Minimum

# Minimum CPU/GPU Performance Analysis

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT serves as the computational backbone for this Minimum test configuration, bringing 8 cores and 16 threads to the table. With a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock reaching 4.80 GHz, this Zen 3 Vermeer architecture processor operates within a 105 W TDP envelope. The CPU's 32 MB L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide solid fundamentals for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, the 5800XT demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23794, while single-thread performance reaches 3359 in the same test. The processor's PassMark multi-thread score of 27988 and average benchmark score of 29774 place it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (0.1% faster), AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (0.3% slower), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (0.3% faster), and AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (0.3% slower) — indicating this chip sits in a tightly contested performance band where architectural efficiency matters more than raw clock advantage.

In the context of Minimum's measured frame rates, the 5800XT's processing power becomes relevant primarily at lower resolutions and settings where the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 128.9 average FPS, a figure that suggests ample CPU headroom. The 3dmark 2-thread score of 1879 and 4-thread score of 3603 indicate strong per-core performance that benefits games relying on fewer, heavily-threaded tasks. With a 3dmark single-thread score of 959, the 5800XT provides responsive frame pacing even in CPU-bound scenarios. The processor's 7 nm TSMC manufacturing process and 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die contribute to efficient power delivery that sustains boost clocks during extended gaming sessions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 1548 out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the lower tier of system configurations. This ranking reflects the GPU's modest standing rather than CPU limitations — the 1660 SUPER sits in the 55th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 14286, while the CPU ranks substantially higher at the 86th percentile. The disparity between component percentiles reveals a GPU-bound configuration where the graphics card restricts overall system performance. The GTX 1660 SUPER's nearest GPU rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (0.2% faster), Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (0.2% faster), AMD Radeon Vega 11 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (0.7% faster). These tight margins indicate the 1660 SUPER operates within a competitive performance cluster, but none of these alternatives would meaningfully alter the combo's rank position.

The combo's position becomes clearer when examining measured frame rates across the board. Even at 1080p Low, where CPU influence is most pronounced, the system delivers 128.9 FPS — respectable but not exceptional for a processor of the 5800XT's caliber. The ranking suggests that in Minimum's engine, this GPU pairing leaves significant CPU performance untapped. The 5800XT's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 9993 and PassMark physics score of 1348 demonstrate processing capability that the 1660 SUPER cannot fully utilize in most scenarios. For context, the CPU's nearest rivals show similar avgScore values (29740-29868 range), yet none of these alternative processors would change the fundamental GPU-bound nature of this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear resolution-dependent performance curve that shifts the bottleneck between components. At 1080p Low, the system produces 128.9 average FPS, which drops to 81.9 at High settings — a 36.5% reduction attributable to increased GPU workload. Moving to 1440p, the same Low setting yields 83.9 FPS (34.9% lower than 1080p), while High settings produce 51.6 FPS. At 4K resolution, the scaling becomes more dramatic: Low settings achieve 46 FPS, High settings drop to 29 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to just 24.8 FPS. These figures demonstrate that Minimum's engine scales predictably with resolution, but the GTX 1660 SUPER's memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s and 6 GB GDDR6 frame buffer become limiting factors at higher pixel counts.

The resolution scaling pattern indicates a GPU-bound configuration at all tested settings beyond 1080p Low. The 128.9 FPS at 1080p Low likely approaches the CPU's frame generation ceiling, but even this figure does not stress the 5800XT's full capabilities given its 3dmark max-thread score of 7680. At 1440p Medium, the 63 FPS average represents a 36.9% drop from 1080p Medium's 99.9 FPS, showing consistent GPU-limited scaling. The 4K results — 35.6 FPS at Medium and 29 FPS at High — indicate the 1660 SUPER's 5.027 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate cannot maintain fluid frame rates at this resolution. The GPU's 1408 shading units and 48 ROPs handle Minimum's visual complexity adequately at lower resolutions but struggle when pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Minimum?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 128.9 at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. At the same resolution, High settings produce 81.9 FPS, Medium produces 99.9 FPS, and Ultra produces 63.4 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU bottleneck affect performance at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the system averages 46 FPS on Low settings, 35.6 FPS on Medium, 29 FPS on High, and 24.8 FPS on Ultra. These figures indicate the GTX 1660 SUPER cannot maintain playable frame rates at 4K regardless of quality settings.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800XT or the GTX 1660 SUPER the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: Benchmark percentile data shows the CPU at the 86th percentile while the GPU sits at the 55th percentile. The substantial gap between these positions, combined with resolution scaling patterns, indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck in Minimum.

Q: What are the closest rival components to this CPU and GPU?

A: The CPU's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (0.1% faster), AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (0.3% slower), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (0.3% faster), and AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (0.3% slower). The GPU's closest competitors include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (0.2% faster), Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (0.2% faster), AMD Radeon Vega 11 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (0.7% faster).

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER's memory configuration affect Minimum's performance?

A: The GPU features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth. This memory subsystem provides sufficient bandwidth for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at 4K, where the 24.8 FPS Ultra result reflects both memory capacity and bandwidth constraints.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested configurations?

A: This CPU-GPU combination ranks 1548 out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum. This placement in the lower tier reflects the GPU's mid-range positioning rather than CPU weakness, as the 5800XT ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER anchors this configuration with its Turing architecture and TU116 chip manufactured on TSMC's 12 nm process. The GPU contains 1,408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, operating at a base clock of 1530 MHz and boost clock of 1785 MHz. The 6 GB GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus delivers 336.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the card's 5.027 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 157.1 GTexel/s texture rate define its processing ceiling. With a 125 W TDP and dual-slot design requiring a single 8-pin power connector, the 1660 SUPER targets mainstream gaming systems. Its PassMark G3D score of 12699 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 62664 reflect its mid-range positioning, while the 55th percentile ranking places it near the median of all GPUs.

In Minimum, the GPU's performance profile becomes the decisive factor for frame rates. At 1080p, the card delivers playable performance across all settings: 128.9 FPS at Low, 99.9 FPS at Medium, 81.9 FPS at High, and 63.4 FPS at Ultra. These results demonstrate the 1660 SUPER handles this 2014 third-person shooter comfortably at full HD. The 1440p results — 83.9 FPS Low, 63 FPS Medium, 51.6 FPS High, 42.4 FPS Ultra — show the GPU maintaining playability with quality adjustments. However, 4K performance drops below 30 FPS at High and Ultra settings, revealing the card's limitations with higher pixel workloads. The GTX 1660 SUPER's DirectX 12 (12_1) support and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility ensure modern API utilization, though Minimum's age suggests DirectX 9-11 paths likely dominate actual rendering. The GPU's 10.05 TFLOPS FP16 performance (2:1 ratio) provides compute headroom, but its 48 ROPs and 85.68 GPixel/s pixel rate constrain fill-rate intensive scenarios at high resolutions.