Minimum

# How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ranks 877th out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum. That places this configuration in the 70th percentile of all tested combinations, a strong showing that reflects a balanced pairing of a high-end 2025 processor with a capable 2020 graphics card. The combo's rank indicates it sits comfortably above the median, though it is not among the elite top-tier setups in this specific title.

The ranking makes sense given the hardware mix. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on Zen 5 architecture, and it holds a 91st percentile rank among all CPUs in the database. The RX 6800 XT, meanwhile, sits at an 85th percentile among all GPUs. When combined, the system delivers performance that is greater than either component would suggest individually, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor in this game at higher resolutions. The data shows that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, but it will struggle to maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings.

In terms of raw compute, the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and single-core score of 6739 demonstrate exceptional processing power that ensures the processor is never the bottleneck in Minimum. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 24980 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3689 indicate solid DirectX 12 performance for a 2020-era card. The result is a combo that ranks in the top 30% of all tested configurations, making it a reliable choice for this third-person shooter.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT plays the dominant role in determining frame rates in Minimum, especially as resolution increases. This GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. That bandwidth is crucial for maintaining texture streaming and asset loading in a fast-paced shooter, and the 16 GB capacity ensures that even at 4K resolution, VRAM is unlikely to be a constraint. The card's base clock of 1825 MHz and boost clock of 2250 MHz (with a game clock of 2015 MHz) provide the raw compute headroom needed for high frame rates.

The GPU's 4608 shading units, 288 texture mapping units, and 128 ROPs give it a pixel rate of 288.0 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 648.0 GTexel/s. These specifications translate directly to performance in Minimum, which is a third-person shooter that relies on detailed environments and character models. The 20.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute ensures that the GPU can handle the game's visual effects without stuttering.

Benchmark results show that the RX 6800 XT's performance scales predictably with resolution. At 1920x1080, the card achieves frame rates between 127 FPS (Ultra) and 259 FPS (Low). At 2560x1440, the range drops to 82 FPS (Ultra) to 167 FPS (Low). At 3840x2160, the card manages 44 FPS (Ultra) to 90 FPS (Low). This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, with the CPU providing ample support. The GPU's 85th percentile ranking among all GPUs is reflected in these results, which show strong 1080p and 1440p performance but a notable drop-off at 4K Ultra.

The RX 6800 XT's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (1.5% higher average score), Intel Arc A550M (2.5% lower), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (3% lower), and AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (3% lower). These comparisons show that the RX 6800 XT holds its own against both older and newer cards, though it trails the RTX 5070 Ti in synthetic benchmarks. In Minimum specifically, the GPU's DirectX 12 support (12 Ultimate) and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility ensure it can leverage modern rendering paths.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Minimum?*

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At High settings, the combo achieves 107 FPS at 1440p, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 4K High, the average drops to 58 FPS, which is borderline for competitive play. The 1440p resolution delivers over 100 FPS at High settings, making it the sweet spot.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Minimum?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160, the combo achieves 58 FPS at High settings and 69 FPS at Medium settings. For a third-person shooter, 60 FPS is generally acceptable, but the 44 FPS at Ultra settings will feel sluggish. Players seeking 4K should stick to High or Medium settings to maintain playable frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU's 3D V-Cache affect gaming performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X3D features 128 MB of L3 cache, which is the key differentiator for gaming. This large cache helps reduce memory latency and improves performance in CPU-bound scenarios. In Minimum, the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 shows it is more than capable, but the game is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, meaning the cache's benefits are most visible at lower resolutions like 1080p.

Q: What is the GPU's VRAM capacity and does it matter for this game?

A: The RX 6800 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. For Minimum, which was released in 2014, this is more than sufficient. Even at 4K Ultra settings, the game is unlikely to exceed 8 GB of VRAM usage. The 16 GB capacity ensures there is no texture popping or asset streaming issues, and it provides headroom for future games or modded content.

Q: How does this combo compare to the CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54762, placing it 0.6% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (55093) and 1.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (54053). It also leads the Intel Xeon 6505P (53701) by 2% and the Intel Core i7-14700F (53620) by 2.1%. These margins are small, indicating that the CPU is competitively positioned.

Q: Is this combo better than using a newer GPU like the RTX 5070 Ti?

A: According to the data, the RTX 5070 Ti has an average GPU score of 49957, which is 3% higher than the RX 6800 XT's score of 48477. However, the RX 6800 XT remains a capable option, and the combo's 877th rank out of 2939 reflects solid overall performance. The choice depends on whether the user prioritizes the 16 GB VRAM and mature RDNA 2 drivers over the newer card's higher synthetic scores.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combo, the data strongly favors High settings at 2560x1440. This configuration delivers 107 FPS on average, which is smooth and responsive for a third-person shooter. The Medium settings at 1440p yield 128 FPS, but the visual fidelity drop from High to Medium is noticeable in a game like Minimum that relies on environmental detail. High at 1440p offers the best compromise between image quality and frame rate.

If the user prefers 1080p, High settings provide 166 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra settings at 1080p still deliver 127 FPS, making that a viable option for players who want maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing responsiveness. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 198 FPS, which may appeal to competitive players seeking the highest frame rates, but the jump from High to Medium is less impactful than the jump from Ultra to High.

At 4K, the recommendation is to use Medium settings, which achieve 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS. This is the only 4K preset that consistently stays above the 60 FPS threshold. High at 4K drops to 58 FPS, which is borderline, while Ultra at 4K is not recommended due to the 44 FPS average. Players with 4K displays should prioritize Medium settings to maintain playability.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset offers the highest frame rates (259 FPS at 1080p, 167 FPS at 1440p, 90 FPS at 4K), but the visual compromise is severe. For most players, the High preset at 1440p is the sweet spot, as it combines strong visual quality with frame rates that exceed the refresh rate of most 144Hz monitors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 259 FPS, while Medium hits 198 FPS (with a minimum of 168 and maximum of 228). High produces 166 FPS, and Ultra drops to 127 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a roughly 50% reduction in frame rate, which is typical for a game with demanding ultra settings.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 167 FPS, Medium delivers 128 FPS (minimum 109, maximum 147), High achieves 107 FPS, and Ultra falls to 82 FPS. The 1440p numbers show that the combo can drive high-refresh-rate monitors even at High settings, with only Ultra requiring a compromise.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. The Low preset still manages 90 FPS, but Medium drops to 69 FPS (minimum 59, maximum 79). High yields 58 FPS, and Ultra is the only preset that falls below 50 FPS, averaging 44 FPS. The 4K results indicate that the RX 6800 XT is not a 4K Ultra card for this title, but it remains playable at Medium settings.

The measured data shows a consistent pattern: the combo excels at 1080p and 1440p, with frame rates that support competitive play, while 4K requires settings adjustments to maintain 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K is the only option that provides both a minimum FPS above 59 and a reasonable visual quality, making it the recommended choice for 4K users.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D serves as the foundation for this combo, providing exceptional processing power that ensures the GPU is the primary bottleneck in Minimum. This 12-core, 24-thread processor is based on Zen 5 architecture (codenamed Granite Ridge) and features a base clock of 4.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The 128 MB of L3 cache is a standout feature, as it is designed to reduce memory latency in gaming workloads.

Benchmark results underscore the CPU's strength. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and single-core score of 6739 place it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. The Geekbench multi-core score of 22884 and single-core score of 3041 confirm its competitiveness. In synthetic tests, the CPU's Passmark multithread score of 56154 and single-thread score of 4646 show that it can handle both heavily threaded and latency-sensitive tasks.

In Minimum, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. The game is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards, but the 9900X3D's 24 threads and high clock speeds ensure that there is no stuttering or frame pacing issues. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 12490 and max-thread score of 13795 indicate that the CPU can handle any background tasks without impacting game performance.

The CPU's nearest rivals show that it is competitively positioned. It trails the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF by just 0.6% in average benchmark score, while leading the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K by 1.3%, the Intel Xeon 6505P by 2%, and the Intel Core i7-14700F by 2.1%. These small margins mean that the 9900X3D is not a clear winner in synthetic tests, but its 3D V-Cache provides a gaming-specific advantage that these benchmarks do not fully capture.

The CPU's 120W TDP and DDR5 memory support (with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth) make it an efficient and modern platform. The PCIe Gen 5 support with 24 lanes ensures that the GPU has ample bandwidth for direct data transfer. In Minimum, the CPU's performance is more than sufficient, as evidenced by the fact that frame rates scale primarily with GPU settings and resolution rather than CPU load. This suggests that players can pair this CPU with even more powerful GPUs in the future without encountering a CPU bottleneck.