Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER pairing produces a highly playable experience in Minimum at 1080p and 1440p, but the data clearly shows that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, this combo delivers an average of 131 FPS, which is 56% higher than the 84 FPS achieved at High settings. The 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth of the GTX 1660 SUPER are sufficient for 1080p, but the 4K results indicate that the GPU's raw throughput is the limiting factor, as the CPU's 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides ample headroom for this third-person shooter.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, built on the Zen 3 architecture and codenamed Vermeer, provides the computational foundation for this gaming configuration. With 8 cores and 16 threads operating at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, the CPU delivers strong single-threaded performance that is critical for game logic and physics. The 3DMark single-thread score of 943 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1574.5 indicate solid per-core performance, which translates to responsive gameplay in Minimum's third-person action sequences. The CPU's 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth ensure that data can be fed to the GPU without significant stuttering.

The 5800X's multi-threaded capabilities are equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15476 and a Geekbench multicore score of 11036. These results show that the CPU can handle background tasks and any multi-threaded game engine work without competing with the GPU for resources. The PassMark multithread score of 27732 further confirms this, placing the 5800X in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. When compared to its nearest rivals, the 5800X is essentially tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H (deltaPct 0.1) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (deltaPct 0.6), while marginally trailing the Intel Core i5-13500HX (deltaPct -0.5). This performance parity means that in Minimum, the CPU is rarely the limiting component, allowing the GTX 1660 SUPER to dictate framerate outcomes.

In practice, the CPU's role in this game is to maintain consistent frame pacing and avoid dips below the GPU's output. The benchmark data supports this: at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 131 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at Ultra settings, the 1080p result of 64 FPS suggests that the CPU is not inducing a bottleneck, as the GPU's workload increases proportionally with settings. The 5800X's 105 W TDP and PCIe Gen 4 support (20 lanes) provide sufficient bandwidth for the GTX 1660 SUPER's PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, ensuring no data transfer bottlenecks.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X sufficient for this game's CPU demands?

A: Yes. The 8-core, 16-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz delivers a 3DMark single-thread score of 943 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15476, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. The data shows no CPU-induced framerate drops across all tested resolutions and settings.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 12699 places it in the 53rd percentile. It is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (deltaPct 0.4) and AMD Radeon RX 580 (deltaPct 0.4), while slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon 740M (deltaPct 0.9) and marginally behind the NVIDIA Tesla M2090 (deltaPct -0.7).

Q: What is the best resolution to play at with this configuration?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 84, which is smooth. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average drops to 54 FPS, which is still playable but less fluid. At 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 29, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Does the 6 GB VRAM cause any issues at higher settings?

A: The data does not show VRAM-related stuttering or crashes. The GTX 1660 SUPER's 6 GB GDDR6 memory with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for all tested settings, as the framerate drops at 4K are consistent with GPU compute limitations rather than memory capacity issues.

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

A: This specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 3171 out of 3712 total combinations tested, indicating that while it performs adequately at lower resolutions, there are many configurations with higher overall framerates, particularly at 4K.

Q: What settings should be used for a competitive advantage?

A: For maximum framerate, use Low settings at 1920x1080 to achieve 131 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and performance, Medium settings at 1440p provide 65 FPS, which is a reasonable compromise.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 84. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 54 FPS, a 36% reduction. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 29 FPS, a 65% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is consistent with the GPU being the limiting factor, as the CPU's performance does not degrade with resolution.

The resolution scaling for Low settings is even more pronounced. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 131 FPS. At 1440p Low, this drops to 85 FPS, a 35% decrease. At 4K Low, the average is 46 FPS, a 65% decrease from 1080p. The consistent percentage drops across settings indicate that the GTX 1660 SUPER's fill rate and pixel throughput are the primary constraints. The GPU's pixel rate of 85.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s are simply insufficient for 4K rendering at playable framerates.

The data also shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see framerates plateau at 4K, but instead, they continue to decline. The Ryzen 7 5800X's 3DMark 16-thread score of 7586 and PassMark single-thread score of 3445 indicate that it can easily feed the GPU at all tested resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 22 FPS is particularly telling, as it shows the GPU struggling with the increased shader complexity, not the CPU struggling with game logic.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration delivers its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 131, providing an extremely smooth experience for fast-paced third-person gameplay. Medium settings reduce the average to 100 FPS, with a minimum of 85 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery. High settings drop the average to 84 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings bring the average down to 64 FPS, which is playable but shows the GPU's limits at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance profile shifts downward. Low settings yield an average of 85 FPS, which is acceptable for most players. Medium settings produce an average of 65 FPS, with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS, providing a stable experience near the 60 FPS target. High settings reduce the average to 54 FPS, which may be noticeable in action sequences. Ultra settings drop to 41 FPS, which is below the smoothness threshold and suggests that 1440p Ultra is not recommended.

At 3840x2160, the configuration struggles to maintain playable framerates. Low settings produce an average of 46 FPS, which is marginal. Medium settings drop to 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS, indicating significant frame time variance. High settings yield only 29 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 22 FPS. These 4K results confirm that the GTX 1660 SUPER is not designed for 4K gaming in this title, as the GPU's 5.027 TFLOPS FP32 performance is insufficient for the increased pixel workload.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, based on the TU116 chip with Turing architecture, serves as the primary rendering engine for this configuration. With 1408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, the GPU provides a baseline of 5.027 TFLOPS FP32 performance. The boost clock of 1785 MHz and memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) allow the 6 GB GDDR6 memory to deliver 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth across a 192-bit bus. These specifications place the GPU in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 12699.

The GPU's performance in Minimum is directly tied to its pixel and texture throughput. The 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate and 157.1 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but they become the limiting factor at 4K. The benchmark data supports this: at 1080p Low, the GPU can produce 131 FPS, but at 4K Low, it can only manage 46 FPS. This 65% reduction in performance across a 4x increase in pixel count shows that the GPU's fill rate is the bottleneck.

The GTX 1660 SUPER's memory configuration is also relevant. The 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the tested settings, as evidenced by the lack of stuttering or texture pop-in in the data. However, the GPU's compute capabilities, measured at 5076 in PassMark GPU Compute, limit its ability to handle the increased shader complexity at higher settings. The 4K Ultra result of 22 FPS is a clear indication that the GPU is overwhelmed, not by memory capacity, but by raw compute throughput.

Comparing the GPU to its nearest rivals, the GTX 1660 SUPER is essentially tied with the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (deltaPct 0.4) and RX 580 (deltaPct 0.4), while slightly ahead of the Radeon 740M (deltaPct 0.9) and marginally behind the Tesla M2090 (deltaPct -0.7). This parity means that any of these GPUs would produce similar framerates in Minimum, reinforcing that the GTX 1660 SUPER's performance ceiling is defined by its Turing architecture and 12 nm process node, which limits its efficiency compared to newer cards.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the target resolution and framerate priority. For 1920x1080, the best experience is achieved with Medium settings, which deliver an average of 100 FPS with a minimum of 85 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS. This provides a 56% improvement over High settings' 84 FPS while maintaining visual quality above Low. For players prioritizing competitive framerates, Low settings at 131 FPS offer the smoothest experience, but Medium provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings are again the recommended choice. The 65 FPS average, with a range of 55-74 FPS, is close to the 60 FPS target and provides a stable experience. Low settings at 85 FPS are suitable for players who prefer higher framerates, but the visual downgrade is significant. High settings at 54 FPS are playable but may exhibit noticeable frame drops in busy scenes. Ultra settings should be avoided at 1440p, as the 41 FPS average falls below the smoothness threshold.

At 3840x2160, no settings configuration provides a truly playable experience. Low settings at 46 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, but the 4K resolution demands too much from the GTX 1660 SUPER. Medium settings at 35 FPS and High at 29 FPS are not recommended, and Ultra at 22 FPS is effectively a slideshow. Players with 4K displays should either reduce the resolution to 1440p or consider a GPU upgrade. The data clearly shows that this configuration is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the Ryzen 7 5800X's CPU performance and the GTX 1660 SUPER's GPU capabilities align to deliver a satisfying experience.