Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers remarkably high frame rates in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. The data shows this combination ranks 23rd out of 1,733 tested combos, placing it in the top 1.3% of all systems. This pairing produces a heavily GPU-bound experience at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the CPU begins to assert its influence, though it still manages to push well past 200 frames per second (FPS) across all settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It draws 65 W TDP and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. The processor’s benchmark scores show a strong peak in multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15,935 and a single-core score of 2,249. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 18,747 and single-thread score of 3,456 further characterize it as a capable mid-range desktop part.

In Minimum, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1920x1080 resolution. At Low settings, the combo achieves 370.7 FPS, which is the highest recorded frame rate across all tested configurations. This suggests that even with a flagship GPU, the i5-12400 can keep up with the game’s demands at lower resolutions. However, the data indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this system; the performance ceiling is more consistently set by the GPU, especially as resolution increases. The processor’s 3DMark single-thread score of 910 and 2-thread score of 1,692 demonstrate adequate single-core strength for a 2014 title, which typically relies on fewer threads.

When compared to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, the i5-12400 posts an average score of 19,850, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-9700 (19,831) and 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600K (19,771). It trails the Intel Core i7-8700 by 0.2% (19,894) and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX by 0.4% (19,928). These margins are negligible, indicating that the i5-12400’s processing power is on par with several older high-end chips, though its performance in Minimum is ultimately secondary to the GPU’s output.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its base clock is 2,017 MHz, boosting to 2,407 MHz, with memory clocked at 1,750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, consisting of 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 176 raster output units (ROPs). It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In Minimum, the RTX 5090’s impact is decisive. At 4K (3840x2160), the Ultra preset yields an average of 69.2 FPS, which is still playable but demands significant GPU headroom. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 39,650 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14,411 indicate its raw compute capability, yet the game’s engine appears to scale heavily with settings and resolution. The 32 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for a 2014 title, ensuring that memory capacity is never a limiting factor even at maximum settings.

The GPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is close: it averages 84,306 in benchmark scores, which is 0.1% ahead of the RTX 5090 D (84,241) and 0.2% ahead of the RTX 5050 Mobile (84,171). It outperforms the AMD Radeon PRO W6600 by 1.3% (83,209) but trails the NVIDIA CMP 40HX by 1.6% (85,637). These figures suggest the RTX 5090 is a top-tier card, and in Minimum, its high fill rate and bandwidth translate directly into elevated FPS, particularly when moving from Ultra down to Low settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 370.7, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems in Minimum?*

A: It ranks 23rd out of 1,733 tested combos, placing it in the top 1.3% of all configurations.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to bottleneck performance at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as frame rates drop significantly to 69.2 FPS at Ultra settings, while the CPU’s influence is minimal at this resolution.

Q: What are the FPS differences between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 261.7 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 132.1 FPS, a difference of 129.6 FPS or roughly 49.5% lower performance.

Q: Does the RTX 5090’s 32 GB VRAM provide any advantage in this game?

A: The 32 GB VRAM is far more than required for a 2014 title, ensuring no memory-related stutters, but the game’s performance is more constrained by shader complexity and resolution than by VRAM capacity.

Q: How does the i5-12400 compare to the Intel Core i7-9700 in average benchmark score?

A: The i5-12400 scores 19,850, which is 0.1% higher than the i7-9700’s 19,831, making them effectively equivalent in processing power.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the combo scales across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high: Low settings deliver 370.7 FPS, Medium settings deliver 313.8 FPS, High settings deliver 263.1 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 202.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 168.2 FPS, indicating that even at 1080p, the GPU’s workload increases substantially with preset quality.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain robust but show a noticeable drop. Low settings average 261.7 FPS, Medium averages 202.0 FPS, High averages 169.0 FPS, and Ultra averages 132.1 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra reduces performance by 70.4 FPS, from 202.5 to 132.1, which is a 34.8% decrease. This suggests the GPU is handling a heavier pixel load, but the CPU still has enough headroom to support high refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more demanding on the GPU. Low settings average 138.4 FPS, Medium averages 106.9 FPS, High averages 92.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 69.2 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 69.2 FPS, exactly half the Low setting’s value, highlighting that Ultra settings at 4K halve the performance. The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in settings or resolution reduces FPS by a meaningful margin, with the most significant drop occurring when moving from 1440p to 4K at Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the limiting component in this system. At Low settings, performance goes from 370.7 FPS at 1080p to 138.4 FPS at 4K, a 62.7% reduction. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 202.5 FPS at 1080p to 69.2 FPS at 4K, a 65.8% reduction. This near-consistent percentage drop across settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter, as the CPU’s performance is less affected by resolution changes.

The scaling factor from 1080p to 1440p is also telling. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 370.7 to 261.7, a 29.4% decrease, while at Ultra, it drops from 202.5 to 132.1, a 34.8% decrease. These numbers suggest that the RTX 5090’s pixel processing power is the bottleneck; the i5-12400’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but as pixel count increases, the GPU’s shading and ROP throughput become the deciding factor. The data shows that the system is well-balanced at 1080p, but at 4K, the GPU’s workload dominates, confirming that the RTX 5090 is the performance ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings provide 202.5 FPS, which is still above the threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors (e.g., 144 Hz or 165 Hz). The data suggests that players can max out settings at 1080p without sacrificing smoothness, as even the most demanding preset exceeds 200 FPS.

At 2560x1440, High settings deliver 169.0 FPS, which is ideal for 144 Hz displays, while Ultra settings drop to 132.1 FPS, still playable but with less headroom. For a balance of visual quality and performance, High is the recommended preset at 1440p, as it maintains a higher average FPS while keeping the GPU load moderate. Medium settings at 202.0 FPS offer an alternative for those prioritizing frame rate over fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the choice becomes more critical. Ultra settings average 69.2 FPS, which is suitable for 60 Hz displays but leaves little margin for dips. High settings at 92.1 FPS provide a smoother experience for 60-90 Hz monitors, while Medium at 106.9 FPS is the best option for achieving higher refresh rates at 4K. Low settings at 138.4 FPS are excessive for most 4K displays but offer the highest frame rate for competitive play. The data indicates that High at 1440p offers the best overall experience, balancing visual fidelity with a frame rate that exceeds 144 Hz.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination ranks 23rd out of 1,733 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the top 1.3% of all systems. This high rank is driven primarily by the GPU’s immense power, as the CPU’s performance is adequate but not exceptional relative to other processors in the database. The combo’s rank suggests that it outperforms the vast majority of tested configurations, though it is not the absolute best, likely falling behind systems with even faster CPUs that can better feed the RTX 5090 at lower resolutions.

The data shows that this pairing is particularly strong at 1440p and 4K, where the GPU’s capabilities are fully utilized. At 1080p, the i5-12400’s single-thread performance (3,456 in PassMark single-thread, 2,249 in Cinebench R23 single-core) is sufficient to avoid severe bottlenecks, but the RTX 5090’s potential is not fully realized, as evidenced by the 370.7 FPS ceiling at Low settings. In comparison, the combo’s rank of 23 indicates that it is a top-tier configuration, but the CPU’s mid-range positioning (77th percentile vs. all CPUs) means it is not the optimal pairing for maximizing the RTX 5090’s output in every scenario. Overall, this combo delivers exceptional performance in Minimum, with the GPU being the clear driver of its high standing.