, while the CPU provides ample headroom across all tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combination reveals a steep performance drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 90 FPS at 1080p to 58 FPS at 1440p, then to 31 FPS at 4K. That represents a 36% reduction when moving from 1080p to 1440p, followed by a further 47% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The cumulative effect is a 66% loss in average FPS from 1080p High to 4K High, which clearly indicates that pixel throughput becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings tiers. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 140 at 1080p to 90 at 1440p (a 36% decline), then to 49 at 4K (a 46% decline from 1440p). Medium settings show a similar trajectory: 107 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 37 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings, which are the most demanding, see the average fall from 68 FPS at 1080p to 44 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 24 FPS at 4K.

The fact that the percentage drops between resolution steps remain relatively uniform across settings suggests that the limiting component is the GPU's rendering throughput rather than any CPU-side constraint. The GTX 1070's 256-bit memory bus and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are fixed resources, and higher resolutions demand exponentially more pixel shading and memory traffic. The 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM is sufficient for this game, but the raw compute power of the Pascal architecture—6.463 TFLOPS FP32—becomes the ceiling at 4K.

At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU's role becomes more relevant. The Ryzen 7 5700's boost clock of 4.60 GHz and 16 threads ensure that even the lowest settings at 1080p (140 FPS average) do not appear to be limited by processor throughput. However, the data does not show any CPU bottleneck symptoms, such as frame rate plateaus across different settings at the same resolution. The consistent scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz provide strong single-threaded performance, which is critical for older game engines like the one powering Minimum. The CPU's benchmark results support this: a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2916 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1907 place it well above the median for all tested CPUs, as reflected by its 78th percentile ranking.

In this game, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combination achieves 140 FPS average, which is a high frame rate that would stress many older CPUs. The Ryzen 7 5700's 16 MB of L3 cache and 512 KB L2 cache per core help maintain low latency access to game data, while the dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provides adequate throughput for the game's data streaming needs.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are also relevant, though Minimum likely does not utilize all 16 threads. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 6628 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20655 indicate that the processor has substantial headroom for background tasks or poorly optimized game threads. The PassMark multi-thread score of 24303 further confirms this, but the game's actual frame rates do not vary in a way that suggests thread count is a limiting factor.

The Ryzen 7 5700's 65 W TDP and Socket AM4 compatibility make it a versatile desktop part, but for this specific game, the CPU is not the constraining element. The evidence lies in the frame rate scaling: at 1440p High, the average FPS is 58, while at 1080p High it is 90. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see similar frame rates at both resolutions, since the CPU workload does not change significantly with resolution. The fact that FPS drops by roughly one-third at each resolution step points directly to the GPU as the bottleneck.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a Pascal-architecture GPU with 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. Its base clock of 1506 MHz and boost clock of 1683 MHz, combined with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, deliver 256.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS is the key metric for understanding its behavior in Minimum.

At 1080p, the GTX 1070 shows its age but remains capable. The average FPS at Ultra settings is 68, which is playable for most users, while Low settings reach 140 FPS. The 16 nm process node and 7,200 million transistors on a 314 mm² die allow for efficient power consumption (150 W TDP), but the architecture lacks modern features like ray tracing cores or tensor cores. This does not matter for Minimum, which was released in 2014 and uses DirectX 12 (12_1) but likely relies on more traditional rendering techniques.

The GPU's memory configuration is sufficient for this game. The 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor at any resolution or settings combination, as evidenced by the fact that frame rates scale consistently rather than collapsing when VRAM capacity is exceeded. The 256-bit memory bus and 2002 MHz memory clock (8 Gbps effective) provide enough bandwidth for 4K textures, though the pixel fill rate of 107.7 GPixel/s becomes a constraint at higher resolutions.

The GTX 1070's benchmark scores place it in the 47th percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 13498 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1082. Its nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro W5000 (avg score 9803, delta -0.2%) and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (avg score 9832, delta -0.5%). These comparisons are based on aggregate benchmark scores, but in Minimum, the GPU's performance is directly tied to resolution and settings.

At 4K Ultra, the GTX 1070 produces an average of 24 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K High setting yields 31 FPS, while 4K Medium reaches 37 FPS with a minimum of 32 FPS and maximum of 43 FPS. Only 4K Low, at 49 FPS, approaches playability. This pattern indicates that the GPU's compute resources are exhausted at 4K, and no amount of CPU headroom can compensate.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3064 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the lower 17% of all configurations. This ranking reflects the fact that the GTX 1070, while a capable 1080p card in its era, is now outpaced by newer GPUs that dominate the higher ranks. The Ryzen 7 5700, by contrast, is a modern CPU with a 78th percentile ranking among all CPUs, but it cannot boost the overall combo ranking when paired with a GPU that sits at the 47th percentile.

The combo's rank is largely determined by the GPU's performance ceiling. The data shows that the best measured result for this combo is 140 FPS at 1080p Low, which is respectable but not exceptional. Many newer GPU and CPU combinations would achieve significantly higher frame rates at the same settings. The 3064th rank out of 3712 combos suggests that this pairing is positioned for budget-conscious gamers who prioritize 1080p gaming over high-resolution or high-settings play.

The CPU's benchmark rivals provide context for its contribution to the combo. The Ryzen 7 5700's average benchmark score of 25517 is nearly identical to the Intel Xeon D-2752TER (25530, delta -0.1%) and AMD Ryzen 5 6600H (25550, delta -0.1%). It is slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7640U (25485, delta 0.1%) and AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (25446, delta 0.3%). These tiny deltas indicate that the CPU is well within the expected performance band for its class, and its impact on the combo's ranking is neutral.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks are the AMD FirePro W5000 (9803, delta -0.2%) and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (9832, delta -0.5%), with the NVIDIA Tesla M10 (9724, delta 0.6%) and Tesla C2070 (9716, delta 0.7%) slightly behind. These professional-grade cards are not gaming-focused, which underscores that the GTX 1070's gaming performance is defined more by its driver optimization and architecture than by raw compute scores. In Minimum, the GPU's measured FPS results are the decisive factor in the combo's low rank.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for playable frame rates?

A: The data shows that 1080p High achieves 90 FPS average, and 1080p Medium hits 107 FPS with a minimum of 91 FPS. For a smoother experience, 1080p Low reaches 140 FPS. At 1440p, High yields 58 FPS and Medium yields 69 FPS, which are borderline playable. 4K is not recommended, as even Low settings only reach 49 FPS.

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

A: No, the measured FPS scaling indicates the GPU is the limiting component. Frame rates drop by roughly one-third when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and again from 1440p to 4K, which is characteristic of GPU-bound rendering. The Ryzen 7 5700's 8 cores and 16 threads provide ample headroom, as evidenced by its high single-thread and multi-thread benchmark scores.

Q: How much VRAM does the GTX 1070 have, and is it enough for this game?

A: The GTX 1070 has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. Based on the measured FPS data, this is sufficient for all tested settings and resolutions in Minimum. The frame rates scale consistently without sudden drops that would indicate VRAM capacity issues, even at 4K Ultra.

Q: What are the CPU's clock speeds, and how do they affect performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Higher boost clocks help with single-threaded game logic, and the CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2916 indicates strong per-core performance, which is beneficial for older game engines that may not utilize many threads.

Q: Is the GTX 1070's memory bandwidth a limitation at 4K?

A: The GTX 1070's 256.3 GB/s memory bandwidth is likely a contributing factor to the low 4K performance. At 4K High, the average FPS is 31, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 24. The 256-bit bus and 8 Gbps effective memory speed provide enough bandwidth for 1080p and 1440p, but the increased pixel and texture data at 4K strains the memory subsystem.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 3064 out of 3712 tested combinations in Minimum. This places it in the lower percentile of all configurations, primarily due to the GTX 1070's age and performance ceiling. The CPU's 78th percentile ranking does not compensate for the GPU's 47th percentile ranking in the overall combo performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following measured FPS data is provided for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination in Minimum.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low settings: average 140 FPS
• Medium settings: average 107 FPS, minimum 91 FPS, maximum 123 FPS
• High settings: average 90 FPS
• Ultra settings: average 68 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low settings: average 90 FPS
• Medium settings: average 69 FPS, minimum 59 FPS, maximum 79 FPS
• High settings: average 58 FPS
• Ultra settings: average 44 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low settings: average 49 FPS
• Medium settings: average 37 FPS, minimum 32 FPS, maximum 43 FPS
• High settings: average 31 FPS
• Ultra settings: average 24 FPS

The data reveals that Medium settings at each resolution provide the only complete set of minimum and maximum frame rate measurements. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 91 FPS ensures smooth gameplay with no noticeable stutter. At 1440p Medium, the minimum of 59 FPS is borderline, and at 4K Medium, the minimum of 32 FPS falls below acceptable playability.

For users targeting 60 FPS, the only configurations that consistently achieve this are 1080p Low (140 FPS), 1080p Medium (107 FPS average, 91 FPS minimum), 1080p High (90 FPS), and 1440p Low (90 FPS). 1440p Medium (69 FPS average) also crosses the 60 FPS threshold, but its 59 FPS minimum means occasional dips below 60. All 4K settings fail to reach 60 FPS, and 4K Ultra at 24 FPS is effectively unplayable for a third-person shooter requiring responsive controls.

The GTX 1070's 8 GB VRAM and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K results show the hardware's limitations. The CPU's performance is sufficient across all settings, as the frame rate scaling follows the GPU's expected behavior rather than showing any CPU-induced plateaus. This measured FPS breakdown provides a clear picture: the combo excels at 1080p, handles 1440p with some compromises, and struggles at 4K.