Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers a benchmark profile for Minimum that is defined by high refresh-rate capability at 1080p and a steep, predictable performance curve as resolution and settings scale. The data shows a combination that is firmly positioned in the top percentile of tested hardware, with the CPU providing strong single-thread throughput and the GPU’s substantial memory bandwidth becoming the primary constraint at 4K Ultra. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, the roles of each component, and how this pairing ranks against the broader field of 1,733 tested combos.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 1080p Ultra is 134.6 FPS. This is the lowest result at that resolution, while the Low preset achieves 276.5 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 95.2 on Low settings down to 45.7 on Ultra. The High preset yields 60.9 FPS, and Medium produces 75.3 FPS.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset records an average of 88.9 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 181.1 FPS. This represents a difference of 92.2 FPS between the two settings extremes.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its multi-thread performance?

A: The CPU’s 3DMark single-thread score is 1016, while its max-thread score is 7952. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 3309 and the multi-core score is 23444, indicating strong scaling across its 16 threads.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how does it affect 4K performance?

A: The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s across a 256-bit bus. This bandwidth is a likely factor in the performance drop seen at 3840x2160, where the average FPS on Ultra falls to 45.7.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested configurations?

A: The combination ranks 482nd out of 1,733 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the top 27.8% of all configurations in the database.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. For a game like Minimum, a third-person shooter, the single-thread performance is often the critical factor for game logic and physics, and this CPU delivers a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016. The data indicates this is a strong foundation, as the average benchmark score of 27,827 places it at the 84th percentile among all CPUs tested.

The processor’s multi-threaded capabilities are substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23,444, yet the game’s reliance on fewer threads is evident when comparing this to the single-core score of 3,309. The nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, has an average score of 27,829, a delta of 0%, meaning the 12600KF is statistically identical in overall CPU benchmark terms. The 12600K and Core Ultra 5 125H are also within a 0.2% delta, showing that this chip is at the center of a very tight cluster of mid-to-high-end processors.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU’s strength becomes apparent at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 276.5 FPS, a figure that is likely not limited by the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU. However, the difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p (141.9 FPS) is significant, suggesting that while the CPU can handle the game’s logic, the overall frame rate is heavily influenced by the GPU’s rendering workload even at this resolution. The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache also supports the data throughput needed for high-refresh gaming, though the benchmark results show that the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more linear, indicating a balanced system where the CPU is not the sole bottleneck.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this configuration, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with a Navi 48 chip. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is 2970 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. This hardware configuration is designed for high-throughput rendering, which is reflected in its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 7,260 and a Passmark G3D score of 26,795.

The GPU’s role in Minimum is clearly demonstrated by the resolution scaling. At 3840x2160, the average FPS on Ultra is 45.7, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is a substantial drop from the 1080p Ultra score of 134.6 FPS, indicating that the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are being heavily taxed at 4K. The memory clock of 2518 MHz and the 20.1 Gbps effective data rate are significant, yet the data shows that even with this bandwidth, the Ultra preset at 4K cannot maintain a high frame rate.

Comparatively, the GPU sits at the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 39,647. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 575, has a score of 39,703, a delta of -0.1%, which is a negligible performance difference in synthetic tests. However, the RX 9070 XT’s real-world advantage is seen in the FPS data, where the 16 GB VRAM capacity allows for consistent performance across settings. The gap between Medium and Ultra at 1440p is 49.1 FPS (138.0 vs. 88.9), showing that the Ultra preset introduces a significant load that the GPU must process. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 276.5 FPS, but the Ultra preset falls to 134.6 FPS, highlighting that the GPU’s shading units and ROPs are the limiting factor in high-detail scenarios, rather than the CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combination delivers exceptional frame rates. The Low preset averages 276.5 FPS, Medium drops to 215.0 FPS, High reaches 175.8 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 134.6 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 51.3% reduction in frame rate, which is a steep curve but still leaves the system well above the 100 FPS mark for competitive play.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS decreases across all presets. Low settings produce 181.1 FPS, Medium 138.0 FPS, High 113.7 FPS, and Ultra 88.9 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings is consistent, around 35-40% for most presets, indicating that the GPU is scaling with pixel count as expected. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the first point where the system dips below 90 FPS, suggesting that for maximum visual quality, a high-refresh 1440p monitor will not be fully utilized.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. Medium settings average 75.3 FPS, High 60.9 FPS, and Low 95.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS, with an average of 45.7 FPS. This represents a 52.0% drop from the 1440p Ultra score, highlighting the significant demand that 4K rendering places on the GPU. The data shows a clear hierarchy: the system is capable of excellent 1080p and 1440p gameplay across all settings, but 4K Ultra requires a compromise on either resolution or quality to achieve smooth frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is ranked 482nd out of 1,733 tested combos in Minimum. This places the configuration in the top 27.8% of all systems tested, a solid position for a mainstream high-end pairing. The ranking is derived from the measured FPS data, which shows strong performance in most scenarios but is pulled down by the 4K Ultra result.

The CPU’s percentile rank of 84 and the GPU’s percentile rank of 82 are both high, but the combo rank of 482 suggests that other pairings with higher-tier CPUs or GPUs achieve better overall scores. The data indicates that the bottleneck at 4K Ultra is the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom for lower resolutions. For a game like Minimum, which is a third-person shooter, the 1080p and 1440p results are more relevant for competitive play, and in these scenarios, the combo performs exceptionally well.

The ranking also reflects the balance of the system. While the CPU is within 0.1% of its direct sibling, the 12600K, and the GPU is within 0.5% of the Radeon Pro 575, the combination of these two specific parts yields a unique performance profile. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (276.5 FPS) is a standout result, placing this combo in the top echelon for high-refresh gaming. However, the 4K Ultra score of 45.7 FPS is a clear weakness, dragging the overall rank down from what might be expected given the individual component scores. This suggests that for users prioritizing 4K resolution with maximum settings, this combo is not ideal, but for 1080p and 1440p, it offers a very strong experience.