Minimum

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It runs at a 2.90 GHz base clock and can boost up to 4.10 GHz, with 9 MB of shared L3 cache and 64 KB of L1 cache per core plus 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The lack of Hyper-Threading means each physical core handles exactly one thread, which is a notable limitation for modern titles but less impactful for a game like Minimum, a third-person shooter released in 2014.

Benchmark results for the i5-9400 place it at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals in aggregate performance are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, +0.2% faster), the Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, +0.4% faster), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, -0.4% slower). These deltas are tiny, meaning the i5-9400 sits in a very tightly packed performance band where a few percent separates competitors. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 6629 multi-core and 935 single-core, while Geekbench results show 5141 multi-core and 1389 single-core.

For Minimum, the measured FPS data reveals an interesting pattern. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 258 FPS average, but at 4K with Ultra settings, it drops to 67 FPS. The CPU's six physical cores without SMT may become a bottleneck at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom to push frames. The boost clock of 4.10 GHz is modest by modern standards, and the 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth on dual-channel DDR4 could limit how quickly data flows to the cores.

The data suggests the i5-9400 is adequate but not exceptional for Minimum. Its 47th percentile ranking indicates it sits just below the median of all tested CPUs. The single-core performance, as shown by the 935 Cinebench R23 score, is what matters most for older game engines that rely heavily on one or two threads. Minimum's 2014 release date means its engine was designed for the CPU architectures of that era, so the i5-9400's per-core throughput is likely sufficient to avoid severe stutters, though the 6-thread ceiling could show up in scenes with many AI actors or physics calculations.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an enormous GPU, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. It packs 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die, with 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output pipelines. The chip runs at a 2235 MHz base clock and boosts to 2520 MHz, with memory clocked at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for high-resolution textures and effects.

In benchmark terms, the RTX 4090 sits at the 88th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347. Its nearest rivals in aggregate score are the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60326, 0% difference), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61896, +2.5% faster), and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (58657, -2.9% slower). The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 271631 indicate strong raw compute capability. The GPU's 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 performance is staggering for a card of its generation.

For Minimum, the RTX 4090's role is fascinating because the game is old enough that the GPU should be vastly overqualified. The measured FPS data confirms this: even at 4K Ultra, the combo still manages 67 FPS average, and at 1080p Low it reaches 258 FPS. The 24 GB VRAM is far more than Minimum could ever need, and the 1.01 TB/s bandwidth means texture streaming is never a concern. The pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s suggest the GPU can fill frames at rates far beyond what the CPU can feed it.

The interesting question is why the RTX 4090 doesn't push even higher FPS at 1080p. The 258 FPS ceiling at Low settings suggests the i5-9400 is the limiting factor, not the GPU. The RTX 4090's raw power is being held back by the CPU's ability to issue draw calls and process game logic. This is a classic CPU-bound scenario, where the GPU's performance headroom goes unused because the processor cannot keep up with frame generation demands.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in Minimum?

A: The data strongly suggests yes, particularly at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 258 FPS, while at 4K Ultra it drops to 67 FPS. The fact that 1080p FPS is not dramatically higher than 1440p or 4K when accounting for pixel count indicates the CPU is limiting frame rates before the GPU can stretch its legs.

Q: How does the RTX 4090's performance in Minimum compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4090's average benchmark score of 60347 is virtually identical to the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60326, 0% delta), slightly higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61896, +2.5% faster for the rival), and about 2.9% faster than the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (58657). In Minimum specifically, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 67 FPS, which is respectable for a demanding resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 194 FPS average with a minimum of 165 FPS and maximum of 223 FPS. High settings produce 163 FPS average, while Ultra drops to 124 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and smoothness, Medium appears to be the sweet spot, offering a high refresh rate experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Q: Does the RTX 4090's 24 GB VRAM matter for a 2014 game like Minimum?

A: The VRAM capacity is irrelevant for Minimum's actual demands, as the game's textures and assets are far smaller than 24 GB. However, the 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth ensures that even at 4K Ultra settings, the GPU never stalls on memory access. The data shows consistent FPS across resolutions, indicating memory bandwidth is not a limiting factor in this title.

Q: How does the i5-9400's single-core performance affect Minimum's FPS?

A: The i5-9400 scores 935 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1389 in Geekbench single-core. For a 2014 game, single-core performance is often the primary determinant of FPS. The measured 258 FPS at 1080p Low suggests the CPU's single-core throughput is sufficient for Minimum's engine, but the 47th percentile ranking indicates it is not exceptional compared to other processors.

Q: Is the RTX 4090's performance in Minimum representative of its overall capability?

A: No. The RTX 4090 ranks at the 88th percentile among all GPUs and has an average benchmark score of 60347, but Minimum is an older title that cannot fully utilize the card's modern features like ray tracing cores or tensor cores. The measured FPS in Minimum reflects CPU limitations rather than GPU potential, as evidenced by the relatively small FPS gap between 1080p and 4K at equivalent settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 358th out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the top 9.6% of all configurations. This high ranking is primarily driven by the RTX 4090's immense GPU power, but the i5-9400's mid-tier CPU performance (47th percentile) holds the combo back from reaching the top echelons.

The rank of 358 out of 3712 means there are 357 combos that perform better in Minimum, presumably featuring faster processors paired with the RTX 4090 or similar high-end GPUs. The delta between this combo and the top performers likely comes from CPU-bound scenarios where a stronger processor would allow the RTX 4090 to achieve higher frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 258 FPS, but a faster CPU could potentially push that number higher.

The combo's ranking is interesting because it highlights the imbalance between the two components. The RTX 4090 is a top-tier GPU (88th percentile), while the i5-9400 is a mid-range CPU (47th percentile). In a game like Minimum, which is not graphically demanding by modern standards, the CPU becomes the limiting factor, preventing the combo from achieving the frame rates that the GPU alone could deliver. The rank of 358 suggests that while this is a strong combo overall, it is not optimal for Maximum FPS in Minimum.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on the target resolution. At 1080p, all settings presets deliver playable frame rates, from 193 FPS at Ultra to 258 FPS at Low. The Medium preset (234 FPS average, 199 min, 270 max) offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, making it the recommended choice for gamers with high refresh rate monitors.

At 1440p, the Medium preset again stands out with 194 FPS average (165 min, 223 max), while High drops to 163 FPS and Ultra to 124 FPS. The Medium preset provides a smooth experience that exceeds 165 Hz refresh rates, which is ideal for competitive play. For those prioritizing visual fidelity, High at 163 FPS is still very playable, but Medium offers the best frame time consistency.

At 4K, the choices become more constrained. The Medium preset delivers 105 FPS average (89 min, 120 max), which is smooth for most displays. High produces 88 FPS, and Ultra drops to 67 FPS. The Low preset at 137 FPS is the only one that hits high refresh rates at 4K, but the visual quality loss may not be worth it for a game like Minimum. Overall, Medium at 4K is the recommended setting, offering a good balance of visual fidelity and frame rate.

The data indicates that Medium settings provide the most consistent experience across all resolutions, with minimum FPS values that are close to the averages. This suggests that Medium is the tuning point where the game's engine and the hardware combination work most harmoniously.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 258 FPS average
• Medium: 234 FPS average (199 min, 270 max)
• High: 220 FPS average
• Ultra: 193 FPS average

The 1080p results show a spread of 65 FPS between Low and Ultra, with the CPU likely being the limiting factor at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 193 FPS is still very high, demonstrating that the RTX 4090 has ample headroom even at the highest settings.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 223 FPS average
• Medium: 194 FPS average (165 min, 223 max)
• High: 163 FPS average
• Ultra: 124 FPS average

At 1440p, the FPS drops are more pronounced as resolution increases, but the combo still delivers smooth performance across all presets. The gap between Low and Ultra is 99 FPS, indicating that GPU load is increasing while the CPU remains the primary constraint at lower settings.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 137 FPS average
• Medium: 105 FPS average (89 min, 120 max)
• High: 88 FPS average
• Ultra: 67 FPS average

At 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant factor, and the FPS drops reflect the increased pixel count. The Ultra preset at 67 FPS is playable but not ideal for high refresh rate monitors. The Low preset at 137 FPS is interesting, as it shows that even at 4K, the combo can hit high frame rates when settings are reduced.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important insights about the limiting component. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 258 at 1080p to 137 at 4K, a reduction of 46.9%. At Medium settings, the drop is from 234 to 105 FPS, a 55.1% reduction. At High settings, it goes from 220 to 88 FPS, a 60% reduction. At Ultra, the drop is from 193 to 67 FPS, a 65.3% reduction.

The increasing percentage drop with higher settings indicates that the GPU becomes more of a bottleneck as pixel count and graphical load increase. At Low settings, the CPU is the primary limiter, so the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is relatively smaller because the GPU has more headroom. At Ultra settings, the GPU is fully utilized, and the FPS drop reflects the pure computational cost of rendering at 4K.

This pattern suggests that the i5-9400 is the bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p, while the RTX 4090 becomes the bottleneck at 4K. The crossover point appears to be around 1440p with High settings, where both components are balanced. Below this point, the CPU limits FPS; above it, the GPU takes over as the primary constraint.

The scaling data also shows that the RTX 4090's performance in Minimum is not linear with pixel count. From 1080p to 1440p, the FPS drop at Medium settings is from 234 to 194 FPS (17.1% reduction), while from 1440p to 4K, it drops from 194 to 105 FPS (45.9% reduction). This non-linear behavior is typical of GPU-bound scenarios, where the renderer must process exponentially more pixels at higher resolutions. The combo's ability to maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra (67 FPS) confirms the RTX 4090's raw power, even when paired with a relatively modest CPU.