Minimum

# Minimum with AMD Ryzen 9 9900X + AMD Radeon RX 7700

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 delivers a solid 1080p experience in Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014. The data shows this combo handles high-refresh 1080p gaming comfortably, with 1440p still playable at most settings, while 4K requires compromises. The CPU sits in the 92nd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 58th percentile, suggesting a balanced pairing where the Ryzen 9 9900X provides ample headroom for the RX 7700 in this title.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It features a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 120 W TDP. The CPU uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform and supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache.

Benchmark results show the Ryzen 9 9900X excels in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23, it scores 2253 single-core and 32172 multi-core. Geekbench results show 3010 single-core and 22174 multi-core. The 3DMark tests reveal scaling from 1286 single-thread to 13929 max-threads, indicating strong multi-threading capabilities. PassMark scores reinforce this with 4672 single-thread and 54643 multi-thread results. The CPU's percentile ranking of 92 means it outperforms 92% of all CPUs in the database.

For Minimum, a game from 2014, the Ryzen 9 9900X is far more powerful than needed. The game's engine likely doesn't scale beyond a handful of threads, meaning the 12-core/24-thread configuration provides massive headroom. The single-core performance is particularly relevant here, as older titles often rely heavily on one or two threads. With a PassMark single-thread score of 4672 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2253, this CPU ensures that CPU-bound scenarios at high frame rates won't become a bottleneck.

The nearest rivals in CPU performance include the AMD EPYC 9015 (0.1% slower), AMD EPYC 7313 (0.2% faster), Intel Core i9-14900 (1.1% faster), and Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (1.4% faster). These deltas are tiny, meaning the Ryzen 9 9900X sits in a tightly contested performance band. For Minimum, the practical difference between these CPUs would be negligible at typical gaming frame rates.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K Ultra settings?*

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 36 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K High preset achieves 48 FPS, while 4K Medium reaches 57 FPS. Only 4K Low (74 FPS) crosses the 60 FPS line at this resolution.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144 Hz monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 214 FPS, Medium hits 164 FPS, and High reaches 137 FPS, all above 144 Hz. At 2560x1440, only Low (138 FPS) approaches 144 Hz; Medium (106 FPS) and High (89 FPS) fall short. For a 144 Hz display, 1080p with Medium or High settings is the practical choice.

Q: How does the RX 7700 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RX 7700 has an average benchmark score of 15852. It is 0.1% faster than the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862), 1% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16014), 1.1% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679), and 1.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129). These are all close scores, indicating similar rasterization performance.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X overkill for this game?

A: The data suggests yes for current performance, but it provides future-proofing. The CPU's 92nd percentile ranking and strong single-thread scores (2253 in Cinebench R23) mean it won't limit the RX 7700 in Minimum. However, the 12 cores and 24 threads offer headroom for more demanding modern titles or productivity workloads.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average is 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and maximum of 121 FPS. This is a comfortable range for 100 Hz monitors and provides a consistent experience above 90 FPS.

Q: Does the combo scale well when lowering settings at 4K?

A: Yes. Dropping from Ultra (36 FPS) to High (48 FPS) is a 33% improvement, from High to Medium (57 FPS) is another 19% gain, and from Medium to Low (74 FPS) adds 30% more performance. The scaling is fairly linear, which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K rather than the CPU.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation. At 1080p with Medium settings, the combo achieves 164 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Medium drops the average to 106 FPS (a 35% reduction), and at 4K Medium the average falls to 57 FPS (a 46% further reduction from 1440p). This scaling aligns with the pixel count increases: 1440p has 1.78x the pixels of 1080p, and 4K has 2.25x the pixels of 1440p. The FPS drops are somewhat less than proportional, which suggests the CPU is still contributing at higher resolutions.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is similar but steeper. 1080p Ultra averages 105 FPS, 1440p Ultra drops to 68 FPS (35% reduction), and 4K Ultra falls to 36 FPS (47% reduction from 1440p). The 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS is particularly telling — it's below the 40 FPS threshold often considered the minimum for console-like playability, indicating the RX 7700 simply doesn't have enough horsepower for this combination.

The Low preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 214 FPS at 1080p, 138 FPS at 1440p (36% drop), and 74 FPS at 4K (46% drop from 1440p). Even at Low settings, 4K remains below the 60 FPS target, reinforcing that the GPU is the primary constraint. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings — roughly 35-36% from 1080p to 1440p and 46-47% from 1440p to 4K — suggests a well-balanced system where neither component is dramatically out of sync, but the GPU's 58th percentile ranking limits high-resolution performance.

The Ryzen 9 9900X's 92nd percentile CPU ranking indicates it has ample headroom. At 1080p Low (214 FPS), the CPU is still managing to feed the GPU sufficiently. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we'd expect the FPS to plateau at lower resolutions rather than scale down smoothly with pixel count. The data shows no such plateau, confirming the RX 7700 is the limiting factor across all tested settings and resolutions.

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

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 214 FPS average
• Medium: 164 FPS average, 139 FPS minimum, 188 FPS maximum
• High: 137 FPS average
• Ultra: 105 FPS average

At 1080p, all settings exceed 100 FPS, with Low and Medium pushing well past 144 Hz territory. The spread from Ultra (105 FPS) to Low (214 FPS) shows a 104% performance gain when dropping settings, giving players substantial flexibility. The Medium preset's minimum of 139 FPS ensures it never dips below 60 FPS, making it the safest high-refresh option.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 138 FPS average
• Medium: 106 FPS average, 90 FPS minimum, 121 FPS maximum
• High: 89 FPS average
• Ultra: 68 FPS average

At 1440p, the combo remains playable across all settings. Low (138 FPS) approaches 144 Hz, while Medium (106 FPS) is suitable for 100 Hz monitors. High (89 FPS) and Ultra (68 FPS) still clear the 60 FPS threshold, though Ultra's 68 FPS average leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. The Medium preset's 90 FPS minimum is respectable, indicating good frame pacing.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 74 FPS average
• Medium: 57 FPS average, 48 FPS minimum, 65 FPS maximum
• High: 48 FPS average
• Ultra: 36 FPS average

At 4K, the RX 7700 struggles. Only Low (74 FPS) achieves a consistently playable frame rate above 60 FPS. Medium (57 FPS) is borderline, with its 48 FPS minimum dipping into less comfortable territory. High (48 FPS) and Ultra (36 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS target, making them less ideal for competitive play. The 4K Medium data shows a 17 FPS spread between minimum and maximum, suggesting occasional frame drops that could affect gameplay.

The data reveals a consistent hierarchy: Low is always the fastest preset, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The performance gap between Low and Ultra widens at higher resolutions — at 1080p it's 104%, at 1440p it's 103%, and at 4K it's 106% — showing that the GPU's workload scales similarly across resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X + AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination ranks 1298th out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the 56th percentile — slightly above the median of tested systems. Given the CPU's 92nd percentile ranking and the GPU's 58th percentile ranking, the combo's performance is dragged down by the GPU, which is the weaker link in this pairing.

At 1080p, this rank translates to good performance: the combo outperforms most tested systems, with 137 FPS at High settings and 164 FPS at Medium. However, at 4K Ultra (36 FPS), the combo falls into the lower quartile of tested systems, as the RX 7700's 58th percentile GPU ranking limits high-resolution performance. The rank of 1298 out of 2939 reflects a system that is above average but not exceptional, consistent with a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU.

The GPU's nearest rivals — the Radeon R9 370X, RX 9060, Pro W5500, and RTX 3060 Ti — all have similar average benchmark scores within 1.7% of the RX 7700. This means combos using these GPUs with similarly strong CPUs would likely rank in the same region. The CPU's nearest rivals (EPYC 9015, EPYC 7313, i9-14900, Xeon Platinum 8260M) also perform within 1.4% of the 9900X, so alternative CPU choices with the same GPU would yield nearly identical in-game results.

The combo's 56th percentile ranking in Minimum is notable because the game is from 2014 and may not heavily utilize modern multi-core processors. The Ryzen 9 9900X's 12 cores and 24 threads are likely underutilized, meaning the rank is primarily determined by GPU performance. This is confirmed by the FPS scaling patterns, which show consistent GPU-bound behavior across resolutions.

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

For 1080p gaming, the Medium preset (164 FPS average, 139 FPS minimum) offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. It delivers frame rates well above 144 Hz with a minimum that never drops below 139 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The High preset (137 FPS average) is also viable for those preferring better visuals, as it still exceeds 120 FPS. Ultra (105 FPS) is playable but sacrifices the high-refresh advantage.

At 1440p, the Medium preset (106 FPS average, 90 FPS minimum) is the recommended choice. It maintains a minimum above 90 FPS, which is smooth for most players, and the 106 FPS average suits 100 Hz monitors. The High preset (89 FPS average) is suitable for 60 Hz displays with headroom, while Ultra (68 FPS) remains playable but with less margin. Low (138 FPS) is the choice for competitive players prioritizing frame rate over visuals.

For 4K, the Low preset (74 FPS average) is the only setting that consistently exceeds 60 FPS. Medium (57 FPS average, 48 FPS minimum) is borderline; the 48 FPS minimum could cause noticeable stutters in fast-paced action. High (48 FPS) and Ultra (36 FPS) are not recommended for smooth gameplay. Players with 4K displays should either accept Low settings or consider dropping to 1440p for a better experience.

The overall recommendation is to play at 1440p Medium for the best combination of visual fidelity and performance, or 1080p Medium for high-refresh competitive play. The data shows that the RX 7700 is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates, while 4K requires significant compromises that diminish the experience. The CPU's strength means settings changes have minimal impact on CPU performance, allowing players to focus purely on GPU-driven quality adjustments.