Minimum

This analysis examines the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT in the game Minimum. The data provided is measured, not estimated, offering a concrete look at how this specific combination performs across resolutions and settings. The combination ranks 877th out of 2,939 tested combos in this game, placing it in the top third of all systems tested, which sets a solid foundation for a detailed breakdown of where its strengths and bottlenecks lie.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 877 out of 2,939 tested combos places this system in the 70th percentile of all configurations tested in Minimum. This is a strong showing, indicating that the Ryzen 7 9700F and RX 6800 XT combination delivers a high level of performance for this specific title. The rank suggests that while it is not at the absolute top tier of performance, it outperforms the vast majority of systems, making it a very capable setup for this game.

Looking at the individual components to understand this ranking, the CPU sits in the 94th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69,996. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (average score 69,875, a delta of 0.2%), the Intel Core i7-14700KF (average score 70,163, a delta of -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (average score 69,515, a delta of 0.7%), and the Intel Core i7-14700K (average score 69,355, a delta of 0.9%). The performance delta between these processors is minuscule, all within a 1% range of each other, which tells us that the 9700F is on par with some of the best CPUs on the market from a general processing standpoint. Its 94th percentile ranking confirms it is a top-tier processor.

The GPU, the RX 6800 XT, sits in the 85th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48,477. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (average score 47,743, a delta of 1.5%), the Intel Arc A550M (average score 49,737, a delta of -2.5%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (average score 49,957, a delta of -3%), and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (average score 50,001, a delta of -3%). The data shows the RX 6800 XT is positioned between these cards, with a slight edge over the RTX A1000 Mobile but trailing the others by 2.5-3%. This puts it in a solid mid-to-high tier for graphics performance, though not at the very top.

The combination of a top-tier CPU and a solidly-performing GPU explains the strong overall rank. The data suggests that this system is well-balanced for Minimum, with neither component being a severe bottleneck, allowing them to work together effectively to produce high frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s. This large frame buffer is a significant asset in Minimum, as it allows the GPU to handle high-resolution textures and complex scenes without running out of memory, which is often a limiting factor at higher settings. The memory clock runs at 2000 MHz, with an effective speed of 16 Gbps.

The GPU's base clock is 1825 MHz, with a game clock of 2015 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. These clocks are the operating frequencies under different loads. The game clock is a more realistic indicator of sustained performance during gaming, while the boost clock is the maximum potential frequency. The difference between the game and boost clock is relatively small, suggesting the card can maintain high performance consistently. The GPU is equipped with 4,608 shading units, 288 texture mapping units, and 128 render output units, which are the core resources for processing graphical data.

In Minimum, the GPU's role is evident in the scaling of frame rates with settings. At 1080p, the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial (259 FPS vs 127 FPS), showing that the GPU has a significant workload as visual fidelity increases. However, the GPU's performance also depends heavily on resolution. As resolution increases from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K, the average FPS across all settings drops, which is the classic sign of the GPU becoming a more dominant bottleneck. The 16 GB of VRAM is particularly relevant at 4K, as it provides the necessary capacity for the game to store high-resolution assets, preventing potential stuttering or texture pop-in that can occur with lower-capacity cards.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a Zen 5 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This high boost clock is crucial for gaming, as it provides the raw single-thread performance that many games, including Minimum, rely on for game logic and physics. The processor has a 32 MB shared L3 cache, which helps keep frequently accessed data closer to the cores, reducing latency. Its memory support for DDR5, running on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, ensures the CPU can feed data to the GPU efficiently.

The CPU's performance is reflected in its benchmark scores. In the passmark_single_thread test, it scores 4,691, and in the passmark_multithread test, it scores 36,470. These scores place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals' average scores (69,875 to 70,163) are nearly identical to the 9700F's average of 69,996, reinforcing that this CPU is a top contender in its class. The data shows that it is not a bottleneck in this system.

Evidence for this can be seen in the FPS data. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 259 FPS. This very high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of handling a large number of frames per second, as the GPU is not being heavily taxed at these low settings. If the CPU were a major limiting factor, we would expect to see the FPS plateau at a lower number regardless of GPU load. The fact that the system can push past 250 FPS indicates that the Ryzen 7 9700F is more than capable of keeping up with the RX 6800 XT, even in CPU-intensive scenarios. The 5.50 GHz boost clock is a key specification here, as it provides the high-frequency response needed to maintain these high frame rates.

FAQ

Q: How does this system's overall performance rank against other tested combinations?

A: The combination ranks 877th out of 2,939 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the top 30% of all tested systems.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the more powerful component relative to its peers?

A: The CPU is ranked in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is ranked in the 85th percentile of all GPUs. This indicates the CPU is more dominant relative to its market segment than the GPU.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69,996. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, scores 69,875, putting the 9700F 0.2% ahead. It is also 0.7% ahead of the Ryzen 9 7950X and 0.9% ahead of the Core i7-14700K.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RX 6800 XT has an average benchmark score of 48,477. It is 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile but trails the Intel Arc A550M by 2.5%, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti by 3%, and the Radeon RX Vega 64 by 3%.

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 259, which is achieved at 1080p resolution with Low settings.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 44, which occurs at 4K resolution (3840x2160) with Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected decline in performance as resolution increases. At 1080p, the average FPS across all settings ranges from 127 (Ultra) to 259 (Low). When moving to 1440p, these figures drop to a range of 82 (Ultra) to 167 (Low). At 4K, the range falls further to 44 (Ultra) to 90 (Low).

Analyzing the scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important information about the system's bottleneck. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 166 at 1080p to 107 at 1440p, and then to 58 at 4K. This is a reduction of 36% from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% from 1440p to 4K. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render grows exponentially, placing a much heavier load on the graphics card.

If the system were CPU-bound, we would expect to see the FPS remain relatively stable across resolutions, as the CPU's workload (game logic, physics) does not change with resolution. The data clearly shows that FPS is highly dependent on resolution, which strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the primary limiting factor as resolution scales up. The CPU, with its 94th percentile ranking, is demonstrably capable of feeding the GPU at all resolutions, but the GPU simply runs out of rendering power at higher pixel counts.

Settings Recommendations

The data provides a clear picture of the performance trade-offs at each settings preset. At 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 127 FPS, which is more than sufficient for a smooth experience. The High preset is a bit faster at 166 FPS, and the Medium preset offers a very high 198 FPS. The Low preset is the only one that breaks the 240Hz barrier, hitting 259 FPS.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 82 FPS, which is still playable. The High preset offers a much more comfortable 107 FPS. The Medium preset is a strong option at 128 FPS, and Low reaches 167 FPS. At 4K, the Ultra preset drops to 44 FPS, which may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The High preset provides a more acceptable 58 FPS, while Medium and Low offer 69 and 90 FPS, respectively.

Based on these figures, the best experience for a balance of visual quality and high frame rates is the High preset at 1440p, delivering 107 FPS. It provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. For players with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, the Medium preset at 198 FPS provides an excellent balance, as the visual difference between Medium and High is often less noticeable than the jump from 198 to 166 FPS. At 4K, the Medium preset at 69 FPS is the recommended choice, as it avoids the sub-60 FPS territory of the High and Ultra presets while still offering a better visual experience than Low. The Ultra preset is only recommended for players who prioritize maximum visual fidelity and are comfortable with frame rates in the 44-82 FPS range depending on resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average FPS data for this combination.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 259 FPS average.
• Medium: 198 FPS average, with a minimum of 168 FPS and a maximum of 228 FPS.
• High: 166 FPS average.
• Ultra: 127 FPS average.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 167 FPS average.
• Medium: 128 FPS average, with a minimum of 109 FPS and a maximum of 147 FPS.
• High: 107 FPS average.
• Ultra: 82 FPS average.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 90 FPS average.
• Medium: 69 FPS average, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS.
• High: 58 FPS average.
• Ultra: 44 FPS average.

The data shows that the Medium preset is the only one for which min/max FPS values are provided, showing a stable performance window. The jump from 1080p Low (259 FPS) to 1440p Low (167 FPS) is a 36% reduction, while the jump from 1440p Low to 4K Low (90 FPS) is a 46% reduction. This pattern repeats across all settings, confirming the GPU's growing role as a bottleneck with increasing resolution. The system is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with almost any setting, but at 4K, it is best to stick to Medium or Low to maintain a high level of responsiveness.