Minimum

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a robust experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The data shows this combination is highly capable of producing playable frame rates across all tested resolutions, though the balance between CPU and GPU workload shifts significantly as resolution increases. This analysis examines the specific benchmark results to interpret how this hardware handles the game's demands.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a 30 MB shared L3 cache. This processor is a desktop-class component with an unlocked multiplier, targeting high-performance systems. Its benchmark scores are substantial, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116, indicating strong performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU's role is largely about maintaining high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck, particularly at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 229 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach the performance ceiling of the graphics card. The processor's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 4333, is likely a key factor in these high-frame-rate scenarios, as older game engines often rely heavily on one or a few cores.

However, the data also shows the CPU's limits relative to its peers. The i7-13700K's average benchmark score of 46881 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971, a negligible 0.2% difference. This indicates that the i7-13700K is a top-tier processor for this generation, and its performance in Minimum is unlikely to be a limiting factor except in the most extreme scenarios, such as 1080p Low where the GPU is under minimal load. The benchmark data for the CPU shows consistent scaling across thread counts, with a 3dmark score of 2262 for 2 threads and 12412 for max threads, suggesting efficient utilization of its 16 cores when needed.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings is 95 FPS.

Q: How does the i7-13700K compare to its closest competitor in overall CPU benchmarks?

A: The i7-13700K scores 46881 on average, which is 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 5900's score of 46971, making them statistically equivalent in performance.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 149 FPS, with an average of 175 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS.

Q: Does the combo achieve playable frame rates at 4K?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160, the average frame rate ranges from 39 FPS on Ultra settings to 79 FPS on Low settings, indicating playability at most settings levels.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile compared to all other GPUs?

A: The RTX 3070 sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded across all tested configurations?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 229 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear trend of decreasing performance as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher pixel counts. At 1080p, the combo is able to produce very high frame rates, with averages of 229 FPS on Low and 147 FPS on High. This indicates that the CPU is doing a significant amount of work, but the GPU is still capable of keeping up. Moving to 1440p, the average frame rates drop to 148 FPS on Low and 95 FPS on High, showing a performance reduction of roughly 35% and 35%, respectively.

The jump to 4K results in a significant performance hit. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate on High settings falls to 51 FPS, a 46% decrease from the 1440p High result. On Low settings, the average is 79 FPS, a 47% decrease from 1440p Low. This scaling pattern strongly suggests that at 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the limiting component. The CPU's performance is less relevant at this resolution because the GPU is saturated with pixel rendering work. The data shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens at higher resolutions, with a 40 FPS difference at 1080p (229 vs 112), a 76 FPS difference at 1440p (148 vs 72), and a 40 FPS difference at 4K (79 vs 39). This indicates that the GPU's workload scales significantly with both resolution and settings, while the CPU's role becomes less dominant.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Minimum, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 holds a rank of 1589 out of 3712 total combos. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, indicating that it is a solid performer for this game, though not at the very top. The ranking suggests that while the components are individually strong—the CPU is in the 89th percentile and the GPU in the 61st—the system's overall performance in Minimum is constrained by the GPU, especially at higher resolutions.

The data implies that many other combinations, likely those with more powerful GPUs, achieve higher frame rates. However, the i7-13700K's high CPU score relative to its rivals (e.g., it is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX) suggests that the CPU is not holding the system back. The bottleneck is clearly the graphics card, as evidenced by the significant frame rate drops when moving from 1080p to 4K. This rank of 1589 out of 3712 means that approximately 57% of tested combos perform better, but it also means that this setup outperforms a large portion of the field, making it a reasonable choice for playing Minimum at high settings on 1440p or medium settings on 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's resolution and performance goals. For a target of 60 FPS or higher, the data shows that at 1080p, all settings levels are viable, with even the Ultra preset achieving an average of 112 FPS. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 72 FPS, which is still playable, but the High preset at 95 FPS offers a better balance of visual quality and performance. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, the data suggests that the High preset, with an average of 51 FPS, is insufficient. The Medium preset at 4K achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for 4K gaming.

The data indicates that the Medium preset provides the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate stability. At 1440p, Medium yields an average of 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience. At 1080p, Medium achieves 175 FPS on average with a minimum of 149 FPS. The only configuration where Medium falls below 60 FPS is at 4K, where it averages 61 FPS. For users who prioritize maximum visual quality, the High preset at 1440p is a strong option, offering 95 FPS, while the Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable at 112 FPS. However, the Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 39 FPS, is not recommended for a smooth experience. Therefore, the Medium preset is the most versatile choice, providing high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, and a playable 61 FPS at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 229. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS is 175, with a minimum of 149 and a maximum of 201. High settings produce an average of 147 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, still achieves an average of 112 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of handling even the most demanding settings with ease.

At 2560x1440, performance scales down as expected. Low settings yield an average of 148 FPS. Medium settings provide an average of 113 FPS, with a minimum of 96 and a maximum of 130. High settings result in an average of 95 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 72 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the system remains highly capable at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. Low settings produce an average of 79 FPS. Medium settings achieve an average of 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 70. High settings drop to an average of 51 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS mark. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of just 39 FPS. This data shows that 4K gaming is possible, but requires a compromise on settings to maintain playable frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is a member of the GeForce 30-series, built on the Ampere architecture and Samsung's 8 nm process. It features 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, along with 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1725 MHz. It is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. These specifications give it a peak FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS.

In the context of Minimum, the RTX 3070's role is critical, particularly at higher resolutions. The benchmark data for the GPU shows an average score of 17208, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which scores 17083, making the RTX 3070 0.7% faster. The GPU's performance in the game is directly tied to resolution and settings. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully saturated, allowing the CPU to push high frame rates. However, at 4K, the GPU's workload increases dramatically, and the 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth become more significant factors. The data shows that the RTX 3070 is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the average FPS drops below 60 on High settings. The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 22214, indicates it is a solid mid-to-high-range card, but it is not designed to deliver maximum settings at 4K in this title. The GPU's role is to provide a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, and a playable one at 4K with adjusted settings.