Minimum

# Performance Analysis: Intel Core i5-14400F + AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT delivers a robust 1080p and 1440p gaming experience in Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014. Across all measured settings, the pairing shows a clear progression of frame rates that scale predictably with resolution, with the GPU emerging as the primary performance limiter at higher resolutions while the CPU holds up well at lower ones. The data reveals a system that comfortably handles high-refresh-rate 1080p play, remains strong at 1440p, and offers playable but less fluid 4K performance depending on the quality preset selected.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance penalty when moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which is classic GPU-bound scaling behavior. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 148.2 FPS at 1080p to 94.6 FPS at 1440p—a 36% reduction—and then falls further to 53.3 FPS at 4K, representing a 64% drop from the 1080p baseline. This pattern indicates that the Radeon RX 7700 XT is the limiting component in this pairing, as the pixel throughput demands at 4K outpace what the GPU can deliver.

The scaling becomes even more pronounced at lower quality presets, where the CPU has more headroom to feed frames. At Low settings, the system produces 231.8 FPS at 1080p, but this plummets to 150.6 FPS at 1440p and 81.3 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low figure is still respectable for competitive play, but the massive drop from 1080p Low suggests that the GPU is being saturated by pixel count rather than held back by the processor. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the 231.8 FPS result indicates the i5-14400F is not a bottleneck, as the frame rate exceeds what most 1080p displays can show.

Ultra settings tell a similar story with lower absolute numbers. The transition from 1080p Ultra at 114.2 FPS to 1440p Ultra at 74.4 FPS represents a 35% reduction, and 4K Ultra falls to 39.8 FPS—a 65% decline from 1080p. This consistent ~35-36% drop between 1080p and 1440p, and ~64-65% between 1080p and 4K across all presets, confirms that resolution scaling is uniform and GPU-driven. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads, boosting to 4.70 GHz, provide ample processing power even at 1080p Low, where the frame rate ceiling is clearly set by the graphics card.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global database of tested combinations, this pairing ranks 762nd out of 1,733 combos for Minimum, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all systems tested. The percentile placement is respectable given the hardware's mid-range positioning: the CPU sits at the 88th percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 73rd percentile among all graphics cards. The CPU's average benchmark score of 32,508 places it nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-12800H (32,513, 0% delta), slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (32,446, 0.2% delta), and marginally behind the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (32,584, -0.2% delta) and Intel Core i7-13705H (32,586, -0.2% delta).

On the GPU side, the Radeon RX 7700 XT's average benchmark score of 30,097 puts it in a near-tie with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (30,109, 0% delta), while it outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 570 (30,158, -0.2% delta) and NVIDIA Tesla M60 (29,969, 0.4% delta), and sits just ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile (29,928, 0.6% delta). These rival comparisons show that the combo's ranking is driven by a well-balanced pairing rather than an exceptional single component.

The measured FPS results support the 762nd rank as a reasonable placement. At 1080p High, the system achieves 148.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and approaches high-refresh-rate territory. At 1440p, the High preset still delivers 94.6 FPS, making it a strong choice for 1440p gaming monitors. The 4K performance, while playable at High (53.3 FPS) and Medium (61.2 FPS), drops below 40 FPS at Ultra, which is where the combo's mid-tier ranking becomes evident.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT in this game?

A: The data suggests no. At 1080p Low, the system produces 231.8 FPS, which is far above typical display refresh rates, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor even at low resolution. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads with a 4.70 GHz boost clock provide sufficient headroom.

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Minimum?*

A: 1440p offers the best balance. At High settings, the system delivers 94.6 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed. 1080p is faster (148.2 FPS at High) but the GPU's 12 GB of VRAM and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are well-suited to 1440p.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At Medium settings, the average FPS is 61.2, which is playable, while High yields 53.3 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 39.8 FPS, which may feel less fluid for fast-paced shooter gameplay.

Q: How does the Radeon RX 7700 XT compare to its nearest GPU rival?

A: The RX 7700 XT has an average benchmark score of 30,097, which is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 at 30,109 (0% delta). It also edges out the RTX 5070 Mobile by 0.6% in average score.

Q: What is the CPU's performance percentile relative to all processors?

A: The Core i5-14400F sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,508. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H, scores 32,513, a negligible 0% difference.

Q: Is the 4K Low preset viable for competitive play?

A: Yes, with 81.3 FPS at 4K Low, the system provides a frame rate high enough for responsive gameplay, though the visual quality is reduced. This is a practical option for players prioritizing frame rate over fidelity at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data indicates that High settings provide the optimal experience for most players. At 1080p, High delivers 148.2 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, High still achieves 94.6 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS standard and suitable for 144Hz displays in most scenarios. The visual quality jump from Medium to High is substantial, while the performance cost is moderate—dropping from 178.4 FPS to 148.2 FPS at 1080p, a 17% reduction for a meaningful fidelity gain.

For players with 4K displays, Medium settings are the recommended compromise. The 61.2 FPS average at 4K Medium is playable and looks significantly better than Low, while High at 4K (53.3 FPS) may introduce noticeable stutter in a fast-paced third-person shooter. Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution above 1080p, as the 114.2 FPS at 1080p Ultra is still high, but the 74.4 FPS at 1440p Ultra and 39.8 FPS at 4K Ultra show diminishing returns. At 1080p, Ultra is viable for those who prioritize maximum visual quality, since the 114.2 FPS result remains smooth.

Low settings are only advisable for competitive players seeking maximum frame rates at 1080p (231.8 FPS) or for those playing at 4K who absolutely need fluid motion (81.3 FPS). The 150.6 FPS at 1440p Low is also a strong option for esports-style play, but the visual trade-offs are significant compared to High.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 231.8 FPS, making it the fastest configuration measured. Medium follows at 178.4 FPS, High at 148.2 FPS, and Ultra at 114.2 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 117.6 FPS, showing that settings have a major impact at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but drop noticeably. Low settings yield 150.6 FPS, which is still high enough for 144Hz displays. Medium averages 114.5 FPS, High achieves 94.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 74.4 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 76.2 FPS, a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p but still significant.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits become apparent. Low settings produce 81.3 FPS, which is playable but not high-refresh-rate territory. Medium drops to 61.2 FPS, High to 53.3 FPS, and Ultra to 39.8 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 41.5 FPS, and the 4K Ultra result is the only configuration measured that falls below 40 FPS. Across all resolutions, the High preset shows the most consistent scaling, with 148.2 FPS at 1080p, 94.6 FPS at 1440p, and 53.3 FPS at 4K—a predictable pattern that aligns with the GPU's pixel throughput capabilities.