Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a robust experience in Minimum, a 2014 Third-Person Shooter. The benchmark data indicates that this combination is capable of high frame rates at mainstream resolutions, but the demands of 4K resolution will require adjustments to settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across different resolutions and presets, placing the results in context with other tested hardware combinations.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly indicates where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 231.3 FPS, and at 1440p it manages 150.8 FPS, but at 4K it falls to 77.7 FPS. This represents a significant reduction in frame rate as the pixel count increases, a pattern that points directly to the GPU as the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The scaling between 1440p and 4K is particularly telling. At High settings, the system produces 92.4 FPS at 1440p but only 48.9 FPS at 4K, a drop of nearly half. Similarly, at Ultra settings, the frame rate falls from 70.2 FPS at 1440p to 37.4 FPS at 4K. This halving of performance with a doubling of pixels is classic GPU-bound behavior, suggesting that the RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and its bandwidth are being saturated at 4K. At 1080p, the CPU is more likely to be the limiting factor, as evidenced by the high frame rates that exceed 200 FPS, which put a heavy load on the processor's single-thread performance.

The data shows that the i5-12400F is a capable partner for this GPU, allowing the RTX 3070 to stretch its legs at lower resolutions. However, the transition to 4K reveals the GPU's limitations, making it clear that users targeting 4K will need to use lower presets to maintain smooth gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this combination sits in a solid, mid-to-upper tier. The combo has a rank of 806 out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the 46th percentile of all possible pairings. This means it outperforms a slight majority of other CPU-GPU combinations tested in this game, but it is not among the elite performers.

The individual components give context to this ranking. The Intel Core i5-12400F holds a 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19221. This places it in the upper quarter of processors, and it is closely matched with rivals like the Intel Core i7-8700K, which has an average score of 19210, a delta of just 0.1%. It also sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS and AMD EPYC 7773X, with deltas of -0.7% and 1.3%, respectively. The GPU, the RTX 3070, is also strong, holding a 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs with an average score of 28238. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, trails by 0.9%, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti is 1% behind.

Given that both components are in the 72nd-77th percentile, the combined rank of 806 out of 1733 makes sense. The system is well-balanced for this game, with neither component dragging the other down significantly. It is not a top-tier setup, but it is a very competent one that should handle most gaming scenarios with ease.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data provides clear guidance on the best settings for a smooth experience. For a 60+ FPS target, the sweet spot is clear. At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers 110.6 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate monitors. The High preset also works well here, offering 92.4 FPS. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset is playable at 111.9 FPS, but the Medium preset at 177.7 FPS offers a much smoother experience with a minimal visual compromise.

For 4K gaming, the situation is more demanding. The Medium preset is the only one that hits a playable 60.9 FPS. The High preset falls short at 48.9 FPS, and Ultra is below 40 FPS at 37.4 FPS. Therefore, for 4K, the Medium preset is the recommended choice to maintain a playable frame rate. The Low preset at 4K provides 77.7 FPS, but the visual quality sacrifice is likely too great for most users.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the best overall balance of visual fidelity and performance. It provides a significant frame rate boost over High and Ultra while still looking substantially better than Low. For most users, especially those on 1440p monitors, Medium is the clear recommendation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data offers a comprehensive look at how the system performs across all settings and resolutions.

At 1080p (1920x1080) , the system is exceptionally fast:

• Low: 231.3 FPS
• Medium: 177.7 FPS
• High: 148.6 FPS
• Ultra: 111.9 FPS

At 1440p (2560x1440) , the system remains very capable:

• Low: 150.8 FPS
• Medium: 110.6 FPS
• High: 92.4 FPS
• Ultra: 70.2 FPS

At 4K (3840x2160) , the system starts to show its limits:

• Low: 77.7 FPS
• Medium: 60.9 FPS
• High: 48.9 FPS
• Ultra: 37.4 FPS

The progression shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution halves the performance at the same settings, and each step up in settings costs roughly 20-30% of the frame rate. The data is measured, ensuring its reliability. The i5-12400F's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 909, ensures that even at 1080p, frame rates can exceed 200 FPS without the CPU becoming a major constraint.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the driving force behind this system's performance, and its memory configuration is a key factor. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as the data shows. However, at 4K, the 8 GB capacity and bandwidth become a significant constraint, as evidenced by the substantial FPS drops.

The GPU's clock speeds are also relevant. It has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1725 MHz. The memory runs at 1750 MHz, or 14 Gbps effective. These clocks, combined with the 5888 shading units, allow for a pixel rate of 165.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 317.4 GTexel/s. These specs translate directly into the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. The GPU's compute power is substantial, with an FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS, which helps in rendering the game's effects.

The RTX 3070's architecture is Ampere, built on an 8 nm process from Samsung. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is relevant for modern game features. In the context of Minimum, a 2014 title, the GPU is operating well within its comfort zone, and its performance is only limited by the increased pixel load at higher resolutions. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 22214 reflects its strong overall capability, and it sits at the 72nd percentile, indicating it is a solid performer compared to other GPUs.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo good for 1080p gaming?

A: Yes, the data shows exceptional performance. At 1080p, the combo achieves 231.3 FPS on Low, 177.7 FPS on Medium, and 148.6 FPS on High settings. Even on Ultra, it maintains 111.9 FPS, making it ideal for high refresh rate monitors.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: It can, but with limitations. At 4K, the Medium preset is the only one that provides a playable experience, hitting 60.9 FPS. High settings drop to 48.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37.4 FPS, so you will need to lower settings for a smooth 4K experience.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo?

A: The Medium preset is the most balanced. It offers a significant frame rate boost over High and Ultra while maintaining good visual quality. At 1440p, it delivers 110.6 FPS, and at 1080p, it hits 177.7 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 806th out of 1733 tested combinations in Minimum. This places it in the upper-middle tier, outperforming a majority of other tested systems.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The performance drop from 1440p to 4K is dramatic, with frame rates nearly halving, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck due to the increased pixel load and memory pressure.

Q: What is the performance difference between the i5-12400F and its closest CPU rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19221. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K, scores 19210, a difference of just 0.1%. This shows the i5-12400F is statistically on par with the older i7 in overall processing power.