Minimum

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT combination delivers a robust experience in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. The benchmark data shows this pairing is capable of high frame rates across most settings, though it faces a clear constraint at higher resolutions and quality presets. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, offering guidance on optimal settings, scaling behavior, and how this specific combo ranks against the broader database.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), built on a 4nm TSMC process. It operates with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, with a 120W TDP. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is a key feature for gaming workloads, as it reduces latency when accessing frequently used data.

The CPU’s benchmark scores indicate strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 34004 multi-core and 4800 single-core. Its 3DMark scores show scaling from 1212 single-thread to 10081 with 16 threads, suggesting good utilization of its cores. The PassMark multi-thread score is 40009, and it ranks in the 90th percentile against all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 37780 places it in close competition with the Intel Xeon 6353P (37811, -0.1%), Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (37831, -0.1%), Intel Core i9-13900HK (38020, -0.6%), and Intel Core i5-13600KF (38028, -0.7%). The data shows the 9800X3D is effectively on par with these rivals, with deltas under 1%.

For Minimum, the CPU appears to provide ample headroom. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 275.1 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor at that resolution. Even at 1080p Ultra, it maintains 135.4 FPS. The high boost clock and large cache likely contribute to maintaining these high frame rates by ensuring a steady supply of data to the GPU. The CPU’s performance is consistent with what is expected of a high-end desktop processor, allowing the GPU to be the primary determinant of frame rates once settings or resolution are increased.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy across four presets at three resolutions. The choice of settings depends on the user’s target refresh rate and resolution.

At 1080p, all presets provide playable frame rates. The Low preset leads with 275.1 FPS, followed by Medium at 214 FPS, High at 175.6 FPS, and Ultra at 135.4 FPS. For a 144Hz monitor, the High preset is the best option, as it delivers 175.6 FPS with improved visual quality over Medium. The Ultra preset, while visually superior, still exceeds 120 FPS, making it viable for high-refresh displays. The data indicates that at 1080p, the GPU is not saturated in any setting, allowing the CPU to push very high frame rates.

At 1440p, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute FPS. Low yields 178.7 FPS, Medium 136.7 FPS, High 112.6 FPS, and Ultra 89 FPS. The High preset at 112.6 FPS is well-suited for a 120Hz display. For those with a 144Hz panel, the Medium preset at 136.7 FPS is the better choice, offering a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate. The Ultra preset at 89 FPS is still smooth for a 60Hz or 75Hz monitor but may feel less responsive on faster panels.

At 4K, the results become more constrained. The Low preset delivers 96.8 FPS, which is the only preset that consistently breaks the 60 FPS barrier. Medium follows at 76.1 FPS, High at 59.6 FPS, and Ultra at 45.4 FPS. For a 60Hz 4K display, the High preset at 59.6 FPS is borderline, but the Medium preset at 76.1 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 45.4 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as it falls below the typical playability threshold. The data suggests that for a consistently smooth 4K experience, the Medium preset offers the best balance, while Low is the only option that ensures high frame rates without compromise.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The frame rate drop across resolutions is significant and reveals the primary bottleneck. Looking at the High preset, the FPS decreases from 175.6 at 1080p to 112.6 at 1440p, a reduction of 63 FPS, and then to 59.6 at 4K, a further reduction of 53 FPS. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting component as resolution increases.

At 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-thread performance allows it to feed the GPU efficiently, resulting in very high FPS. As resolution increases to 1440p, the GPU’s workload grows, and the frame rate drops proportionally. The RX 9070 XT, with its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth, handles the increased pixel count, but its rendering power is finite. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint, as the FPS nearly halves compared to 1080p on the same High preset.

This scaling is even more pronounced on the Low preset. Frame rates drop from 275.1 FPS at 1080p to 178.7 FPS at 1440p, and then to 96.8 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is approximately 65%, which is consistent with the increase in pixel count. This confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor across all settings, as the CPU’s performance remains constant regardless of resolution. The data shows no signs of CPU saturation, as even at 4K with the Ultra preset (45.4 FPS), the frame rate is still dictated by GPU rendering capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Minimum, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT holds a combo rank of 506 out of 1733 total combos. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems, though not in the top percentile.

The rank of 506 out of 1733 means it surpasses the majority of tested combos, but it is outclassed by higher-tier GPU configurations. Given the CPU’s performance (90th percentile) and the GPU’s performance (82nd percentile), the combined ranking is lower than either component’s individual percentile. This suggests that the GPU, while powerful, is the limiting factor in this pairing, preventing the combo from achieving a top-100 ranking.

The data implies that combos with a stronger GPU would rank higher, as the CPU has sufficient headroom to support a more powerful graphics card. Conversely, combos with a weaker CPU would likely rank lower. The 506th position reflects a balanced but not extreme system. It is a strong performer, as evidenced by the measured FPS, but it does not represent the absolute pinnacle of performance for this game. The ranking is a useful metric for comparing against other tested configurations, and it shows that this combo is a solid choice for high-refresh-rate gaming, especially at 1080p and 1440p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming with this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, the Medium preset at 76.1 FPS is the best choice for 4K, as it provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 59.6 FPS is borderline, while the Ultra preset at 45.4 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 37780. It is nearly identical to the Intel Xeon 6353P (37811, -0.1%) and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (37831, -0.1%). It trails the Intel Core i9-13900HK (38020, -0.6%) and Intel Core i5-13600KF (38028, -0.7%) by less than 1%.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor. As resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, frame rates drop proportionally (e.g., 175.6 to 59.6 FPS on High), while the CPU’s performance remains constant. The CPU has sufficient headroom to support higher frame rates.

Q: Can this combo achieve 144 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, but not on all presets. The Low preset delivers 178.7 FPS, and the Medium preset achieves 136.7 FPS. The High preset at 112.6 FPS does not reach 144 FPS. For a 144Hz display, the Medium preset is the highest quality option that meets the target.

*Q: What is the combo rank for this CPU and GPU in Minimum?*

A: This combination ranks 506th out of 1733 tested combos for the game. This places it in the upper-middle tier, indicating strong performance but not the top tier.

Q: How much faster is the 1080p Low preset compared to the 4K Ultra preset?

A: The 1080p Low preset achieves 275.1 FPS, while the 4K Ultra preset achieves 45.4 FPS. This represents a difference of 229.7 FPS, with the 1080p setting being over six times faster.