Minimum

This pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER presents a fascinating study in generational imbalance. The data shows a modern, high-end CPU from 2024 paired with a mid-range GPU from 2019, creating a system where the performance ceiling is clearly defined by the graphics card. The benchmark results for Minimum illuminate this dynamic, showing how the CPU's immense processing power is largely held in reserve as resolution and graphical fidelity increase.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's overall ranking in Minimum is 2602 out of 3712 tested combinations. This places it in the 30th percentile of all tested systems, a figure that might seem low given the components involved. However, the context is crucial; this ranking is a measure of absolute in-game performance, not a measure of balance or efficiency. The data indicates that while the CPU is in the 87th percentile among all tested CPUs, the GPU sits in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. The system's final rank is dragged down by the older graphics card, which acts as the primary bottleneck for achieving high frame rates.

This specific configuration's average benchmark scores are telling. The CPU's average benchmark score is 39768, placing it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS (0.4% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (0.7% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (0.8% lower). On the GPU side, the RTX 2060 SUPER's average score of 18093 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (0.4% lower), the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (0.5% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 460 (1.5% lower). This data suggests that in a purely synthetic sense, the CPU is a top-tier performer, while the GPU is a solid but decidedly mid-range part, and the in-game rank reflects the latter's limitations.

FAQ

Q: Why is the combo rank (2602) so much lower than the individual component percentiles?

A: The combo rank is based on actual measured in-game performance, which is limited by the slowest component in the pipeline. While the CPU is a top-tier part and the GPU is a solid mid-range part, the GPU's performance ceiling prevents the system from reaching the frame rates that the CPU alone could support. The rank reflects this real-world bottleneck.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the Low and Ultra settings?

A: The data shows a consistent and significant gap across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 170 on Low to 83 on Ultra, a reduction of 87 FPS. At 2560x1440, it drops from 110 to 54, and at 3840x2160, it drops from 59 to 29. This represents roughly a 50% reduction in average frame rate from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Can this system achieve a playable frame rate at 4K?

A: The data suggests that playable frame rates at 3840x2160 are achievable but with compromises. The average FPS on the Low preset is 59, and on the Medium preset it is 45. The High preset drops to 38 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages only 29 FPS. For a smoother experience, the Low or Medium presets are the only viable options at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's average benchmark score of 39768 is statistically tied with its closest competitors. It is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, while being 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 0.8% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 7700. These deltas are within a single percentage point, indicating near-identical average performance.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like on the Medium preset?

A: The measured FPS data includes minimum and maximum frame rates for the Medium preset. At 1920x1080, the average is 130 FPS with a range of 111 to 150 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average is 84 FPS with a range of 71 to 97 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average is 45 FPS with a range of 38 to 52 FPS. The variance is consistent, suggesting a stable experience without major hitches.

Q: Does the 8 GB of VRAM on the GPU appear to be a limiting factor in this game?

A: The data does not directly measure VRAM usage. However, the significant performance drops when moving from Medium to High and Ultra settings could be influenced by the GPU's memory capacity. The game was released in 2014, so it is likely not a VRAM-heavy title by modern standards, but the 8 GB capacity on the RTX 2060 SUPER is a fixed hardware constraint.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals the heavy influence of the GPU. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 170 at 1080p to 110 at 1440p (a 35% reduction) and then to 59 at 4K (a 46% reduction from 1440p). This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload increases exponentially with pixel count.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. At the High preset, the average FPS falls from 109 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p, and then to 38 at 4K. The ratio of performance between 1080p and 4K is roughly 2.9x for Low (170/59) and 2.9x for High (109/38). This nearly linear relationship with pixel count (4K has 4x the pixels of 1080p) strongly indicates that the graphics card is the primary bottleneck, as a CPU-bound system would show a smaller performance gap between these resolutions.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its 8 cores, 16 threads, and high boost clock of 5.20 GHz, is more than capable of feeding frames to the GPU at 1080p. The fact that performance scales so predictably with resolution suggests the CPU has ample headroom, and the frame rate is being dictated entirely by the RTX 2060 SUPER's rendering capabilities. This is a classic example of a CPU/GPU mismatch where the processor is far ahead of the graphics card.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 60 FPS target, the data suggests that the Medium preset is the highest quality option that can consistently deliver. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 130 FPS, far exceeding the target. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 84 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above 60. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 45 FPS, which is below the target.

For a 144 FPS target, common for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, the Low preset is necessary. It averages 170 FPS at 1080p, while the High preset at 109 FPS and the Medium preset at 130 FPS fall short. At 1440p, even the Low preset's 110 FPS average is not enough for a consistent 144 FPS experience.

The High and Ultra presets are only recommended for users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate. At 1080p, High offers a solid 109 FPS average, and Ultra provides 83 FPS. At 1440p, these presets yield 71 FPS and 54 FPS, respectively. At 4K, the High preset's 38 FPS and Ultra's 29 FPS average make them borderline unplayable for fast-paced action.

The data points to the Medium preset as the "sweet spot" for this combination. It offers a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a substantial performance advantage over High and Ultra. The measured min/max FPS for Medium (e.g., 111-150 at 1080p) also shows good frame pacing, suggesting a stable experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080:

At this resolution, the combo shows its highest performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 170 FPS. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a measured range of 111 to 150 FPS. The High preset brings the average down to 109 FPS. The Ultra preset, the most demanding, yields an average of 83 FPS.

2560x1440:

The performance drops are significant at 1440p. The Low preset averages 110 FPS. The Medium preset averages 84 FPS, with a range of 71 to 97 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 71 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to an average of 54 FPS.

3840x2160:

At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Low preset is the only one that approaches a playable 60 FPS, averaging 59 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a range of 38 to 52 FPS. The High preset averages 38 FPS. The Ultra preset dips to an average of only 29 FPS.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a powerhouse from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. It has a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. Its synthetic benchmarks are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23230 and a single-core score of 2080.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU's role appears to be one of providing a massive performance buffer. The game's release in 2014 means it is unlikely to be heavily multi-threaded, and the 9800X3D's 8 cores are more than sufficient. The data supports this; the consistent FPS drops with resolution scaling suggest that the CPU is not being stressed, as it can easily maintain a high frame delivery rate to the GPU. The scores from 3DMark, such as 8252 for 8 threads and 10081 for 16 threads, show a processor with immense parallel processing capability that this game likely cannot fully utilize.

The CPU's high performance is also reflected in its 87th percentile ranking among all tested CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 39768 puts it in a dead heat with several other high-end AMD processors, including the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen AI 9 365. This indicates that while the 9800X3D is a top-tier part, its in-game performance in this title is capped by the GPU, not by its own capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration. It's a Turing-architecture GPU (chip TU106) with 2176 shading units and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1650 MHz, and its FP32 performance is 7.181 TFLOPS. While these were solid specs in 2019, they are outclassed by the modern CPU.

The GPU's role in Minimum is to be the primary determiner of frame rate. The data shows a clear and predictable drop in performance as resolution increases, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound system. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 62nd percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 18093, which is nearly identical to the RTX 3060 Mobile and Radeon Pro 5700, confirm its mid-range status. This is why the Low preset at 4K can only manage a 59 FPS average, while the same preset at 1080p achieves 170 FPS.

The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM, while standard for its time, is a fixed constraint. The performance hit from Medium to High settings (e.g., from 130 to 109 FPS at 1080p) could be an indicator of increased memory pressure, though the data does not provide direct evidence. The substantial performance gap between the Ultra preset and the others reinforces that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting factor, as even a top-tier CPU cannot overcome the graphics card's rendering limits at higher graphical loads.