Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, shows a clear performance hierarchy for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination. The data indicates that this pairing is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it delivers high frame rates, while 4K Ultra settings remain a challenge. The benchmark results place this combo in the 65th percentile of all tested configurations, suggesting a capable mid-range setup that excels at lower resolutions but requires settings adjustments for smoother 4K gameplay.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 provides the most consistent experience, with all settings ranging from 87 FPS at Ultra to 177 FPS at Low. The 2560x1440 resolution is also playable, with averages between 56 FPS (Ultra) and 114 FPS (Low), while 3840x2160 only exceeds 60 FPS at Low settings.

Q: How does the RX 6650 XT compare to its nearest rivals in raw GPU performance?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score of 19765 places it just 0.6% behind the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (19885) and 0.7% ahead of the AMD FirePro D300 (19637). This indicates the RX 6650 XT sits in a tight performance band where minor score differences do not translate into noticeable gaming gaps.

Q: What is the CPU’s multi-threaded performance relative to similar processors?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-12600KF scores 23391, which is a strong result for a 10-core, 16-thread processor. Its average benchmark score of 27799 is virtually identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872, -0.3% delta), showing the newer Alder Lake architecture provides comparable multi-threaded throughput.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM limit performance at higher resolutions?

A: The measured data shows a significant drop at 3840x2160, with Ultra settings averaging only 30 FPS and High settings at 39 FPS. While VRAM capacity is not explicitly listed as a bottleneck, the 8 GB GDDR6 memory with 280.3 GB/s bandwidth appears insufficient for maintaining high frame rates at 4K, as even Medium settings only reach 47 FPS.

Q: Which game preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers an average of 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS, which provides a smooth experience. High settings drop to 73 FPS average, while Ultra falls to 56 FPS, making Medium the recommended choice for maintaining fluid gameplay without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested system configurations?

A: The combination ranks 2422 out of 3712 tested combos, placing it in the 65th percentile overall. This ranking reflects a solid mid-range pairing that outperforms roughly two-thirds of tested systems but is not at the top tier for demanding 4K scenarios.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the primary driver of frame rates in Minimum, and its specifications directly explain the performance patterns observed. The GPU operates with a base clock of 2055 MHz and a boost clock of 2635 MHz, which allows it to sustain high throughput in less demanding scenes. However, its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth, becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions where texture data demands increase.

At 1920x1080, the GPU’s capabilities are fully utilized, with frame rates ranging from 177 FPS at Low to 87 FPS at Ultra. The 10.79 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power ensures that even Ultra settings remain playable. Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU still delivers strong results, but the gap between settings narrows: Low averages 114 FPS, Medium 87 FPS, and Ultra 56 FPS. This suggests the GPU is hitting a memory bandwidth ceiling as resolution increases.

The 3840x2160 results illustrate the GPU’s limitations most clearly. At 4K, even Low settings only achieve 61 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 39 FPS and 30 FPS respectively. The 64 ROPs and 128 TMUs are insufficient to maintain high fill rates at this pixel count, and the 8 GB VRAM likely causes texture thrashing. The GPU’s score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 (1859) and its 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirm that this is a mid-range part not designed for 4K Ultra gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12600KF with AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination ranks 2422 out of 3712 tested configurations, placing it in the 65th percentile. This ranking indicates that the pairing outperforms approximately 65% of tested systems, which is respectable for a mid-range setup. However, the ranking also reveals that there are over 2400 more powerful combos, likely featuring higher-end GPUs and CPUs.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 27799 places it in the 79th percentile among all processors, while the GPU’s average score of 19765 places it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs. This disparity suggests that the CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU in this pairing. In Minimum, this means the CPU is rarely the bottleneck; instead, the GPU limits performance, particularly at higher resolutions where the gap between Low and Ultra settings becomes more pronounced.

When compared to the combo’s nearest rivals, the CPU’s performance is nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (-0.3% delta) and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (-0.3% delta). This indicates that the i5-12600KF provides comparable CPU-bound performance to older flagship processors. The GPU, meanwhile, sits within 0.8% of its nearest rivals, meaning that swapping to an NVIDIA Quadro K5200 or AMD FirePro W7000 would yield negligible FPS differences in Minimum.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance: Low settings average 177 FPS, Medium averages 135 FPS (with a minimum of 115 and maximum of 156), High averages 114 FPS, and Ultra averages 87 FPS. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot, as even Ultra settings maintain frame rates well above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU’s limitations. Low settings average 114 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings average 87 FPS (minimum 74, maximum 100), providing a good balance. High settings drop to 73 FPS, and Ultra falls to 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for ideal smoothness. Players targeting 1440p should stick to Medium or High settings for optimal results.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings are the only viable option, averaging 61 FPS. Medium settings average 47 FPS (minimum 40, maximum 54), which is borderline playable but inconsistent. High settings average 39 FPS, and Ultra averages only 30 FPS, making these presets unsuitable for smooth gameplay. The data clearly shows that 4K is not this combo’s intended resolution, even with settings reduced.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF plays a supporting role in Minimum’s performance, as the game is primarily GPU-bound. However, the CPU’s specifications ensure that it never becomes a limiting factor. With 10 cores and 16 threads, based on Alder Lake architecture, the processor provides ample multi-threading capability. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz deliver strong single-threaded performance, which is crucial for game logic and physics calculations.

In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 3302 in single-core and 23391 in multi-core tests, indicating excellent per-core performance. This is reflected in its 3DMark single-thread score of 1016, which is competitive with top-tier processors. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory allows flexibility in system configuration.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 27799 places it in the 79th percentile, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-10900K (-0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (-0.3%). This means the i5-12600KF provides performance nearly identical to those flagship chips from previous generations. In Minimum, where frame rates at 1080p and 1440p are high, the CPU ensures that even minimum FPS values remain stable, as evidenced by the Medium settings results showing minimums of 115 FPS at 1080p and 74 FPS at 1440p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings are fully viable, with an average of 87 FPS. This provides the best visual experience without sacrificing smoothness. Players with high-refresh-rate monitors could opt for High settings (114 FPS) or Medium (135 FPS) to maximize frame rates, but Ultra remains the recommended choice for visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings offer the best balance, delivering 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 FPS. This ensures consistent gameplay without drops below 60 FPS. High settings (73 FPS) are also acceptable, but Ultra (56 FPS) should be avoided as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold. Low settings (114 FPS) provide the highest frame rates but sacrifice too much visual quality for the modest resolution increase.

At 3840x2160, Low settings are the only recommended preset, averaging 61 FPS. This is barely playable and may experience occasional dips. Medium settings (47 FPS) are not recommended for smooth gameplay, and High (39 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) are unplayable. For 4K users, the data suggests either lowering the resolution or accepting significant visual compromises. The combo’s ranking of 2422 out of 3712 confirms that while it is a capable mid-range system, it is not designed for 4K gaming at high settings.