Minimum

This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti in the game Minimum, a Third-Person Shooter released in 2014. The data is based on measured FPS across multiple resolutions and settings, providing a clear picture of this combo's capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches an average of 207.5 FPS, which is the highest recorded in the dataset.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K (3840x2160) gaming in Minimum?*

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160 on Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 34.3, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Lowering to High settings yields 49 FPS, while Medium settings provide 57.5 FPS. Low settings achieve a playable 72.6 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 49166, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X's score of 49062. This indicates nearly identical overall CPU performance.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti sits in the 69th percentile among all GPUs, indicating it outperforms a majority of the tested graphics cards in the database.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor to maintain a high refresh rate?

A: For 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 87.1 FPS, while Medium provides 103.3 FPS. For a 144Hz monitor, the Medium preset is the better choice to get closer to that refresh rate.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested CPU+GPU combinations?

A: The combination ranks 904th out of 1733 tested combos, placing it in the upper half of all configurations tested for this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor from the Core 14th Gen series, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 125W TDP. For a game like Minimum, the CPU's high boost clock is crucial for maintaining high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less of a bottleneck.

The benchmark data shows the processor's strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 32881 in multi-core and 4642 in single-core. Its Passmark single-thread score is 4270, which is a strong indicator for gaming performance. The CPU holds a 93rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs, placing it in the top tier of processors. Its average benchmark score of 49166 is nearly identical to its closest rivals, with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X being just 0.2% behind, and the Intel Core i5-14600KF being 0.4% ahead. The Xeon Gold 5318H is 1% behind.

In this game, the CPU's capability is evident in the high frame rates at 1080p. The jump from 137.8 FPS at High settings to 207.5 FPS at Low settings at 1920x1080 suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding frames far beyond what the GPU can render at higher settings. The 5.30 GHz boost clock ensures that the processor can handle the game's logic and draw calls without becoming a limiting factor, allowing the RTX 3060 Ti to be the primary performance driver.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for different target experiences. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the best balance is found at 2560x1440 on Medium settings, which yields 103.3 FPS. This provides a significant performance headroom and allows for a higher refresh rate experience on a 144Hz monitor. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is also excellent, delivering 161.2 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate esports-style play.

For users with a 4K display, the Ultra preset is not viable, as it only manages 34.3 FPS. The High preset at 3840x2160 is also below 60 FPS at 49 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K offers 57.5 FPS, which is close to but not quite at the 60 FPS target. To achieve a locked 60 FPS at 4K, the Low preset is required, which delivers 72.6 FPS.

The data suggests that the "Ultra" preset is for visual fidelity over performance. The delta between Medium and Ultra is substantial across all resolutions. At 2560x1440, Medium offers 103.3 FPS while Ultra drops to 64.1 FPS. The recommended path for most users is the Medium preset, as it offers a massive performance increase over Ultra with presumably only a minor visual trade-off. High is a viable middle ground, but the data shows Medium provides a better balance for high refresh rate gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 904th out of 1733 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the 52nd percentile, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of all tested configurations. This is a solid, mid-pack ranking that reflects the balance of a strong CPU with a mid-range GPU.

This ranking is logical given the GPU's position. The RTX 3060 Ti ranks in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, which is a strong showing. However, the CPU is in the 93rd percentile. The combo's overall rank is lower than the individual component percentiles suggest, which indicates that in Minimum, the GPU is likely the primary limiter for the highest settings. The CPU has more headroom than the GPU can utilize. The GPU's nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon RX 6700M and RX 6600, are nearly identical in average score, with deltas of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively. This places the 3060 Ti in a competitive mid-range segment.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the primary driver for this game's visual performance. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1410 MHz with a boost clock of 1665 MHz. The GPU is based on the Ampere architecture and has a TDP of 200W, requiring a suggested 550W PSU.

In Minimum, the GPU's role becomes increasingly important at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU is strong enough to push high frame rates, and the GPU is the main factor in the difference between settings. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for this game, as the data does not show any unusual performance cliffs that would indicate a memory capacity issue.

The GPU's performance is clearly the bottleneck at 4K. The drop from 57.5 FPS at Medium to 34.3 FPS at Ultra at 3840x2160 demonstrates the significant load increase on the GPU. The RTX 3060 Ti's average benchmark score is 25120, placing it in the 69th percentile. Its Passmark G3D score is 20349, and its DirectX 12 score is 78. The GPU's compute performance is also notable, with a Passmark GPU compute score of 10006. The data shows that the GPU is a capable mid-range part, but for demanding 4K Ultra settings, it is out of its depth in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data offers a comprehensive look at performance scaling.

1920x1080:

• Low: 207.5 FPS
• Medium: 161.2 FPS
• High: 137.8 FPS
• Ultra: 100.4 FPS

At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast. Even at Ultra settings, it maintains an average of 100.4 FPS, which is great for high-refresh-rate monitors. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 52% performance drop, but all settings are very playable.

2560x1440:

• Low: 134.1 FPS
• Medium: 103.3 FPS
• High: 87.1 FPS
• Ultra: 64.1 FPS

At 1440p, the performance is still strong. The Medium preset provides over 100 FPS, which is ideal. The Ultra preset falls to 64.1 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS baseline. This resolution is the sweet spot for this setup, offering a great balance between visual quality and high frame rates.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 72.6 FPS
• Medium: 57.5 FPS
• High: 49 FPS
• Ultra: 34.3 FPS

At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. Only the Low preset manages to stay above 60 FPS at 72.6 FPS. The Medium preset is close at 57.5 FPS, but for a consistent 60 FPS experience, users will need to stick with Low settings. The Ultra preset is not playable at 34.3 FPS. The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is for maximum frame rates, 1440p is the optimal balance, and 4K requires significant settings compromises.