Minimum

The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination delivers a highly playable experience in Minimum, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data shows a system capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 1440p on medium settings, while 4K Ultra remains a challenge reserved for less demanding presets.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K brings substantial processing headroom to this pairing. With 12 cores and 20 threads, the processor leverages its Alder Lake architecture to deliver strong multi-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29241 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 13892. Single-thread capability is equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4128 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043, ensuring that the CPU does not become a limiting factor in frame generation for most scenarios.

The core configuration is complemented by clock speeds of 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, paired with a 25 MB shared L3 cache. This combination allows the processor to handle the game's engine logic and physics calculations without creating a bottleneck, as indicated by the benchmark results. The CPU’s performance relative to other tested processors places it in the 89th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 35684. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (deltaPct -0.3), the Intel Core i7-13700T (deltaPct 0.6), and the Intel Core i5-14500HX (deltaPct -0.7), showing that the 12700K sits squarely in a competitive mid-to-high-end tier.

In Minimum, the game’s release in 2014 means it is not particularly demanding on modern CPU resources. The measured FPS at 1080p Low reaches 188.3, which is well above the refresh rate of most displays, suggesting that the CPU is delivering frames faster than the GPU can render them, especially at lower resolutions. The 20 threads provide ample capacity for background tasks and game threads, but the data suggests that the i7-12700K is rarely the component that determines the final frame rate. Instead, its role is to provide consistent, high-level performance that allows the RTX 2070 SUPER to operate at its full potential without waiting on processor-side calculations.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the decisive component in this analysis, as its rendering capabilities directly dictate the playable settings and resolutions. The card features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. For a game from 2014, this memory configuration is more than sufficient for texture storage and asset streaming, even at 4K resolution, which is confirmed by the measured performance at lower settings.

The GPU’s clock speeds are set at a base of 1605 MHz and a boost of 1770 MHz, driving 2560 shading units. The RTX 2070 SUPER’s compute power is rated at 9.062 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, which provides a solid foundation for rendering the game’s graphical effects. The GPU’s percentile ranking is 65th among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22206. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A400 (deltaPct -0.5), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z (deltaPct 0.9), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (deltaPct -2.3), indicating that it performs near the level of a modern entry-level workstation card.

The benchmark results show that the GPU’s influence becomes pronounced as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU manages to push high frame rates, but the scaling from Low to Ultra settings reveals a significant drop, from 188.3 FPS to 91.5 FPS. This pattern intensifies at 1440p and 4K, where the GPU’s fill rate and shader capacity become the limiting factors. The 8 GB VRAM is not a constraint in this title, as the performance drop from High to Ultra at 4K (43.3 to 32.9 FPS) is more indicative of raw compute limits than memory overflow. The data clearly shows that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the component that dictates the upper bounds of performance, particularly when aiming for higher visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system’s scaling behavior. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 188.3 FPS, which drops to 121.9 FPS at High settings. Moving to 1440p, the same Low setting yields 121.1 FPS, and High produces 76.5 FPS. At 4K, the numbers fall further, with Low delivering 65.8 FPS and High dropping to 43.3 FPS. This progression demonstrates a consistent frame rate reduction as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern is telling. From 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops by 67.2 FPS, which is a 35.7% reduction. From 1440p Low to 4K Low, the drop is 55.3 FPS, a 45.7% reduction. This increasing percentage drop as resolution rises is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU’s performance remains constant, but the GPU must work harder to fill more pixels, resulting in diminishing returns on frame rate.

At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 32.9 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Conversely, at 1080p Ultra, it achieves 91.5 FPS, showing that the GPU can handle the game’s highest settings at lower resolutions. The data suggests that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the limiting component, as the CPU’s high single-thread and multi-thread scores are not reflected in a proportional increase in FPS at higher resolutions. The bottleneck shifts entirely to the GPU’s rendering pipeline, which is unable to maintain high frame rates when pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER holds a rank of 1060 out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking table, which is a surprising result given the individual component strengths. The CPU’s high percentile ranking and the GPU’s respectable average score do not translate into a top-tier system ranking for this specific title.

The rank suggests that while the components are capable, there may be many other combinations in the database that offer better overall performance in this game. The GPU’s position in the 65th percentile, combined with the CPU’s 89th percentile, does not result in a synergistic boost that would boost the combo’s standing. The measured FPS data, particularly at 4K where the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS even on Low settings, supports this lower ranking.

When compared to other potential combos, the data indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the weaker link. A system with a similar CPU but a more powerful GPU would likely rank higher, as the GPU bottleneck becomes more apparent at higher resolutions. Conversely, a system with a less powerful CPU but a similar GPU might achieve a similar rank, emphasizing that the GPU’s performance is the primary determinant of the combo’s standing in this game. The rank of 1060 out of 1733 reflects a system that is above average but not exceptional, with the GPU holding back the overall potential of the CPU.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the system can comfortably run Ultra settings at 91.5 FPS, which provides the best visual experience without sacrificing smoothness. For players prioritizing higher frame rates, Medium settings at 141.8 FPS or Low settings at 188.3 FPS offer significant headroom above 144 Hz displays.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts to High settings, which yield 76.5 FPS, providing a good balance between visual quality and performance. Medium settings at 93.5 FPS are also viable for those who prefer a smoother experience over slightly reduced graphical fidelity. Ultra settings at 61.4 FPS are playable but border on the edge of the 60 FPS threshold, making them a less safe choice for consistent frame pacing.

For 4K resolution, the data suggests that High settings are not recommended, as the 43.3 FPS average falls below the smoothness threshold. Low settings at 65.8 FPS are the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K gaming. Medium settings at 47.7 FPS and Ultra at 32.9 FPS are not advisable, as they introduce noticeable stutter and reduce responsiveness. The best experience per the measured rows is achieved by targeting 1080p Ultra or 1440p High, where the system maintains high frame rates while delivering the game’s intended visual presentation.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Minimum?*

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 188.3 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: Can this system run Minimum at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produces an average of 65.8 FPS. High settings at 4K drop to 43.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35684, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (35802) and 0.6% higher than the Intel Core i7-13700T (35468).

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth and size?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the combo’s ranking among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo holds a rank of 1060 out of 1733 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking table.

Q: Which settings preset at 1440p provides the best balance of performance and quality?

A: High settings at 1440p yield an average of 76.5 FPS, which offers a good balance. Medium settings provide 93.5 FPS for a smoother experience, while Ultra drops to 61.4 FPS.