Minimum

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This high-thread-count CPU, combined with its substantial 64 MB of shared L3 cache, is positioned for heavy multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29,300 and PassMark multi-thread score of 51,406. However, in a third-person shooter like Minimum, the data suggests that the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates, with the CPU's role being to feed frames fast enough to keep up.

At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 310 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most displays and indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The Ryzen 9 7900X's single-thread performance, measured at 2,017 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 4,238 in PassMark single-thread, is strong enough to handle the game's logic and draw calls without limiting the RTX 4070 SUPER. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 10,972 also shows robust scaling, but Minimum is not a title that will tax all 24 threads; the game's engine appears to benefit more from raw GPU throughput.

As resolution increases, the CPU's relative importance diminishes. The transition from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K shows a clear trend where frame rates drop in a pattern consistent with GPU-bound scenarios. The CPU's 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53,288, places it in the top tier, but the measured FPS data for this game shows that the limiting factor is the graphics card. For this specific title, the Ryzen 9 7900X provides ample headroom; the variation in FPS across settings at each resolution is almost entirely dictated by the RTX 4070 SUPER's workload.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s and dual-channel DDR5 support ensure that data can be fed to the GPU efficiently, but again, this is not a scenario where memory bandwidth becomes the bottleneck at the tested settings. The 7900X's 12 cores and 24 threads are more than sufficient for a game from 2014, and the benchmark results confirm that the processor is not the constraining component. Instead, the data points to the GPU as the performance limiter, especially at higher quality presets. The CPU's performance is a non-issue here; it simply provides the foundation for the graphics card to operate at its full potential.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X a bottleneck for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER in this game?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 310 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 53 FPS. The FPS scaling across resolutions indicates a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU limitation. The 7900X's high single-thread score of 2,017 in Cinebench R23 is more than enough to keep up.

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

A: The Ryzen 9 7900X has an average benchmark score of 53,288, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 7313P (53,206) and 0.6% higher than the Intel Xeon 634 (52,974). It is 0.3% lower than the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (53,469) and 0.6% lower than the Intel Core i7-14700F (53,620).

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for the highest frame rates?

A: The highest average FPS is achieved at 1080p with Low settings, hitting 310 FPS. For a balance of quality and performance, 1440p Medium delivers 153 FPS, which is still well above typical high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How does the GPU's performance rank compared to other graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 43,223, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. It is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43,262) and 0.2% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 (43,301), but 1% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (43,667).

Q: Does the game run better on High or Ultra settings at 4K?

A: High settings at 4K yield an average of 69 FPS, while Ultra drops to 53 FPS. The 16 FPS difference is significant, and High provides a smoother experience closer to the 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 130, with a maximum of 176 and an average of 153. This suggests consistent performance without major frame drops.

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

The benchmark data reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS at High settings drops from 199 to 128, a 35.7% decrease. Then, moving from 1440p to 4K, the average FPS at High settings falls from 128 to 69, a 46.1% decrease. This consistent reduction as pixel count increases is the hallmark of a graphics card that is being pushed to its limits.

At 1080p Low, the combo produces 310 FPS, but this drops to 200 FPS at 1440p Low and 108 FPS at 4K Low. The scaling factor from 1080p to 4K is roughly 2.87x, which is close to the expected pixel count difference (4x), but not exactly proportional. This indicates that at lower settings, the CPU is still able to keep the GPU fed, but the GPU's fill rate and shading power become the limiting factor as resolution increases.

For the Medium preset, the FPS drops from 237 at 1080p to 153 at 1440p and 82 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows a similar trend: 152 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 53 FPS at 4K. The fact that the FPS scales almost linearly with the number of pixels strongly suggests that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar FPS across resolutions, especially at lower settings where the GPU load is reduced. Instead, we see a clear resolution-dependent decline, confirming that the CPU is not the constraint.

The data implies that the CPU has significant headroom, and the performance envelope of this combo is defined by the GPU's capabilities. For a game like Minimum, this means that to increase frame rates, one would need to lower the resolution or reduce graphics settings, as the CPU is not holding the system back. The 4K Ultra result of 53 FPS is a clear indicator that the GPU is fully saturated at that quality level.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo delivers high frame rates across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 310. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 237 FPS, with a minimum of 202 and a maximum of 273. High settings produce an average of 199 FPS. Ultra settings yield 152 FPS. This shows a linear scaling with quality, where each tier reduces performance by roughly 20-25%.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance remains strong but decreases as expected. Low settings average 200 FPS. Medium settings average 153 FPS, with a minimum of 130 and a maximum of 176. High settings produce 128 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 98 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 102 FPS, showing a significant impact of quality settings on this resolution.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the GPU is heavily stressed. Low settings average 108 FPS. Medium settings average 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 95. High settings produce 69 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, yielding an average of 53 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 55 FPS, indicating that the GPU's performance headroom is exhausted at this resolution.

The data shows that the Medium preset at 1440p offers a balanced experience with an average of 153 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. For a 60 Hz display at 4K, High settings are the best option, maintaining an average of 69 FPS. The Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration that breaks the 300 FPS mark, making it suitable for competitive play on ultra-high refresh rate panels.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combo ranks 644th out of 3,712 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the top 17.4% of all configurations tested, which is a solid result but not near the top. The ranking indicates that while this is a capable system, there are many other combinations that deliver higher frame rates in this specific game.

Given the GPU's 83rd percentile ranking and the CPU's 91st percentile ranking, one might expect a higher combo rank. However, the game's engine appears to favor certain hardware configurations, and this particular pairing, while balanced, is not the absolute best. The rank of 644 suggests that there are 643 other combos that perform better, likely featuring higher-end GPUs like the RTX 4090 or more optimized pairings for this title.

The data implies that this combo is well above average, but not top-tier for Minimum. The high single-thread performance of the CPU and the strong 4K capabilities of the GPU are not enough to break into the top 10% of combos. For users seeking the absolute highest frame rates, this combo is sufficient, but it will not top leaderboards. The rank is more a reflection of the GPU's mid-to-high-end positioning rather than any CPU deficiency.

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

For the best overall experience, the 1440p Medium preset is the standout choice. It delivers an average of 153 FPS, with a minimum of 130 FPS and a maximum of 176 FPS. This combination of resolution and settings provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. The 130 FPS minimum ensures that frame pacing remains consistent, even in demanding scenes.

If the user has a 4K display, High settings are recommended. The average of 69 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a playable and visually pleasing experience. Ultra settings at 4K dip to 53 FPS, which is below the ideal for smooth gameplay, so High is the better choice for maintaining fluidity.

For competitive play where frame rate is paramount, the 1080p Low preset is the best option, achieving 310 FPS. This is ideal for 240 Hz or 360 Hz monitors, where every frame counts. Medium at 1080p also offers a strong 237 FPS, but Low provides the maximum performance headroom.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for users with 1080p displays, where it achieves 152 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS target. At 1440p, Ultra is playable at 98 FPS, but Medium or High offer a better balance of quality and speed. In summary, the 1440p Medium preset offers the best balance, while 1080p Low is for maximum FPS and 4K High is for the best visual experience at a playable frame rate.