Minimum

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB combination delivers a performance profile in Minimum that is heavily dictated by the graphics card, though the CPU’s strong multi-threading provides a solid foundation. The data indicates this pairing is positioned in the 62nd percentile among all tested combos in this game, with a rank of 1113 out of 2939. The following analysis breaks down how each component contributes to the measured frame rates, how the combo compares to others, and what settings offer the best experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory position it as a capable modern desktop part. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a 3DMark max-thread score of 7952 and a single-thread score of 1016, while Cinebench R23 results show 23391 points in multi-core and 3302 in single-core tests.

For Minimum, a Third-Person Shooter released in 2014, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU efficiently. The game is not new, but the measured data shows that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU becomes more relevant. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 233 FPS average, which is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. This suggests that the i5-12600KF’s single-thread performance (a Geekbench single-core score of 2157) is sufficient to push very high frame rates when the GPU is not the bottleneck. The processor’s 10 cores and 16 threads, evidenced by a PassMark multithread score of 27575, ensure that background tasks and game logic do not cause stutters, even when frame rates are elevated.

Comparing to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, the i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799. This places it within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-10900K (score 27872, deltaPct -0.3) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (score 27896, deltaPct -0.3). The data shows that the i5-12600KF is statistically tied with these processors, meaning the CPU is not a differentiator in this game compared to those alternatives. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 7956 versus the 2-thread score of 1995 highlights that scaling is present but not perfectly linear; the game’s engine likely uses a handful of threads well, which is where the 4.90 GHz boost clock helps.

The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking against all CPUs indicates it sits well above average, but in Minimum, the measured FPS differences between presets are more strongly tied to GPU load. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 40, which is a 40% reduction from 4K High (52 FPS). This drop is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU is waiting on the graphics card. The i5-12600KF is not the limiting factor at 4K; instead, the GPU’s rendering capabilities dictate the frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is the dominant component in this combo’s gaming performance. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2407 MHz with a boost clock of 2572 MHz, and it houses 4608 shading units. In synthetic tests, the GPU scores 4019 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 21981 in PassMark G3D, which places it in the 29th percentile among all GPUs.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the database are significantly older or lower-end parts, such as the AMD FirePro W5130M (avgScore 4904, deltaPct -0.1) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (avgScore 4893, deltaPct 0.2). This is a notable discrepancy: the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB’s average benchmark score is 4901, which is nearly identical to those legacy cards. However, the measured FPS in Minimum tells a different story, as the game is from 2014 and likely does not stress modern GPU features like ray tracing or tensor cores. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is ample for this title, even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS is 40.

The GPU’s role becomes clearer when examining resolution scaling. At 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 233 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 81 FPS. This 65% reduction is expected as the number of pixels increases by a factor of four. The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is sufficient for the game’s textures, but the 128-bit bus width limits extreme high-resolution performance. The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS of 40 is below the 60 FPS threshold often considered smooth for action games.

The GPU’s 8 GB memory size is not a limiting factor in this game, as the measured FPS does not show a dramatic drop when moving from High to Ultra at the same resolution. For example, at 1440p, High averages 96 FPS while Ultra averages 73 FPS, a 24% reduction that is more likely due to increased shading complexity rather than memory capacity. The GPU’s pixel rate of 123.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 370.4 GTexel/s are more than adequate for a game from 2014, indicating that the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is overqualified for this title in terms of raw compute.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo in Minimum?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 233, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 81, which is above 60. However, at 4K High, the average drops to 52 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 40 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799, which is within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (27896).

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is in the 29th percentile against all GPUs, based on its average benchmark score of 4901.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1440p Medium?

A: At 1440p Medium, the combo achieves 115 FPS average with a minimum of 98 FPS. The tight min-max range (98-132) suggests a balanced load, but the GPU is likely the primary limiter given the resolution.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in the database for this game?

A: The combo ranks 1113 out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the 62nd percentile.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12600KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB combo ranks 1113 out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum, which places it in the top 38% of all systems tested. This rank is driven by the GPU’s relatively low synthetic benchmark percentile (29th) compared to the CPU’s high percentile (79th). The combo’s performance is strong for a 1080p gaming system, but it does not excel at 4K Ultra settings.

In the context of other combos, this pairing is not a top-tier performer for this game. The rank of 1113 suggests that many other GPU and CPU combinations achieve higher frame rates, particularly those with more powerful graphics cards. However, the measured FPS data shows that the combo is very capable at 1080p and 1440p, with average FPS above 100 at High settings in both resolutions. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game’s demands, but the 128-bit bus width and 29th percentile GPU score limit its 4K potential compared to higher-end cards.

The combo’s rank is also influenced by the CPU’s performance. The i5-12600KF’s average score of 27799 is competitive with its rivals, but the GPU’s average score of 4901 is much lower than more modern high-end cards. This imbalance means the combo is well-suited for 1080p gaming, where the CPU can push high frame rates, but less so for 4K, where the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 40, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, indicating that this combo is not ideal for 4K gaming in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average FPS: Low 233, Medium 178, High 149, and Ultra 114. The Medium preset has a measured minimum of 151 FPS and maximum of 205 FPS, showing a consistent frame delivery. The 1080p results demonstrate that the combo is well above the 60 FPS threshold at all settings, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to: Low 150, Medium 115, High 96, and Ultra 73. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 98 FPS and maximum of 132 FPS, which is still smooth but with less headroom than 1080p. The drop from High (96 FPS) to Ultra (73 FPS) is a 24% reduction, indicating that the Ultra preset adds significant graphical load that impacts performance.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS is: Low 81, Medium 62, High 52, and Ultra 40. The Medium preset has a minimum of 53 FPS and maximum of 71 FPS, showing that even the Medium settings can dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. The 4K results are the most variable, with Low being playable at 81 FPS average, but Ultra dropping to 40 FPS, which is below the standard 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the FPS drops proportionally, but the settings preset also plays a significant role. At 1080p, even Ultra achieves 114 FPS, while at 4K, only Low maintains an average above 60 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, particularly with more demanding settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo in Minimum depends on the target resolution. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset provides an average of 114 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and offers the best visual quality. The High preset at 149 FPS is also excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors, but Ultra provides a more immersive experience without sacrificing frame rate.

For 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice, with an average of 96 FPS. This is above 60 FPS and offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Medium preset at 115 FPS is also viable for players who prefer higher frame rates, but High provides a noticeable improvement in visual quality. The Ultra preset at 73 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth in fast-paced action scenes.

For 4K, the Low preset is the only option that maintains an average FPS above 60 (81 FPS). Medium at 62 FPS is borderline, with a minimum of 53 FPS that may cause stuttering. High at 52 FPS and Ultra at 40 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience. The data suggests that for 4K, players should either use Low settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better balance.

The optimal settings recommendation is to prioritize a stable 60 FPS or higher. At 1080p, Ultra is the best choice. At 1440p, High is recommended. At 4K, Low is the only playable option, but Medium is a compromise for those who can tolerate occasional dips below 60 FPS. The measured minimum FPS values (151 at 1080p Medium, 98 at 1440p Medium, 53 at 4K Medium) indicate that the Medium preset is consistent but not always above 60 FPS at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows how the combo scales from 1080p to 4K, revealing the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 233 at 1080p to 150 at 1440p (a 36% reduction) and then to 81 at 4K (a 46% reduction from 1440p). This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load increases with pixel count.

At High settings, the average FPS drops from 149 at 1080p to 96 at 1440p (a 36% reduction) and then to 52 at 4K (a 46% reduction). The consistent percentage drops between resolutions indicate that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU’s performance does not change with resolution. The i5-12600KF’s boost clock of 4.90 GHz and 10 cores are sufficient to handle the game’s logic at all resolutions, but the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB’s rendering capabilities are stretched as the pixel count increases.

The most telling data point is the difference between Low and Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, the drop from Low (233 FPS) to Ultra (114 FPS) is a 51% reduction. At 4K, the drop from Low (81 FPS) to Ultra (40 FPS) is a 51% reduction as well. This consistency suggests that the GPU’s shading units and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors, not the CPU. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient, but the 128-bit bus width and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding settings.

The resolution scaling analysis confirms that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, with even Low settings only achieving 81 FPS average. The CPU’s performance, while strong, cannot compensate for the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions. Players targeting 4K should consider a higher-tier GPU, while those at 1080p or 1440p will find this combo delivers excellent performance across all settings presets.