Minimum

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 436th out of 3712 tested combinations for Minimum. This places the combo in the top 12% of all tested systems, which is a strong result given the game's age and the hardware's respective positions in their own performance hierarchies. The ranking reflects a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher settings, but the CPU's mid-range standing prevents it from being a top-tier contender at lower resolutions where the processor becomes the limiting factor.

The GPU is the star of this pairing, sitting at the 86th percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 54247 places it just 0.1% above the RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209. This puts the RTX 4080 in a virtual dead heat with its direct successor, suggesting that in raw compute terms, the 4080 is still highly relevant. In contrast, the CPU sits at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average score of 2254. This is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (score 2259, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i7-10710U (score 2248, delta 0.3%). The i5-9400 is effectively a performance middleweight, which explains why the overall combo rank is respectable but not elite.

What this ranking tells us is that for a game like Minimum, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the combination of a high-end GPU and a mid-range CPU yields a system capable of excellent frame rates. The bottleneck shifts depending on the resolution and settings. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is fully engaged, while at 1080p Low, the CPU's limitations become more apparent. The data shows that this combo is best suited for high-resolution, high-detail gaming where the RTX 4080 can stretch its legs without being held back by the processor.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1151 platform. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. For a game released in 2014, this configuration is more than adequate in terms of thread count, as most titles from that era were optimized for quad-core CPUs. The 6 cores provide enough parallelism for modern game engines that may spawn additional background threads, but the lack of Hyper-Threading means the CPU can struggle in CPU-bound scenarios where more than 6 threads are heavily utilized.

The CPU's L3 cache is 9 MB (shared), which is a reasonable amount for a mid-range part. Its dual-channel DDR4 memory support with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s is sufficient for feeding the GPU, though it is a far cry from the bandwidth available on the RTX 4080's memory subsystem. In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-9400 scores 6629 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 935 in single-core. These scores are indicative of a CPU that can handle modern workloads but is not a performance leader.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU's role is to feed the RTX 4080 with draw calls and physics calculations. At 1080p with Low settings, the GPU has very little work to do, and the CPU becomes the primary constraint. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 258 FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 61 FPS. The gap between these two extremes illustrates how the CPU's performance ceiling is exposed at lower resolutions. At 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that the CPU's relative weakness is masked, allowing the RTX 4080 to dominate the frame rate. The CPU's 47th percentile ranking is a clear indicator that it is not a high-end part, but for a game like Minimum, it is sufficient to deliver high frame rates at most settings, provided the resolution is high enough to shift the bottleneck to the GPU.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in Minimum?*

A: The data suggests yes, but only at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 258 FPS, which is the highest average across all tested settings. However, the CPU's 47th percentile ranking and its close proximity to lower-tier rivals like the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (delta 0.4%) indicate that it limits the GPU's maximum potential. At 4K, the bottleneck shifts to the GPU, as evidenced by the drop from 258 FPS at 1080p Low to 124 FPS at 4K Low.

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

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, which is just 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER's score of 54209. This makes the two GPUs statistically indistinguishable in terms of raw performance. In the context of Minimum, the RTX 4080's performance is effectively on par with its successor, meaning there is no practical reason to upgrade for this specific game.

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this combo?*

A: The data shows that 1440p offers the best balance of image quality and frame rate. At 1440p High, the combo delivers 148 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 4K High, the average drops to 79 FPS, which is still playable but not as fluid. If maximum frame rates are the priority, 1080p Low yields 258 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant.

Q: Should I use Ultra settings with this combo?

A: At 1440p Ultra, the combo delivers 112 FPS, which is excellent. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 61 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience on a high-refresh-rate monitor. Given that High settings at 4K produce 79 FPS, the visual difference between High and Ultra is often marginal in older games. For this reason, High settings are recommended for 4K, while Ultra is viable at 1440p.

Q: How does the i5-9400's single-core performance impact gaming?

A: The i5-9400 scores 935 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which places it in the middle of the pack. For a game like Minimum, which relies heavily on single-threaded performance for game logic, this score is sufficient to prevent major stutters. However, the CPU's 6-thread limit means that if the game spawns additional threads, the lack of Hyper-Threading could cause frame time spikes. The data shows that the combo never drops below 61 FPS in any tested configuration, indicating that the CPU's single-core performance is adequate.

*Q: Is this combo overkill for Minimum?*

A: The RTX 4080 is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, making it a top-tier part. For a game from 2014, this is excessive in terms of raw compute power. However, the data shows that the combo still ranks 436th out of 3712, meaning there are many systems that outperform it. This is due to the CPU's mid-range standing. In practical terms, the combo is capable of maxing out the game at 1440p and delivering high frame rates at 4K, which is more than most players would need.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo spans three resolutions and four settings presets. The highest average frame rate recorded is 258 FPS at 1080p Low, while the lowest is 61 FPS at 4K Ultra. This range demonstrates the system's versatility, but also highlights the CPU's influence at lower resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers:

• Low: 258 FPS average
• Medium: 234 FPS average (min 199, max 270)
• High: 220 FPS average
• Ultra: 174 FPS average

The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 84 FPS, which is a substantial drop. This indicates that the GPU is still capable of pushing high frame rates even at Ultra, but the CPU is starting to limit performance as the settings increase the draw call complexity.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 223 FPS average
• Medium: 176 FPS average (min 149, max 202)
• High: 148 FPS average
• Ultra: 112 FPS average

The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 111 FPS, which is larger than at 1080p. This is expected, as the GPU is now working harder to render more pixels. The frame rates are still very playable, with even Ultra exceeding 100 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 124 FPS average
• Medium: 95 FPS average (min 80, max 109)
• High: 79 FPS average
• Ultra: 61 FPS average

At 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The drop from Low to Ultra is 63 FPS, which is the smallest relative drop across all resolutions. This confirms that the RTX 4080 is being fully utilized at 4K, and the CPU's role is diminished. The minimum frame rate recorded at 4K Medium is 80 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS target for most displays.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K is a clear indicator of where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 258 FPS at 1080p to 124 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 52%. This is a significant drop, but it is less severe than the drop at Ultra settings, which goes from 174 FPS at 1080p to 61 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 65%.

The data shows that at Low settings, the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p, as the GPU has plenty of headroom. As the resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rate drops proportionally. At 4K Low, the GPU is finally being pushed, and the frame rate of 124 FPS suggests that the CPU is no longer the primary constraint.

At Ultra settings, the GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 113 FPS, which is the largest absolute drop across all settings. This is because Ultra settings increase the GPU's workload more than the CPU's, so the frame rate scales almost linearly with the number of pixels. The fact that the combo can still achieve 61 FPS at 4K Ultra reflects the RTX 4080's raw power.

The scaling pattern suggests that for this combo, 1440p is the sweet spot. At this resolution, the frame rates are high enough to take advantage of high-refresh-rate monitors, and the CPU is not as much of a limiting factor as it is at 1080p. At 4K, the combo is still capable of delivering a smooth experience, but the margins are thinner, especially at Ultra settings where the average FPS hovers near the 60 FPS mark.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the resolution and the user's preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity.

For 1920x1080, the data shows that High settings at 220 FPS provide an excellent balance. The jump from High to Ultra costs 46 FPS for what is often a marginal visual improvement in a game from 2014. If the user has a 144Hz monitor, High settings will easily saturate it, and even Ultra at 174 FPS is sufficient. Low settings at 258 FPS are only recommended for competitive play where frame rate is paramount.

For 2560x1440, High settings at 148 FPS are the clear recommendation. This is still above the 144Hz threshold for many monitors, and the visual quality is high. Ultra at 112 FPS is also viable, but the 36 FPS drop from High may not be worth the extra visual detail. Medium settings at 176 FPS are the best choice for users who prioritize frame rate over image quality, as they are well above the refresh rate of most 1440p monitors.

For 3840x2160, the recommendation is High settings at 79 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS target and provides a good visual experience. Ultra at 61 FPS is playable, but the margin for error is small, and any frame time spikes could push it below 60 FPS. Medium at 95 FPS is the best option for users who want a higher frame rate at 4K, as the visual difference between Medium and High is often negligible in older games. Low settings at 124 FPS are unnecessary at 4K, as the GPU is already the bottleneck, and reducing settings to Low would sacrifice too much visual quality for a marginal frame rate increase.

In summary, High settings at 1440p or 4K offer the best experience, with the option to drop to Medium at 4K for a higher frame rate. The combo is powerful enough to handle Ultra at 1440p, but the diminishing returns in visual quality make High the more sensible choice.