Minimum

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a robust 1080p and 1440p experience in Minimum, though 4K Ultra settings push the combination near its limits. The data shows a clear scaling pattern where the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution increases, while the CPU’s substantial core count ensures headroom at lower resolutions.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This configuration provides a significant amount of parallel processing power, which is reflected in its benchmark scores: the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,122 and a single-core score of 4,958 indicate strong performance across both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. In Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014, the game’s engine is unlikely to utilize all 28 threads, but the high boost clock and substantial L3 cache (33 MB shared) ensure that the CPU does not become a bottleneck in most scenarios.

The CPU’s role in this game is best understood by examining the FPS data at 1080p, where the processor’s influence is most apparent. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 202 FPS, which is a clear indicator that the CPU can feed frames at a very high rate when the GPU is not heavily taxed. The jump from Low to High settings at 1080p reduces the average to 130 FPS, still far above typical display refresh rates. The CPU’s single-thread performance, as measured by the Geekbench single-core score of 2,429, is adequate for handling the game’s logic and draw calls without introducing stutter, even at these elevated frame rates.

However, the CPU’s 65 W TDP and locked multiplier mean it is not designed for extreme overclocking, but the data suggests that in Minimum, the processor is rarely the limiting factor. The PassMark physics score of 2,455 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2,302 for the GPU further indicate that the system’s overall capability is balanced, with the CPU providing a solid foundation for the GPU to operate at its full potential. At 1440p and 4K, the FPS drops are primarily attributable to the GPU’s workload, as the CPU’s performance headroom remains largely unchanged.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 achieves a rank of 2,000 out of 3,712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations, indicating that it outperforms a majority of systems tested for this game, but it is not among the top performers. The percentile ranking of the CPU itself is 91st among all CPUs, which is high, while the GPU’s percentile is 61st, which is moderate. This discrepancy suggests that the combo’s overall rank is dragged down by the GPU, which is the weaker component in this pairing.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53,620, which is very close to the Intel Xeon 6505P (53,701, delta of -0.2%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (53,288, delta of 0.6%). This indicates that the CPU’s raw processing power is highly competitive with these alternatives, and in Minimum, where the engine is not exceptionally demanding, the CPU’s performance is unlikely to be the deciding factor in the combo’s rank.

For the GPU, the RTX 4060’s average benchmark score is 17,639, which is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17,666, delta of -0.2%) and the AMD Radeon 780M (17,588, delta of 0.3%). This tight grouping suggests that the RTX 4060’s performance is well-understood and that its ranking in the combo is largely determined by its 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus. The combo rank of 2,000 out of 3,712 means that roughly 46% of tested configurations perform better, which is a reasonable outcome for a system that combines a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU. The data indicates that to improve the rank, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the CPU has ample headroom.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 130. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 84 FPS, a reduction of 46 FPS or roughly 35%. Further increasing the resolution to 3840x2160 brings the average down to 45 FPS, which is a 65% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling behavior indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the pixel throughput required at 4K is more than the RTX 4060 can handle while maintaining high frame rates.

The trend is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 202 at 1080p to 130 at 1440p and then to 70 at 4K. The percentage drops are similar, with a 36% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 46% reduction from 1440p to 4K. This consistent scaling suggests that the CPU is not introducing a bottleneck, as the FPS reductions are proportional to the increase in pixel count. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions, but instead, the numbers continue to rise as resolution drops.

The data also shows that the RTX 4060’s 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for most settings, but at 4K Ultra, the combination of high resolution and demanding effects likely pushes memory usage close to the limit, resulting in an average FPS of just 34. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 36 FPS, which is a substantial gap that underscores the GPU’s workload. In summary, the resolution scaling analysis confirms that the RTX 4060 is the primary constraint in this combo, while the i7-14700F provides ample support.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers high frame rates across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 202, which is the highest measured result for this combination. Medium settings yield an average of 155 FPS, with a minimum of 131 and a maximum of 178, indicating smooth performance with minimal frame time variance. High settings reduce the average to 130 FPS, while Ultra settings bring it down to 99 FPS. These results show that at 1080p, the system is capable of providing a very playable experience even at the highest quality preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops significantly. Low settings produce an average of 130 FPS, which is still very fluid. Medium settings average 100 FPS, with a minimum of 85 and a maximum of 115, suggesting that the game remains responsive during intense scenes. High settings average 84 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, but Ultra settings drop to 64 FPS, which may be less desirable for those seeking a high refresh rate experience. The data shows that 1440p is a viable resolution for this combo, especially at Medium or High settings.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more marginal. Low settings average 70 FPS, which is playable, but Medium settings drop to an average of 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 62. High settings average 45 FPS, which is on the edge of smoothness for many players, while Ultra settings average just 34 FPS, which is likely too low for a satisfying experience in a fast-paced shooter. The 4K data clearly indicates that the RTX 4060 is not well-suited for maximum quality at this resolution, and users should consider lowering settings or reducing resolution to achieve better frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this combo for a high refresh rate monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average FPS of 202 on Low settings and 130 on High, making it ideal for 144Hz or higher displays. At 2560x1440, High settings still provide 84 FPS, which is adequate for a 60Hz monitor but not for high refresh rates.

Q: How does the RTX 4060’s VRAM affect performance at 4K?

A: The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 128-bit bus and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth. At 3840x2160, the average FPS on Ultra is 34, suggesting that the VRAM capacity and bandwidth are insufficient for maximum settings at this resolution.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 in this game?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 202, which shows the CPU can feed frames at a high rate. The FPS drops at higher resolutions are consistent with GPU-bound scaling.

Q: What is the difference in performance between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, High settings average 84 FPS, while Ultra settings average 64 FPS. The difference is 20 FPS, which represents a 24% reduction in frame rate for the higher quality preset.

Q: Can this combo run the game smoothly at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve an average above 60 FPS (70 FPS). Medium settings average 54 FPS, and High settings average 45 FPS, so a smooth experience at 4K is limited to lower quality presets.

Q: How does the combo’s rank of 2000 out of 3712 compare to the CPU’s percentile?

A: The CPU’s percentile is 91st, which is high, but the GPU’s percentile is 61st. The combo’s rank of 2000 out of 3712 is lower than the CPU’s percentile, indicating that the GPU is limiting the overall performance in this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset yields an average of 99 FPS, which is very smooth for most players, and the Medium preset provides 155 FPS for those with high refresh rate displays. The High preset at 130 FPS is a solid middle ground, offering good visual quality without sacrificing too much performance. Given that the game is a third-person shooter, prioritizing frame rate is often beneficial, so the High preset at 1080p is recommended for a balanced experience.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 84 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset, with an average of 100 FPS and a minimum of 85, is a better choice for maintaining a consistent frame rate, as it avoids the dips that can occur with higher settings. The Ultra preset at 64 FPS is borderline, and most users would likely prefer the smoother Medium or High settings. The data suggests that 1440p Medium is the sweet spot for this resolution, providing a good balance between visual quality and performance.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only setting that achieves an average above 60 FPS, at 70 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, which is acceptable for slower-paced games but may feel sluggish in a shooter. The High and Ultra presets, at 45 and 34 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a responsive experience. Users with 4K monitors should either lower the resolution to 1440p or accept the Low preset at 4K. Overall, the data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with settings adjusted to maintain a target of at least 60 FPS.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process node and contains 18,900 million transistors on a 159 mm² die. Its base clock is 1830 MHz, with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and it has 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The GPU’s memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. These specifications indicate that the RTX 4060 is a mid-range part, and its performance in Minimum is consistent with that positioning.

The GPU’s role in this game is best illustrated by the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully taxed, allowing the CPU to push frame rates above 200 FPS on Low settings. However, as resolution increases, the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor. The 4K Ultra result of 34 FPS shows that the RTX 4060 struggles with the combined demands of high resolution and high-quality effects, likely due to the 8 GB VRAM being insufficient for the texture and geometry data required at that resolution.

The GPU’s benchmark scores provide additional context. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,302 and PassMark G3D score of 19,545 place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals like the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (delta of -0.2%) and AMD Radeon 780M (delta of 0.3%) showing that its performance is closely matched with other mid-range options. The FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS is adequate for a 2014 title like Minimum, but the data shows that the GPU is the component that determines the overall experience at higher resolutions. In summary, the RTX 4060 provides solid 1080p and 1440p performance, but its limitations are exposed at 4K, where users must compromise on settings to maintain playable frame rates.