Minimum

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D compare to its closest rivals in overall CPU benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54,762. It is effectively tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (55,093, a -0.6% delta), slightly ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (54,053, a 1.3% delta), and about 2% ahead of both the Intel Xeon 6505P (53,701) and Intel Core i7-14700F (53,620). This places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the FPS difference between the lowest and highest quality presets at 1080p for this game?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 354 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces 173 FPS. This represents a significant 181 FPS drop (approximately 51%) when moving from the lowest to the highest settings, indicating the Ultra preset imposes a substantial rendering load.

Q: Does the 4K resolution bottleneck the performance of this combo?

A: Yes, the data indicates a strong GPU bottleneck at 4K. The average FPS drops from 354 (1080p Low) to 123 (2160p Low), and from 228 (1080p High) to 79 (2160p High). This scaling pattern shows the rendering resolution is the primary constraint at 3840x2160.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the GPU and how does it relate to performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This large memory capacity and high bandwidth are well-suited for high-resolution textures and complex scenes, contributing to its ability to maintain playable frame rates at 4K.

Q: What is the CPU's core and thread configuration?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 128 MB L3 cache.

Q: What is the performance percentile of the RTX 4080 SUPER relative to all GPUs?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 54,209 is nearly identical to the standard RTX 4080 (54,247, a -0.1% delta), and it slightly trails the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54,828, a -1.1% delta) and AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55,698, a -2.7% delta).

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the central component for determining frame rates in "Minimum," especially as resolution increases. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM, paired with a 256-bit memory bus and 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth, provides ample data throughput for the game's assets. The GPU's 10,240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs process the geometry and textures, while its boost clock of 2550 MHz ensures high peak performance.

The measured FPS data clearly demonstrates the GPU's role. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves 147 FPS, but this is a significant step down from the 228 FPS at 1080p High. This 81 FPS drop is a direct result of the increased pixel count that the GPU must render. The RTX 4080 SUPER's specifications, such as its 52.22 TFLOPS FP32 compute power and 816.0 GTexel/s texture rate, are the tools it uses to handle this workload.

The GPU's benchmarks reinforce its position. It scores 34,245 in Passmark G3D and 6,600 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. These scores place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, making it a top-tier performer. However, the data also shows it is not without limits. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to exactly 60 FPS, which is the threshold for smooth gameplay but shows the GPU is being pushed to its maximum. The game "Minimum" appears to be graphically demanding, as even this high-end GPU sees a substantial performance penalty at 4K Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The relationship between resolution and frame rate in "Minimum" is clear and consistent across all settings. The largest performance gap is between 1080p and 1440p, with a smaller but still significant gap between 1440p and 4K. This pattern suggests that while the CPU is capable of high frame rates, the GPU's rendering workload becomes the limiting factor as resolution climbs.

For example, on the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 354 at 1080p to 228 at 1440p (a 126 FPS loss), and then to 123 at 4K (a further 105 FPS loss). This indicates a nearly linear scaling with pixel count, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU's fill rate and shading power become the bottleneck as the number of pixels increases.

At the High preset, the relative performance drops are similar: 228 FPS at 1080p, 147 FPS at 1440p, and 79 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result of 79 FPS is notably lower than the 1440p High result, emphasizing the GPU's struggle with the 4K resolution. The Ultra preset shows the same trend, with 173 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K.

This data strongly suggests that the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is not the primary performance limiter in this game. The consistent frame rate drops with increasing resolution are a classic sign of GPU limitation. The CPU's high single-thread performance (6,739 in Cinebench R23) and multi-thread capabilities (47,737 in Cinebench R23) are sufficient to keep up, but the RTX 4080 SUPER's rendering capabilities are what determine the final FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data is measured, not estimated, and this specific combo ranks 211 out of 2,939 tested combinations in this game.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 354 FPS average. This is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset, showing the combo's massive headroom at lower settings.
• Medium: 271 FPS average, with a minimum of 230 FPS and a maximum of 312 FPS. This preset offers a significant visual improvement over Low while still maintaining very high frame rates.
• High: 228 FPS average. This is a solid result for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, providing a smooth and responsive experience.
• Ultra: 173 FPS average. This is the most demanding setting at this resolution, but it still exceeds 144 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 228 FPS average. This equals the 1080p High result, showing that the GPU is still not the bottleneck at this resolution on Low settings.
• Medium: 175 FPS average, with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS. The minimum frame rate of 149 FPS is still excellent for 1440p gaming.
• High: 147 FPS average. This is a very strong result for 1440p, comfortably above the 144 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors.
• Ultra: 112 FPS average. This is a playable and smooth frame rate, but it shows a clear drop from the High preset.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 123 FPS average. This is a very good result for 4K, showing that the GPU can handle the resolution when settings are lowered.
• Medium: 94 FPS average, with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS. This is a playable frame rate, but the minimum of 80 FPS indicates some dips.
• High: 79 FPS average. This is a playable frame rate, but it is closer to the 60 FPS threshold, showing the GPU is working hard.
• Ultra: 60 FPS average. This is the exact 60 FPS threshold, making it suitable for standard 60 Hz displays but not for higher refresh rates.

The data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy: Lower resolutions and lower settings produce higher frame rates. The Medium preset at 1440p (175 FPS) is an interesting data point, as it offers a balance between visual fidelity and performance that may be ideal for many users.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is a high-end desktop processor based on the Zen 5 architecture. Its base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz, combined with a massive 128 MB L3 cache, are designed to deliver exceptional performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

In the context of "Minimum," the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The frame rate scaling with resolution is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo hits 354 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate. This suggests the CPU is able to process game logic and draw calls quickly enough to not limit the GPU. The CPU's benchmark results support this, with a single-thread score of 6,739 in Cinebench R23 and a multi-thread score of 47,737.

However, the CPU's performance is not without relevance. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 12,490 and the 2-thread score of 2,512 show that it scales well with thread count. In a game like "Minimum," which is a third-person shooter, the CPU must handle physics, AI, and game logic, and the 9900X3D's high single-thread performance (1,269 in 3DMark single-thread) is crucial for maintaining consistent frame times.

The CPU's 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs means it is faster than 91% of its peers. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, has a nearly identical average benchmark score (55,093 vs 54,762), showing that the 9900X3D is in the top tier of desktop processors. This raw processing power ensures that the CPU will not be a limiting factor in this game, even at high frame rates. The data indicates that the user should focus on GPU settings to adjust performance, as the CPU has ample headroom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate of the user's display.

For 1080p displays with a 240 Hz or 360 Hz refresh rate, the Low preset (354 FPS) or Medium preset (271 FPS) are the best choices. The Medium preset offers a significant visual upgrade over Low while still maintaining frame rates well above 240 FPS. The High preset (228 FPS) is also a viable option for 240 Hz displays, but the Medium preset provides a better balance of visual quality and performance.

For 1440p displays, the High preset (147 FPS) is the recommended choice for users with 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitors. It provides an excellent visual experience and remains above the 144 FPS threshold. For users with 240 Hz monitors, the Medium preset (175 FPS) is the better option, as it offers a higher frame rate while still looking good. The Ultra preset (112 FPS) is only suitable for 120 Hz displays but may not be worth the visual cost over High.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset (94 FPS) is the sweet spot. It provides a significant improvement over Low (123 FPS) while maintaining a frame rate above 90 FPS, which is ideal for 120 Hz displays. The High preset (79 FPS) is also playable but is better suited for 60 Hz displays. The Ultra preset (60 FPS) should only be used on 60 Hz displays, as it provides the highest visual quality but locks the frame rate to the display's refresh rate.

In summary, the Medium preset is the most versatile option, offering a strong balance across all resolutions. It delivers 271 FPS at 1080p, 175 FPS at 1440p, and 94 FPS at 4K, making it a safe recommendation for most users. The High preset is the next best option for those prioritizing visual quality, but it comes with a noticeable FPS penalty, especially at higher resolutions.