Minimum

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination presents a study in contrasting hardware generations. The CPU, a 14-core, 20-thread Raptor Lake part with a 3.50 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost clock, is a modern powerhouse. The GPU, a Turing-architecture part from the GeForce 20-series, is an older design with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus. In this 2014 third-person shooter, the data reveals a system where the processor is rarely the limiting factor, while the graphics card dictates the playable experience, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Core i5-14600K brings substantial processing headroom to this title. Its configuration of 14 cores and 20 threads, combined with a high 5.30 GHz boost clock, provides far more computational capability than a game from 2014 would typically require. The processor's benchmark scores reinforce this; for instance, its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and single-core score of 4642 place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. This suggests that in Minimum, the CPU is likely to be idle much of the time, waiting on the GPU to render frames.

The data indicates that the CPU's role is to ensure frame delivery is never bottlenecked by processing. Even in the most demanding scenarios, the 14 cores can easily handle the game's simulation and draw-call overhead. The processor’s strong Passmark single-thread score of 4270 is particularly relevant, as many games from this era rely heavily on one or two threads for their main game logic. With a Passmark physics score of 2473, the CPU has ample power for any in-game physics calculations.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-14600K sits in a tight performance band. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark score, and 1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H. It trails the Intel Core i5-14600KF by 0.4% and the AMD EPYC 4345P by 0.9%. These differences are negligible in a gaming context, meaning the i5-14600K is delivering top-tier CPU performance that is unlikely to create any disparity in frame rates for this title. The conclusion is that the CPU is a non-factor in determining the final FPS output; its job is simply to stay out of the way.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the decisive component in this pairing. Its specifications—6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and a boost clock of 1680 MHz—are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 2019 architecture shows its age at 4K. The GPU holds a 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs, contrasting sharply with the CPU's 93rd percentile. This imbalance is the defining characteristic of this combo.

The GPU’s memory capacity and bandwidth are the primary constraints. The 6 GB VRAM frame buffer is sufficient for the measured settings at 1080p and 1440p, but at 3840x2160, the demand on memory and the processing cores increases significantly. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 14111 and its DirectX 11 score of 110 provide a baseline for its raw rendering ability. This is a mid-range card by modern standards, and the benchmark results reflect that.

The performance delta between the RTX 2060 and its nearest rivals is small. It sits 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500. Conversely, it trails both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 by 1.7%. These are all closely matched cards, placing the RTX 2060 in a specific performance tier. The GPU is the clear bottleneck in this system, and its capabilities directly determine the FPS across the different resolution and settings combinations.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Among all 1733 tested hardware combinations for Minimum, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1371st. This ranking is a strong indicator that while the system is functional, it is not a high-performance configuration for this game. The position in the bottom quarter of the rankings is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's performance, as the CPU is one of the most powerful in the database.

The discrepancy between the CPU's 93rd percentile and the GPU's 58th percentile is stark. This suggests that the combo's rank is being dragged down by the graphics card. If the CPU were paired with a more powerful GPU, its rank would be significantly higher. However, the data for this specific configuration shows a low ranking, meaning that a large majority of other tested systems, likely with more balanced or more powerful GPUs, achieve higher frame rates.

This rank of 1371 out of 1733 is a quantitative statement of the system's overall standing. It is not a measure of failure, but rather a clear indication that this is an entry-to-mid-level gaming setup for this title. Users with this configuration should expect performance consistent with the RTX 2060's tier, and the ranking confirms that the CPU's potential is largely unrealized due to the GPU's limitations.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the resolution where this combo is most comfortable, the average frame rates are high. At Low settings, the system achieves 157.6 FPS. This drops to 119.3 FPS at Medium and 99.3 FPS at High. Pushing to Ultra settings yields 76.1 FPS. These numbers show a playable experience even at the highest settings for 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the load on the GPU increases. The average FPS at Low is 100.6, which is a significant drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings produce 78.5 FPS, and High settings yield 65.9 FPS. At Ultra, the average falls to 49 FPS. These figures indicate that 1440p is still viable, but users will need to adjust settings to maintain a smooth frame rate, with Ultra settings dipping below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 is clearly overburdened. The average FPS at Low settings is 54.1. This is the only 4K setting that approaches playability. Medium settings drop to 42.9 FPS, and High settings fall to 36.8 FPS. At Ultra, the system manages only 27.5 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: at 4K, the GPU's limitations are fully exposed, and the experience becomes suboptimal regardless of the settings used.

The scaling between settings is also telling. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 81.5 FPS, showing the game's high reliance on GPU effects. At 4K, the difference is 26.6 FPS, a smaller absolute gap because the GPU is already saturated. The data confirms that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, capable for 1440p with adjusted settings, and not recommended for 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 157.6 FPS on Low settings to 76.1 FPS on Ultra settings, a difference of 81.5 FPS.

Q: Is this system capable of running Minimum at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 65.9 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other systems tested for Minimum?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination ranks 1371st out of 1733 tested combos for this game.

Q: What is the average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings?

A: The average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 27.5 FPS, which is not considered a playable experience for most users.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU act as the primary bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU is in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 58th percentile, and the performance data shows the GPU struggling at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the average FPS for this combo at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The system achieves an average of 119.3 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings.