Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The measured frame rates across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K reveal a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s eight cores and 16 threads provide ample headroom even at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all four settings presets, clearly indicating that the GTX 1080 Ti is the limiting component as pixel count rises. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 192 FPS at 1920x1080 to 124 FPS at 2560x1440, then further to 67 FPS at 3840x2160. That represents a 35% reduction when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is less dramatic but still pronounced at High settings, where the averages go from 124 FPS at 1080p to 80 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 43 FPS at 4K.

The pattern holds for Medium and Ultra as well. Medium averages 147 FPS at 1080p, 95 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. Ultra averages 94 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and 33 FPS at 4K. In every case, the 4K result is less than half of the 1080p result, which points to a GPU that is being pushed to its limits by the 8.3 million pixels of 3840x2160. The GTX 1080 Ti’s 11 GB of GDDR5X memory and 484.4 GB/s bandwidth are substantial, but the raw shading throughput of 3584 cores at a boost clock of 1582 MHz simply cannot sustain high frame rates at that resolution.

The fact that Low settings at 4K still deliver 67 FPS while Ultra at 1080p reaches 94 FPS suggests that the game’s graphical options have a meaningful impact on GPU load, but resolution remains the dominant factor. The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution is notable: 33 FPS at 4K, 63 FPS at 1440p, and 98 FPS at 1080p. This indicates that the game scales well with settings, but the GPU’s ceiling is reached far sooner at higher resolutions. For a player targeting 60 FPS or above, the data shows that 1440p is the practical maximum for this combo, and only at Low or Medium settings does 4K approach playability.

GPU Role

The GTX 1080 Ti is the star of this pairing, and its specifications explain the measured results. With 3584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 88 raster output units, the GPU is a Pascal-architecture part built on a 16 nm TSMC process. Its base clock of 1481 MHz and boost clock of 1582 MHz are modest by modern standards, but the 11 GB of GDDR5X memory running at 1376 MHz (11 Gbps effective) across a 352-bit bus provides 484.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is particularly relevant for Minimum, as the game’s textures and geometry at High and Ultra settings likely require significant bandwidth.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its position. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 18600 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2231, placing it in the 58th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 M380 (deltaPct 0.2), AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (deltaPct -0.8), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (deltaPct 1.7), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (deltaPct 1.7). The RTX 2060 is actually 1.7% slower in average benchmark score, which is surprising given its newer architecture, but the data shows the 1080 Ti holds its own in raw compute tasks.

In game-specific terms, the GPU’s performance at 1080p is excellent, with Low settings hitting 192 FPS and High reaching 124 FPS. These numbers suggest that the GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution; the CPU and memory subsystem have enough headroom to feed the graphics card. However, at 4K, the GPU’s limits become apparent. The 33 FPS at Ultra settings is a hard ceiling that no CPU can overcome, as the pixel fill rate and shading capacity are simply insufficient for that workload. The measured FPS data aligns with the GPU’s Passmark DirectX 11 score of 151 and DirectX 12 score of 66, which indicate that the card is better suited to older APIs and less demanding titles.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS is 192, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings. High settings at the same resolution produce 124 FPS, while Medium and Ultra yield 147 and 94 FPS, respectively.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 67, achieved at Low settings. Medium averages 51 FPS, High averages 43 FPS, and Ultra averages 33 FPS. None of the Ultra or High presets reach 60 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does the GTX 1080 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 2060?

A: The GTX 1080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 15548, which is 1.7% higher than the RTX 2060’s 15290. This places the 1080 Ti slightly ahead in synthetic tests, though the actual in-game performance depends on resolution and settings.

Q: What is the CPU’s single-threaded performance relative to its multi-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X scores 1499 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 13184 in multi-core. Its Geekbench scores are 2016 single-core and 10779 multi-core. This indicates strong multi-threaded capability, with the single-thread score being sufficient for gaming workloads.

Q: Does the combination rank high among all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 2082 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This reflects the GPU’s age and the CPU’s mid-range positioning, though the measured frame rates in Minimum are still respectable.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded across all tests?

A: The minimum FPS is 33, observed at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. The next lowest minimum is 43 FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, while 1920x1080 Medium has a minimum of 125 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all four presets deliver playable averages: Low at 192 FPS, Medium at 147 FPS, High at 124 FPS, and Ultra at 94 FPS. For competitive play or high refresh rate monitors, Low or Medium are the best choices, as they keep frame rates well above 144 FPS. High settings still exceed 120 FPS, making it a strong balance between visual quality and performance. Ultra is the only preset that drops below 100 FPS, but 94 FPS remains smooth for most users.

At 2560x1440, the picture changes. Low settings average 124 FPS, which is ideal for 120 Hz displays. Medium averages 95 FPS, High averages 80 FPS, and Ultra averages 61 FPS. The data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for 1440p, as it provides a 95 FPS average with a minimum of 81 FPS, ensuring consistent frame pacing. High settings are acceptable for those prioritizing visuals, but the 80 FPS average may dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. Ultra at 1440p is just at the edge of playability, with a 61 FPS average that could feel inconsistent.

At 3840x2160, the recommendation narrows to Low settings, which average 67 FPS. Medium drops to 51 FPS, High to 43 FPS, and Ultra to 33 FPS. For a 60 FPS target, Low is the only viable option, and even then, the average is barely above 60. Players with 4K displays should either accept Low settings or consider reducing the resolution to 1440p for a better experience. The measured data shows that Medium at 4K has a minimum of 43 FPS, which would cause noticeable stuttering in fast-paced shooter gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 192 FPS with no reported minimum or maximum. Medium settings average 147 FPS, with a minimum of 125 FPS and a maximum of 169 FPS. High settings average 124 FPS, while Ultra settings average 94 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 98 FPS, indicating that the game’s graphical options have a substantial effect on GPU load at this resolution. The minimum FPS for Medium (125) is only slightly below the High average (124), suggesting that frame pacing remains stable even with the increased load.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop across the board. Low settings average 124 FPS, Medium averages 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS and a maximum of 109 FPS, High averages 80 FPS, and Ultra averages 61 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 63 FPS, narrower than at 1080p but still significant. The Medium preset’s minimum of 81 FPS is higher than the High average, which indicates that Medium provides a more stable experience than High at this resolution. Ultra’s 61 FPS average is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but the lack of a reported minimum means that dips below 60 are possible.

At 3840x2160, the performance is markedly lower. Low settings average 67 FPS, Medium averages 51 FPS with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS, High averages 43 FPS, and Ultra averages 33 FPS. The Medium preset’s data is the most complete, showing a narrow range between 43 and 59 FPS, which indicates that the GPU is consistently near its limits. High and Ultra averages are below 60 FPS, making them unsuitable for smooth gameplay. The 34 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is the smallest of any resolution, confirming that the GPU is the bottleneck regardless of settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is a Zen 3 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, base clock of 3.40 GHz, and boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 65 W TDP and 7 nm TSMC process node make it a power-efficient part for a desktop CPU. The 32 MB shared L3 cache and 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die provide solid gaming performance, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, it scores 13184 multi-core and 1499 single-core. Geekbench scores are 10779 multi-core and 2016 single-core. Passmark multi-thread score is 26612, with a single-thread score of 3385.

These scores place the CPU in the 79th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27578. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12600K with a deltaPct of 0, meaning identical average score, and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 with a deltaPct of 0.2. This indicates that the 5700X is well-matched against comparable mid-range processors. For Minimum, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with enough draw calls and physics calculations. At 1080p, the high frame rates (192 FPS at Low) suggest that the CPU is not a bottleneck, as the GPU is able to render frames faster than most displays can show them.

However, the CPU’s multi-threaded performance becomes relevant at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed. The 16 threads and 8 cores handle the game’s background tasks without issue, and the single-thread score of 1499 in Cinebench R23 is sufficient for the game’s primary logic. The Passmark physics score of 1337 further indicates that the CPU can handle simulation workloads. In this combo, the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor at any resolution, as the GPU’s performance drops off far more sharply as resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti combination ranks 2082 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the 56th percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects the GPU’s age (released in 2017) and the CPU’s mid-range positioning (released in 2022). The GTX 1080 Ti, while still capable, sits in the 58th percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the RTX 2060, which is 1.7% slower in average benchmark score. The CPU, in the 79th percentile, is the stronger component of the pair.

The combo’s rank suggests that there are many faster configurations, but also a significant number that are slower. Out of 3712 combos, 1630 are ranked worse, indicating that this pairing is not at the bottom of the pile. The measured FPS data supports this: at 1080p, the combo delivers excellent performance, with Low settings surpassing 190 FPS and High settings exceeding 120 FPS. At 1440p, it remains playable at Medium and High, with averages above 80 FPS. Only at 4K does the combo fall below 60 FPS for most settings, which is expected given the GPU’s limitations.

Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The CPU’s high percentile ranking ensures that it will not hold back the GPU at lower resolutions, while the GPU’s moderate ranking means that 4K is only viable at Low settings. The combo’s overall position in the 56th percentile is a fair reflection of its capabilities, and the measured data provides a clear picture of what players can expect. For a game like Minimum, this combo offers a smooth experience at mainstream resolutions, with the caveat that 4K requires significant compromises in visual quality.