Minimum

Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter, runs exceptionally well on this Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER pairing, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling defined by the graphics card. The benchmark results show that this combination ranks 125th out of 1733 tested combos, placing it in the top 7% of all systems, which is an outstanding position for a game of this age. Across all resolutions and settings, the system never dips below 58.4 frames per second, ensuring a playable experience even under the most demanding graphical load. However, the scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, while the CPU provides ample headroom for high frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent drop as resolution increases, which is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 352.5 FPS, but this falls to 123.1 FPS at 4K, representing a 65.1% reduction in performance. This steep decline is expected, as the number of pixels rendered quadruples from 1080p to 4K, placing a massive load on the RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and its 10240 shading units.

The pattern holds across all quality settings, though the relative drop is more pronounced at lower settings. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings reduces the average FPS from 352.5 to 225.7, a 36% decrease, while the same resolution change at Ultra settings only sees a 35.7% drop, from 171.6 to 110.4 FPS. This suggests that at lower settings, where the CPU has less work to do per frame, the GPU becomes even more dominant in limiting frame rates.

At 4K, the strain on the GPU becomes unmistakable. The difference between Low (123.1 FPS) and Ultra (58.4 FPS) settings at this resolution is a 52.6% performance gap, highlighting how the rendering workload scales with both resolution and quality. High settings at 4K produce 81.7 FPS, which is still smooth, but the system is clearly working hard to maintain that frame rate given the pixel count. The data indicates that for maximum frame rates, 1080p is the sweet spot, while 4K is reserved for those who prioritize visual fidelity over raw speed.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and single-core score of 3093 place it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall processing power. In Minimum, this processor is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

The evidence for this lies in the 1080p results. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 352.5 FPS, and at 1080p High it still manages 227.2 FPS. These are extremely high frame rates that demand significant CPU work to prepare frames, and the i5-14400F delivers without becoming a limiting factor. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) provide adequate bandwidth for this game's demands.

However, the CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases. The benchmark data shows that at 4K, frame rates drop to 123.1 FPS on Low settings, which is a far cry from the 352.5 FPS seen at 1080p. This indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions; if it were, the frame rates would remain relatively stable regardless of resolution. Instead, the i5-14400F appears to be operating well within its limits, with its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H, scoring a nearly identical average benchmark score of 32513 versus the i5's 32508, a delta of 0%.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the star of this pairing, and its specifications explain the performance profile seen in the data. With a boost clock of 2550 MHz, 10240 shading units, and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, the GPU delivers 52.22 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. Its memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s is critical for handling the high-resolution textures and effects that Minimum can present.

The GPU's influence is most apparent when comparing settings at a fixed resolution. At 1440p, the jump from Low (225.7 FPS) to Medium (176.1 FPS) to High (149.1 FPS) to Ultra (110.4 FPS) shows a clear performance cost for each quality tier. This scaling is directly tied to the GPU's workload, as higher settings increase the number of pixels shaded and the complexity of the rendering pipeline.

The RTX 4080 SUPER's position in the market is solid, ranking in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, scores 53489 in average benchmarks versus the RTX's 53610, a delta of just 0.2%. This indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is at the very top of the performance hierarchy, which is why it can push 4K Ultra to 58.4 FPS. The GPU's 320 W TDP and 700 W suggested PSU requirement underscore its high-power design, but the performance payoff is evident in the measured frame rates.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the data, 1080p provides the highest frame rates, with Low settings achieving 352.5 FPS and High settings reaching 227.2 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and speed, 1440p High at 149.1 FPS is also an excellent choice.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 53610, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT's score of 53489. This places it slightly ahead in raw compute performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data clearly shows the GPU is the limiting component at 4K. Frame rates drop from 123.1 FPS at Low settings to 58.4 FPS at Ultra, a 52.6% decrease, indicating that the rendering load, not CPU processing, is the constraint.

Q: What is the frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p at High settings?

A: At High settings, the system delivers 227.2 FPS at 1080p and 149.1 FPS at 1440p, representing a 34.4% reduction in performance due to the increased pixel count.

Q: How does the i5-14400F rank among all CPUs?

A: The processor sits in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32508. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-12800H, scores 32513, a negligible difference of 0%.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, the data shows 110.4 FPS at 1440p Ultra, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even 4K Ultra is playable at 58.4 FPS, though it is close to the limit.

How This Combo Ranks

This system's combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER achieves a rank of 125 out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the top 7.2% of all configurations, which is a remarkable result for a game that is over a decade old. The high ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU's exceptional performance, as the CPU is not pushing against any meaningful limits in this title.

The rank reflects the system's ability to deliver high frame rates across all resolutions and settings. Compared to the broader pool of 1733 combos, this pairing is clearly in the upper echelon, outperforming the vast majority of systems that would struggle to maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra. The 125th position suggests that while there are more powerful combinations available, they are rare and likely involve top-tier CPUs like the Core i9 series or newer RTX 50-series GPUs.

The data confirms that this is a high-end pairing, with the GPU's 88th percentile ranking and the CPU's 88th percentile ranking combining to create a system that excels in this title. The rank of 125 indicates that only 124 other combos in the database deliver better performance in Minimum, making this a top-tier choice for enthusiasts seeking maximum frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance across all settings. The Low preset achieves 352.5 FPS, Medium reaches 272 FPS, High produces 227.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 171.6 FPS. These figures demonstrate that the system is capable of triple-digit frame rates even at the highest quality settings, making 1080p ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain highly playable. Low settings produce 225.7 FPS, Medium hits 176.1 FPS, High maintains 149.1 FPS, and Ultra still delivers 110.4 FPS. The transition to 1440p costs roughly 35-36% of the performance compared to 1080p, but the system never falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes apparent. Low settings yield 123.1 FPS, Medium reduces to 93.5 FPS, High drops to 81.7 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 58.4 FPS. While 4K Ultra is technically playable, it is the only configuration in the entire dataset that dips below 60 FPS, highlighting the extreme demands of 4K rendering.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the High preset at 1440p is the recommended configuration. It delivers 149.1 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while maintaining a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings. This combination offers a strong balance between frame rate and image quality, making it suitable for most players.

If maximum visual fidelity is the priority, 4K High at 81.7 FPS is a viable option, though it requires accepting a lower frame rate than what the system can achieve at lower resolutions. Alternatively, 4K Medium at 93.5 FPS provides a slight performance boost while still offering improved visuals over Low settings.

For players with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or above), 1080p High at 227.2 FPS is the clear choice. It provides a massive frame rate cushion, ensuring that even the most demanding scenes remain fluid. The Ultra preset at 1080p, producing 171.6 FPS, is also a strong option for those who want max quality without sacrificing speed. In all cases, the data indicates that Low settings are unnecessary except for extreme frame rate targets, as the system has ample headroom at higher quality presets.