Minimum

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 presents a specific performance profile in Minimum, a third-person shooter released on 2014-06-25. The measured data shows a system that is clearly capable of smooth gameplay at 1080p but encounters significant limitations as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the role of the GPU, and how this specific combination ranks among the 1,733 tested combos.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, revealing a system that becomes heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 92.9 FPS at 1920x1080 to 57.0 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of approximately 39%. The slide continues to 3840x2160, where the average drops to 28.5 FPS. This pattern indicates that the GPU's rendering throughput is the primary constraint as pixel count increases.

The scaling behavior is even more pronounced at higher quality presets. With Ultra settings, the system manages 42.7 FPS at 1080p, but this plummets to 29.9 FPS at 1440p and further to just 14.8 FPS at 4K. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is particularly telling: 28.5 FPS versus 14.8 FPS. This near-halving of performance underscores that the RX 580's compute resources are saturated by the combination of high resolution and intensive shading work.

At 1080p, the data suggests a more balanced workload. The jump from Medium (69.6 FPS) to High (58.6 FPS) is a moderate 15.8% drop, while the leap to Ultra (42.7 FPS) represents a much larger 38.6% penalty from High. This non-linear scaling at 1080p indicates that while the GPU is still the main bottleneck, the CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient to feed the graphics card at these lower pixel counts. The data shows that 1440p is the practical ceiling for high-refresh-rate play, and 4K is only viable at Low settings, and even then, only at 28.5 FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the central component in this system's gaming performance. Its specifications—8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth—are directly relevant to the observed results. The high memory capacity is not a limiting factor in Minimum, but the bandwidth and the GPU's compute throughput dictate the frame rates. The card's 2304 shading units and 32 ROPs, running at a base clock of 1257 MHz and a boost clock of 1340 MHz, are the hardware executing the game's rendering commands.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 53rd percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 13,559 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, which scores 13,564 (a deltaPct of 0.0%). This indicates that the RX 580's raw compute performance is on par with that older NVIDIA card. The data shows a 0.1% lead over the GTX 950 (13,549) and a 1.1% lead over the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (13,416). These marginal differences in synthetic benchmarks translate into the real-world FPS figures measured in the game.

The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is a notable asset, but the performance data suggests it is not the primary bottleneck in this title. Instead, the RX 580's processing power—its 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance—is what limits frame rates at higher resolutions. The 4K results, which top out at 28.5 FPS on Low settings, clearly show that the GPU is struggling to fill the 8.3 million pixels each frame. The card's 185 W TDP and dual-slot design are consistent with a mid-range part from its generation, and its performance in Minimum aligns with its 53rd percentile standing.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Core i3-12100F and RX 580 pairing ranks 1,619th out of 1,733 combos for Minimum. This places the system in the lower 6.6% of all tested configurations, indicating that while it can run the game, most other combos deliver higher average frame rates. The rank reflects a combination of the CPU's 72nd percentile performance (with an average benchmark score of 13,516) and the GPU's 53rd percentile performance.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its contribution. The Intel Core i3-12100F scores 13,516, which is a 0.1% deficit against the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13,534). It is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U (13,462) and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10105 (13,430). The gap widens to 1.8% over the Intel Core i7-7700K (13,280). These small deltas show the i3-12100F is a competitive budget processor in synthetic tests, but its 4-core/8-thread configuration may struggle in CPU-intensive scenarios, a factor that contributes to the combo's low overall rank.

The GPU's rank is similarly contextualized by its rivals. With a score of 13,559, it is essentially tied with the GTX 570, which has a deltaPct of 0.0%. This near-identical performance suggests that the RX 580 is a direct contemporary of the GTX 570 in raw power. The 1.1% lead over the Radeon Pro 455 is negligible, while the 1.1% deficit against the NVIDIA P106-090 (13,716) shows a slight performance gap. The combo's rank of 1,619 is a result of these mid-tier components, which are individually capable but not exceptional in the current database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers playable frame rates across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 92.9 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. Medium settings yield 69.6 FPS, while High settings produce 58.6 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, resulting in 42.7 FPS, which remains smooth for a single-player experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 57.0 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings produce 46.2 FPS, and High settings yield 40.0 FPS. The Ultra preset struggles to maintain smooth gameplay, with an average of just 29.9 FPS. This resolution represents a significant step down in performance, and the data suggests that 1440p is best suited for Medium or Low settings to maintain frame rates above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly out of its depth. The Low preset averages 28.5 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 23.2 FPS, and High settings fall to 20.7 FPS. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable, with an average of just 14.8 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this hardware combination, even at the lowest quality settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080. The data shows that the Medium preset, with an average of 69.6 FPS, offers the best balance between visual quality and smoothness. This setting provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring a consistent experience. For players seeking maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 92.9 FPS is the best choice, though it sacrifices visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the recommendations shift. The Low preset, averaging 57.0 FPS, is the only setting that approaches a playable frame rate. Medium settings (46.2 FPS) and High settings (40.0 FPS) are acceptable for slower-paced gameplay but may feel less responsive. The Ultra preset at 29.9 FPS is not recommended for this resolution. For 4K, the data indicates that no preset provides a satisfactory experience, with the highest average being 28.5 FPS on Low settings.

The analysis suggests that users with this hardware should prioritize 1080p resolution. The jump from Medium to High at 1080p costs 11.0 FPS (from 69.6 to 58.6), while the jump from High to Ultra costs another 15.9 FPS (from 58.6 to 42.7). Therefore, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, offering a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a high frame rate. The High preset is viable for those who prefer better visuals and can tolerate frame rates in the high 50s.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. It is the only resolution where all presets maintain average frame rates above 42 FPS, with the Low preset reaching 92.9 FPS and the Medium preset at 69.6 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its nearest rival, the GTX 570, in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 13,559, which is a 0.0% delta from the GTX 570's score of 13,564. This indicates they have nearly identical raw compute performance.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware setup?

A: Technically, the game runs at 3840x2160, but the highest average frame rate is 28.5 FPS on the Low preset. The Ultra preset drops to 14.8 FPS, making 4K gaming impractical for a smooth experience.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 580 combination ranks 1,619th out of 1,733 tested combos for Minimum, placing it in the lower tier of all tested systems.

Q: Which settings preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080, with an average of 69.6 FPS, offers the best balance. It provides a substantial improvement over Low while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to the i7-7700K?

A: The Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13,516, which is 1.8% higher than the Intel Core i7-7700K's score of 13,280. This shows the newer i3 is slightly faster in synthetic tests.