Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, and its 18 MB of shared L3 cache provides ample headroom for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257, indicating strong per-thread performance that is often more critical for frame pacing in third-person shooters than raw thread counts.

For Minimum, a game released in 2014, the data suggests that the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck, even at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom to push frames quickly. The processor's 3DMark single-thread score of 910 and 2-thread score of 1692 show it can handle the game's single-threaded engine logic efficiently. The CPU's overall benchmark average of 18683 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals—such as the AMD EPYC 7643 (avg score 18697, deltaPct -0.1) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (avg score 18730, deltaPct -0.3)—are virtually identical in aggregate performance, underscoring that the i5-12400 is a well-balanced mid-range part. The 65W TDP and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) are standard for this class, but the benchmark results indicate that the chip's 4.40 GHz boost clock is the key asset for maintaining high minimum frame rates in a game like Minimum.

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

The i5-12400's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for a 2014 title, which typically leverages only a few threads. The data confirms this: the CPU's Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1611 and single-core score of 227 show a healthy balance, but the single-core performance is what drives the game's logic. In the measured FPS data, the CPU's influence is visible when comparing 1080p Low to 1080p Ultra. At 1080p Low, the average FPS jumps to 166, while at 1080p Ultra it drops to 82. This 84 FPS spread is primarily due to the GPU's workload, but the CPU's ability to feed frames at 166 FPS (nearly 6ms per frame) without capping out demonstrates that its 4.40 GHz boost clock is not a limiting factor at these settings.

The processor's 3DMark 16-thread score of 5873 and max-thread score of 5890 are nearly identical, indicating that scaling beyond 6 cores yields little benefit for this game. The Passmark multithread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 reinforce that the i5-12400 is a strong performer in both realms, but for Minimum, the single-thread prowess is what matters most. The CPU's percentile rank of 72 places it above average, and its nearest rivals in the database (e.g., AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 with deltaPct -0.7) show that the i5-12400 is not an outlier; it is a consistent, predictable performer. There is no evidence in the data that the CPU causes stutters or bottlenecks, even at the highest frame rates measured (166 FPS at 1080p Low), which suggests that the 12 threads provide enough headroom for background tasks without interfering with the game.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the clear performance driver in this pairing. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus and a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, the card has ample memory capacity and throughput for Minimum's textures and assets, even at 4K. The GPU's base clock of 1605 MHz, game clock of 1755 MHz, and boost clock of 1905 MHz allow it to scale its frequency dynamically under load. The card's 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs deliver a pixel rate of 121.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 304.8 GTexel/s, which are critical for the game's visual effects at higher settings.

The GPU's benchmark scores highlight its mid-range standing: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2134 and a Passmark G3D score of 16277 place it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals—such as the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (avg score 16351, deltaPct 0.1) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (avg score 16408, deltaPct -0.3)—are nearly identical in aggregate performance, confirming that the RX 5700 XT is a solid, if not spectacular, performer for its generation. The GPU's FP32 compute of 9.754 TFLOPS is sufficient for a 2014 title, and the data shows that the card's performance degrades predictably as resolution and settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 28, which is below the playable threshold, while at 1080p Low it reaches 166 FPS, showing that the GPU scales well when the workload is light. The 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor in any of the measured rows, as even the highest settings do not show a disproportionate drop that would indicate memory pressure.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combo ranks 2758 out of 3712 total combinations for Minimum. This puts the pairing in the 26th percentile of all combos, meaning that roughly 74% of tested systems outperform it in this specific game. The rank reflects the GPU's mid-range status; the CPU is not holding the system back, but the RX 5700 XT's performance ceiling limits the overall score. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can achieve respectable frame rates, but it falls short at 4K, particularly on Ultra settings. The rank is a holistic measure, and the measured FPS data shows that the combo is more competitive at lower resolutions: at 1080p Medium, it averages 127 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold, while at 4K Ultra, the 28 FPS average is unplayable. The gap between the combo's CPU percentile (72nd) and GPU percentile (59th) highlights that the GPU is the bottleneck in most scenarios, and the rank of 2758 reflects this imbalance. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, this combo is adequate, but for 4K enthusiasts, the data suggests looking elsewhere.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. On Low settings, the average FPS is 166, which is exceptionally smooth and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings yield an average of 127 FPS, with a minimum of 108 FPS and a maximum of 147 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. High settings reduce the average to 107 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS target. Ultra settings drop the average to 82 FPS, which remains playable but shows a significant 50% reduction from Low. At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings average 107 FPS, Medium averages 82 FPS (with a minimum of 70 and maximum of 94), High averages 69 FPS, and Ultra drops to 53 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is borderline playable, but the 53 FPS average suggests occasional dips below 60. At 3840x2160, the combo struggles. Low settings average 58 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target, while Medium averages 44 FPS (minimum 38, maximum 51), High averages 37 FPS, and Ultra averages 28 FPS. None of the 4K results are ideal for a smooth experience, and the Ultra setting is effectively unplayable. The data shows a consistent pattern: the RX 5700 XT handles 1080p with ease, 1440p with some compromises, and 4K only at the lowest settings.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 1440p with a 60 FPS average?*

A: Yes, but only on Medium or High settings. The measured data shows a 1440p Medium average of 82 FPS (min 70) and a High average of 69 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the best resolution for a smooth 120+ FPS experience?

A: 1080p is the only resolution where this combo consistently exceeds 120 FPS. The data shows 166 FPS on Low and 127 FPS on Medium, both above the 120 FPS threshold. At 1440p, even Low settings only reach 107 FPS.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM on the RX 5700 XT sufficient for this game's highest settings?

A: The data does not indicate any VRAM-related issues. The performance drops from High to Ultra at each resolution are consistent with increased GPU compute load, not memory limitations. At 4K Ultra, the 28 FPS average is due to the GPU's shader and ROP throughput, not the 8 GB frame buffer.

Q: How does the i5-12400's single-thread performance affect the game's minimum FPS?

A: The CPU's single-thread score of 2257 in Cinebench R23 and 910 in 3DMark suggests it is not a bottleneck. The lowest recorded minimum FPS is 38 at 4K Medium, which is well above the CPU's capability to produce frames, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor in all scenarios.

Q: Is this combo better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming?

A: The data strongly favors 1080p. At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 82 FPS, while at 1440p High it averages 69 FPS and at 1440p Ultra only 53 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, 1080p is the safe choice, with 1440p requiring Medium settings or lower.

Q: Does the combo's rank of 2758 out of 3712 mean it is a poor performer?

A: The rank indicates it is below average for this game, but the measured FPS data shows it is not a weak system overall. At 1080p, it performs admirably, and the rank is pulled down by its poor 4K Ultra results. The combo is a capable 1080p machine that struggles at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays with a 60 Hz refresh rate, the High preset (107 FPS) offers a perfect balance of visual quality and performance, leaving headroom for occasional dips. For 1080p gamers with a 144 Hz monitor, the Medium preset (127 FPS, min 108) is the best choice, as it stays above the 120 FPS threshold while providing better image quality than Low. The Ultra preset at 1080p (82 FPS) is only recommended for players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate and have a 60-75 Hz display. At 1440p, the Medium preset (82 FPS, min 70) is the recommended starting point, as it maintains a 60+ FPS average with acceptable minimums. The High preset (69 FPS) is viable for 60 Hz monitors, but the lower minimum FPS (not recorded, but implied by the average) could cause stutters in busy scenes. The Ultra preset (53 FPS) is not recommended for 1440p, as the sub-60 average will be noticeable. For 4K, the data suggests that only the Low preset (58 FPS) is close to playable, but even it falls short of 60 FPS. The Medium preset (44 FPS) and High preset (37 FPS) are not recommended, and Ultra (28 FPS) should be avoided entirely. In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is 1080p Medium for high-refresh-rate play, or 1440p Medium for a balance of resolution and smoothness. The combo's sweet spot is clearly 1080p, where it can deliver a high-quality experience without compromising on frame rate.