Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a clear picture of how a modern 8-core CPU and an older mid-range GPU interact in Minimum. The benchmark data shows a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions, but which still offers strong performance at 1080p. This is a classic pairing where the CPU has plenty of headroom, allowing the graphics card to be the primary factor in performance scaling.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data from 1080p to 4K reveals a textbook case of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 121.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 80.1 FPS, a 34% reduction. At 4K, the average falls to 40.4 FPS, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p result. This steep decline is a direct indicator that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the limiting component as pixel count increases.

The trend is consistent across all quality presets. At Ultra settings, the frame rate at 1080p is 92.5 FPS, which falls to 60.1 FPS at 1440p and then to 33.3 FPS at 4K. The Low preset shows the same pattern, with 187.4 FPS at 1080p falling to 124 FPS at 1440p and then 63.1 FPS at 4K. The fact that even the lowest settings can only achieve 63.1 FPS at 4K confirms that the GPU's raw throughput, not the CPU, is what holds the system back at high resolutions.

What is interesting is the scaling between 1080p and 1440p. The drop from 121.6 FPS to 80.1 FPS on High is a 34% decrease, but the jump from 1440p to 4K is a 50% decrease. This non-linear behavior shows that the GPU is running out of memory bandwidth or shading power more rapidly as resolution climbs. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are simply not enough to sustain high frame rates at 4K, even in a game from 2014. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is clearly not the bottleneck here, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate scales almost entirely with resolution and settings load.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a Zen 5 part with 8 cores and 16 threads, running at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. In Minimum, this hardware is largely underutilized. The benchmark results show that the CPU is capable of far more than the game demands. For instance, the Cinebench R23 multicore score is 31588, and the single-core score is 4459. These are high numbers that indicate a processor that can easily handle the game's physics and AI calculations.

The data suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any tested resolution. When comparing the 1080p Low setting (187.4 FPS) to the 4K Low setting (63.1 FPS), the massive frame rate difference is entirely due to the GPU's load. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see more consistent FPS across resolutions, or at least a smaller drop. The fact that the 1080p Ultra setting (92.5 FPS) is higher than the 4K Low setting (63.1 FPS) reinforces this conclusion. The CPU is feeding the GPU as fast as it can, but the GPU cannot keep up at higher resolutions.

The Ryzen 7 9700X's performance percentile of 89 among all CPUs, combined with an average benchmark score of 36029, places it in a strong position. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14500HX, scores 35940, a delta of only 0.2%. This means the 9700X is effectively on par with that competitor in general CPU benchmarks. For a game like Minimum, this level of CPU performance is more than sufficient, leaving all performance headroom to the graphics card.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 7 9700X and RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1048 out of 1733 combos for this game. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the overall rankings. While the absolute frame rates are playable at 1080p and 1440p, the rank reflects the GPU's age and performance ceiling. A higher-ranked combo would likely feature a more modern GPU that can better match the CPU's capabilities.

The low rank is not a reflection of poor performance, but rather a measure of how this specific pairing compares to every other combination tested. The CPU is a top-tier part, but the GPU's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs (with an average benchmark score of 22206) acts as a limiting factor. The RTX 2070 SUPER's nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A400, scores 22307, a delta of -0.5%, which shows the GPU is competitive with other older cards, but it cannot compete with newer, faster options. This combo is a balance of high CPU headroom and mid-range GPU output, which is a common configuration but not one that tops the charts.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this hardware?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets achieve playable frame rates. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 60.1 FPS, while at 4K, even the Low preset only manages 63.1 FPS. For a smooth experience across all settings, 1080p is the target resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The frame rate drops from 187.4 FPS (1080p Low) to 63.1 FPS (4K Low), a 66% decrease. Since the CPU is identical across all tests, this massive drop can only be attributed to the graphics card's inability to handle the higher pixel count. The CPU has plenty of headroom.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 22206. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A400, scores 22307, which is a -0.5% difference. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 scores 21670, which is a 2.5% difference from the RTX 2070 SUPER. These are all very close scores, indicating similar performance levels.

*Q: Can this system run Minimum at 4K?*

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 63.1. At Medium settings, it drops to 52.5 FPS, and at High it falls to 40.4 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at 4K, as it produces an average of only 33.3 FPS.

Q: What does the Ryzen 7 9700X's performance look like in synthetic tests?

A: The CPU scores 31588 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 4459 in single-core. It also achieves 9824 in 3DMark with 16 threads and 8184 with 8 threads. These scores indicate a high-performance processor that should not hold back any modern game.

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this specific combo?

A: This combination of the Ryzen 7 9700X and the RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1048 out of 1733 tested combos for Minimum. This puts it in the bottom 40% of all tested configurations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the determining factor for this system's performance in Minimum. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz. The card also features 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs. These specifications, while solid for its generation, are now considered mid-range.

The GPU's performance percentile of 65 and average benchmark score of 22206 place it below many modern cards. Its Passmark G3D score of 18169 shows its directX 11 performance, but its DirectX 12 score is only 67, which is lower than its DirectX 11 score (151). This suggests that the card performs better in older APIs, which is relevant for a 2014 game like Minimum.

The data shows that the GPU is the primary limiter at 1440p and 4K. The difference between the Ultra preset at 1080p (92.5 FPS) and the Ultra preset at 1440p (60.1 FPS) is a 35% drop, which is substantial. The 4K Ultra result of 33.3 FPS is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB of VRAM is also a consideration, as higher-resolution textures can fill this memory quickly. However, for a game from 2014, the card has enough memory and raw power to deliver a good experience at 1080p, and a serviceable one at 1440p with adjusted settings.

Settings Recommendations

For a balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the best configuration. It delivers an average of 80.1 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. This provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The drop from 121.6 FPS at 1080p High is noticeable, but the increased resolution is worth the trade-off.

If you prefer maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1080p is the clear winner, with an average of 187.4 FPS. This is ideal for competitive play or if you have a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Low preset at 1440p also offers excellent performance at 124 FPS, which is a good middle ground for players who want higher resolution but still prioritize speed. The Ultra preset should be avoided at 4K, as the 33.3 FPS average makes the game feel sluggish. The Medium preset at 1440p (92.4 FPS) is also a strong option, offering a good balance if you prefer more visual effects over the High preset. Ultimately, the data suggests that 1440p High is the sweet spot, providing a high-quality image with a frame rate that most users will find excellent.