Minimum

The pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT in Minimum presents a study in balance, where a strong modern processor meets a capable but aging graphics card. The measured frame rates reveal a system that can deliver high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions but struggles to maintain playability at 4K with maxed-out settings. This analysis breaks down the data to show exactly where the CPU and GPU each take the lead, and how the user can navigate the settings menu for the best experience.

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

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its configuration includes a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which provides a substantial amount of single-thread headroom. In a third-person shooter like Minimum, this high boost clock is often the more relevant factor for maintaining high frame rates, as the game's core logic and draw calls typically rely on fewer, faster threads. The processor’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close at hand, which can reduce latency.

The benchmark data for the CPU shows a strong multi-threaded performance profile. In Cinebench R23, it scores 23444 points in the multi-core test and 3309 points in the single-core test. This indicates that while the CPU is more than capable of handling heavily threaded workloads, its single-core performance is also excellent. The PassMark single-thread score of 3925 reinforces this. For Minimum, which is an older title from 2014, this single-core strength is likely the primary driver in ensuring that the CPU does not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The processor ranks in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, placing it in the upper tier of performance. It sits very close to the Intel Core i9-10900K, with a benchmark delta of 0%, and is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-12600K. This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 12600KF can keep pace with much more expensive parts.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 1905 MHz, with a game clock of 1755 MHz. The 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs provide a solid foundation for rasterization. For a 2014 title, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is generally sufficient, even at higher resolutions, as the game’s assets are not likely to exceed this limit. The memory bandwidth is a key asset, preventing texture streaming from becoming a limiting factor.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show a mixed picture. It achieves a PassMark G3D score of 16277, which places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. This is respectable but not top-tier. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 2134. The GPU's nearest rivals in overall benchmark score include the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile and the Intel Arc A350M, with deltas of -0.1% and 0.3%, respectively. This indicates that the RX 5700 XT is positioned in a competitive mid-range segment. In the context of Minimum, the GPU’s raw fillrate and compute power are the primary drivers of performance once the resolution and detail settings increase the pixel load. The data shows that this GPU is the limiting factor when moving to 4K, as frame rates drop significantly.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the balance of power shifts between the CPU and GPU as resolution changes. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 168.4 FPS. This high frame rate is a strong indicator that the CPU is doing its job efficiently, as the GPU has a relatively light load. When moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the frame rate drops to 107.7 FPS, a 36% decrease. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS falls to 56.6, which is a further 47% drop from 1440p. This scaling pattern is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as the pixel count increases.

The trend is consistent across all settings. At High settings, the system delivers 111.1 FPS at 1080p, 67.6 FPS at 1440p, and 35.1 FPS at 4K. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is about 68%, which is a substantial reduction. This indicates that while the CPU provides enough headroom for high frame rates at 1080p, the RX 5700 XT simply cannot maintain that level of output when the resolution quadruples the number of pixels. The data implies that users with a 1080p or 1440p monitor will get the most out of this combo, while 4K gaming will require significant compromises in visual quality to achieve playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF or the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT the limiting factor for performance in Minimum?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 168.4 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 28.5 FPS, a dramatic reduction that points squarely at the GPU's inability to handle the pixel load.

Q: How does the i5-12600KF compare to its closest rivals in terms of overall processing power?

A: The i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27827, which is essentially identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27829, delta 0%). It is also just 0.1% slower than the Intel Core i5-12600K (27851). This means that in CPU-intensive tasks, its performance is on par with these other high-end processors.

Q: What is the best resolution to use for a high-refresh-rate experience with this combo?

A: The data suggests that 1920x1080 is the best choice for high refresh rates. At Low settings, it achieves 168.4 FPS, and even at High settings, it maintains 111.1 FPS. While 1440p is playable, the frame rates are lower, with a High setting average of 67.6 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Minimum?

A: It can, but with major compromises. The system is only able to achieve an average of 56.6 FPS at 4K with Low settings. At Ultra settings, the frame rate drops to 28.5 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth, responsive gameplay. 4K gaming is only viable with reduced graphics presets.

Q: How does the RX 5700 XT's performance compare to the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile?

A: In terms of average benchmark scores, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is essentially tied with the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile. The RX 5700 XT scores 24731, while the RTX A5000 Mobile scores 24763, a delta of -0.1%. This indicates nearly identical raw performance in general compute benchmarks.

Q: What is the CPU's single-threaded performance, and why does it matter for this game?

A: The i5-12600KF achieves a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3309 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3925. This is important because Minimum, being a 2014 title, likely relies heavily on a few fast cores for game logic and draw calls. The high single-thread score ensures the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS figures measured for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combination across all settings and resolutions.

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Ultra: 84.2 FPS
• High: 111.1 FPS
• Medium: 127.0 FPS
• Low: 168.4 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Ultra: 50.9 FPS
• High: 67.6 FPS
• Medium: 81.1 FPS
• Low: 107.7 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Ultra: 28.5 FPS
• High: 35.1 FPS
• Medium: 45.8 FPS
• Low: 56.6 FPS

The data reveals a consistent pattern. At 1080p, all presets are playable, with even the Ultra setting providing a smooth 84.2 FPS. The jump to 1440p shows a significant performance cost, with the Ultra preset dipping below 60 FPS. At 4K, the system is clearly GPU-bound, as no preset achieves a 60 FPS average.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the best experience for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080 users, the Ultra preset is a viable option, as the 84.2 FPS average is still well within the range for smooth gameplay. For those seeking maximum responsiveness on a high-refresh-rate monitor, the Low preset at 168.4 FPS offers the highest frame rate, though it sacrifices visual fidelity.

For 2560x1440, the High preset provides the best balance, delivering 67.6 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays. The Medium preset offers a more comfortable margin at 81.1 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Medium may be noticeable. The Ultra preset at 50.9 FPS is playable but might not feel as fluid during intense action sequences.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that the Low preset is the only option for a playable experience, yielding 56.6 FPS. The Medium preset at 45.8 FPS and High at 35.1 FPS are likely to feel choppy. Given these numbers, the Low preset is the recommended choice for 4K. In summary, the optimal preset is Ultra at 1080p, High at 1440p, and Low at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested combinations for Minimum, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ranks 1321st out of 1733 total combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum. This ranking is a reflection of the GPU's age and its position in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. While the CPU is a high performer, ranking in the 84th percentile, the system's overall gaming performance in this title is held back by the graphics card.

The data shows that this combo is outclassed by a significant number of others in the database. However, the ranking does not tell the whole story. The system is still capable of delivering very good performance at 1080p and 1440p, which are the most common resolutions for gamers. The 1321st rank suggests that while this is not a high-end setup by current standards, it is a competent and balanced mid-range option. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU, as the CPU is on par with processors that are likely paired with much faster graphics cards in the rankings. For a 2019 GPU, this result is expected, but the data confirms that the CPU has the headroom to support a future GPU upgrade without becoming a limiting factor.