Minimum

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a dominant performance profile in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The data shows a combination capable of obliterating standard refresh rate targets at every tested resolution, with the RTX 4090 providing the primary performance headroom and the i7-12700KF ensuring the frame pipeline remains fluid. The benchmark results indicate a system that scales predictably with settings, moving from a low of 69.6 FPS at 4K Ultra to a staggering 396.1 FPS at 1080p Low, making it a top-tier option for high-refresh-rate displays.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve over 240 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo exceeds 240 FPS on every tested setting, including 251.9 FPS on High and 305.2 FPS on Medium. Even the most demanding 1080p Ultra setting maintains an average of 192.1 FPS.

Q: How much performance does the RTX 4090 lose when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: The performance drop is significant but leaves ample headroom. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 251.9 at 1080p to 165.2 at 2560x1440, a decrease of 86.7 FPS. At Low settings, the drop is from 396.1 to 256.5 FPS, a decrease of 139.6 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 the bottleneck at lower resolutions?

A: The data suggests the CPU becomes a more significant factor at 1080p. The frame rate scales from 192.1 FPS at Ultra to 396.1 FPS at Low, indicating that the GPU is still the primary driver, but the i7-12700KF’s performance ceiling is likely being approached given the massive frame counts.

Q: What is the average performance advantage of the i7-12700KF over its closest rivals?

A: The i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35355. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-14400, has an average score of 35336, making the i7-12700KF just 0.1% faster. It is also 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i7-13800H, which scores 35416.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 66473, placing it in the 91st percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla T4, has an average score of 66733, which is 0.4% higher. The RTX 4090 is 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla P40, which scores 66127.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: The jump from High to Ultra at 3840x2160 costs 19.5 FPS, dropping the average from 89.1 FPS to 69.6 FPS. This is a 22% performance penalty for the highest visual fidelity.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the undisputed powerhouse in this configuration, and its specifications from the FACT PACK underpin the measured results. With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, the card offers 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. This massive memory subsystem is crucial for feeding the 16384 shading units and 512 texture mapping units, especially at higher resolutions where data demands increase exponentially. The card’s boost clock of 2520 MHz, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, allows it to sustain the high frame rates observed in the data.

The benchmark results clearly illustrate the GPU’s dominance. At 1080p, the RTX 4090 is clearly the limiting factor, as the frame rates scale dramatically with settings, from 192.1 FPS at Ultra to 396.1 FPS at Low. This indicates the GPU is fully engaged, and the CPU is capable of feeding it data. The GPU’s 91st percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 66473, puts it in the top tier of performance, though its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla T4, is close at 66733. This data suggests that while the RTX 4090 is exceptional, it is not the absolute peak of the benchmark database.

The relationship between the GPU’s specs and the game’s results is clear. The high pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s are more than sufficient to handle the demands of a 2014 title. The card is effectively overkill, providing frame rates that are multiples of the refresh rates of most monitors. The data shows that even at the most demanding 4K Ultra preset, the average FPS of 69.6 is still playable, but the GPU’s true strength lies in its ability to push high refresh rates at lower resolutions, making it a perfect match for esports-level play in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 251.9 at 1080p to 165.2 at 1440p, a 34.4% decrease. Moving further to 4K results in 89.1 FPS, which is a 46.1% decrease from the 1440p figure. This demonstrates that the RTX 4090 is the primary performance driver, as the workload on the GPU increases substantially with the pixel count.

The scaling is more pronounced at lower settings. At Low settings, the frame rate falls from 396.1 at 1080p to 256.5 at 1440p, a 35.2% drop, and then to 137.2 at 4K, a 46.5% drop. This pattern indicates that even when the GPU is not heavily loaded by visual effects, the sheer number of pixels to render at 4K poses a significant challenge. The data suggests a smooth, linear performance curve, typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU’s role diminishes as the resolution increases.

This scaling behavior has important implications. At 1080p, the system is pushing beyond 300 FPS on Medium, indicating that the CPU is likely starting to become a secondary bottleneck, but the GPU is still the main constraint. As the resolution climbs to 1440p and 4K, the GPU’s workload increases, and the CPU’s influence on the final frame rate wanes. The result is that the i7-12700KF is more than sufficient for this game, providing a platform that allows the RTX 4090 to express its full potential without being held back, even at the highest frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 holds a strong position. The data places this combo at rank 34 out of 1733 tested combinations, placing it in the top 2% of all systems. This high ranking reflects the raw power of both components, as they are both near the top of their respective performance charts.

The CPU’s performance is a key contributor to this ranking. The i7-12700KF’s average benchmark score of 35355 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i5-14400 and Intel Core i9-12900HX, are nearly identical in average score, with deltas of 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. This suggests that the i7-12700KF is at the peak of its performance class, and its high multi-threaded scores, such as the 28979 in Cinebench R23, ensure it can handle the game’s engine without issue.

The GPU’s ranking is equally impressive. The RTX 4090 sits in the 91st percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 66473. While its nearest rivals, such as the Tesla T4, are within a percentage point, this card’s combination of high frame rates and massive memory buffer makes it a formidable choice. The combo’s rank of 34 suggests that there are only 33 other configurations that perform better in this specific game, and those likely involve even more extreme hardware. For the vast majority of users, this pairing represents an absolute top-tier experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF’s role in this configuration is to provide a stable, high-throughput platform for the RTX 4090. With 12 cores and 20 threads based on the Alder Lake architecture, this CPU is built for heavy multi-threaded workloads. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz allow it to react quickly to single-threaded demands, which is crucial for game logic and physics in a title like Minimum. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency.

The CPU’s benchmark scores support its capability. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28979 and single-core score of 4091 indicate a well-rounded processor. The 3DMark max threads score of 9983 shows its ability to handle parallel tasks. When compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-12700KF is essentially tied with the i5-14400, with a delta of just 0.1%. This means that for this game, the CPU is not a differentiating factor; its performance is more than adequate to keep up with the GPU.

In the context of the measured FPS, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at 1080p. The fact that the frame rate scales from 192.1 FPS at Ultra to 396.1 FPS at Low shows that the GPU is the bottleneck. However, the CPU must be capable of issuing draw calls and processing game state at these extreme rates. The i7-12700KF is clearly up to the task, as there is no evidence of the frame rate plateauing due to CPU limitations. The data shows a system where the CPU and GPU are well-balanced, with the CPU providing enough headroom to allow the GPU to operate at its maximum capacity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system’s performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance.

• Low: 396.1 FPS
• Medium: 305.2 FPS
• High: 251.9 FPS
• Ultra: 192.1 FPS

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high.

• Low: 256.5 FPS
• Medium: 196.0 FPS
• High: 165.2 FPS
• Ultra: 125.3 FPS

At 3840x2160, the system still provides a smooth experience.

• Low: 137.2 FPS
• Medium: 103.3 FPS
• High: 89.1 FPS
• Ultra: 69.6 FPS

The data shows a clear pattern: each increase in settings tier costs a consistent amount of performance. For example, moving from Low to Ultra at 1440p results in a drop from 256.5 to 125.3 FPS, a 131.2 FPS difference. This indicates that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding, likely due to advanced shadow and post-processing effects. The 4K Ultra result of 69.6 FPS is the only instance where the system dips below the 100 FPS mark, but it still provides a playable experience. The overall trend confirms that this combo is best suited for high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K being viable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s display and refresh rate. For users with a 1080p 240Hz or 360Hz monitor, the Low setting is the clear choice to maximize frame rates, delivering 396.1 FPS. However, for a more balanced experience, High at 251.9 FPS still exceeds 240Hz and offers better visual quality. Medium at 305.2 FPS is a strong middle ground, providing a significant frame rate advantage over High while maintaining acceptable visuals.

For 1440p displays, the High setting is the best recommendation for a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, as it delivers 165.2 FPS, closely matching the refresh rate. Users with a 240Hz 1440p panel would need to use Low settings to hit 256.5 FPS, but Medium at 196.0 FPS is a more visually appealing option that still provides a high frame rate. The Ultra setting at 125.3 FPS is suitable for 120Hz displays.

At 4K, the choice is between Low and Medium for high refresh rate gaming. Medium at 103.3 FPS is ideal for a 100Hz+ display, while Low at 137.2 FPS is better suited for a 120Hz or 144Hz screen. High at 89.1 FPS is viable for 90Hz monitors, but Ultra at 69.6 FPS is best reserved for users with 60Hz displays who want the absolute maximum visual quality. In all cases, the data shows that the system is highly capable, and the best setting is the one that matches the user’s target frame rate while providing the desired level of visual fidelity.