Minimum

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti delivers a performance profile in Minimum that is heavily dictated by resolution and preset, with the data revealing a clear transition from a CPU-bound scenario at 1080p to a GPU-limited one at 4K. Across the twelve measured configurations, the combo demonstrates a wide FPS spread, ranging from a highly playable 173 FPS at 1080p Low to a demanding 27.8 FPS at 4K Ultra, illustrating that while the hardware is capable, the game’s engine scales predictably with workload.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a pronounced drop as resolution increases, which is typical for a third-person shooter but reveals specific bottlenecks. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Ultra settings, the average FPS falls from 84.7 to 52.4, a reduction of 32.3 FPS. This pattern intensifies when stepping up to 3840x2160, where the Ultra preset yields just 27.8 FPS, indicating that the RTX 3060 Ti’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus are being saturated by the higher pixel count. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at High settings shows a similar trend, with FPS dropping from 68.9 to 36.9, a 46% decrease, which strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting component at the highest resolution.

Conversely, the scaling at lower settings is less dramatic, hinting at a different bottleneck. At Low settings, the frame rate at 1080p is 173 FPS, but at 1440p it only drops to 112 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 58.2 FPS. The relatively smaller gap between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings (61 FPS difference) compared to the gap between 1440p and 4K (53.8 FPS difference) implies that the CPU’s 20 cores and 28 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU’s raw pixel throughput becomes the wall as resolution climbs. The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, 4K is only attainable at Low settings, while 1440p offers headroom for Medium or High presets without hitting the same performance ceiling.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Minimum?*

A: The highest average FPS is 173, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the RTX 3060 Ti capable of 4K gaming in this title?

A: Yes, but only at lower presets. The data shows 58.2 FPS at 4K Low, 45.5 FPS at 4K Medium, and 36.9 FPS at 4K High, with Ultra dropping to 27.8 FPS, indicating that 4K requires significant graphical compromises.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1233 out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the lower percentile of systems for this specific game.

Q: Which resolution offers the best balance of performance and visual quality?

A: Based on the data, 2560x1440 at High settings provides 68.9 FPS, which is a solid playable frame rate with higher fidelity than Medium, while 1920x1080 at Ultra yields 84.7 FPS for those prioritizing smoothness over resolution.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the 173 FPS figure suggests the CPU is still capable of pushing more frames, but as settings increase to Ultra (84.7 FPS), the GPU’s workload becomes more demanding, indicating a shift toward GPU limitation even at this resolution.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: The difference is 59.6 FPS, with Low achieving 112 FPS and Ultra achieving 52.4 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for maximum graphical settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, built on the Ampere architecture with a GA104 chip, is the primary driver of visual output, and its specifications align with the measured results. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p but becomes strained at 4K, where the frame rate at High settings (36.9 FPS) suggests memory bandwidth limitations. The boost clock of 1665 MHz and 16.20 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are evident in the scaling, as the GPU shows a clear ability to handle medium workloads but struggles with the pixel fill rate required at Ultra presets.

The RTX 3060 Ti’s 4864 shading units and 80 ROPs are likely the reason for the steep drop between Medium and Ultra settings across all resolutions. For instance, at 1440p, Medium achieves 85.2 FPS while Ultra drops to 52.4 FPS, a 32.8 FPS penalty that is consistent with increased shading and texture work. The GPU’s 69th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its proximity to rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 6600 (which scores 0.5% higher on average) suggest that this card is a mid-range performer, and the game’s results reflect that positioning. The data implies that the 3060 Ti is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where its 448.0 GB/s bandwidth can keep up with the game’s demands without being overwhelmed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo shows a clear hierarchy: Low settings produce 173 FPS, Medium yields 129.2 FPS, High delivers 109.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 84.7 FPS. This represents a 51% reduction from Low to Ultra, indicating that the GPU’s shading units are the bottleneck at higher presets. The 1080p results are all above 60 FPS, making this resolution the most comfortable for the hardware.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings still achieve 112 FPS, which is excellent, but Medium falls to 85.2 FPS, High to 68.9 FPS, and Ultra to 52.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra widens to 59.6 FPS, and the Ultra result falls below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that 1440p Ultra is not ideal for this combo. The data shows that High settings at 1440p are the highest preset that maintains a playable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. Low settings manage 58.2 FPS, which is barely above 60 FPS, while Medium drops to 45.5 FPS, High to 36.9 FPS, and Ultra to 27.8 FPS. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a 66% reduction (173 to 58.2 FPS), demonstrating the immense cost of 4K rendering. None of the 4K results except Low are above 45 FPS, making 4K gaming impractical for this title at higher settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1233 out of 1733 in Minimum places it in the 29th percentile of tested systems, indicating that it is outperformed by the majority of configurations. This ranking is likely due to the RTX 3060 Ti’s mid-range status, as the CPU’s 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests it is not the limiting factor. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-14700KF (0% delta) and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (-0.5% delta), show that the i7-14700K is a top-tier processor, but the GPU’s 69th percentile ranking drags the overall combo down.

The rank implies that for Minimum, many other combos with higher-end GPUs will achieve better frame rates, particularly at 1440p and 4K. The data suggests that this combo is better suited for 1080p gaming, where the CPU’s strength can compensate for the GPU’s limitations. The 1733 total combos tested indicate a wide variety of hardware, and this specific pairing sits in the lower half, meaning users should temper expectations for high-resolution, high-settings gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience depends on the user’s display resolution. For 1920x1080, Ultra settings provide 84.7 FPS, which is smooth and visually rich, making it the recommended preset for this resolution. The 109.4 FPS at High is also excellent, but Ultra offers the best visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

For 2560x1440, High settings are the sweet spot, delivering 68.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a good balance of quality and performance. Medium at 85.2 FPS is also viable, but High offers a significant visual upgrade for only a 16.3 FPS penalty. Ultra at 1440p drops to 52.4 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but the data suggests High is the safer choice.

For 3840x2160, Low settings are the only viable option, achieving 58.2 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS ideal but still playable. Medium at 45.5 FPS and High at 36.9 FPS are too low for a smooth experience, and Ultra at 27.8 FPS is not recommended. The data clearly indicates that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant compromises, and users should stick to Low settings for a playable frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K, with 20 cores and 28 threads, is a powerhouse that provides ample processing headroom for Minimum. The CPU’s boost clock of 5.60 GHz and 33 MB of shared L3 cache contribute to its strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6287. The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this game, as the frame rate drops more significantly with resolution increases than with settings changes at a fixed resolution.

The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 70074, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70104), indicate that it is among the fastest processors available. In Minimum, which is likely a lightly threaded title given its 2014 release date, the CPU’s high single-core performance (Geekbench single-core score of 2932) ensures that it can maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions. The 173 FPS at 1080p Low demonstrates that the CPU can push frames well beyond 144, and the fact that the FPS drops to 84.7 at Ultra shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as the graphical load increases. The CPU’s role is to feed the GPU efficiently, and the data indicates it does so without issue, making this a purely GPU-limited system at 4K.