Minimum

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti pairing delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The data shows a system that is firmly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while at 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures exceptionally high frame rates. The measured results indicate that this combo ranks in the 74th percentile among tested configurations in this game, placing it ahead of 2,751 other combinations but behind 960.

Resolution Scaling

The performance trajectory from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the shifting bottleneck between the CPU and GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 277 FPS. This high frame rate, coupled with the CPU’s 4.70 GHz boost clock, suggests the processor is doing the heavy lifting to feed the GPU at lower resolutions. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 179 FPS, a significant 35.4% reduction. This scaling shows the GPU beginning to take on more responsibility as the pixel count increases.

At 4K (3840x2160) with Low settings, the average FPS falls to 96. This represents a 65.3% drop from the 1080p Low result. The steep decline indicates that the RTX 3080 Ti’s rendering capabilities are now the primary limiting factor, as the resolution demands outpace the CPU’s ability to keep up. The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, at High settings, the frame rate drops from 178 FPS at 1080p to 115 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 62 FPS at 4K. This linear scaling pattern with resolution is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

The data shows that at 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound, or at least balanced, given the extremely high frame rates that approach the CPU’s practical limits. At 4K, the GPU is definitively the limiting component, as evidenced by the substantial FPS penalty. The 1440p resolution represents a middle ground where the load is more evenly distributed, but the GPU still has a clear influence on performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo produces an average of 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. This indicates a smooth, highly playable experience at this common gaming resolution.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with the highest visual fidelity?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 47 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold typically desired for a smooth experience, suggesting that Ultra settings at 4K are too demanding for this combination.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 277. This extremely high frame rate, combined with the CPU’s 4.70 GHz boost clock and strong single-core Cinebench R23 score of 3055, suggests the CPU is the primary driver at this resolution, pushing frame rates to a level where the GPU is not yet saturated.

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

A: At 2560x1440, High settings yield an average of 115 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 87 FPS. This is a 24.3% reduction in average frame rate for the upgrade to Ultra, indicating a significant performance cost for the highest preset.

Q: Does this combo rank in the top half of tested systems for this game?

A: Yes. The combo has a rank of 961 out of 3,712 tested combinations. This places it in the top 25.9% of all tested combos, showing that it is a high-performing configuration for Minimum.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 180 and the maximum is 244, with an average of 212 FPS. The narrow spread between minimum and maximum indicates consistent frame pacing and a stable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for Minimum, this specific combination of an Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti holds a rank of 961 out of 3,712 tested combos. This places it in the 74th percentile of all results, meaning it outperforms 74% of the other CPU-GPU pairings tested in this game. While it is a strong result, it is not near the top, suggesting that there are 960 other configurations that deliver higher average performance.

The rank reflects the balance of the components. The CPU, with an average benchmark score of 32,279, sits in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core i9-11900 (deltaPct 0.2). The GPU, with an average benchmark score of 41,187, also sits in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs. Its performance is closely matched with the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (deltaPct 0.8) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (deltaPct 2).

The fact that both components are in the 83rd percentile suggests a well-matched system. The rank of 961 indicates that while the parts are individually strong, the overall game performance is likely limited by the game's engine and its utilization of the hardware, rather than a bottleneck from either component. The data shows the combo is not a top-tier contender for the absolute highest frame rates, but it is a solidly high-performing configuration that beats the vast majority of other tested setups.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates its peak performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 277, a figure that highlights the CPU’s ability to drive high frame rates. Medium settings reduce the average to 212 FPS, with a minimum of 180 FPS and a maximum of 244 FPS. High settings further lower the average to 178 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, still manages an average of 136 FPS. All 1080p results are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but scales down as expected. Low settings deliver an average of 179 FPS. Medium settings see the average drop to 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. High settings provide an average of 115 FPS. Ultra settings are still playable, with an average of 87 FPS. The 1440p results show that this combo can handle higher resolutions without sacrificing smoothness, even at higher quality presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings produce an average of 96 FPS. Medium settings lower this to 74 FPS, with a minimum of 63 FPS and a maximum of 85 FPS. High settings average 62 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS playability threshold, with an average of 47 FPS. The 4K results demonstrate that while the RTX 3080 Ti is capable, it cannot maintain high frame rates at the highest visual settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is a high-end Ampere architecture GPU with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. This large memory capacity and high bandwidth are crucial for handling high-resolution textures and complex scenes at 4K. The GPU’s boost clock of 1665 MHz and its 10,240 shading units allow for substantial compute throughput, reflected in its 34.10 TFLOPS FP32 performance.

In Minimum, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the data suggests the GPU is not fully saturated, as the CPU is able to feed it frames faster than it can render them. This is evident from the 277 FPS result at Low settings. However, at 4K, the GPU’s workload increases significantly. The drop from 96 FPS at Low settings to 47 FPS at Ultra settings highlights the GPU’s struggle to process the increased pixel count and graphical effects.

The GPU's 12 GB VRAM is ample for this game, even at 4K, preventing any memory-related bottlenecks. The benchmark results show the GPU is a strong performer, with an average score of 41,187, placing it in the 83rd percentile. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, has a deltaPct of 2, indicating the 3080 Ti is slightly ahead in general compute benchmarks. This strong compute performance translates directly to the high frame rates seen in the 1080p and 1440p measurements.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. This high boost clock is critical for gaming, as it provides the single-thread performance necessary for high frame rates. The CPU has 20 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the specific memory bandwidth is not listed in the data.

The CPU’s role in Minimum is most prominent at 1080p, where it helps push frame rates to very high levels. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3055 and multi-core score of 21645 indicate a balanced processor capable of both strong single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks. In a game like Minimum, single-core performance is often the key factor, and the 4.70 GHz boost clock helps ensure the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

At higher resolutions, the CPU’s workload remains constant, but its relative impact on overall FPS diminishes as the GPU takes on more work. The data shows that at 4K, the frame rates are significantly lower than at 1080p, confirming the GPU is the limiting factor. However, the CPU must still be fast enough to process game logic and draw calls to prevent FPS drops. The i5-14400F’s strong single-thread performance ensures it can keep up with the GPU at 1440p, but at 1080p, its performance is so high that it effectively becomes the driver of the 277 FPS result.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1920x1080, the High preset is the recommended choice. It provides an average of 178 FPS, which is high enough for any high-refresh-rate monitor. While Ultra settings also offer a very playable 136 FPS, the drop in performance is not justified by the marginal visual improvement. The Low and Medium presets offer even higher frame rates, but they are unnecessary for a smooth experience and will reduce visual fidelity. The High preset strikes the best balance between image quality and performance.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is also the best choice. It delivers an average of 115 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for most gaming monitors. The Ultra preset’s average of 87 FPS is still playable, but the performance cost of 24.3% is significant. The Medium preset’s 137 FPS is a viable option for those seeking higher frame rates, but High provides a better visual experience without a major FPS penalty.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It is the only preset that maintains an average FPS above 60, with a result of 74 FPS and a minimum of 63 FPS. The High preset’s 62 FPS average is borderline, but the minimum FPS is likely to dip below 60, causing noticeable stutters. The Ultra preset’s 47 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. To achieve stable 4K gaming, Medium settings are the highest quality option that consistently stays within a playable frame rate range.