Minimum

Minimum is a 2014 third-person shooter whose benchmark behavior with the Intel Core i7-14700KF and Intel Arc B390 combination reveals a system starkly limited by its graphics component. The measured frames per second (FPS) data shows a clear pattern: the CPU provides ample headroom, while the GPU struggles to maintain playable rates at higher resolutions and settings, placing this combo in the bottom percentile of all tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1080p to 4K tells a definitive story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo averages 95 FPS, which drops to 61 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 33 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 65% reduction in performance from 1080p to 1440p, and a 65% reduction again from 1440p to 4K. Such steep declines are classic signs of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering resolution directly dictates the workload on the graphics processor.

Examining the Medium settings row provides additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the average is 72 FPS, falling to 47 FPS at 1440p (a 35% drop) and then to 25 FPS at 4K (a 47% drop from 1440p). The scaling is not perfectly linear, but the trend is unmistakable: each resolution step imposes a substantial penalty. The data implies that the Intel Arc B390, with its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 and a percentile rank of 9 among all GPUs, simply lacks the pixel throughput needed for higher resolutions.

The High settings preset shows a similar pattern. Starting at 61 FPS in 1080p, it drops to 39 FPS at 1440p and 21 FPS at 4K. The ratio between resolutions is consistent, suggesting that the GPU is operating at its computational limits regardless of the specific settings chosen. Interestingly, the gap between Low and High settings at the same resolution is relatively modest compared to the gap between resolutions. At 1080p, Low gives 95 FPS while High gives 61 FPS—a 36% difference. At 4K, Low gives 33 FPS and High gives 21 FPS—a 36% difference again. This consistency indicates that resolution scaling, not settings complexity, is the dominant factor limiting performance.

The Ultra preset, which one might expect to be the most demanding, shows the lowest scores across all resolutions: 46 FPS at 1080p, 30 FPS at 1440p, and 16 FPS at 4K. The fact that 4K Ultra produces only 16 FPS—essentially a slideshow—reinforces that this GPU was never designed for high-end gaming workloads. The data suggests that players seeking smooth gameplay should prioritize resolution reduction over settings reduction, as the former yields larger FPS gains.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Minimum?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves consistently playable frame rates. At Low settings, it averages 95 FPS, while Medium and High presets deliver 72 FPS and 61 FPS respectively. Even Ultra at 1080p reaches 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but still usable.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS, while High averages 39 FPS. This 9 FPS difference (23% improvement) suggests that the Ultra preset's additional effects impose a measurable but not overwhelming penalty on the Intel Arc B390. However, both values fall below ideal smoothness for fast-paced third-person shooting.

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in this game?

A: The data indicates no. The Intel Core i7-14700KF has 20 cores and 28 threads with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 44167 with a single-core score of 6235. These figures place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Since FPS scales heavily with resolution—dropping from 95 FPS at 1080p Low to 33 FPS at 4K Low—the GPU is clearly the limiting factor.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 4K with this setup?

A: The measured data shows 4K performance is poor across all settings. Low averages 33 FPS, Medium averages 25 FPS (with a minimum of 21 FPS and maximum of 29 FPS), High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. None of these configurations approach the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this combo rank against all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2602 out of 2939 tested combinations in Minimum, placing it in the bottom 11% of all systems. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU, which sits in the 9th percentile of all graphics cards, whereas the CPU sits in the 94th percentile.

Q: Which settings preset provides the best balance of quality and performance at 1080p?

A: Medium at 1920x1080 offers 72 FPS average with a minimum of 62 FPS, which is the lowest settings tier that stays above 60 FPS at all times. High at the same resolution averages 61 FPS but does not report a minimum FPS figure, making Medium the safer choice for consistent frame pacing.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a formidable processor that plays a minimal role in limiting Minimum's performance. With 20 cores and 28 threads, it offers substantial parallel processing capability, though a 2014 third-person shooter is unlikely to fully utilize such resources. The base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensure high single-thread performance, which is often more critical for older game engines.

Benchmark data supports this assessment. The CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (0.2% faster), AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.4% faster), and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.9% faster), while it leads the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1%. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, where the GPU dominates.

The cache hierarchy—80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3—provides ample data locality for game assets. The memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel bus, offers flexibility, though the system shared memory architecture of the GPU means that main memory bandwidth could influence performance. However, the measured FPS deltas between resolutions are so large that CPU or memory limitations are not evident.

The PassMark multi-thread score of 52425 and single-thread score of 4480 further confirm the CPU's capability. Even the data compression score of 694963 and integer math score of 183056 indicate strong general-purpose performance. In Minimum's context, the CPU is effectively a non-factor; the game's engine, released in 2014, likely cannot leverage 20 cores efficiently, but the high single-core boost clock ensures that even legacy code paths run swiftly. The data implies that pairing this CPU with a stronger GPU would yield dramatically better results, as the processor would simply feed frames faster without breaking a sweat.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2602 out of 2939 tested combinations in Minimum is a stark indicator of its overall performance tier. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of all systems tested, a position that aligns closely with the GPU's individual ranking. The Intel Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482 from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster), NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% faster), and NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (2.7% faster). These are all legacy or entry-level parts, confirming that the B390 is positioned at the very bottom of the graphics hierarchy.

Conversely, the CPU ranks in the 94th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 70163. This massive disparity between CPU and GPU capability is the defining characteristic of this combo. The rank in game reflects the weakest link, and the data clearly shows that the GPU drags the entire system down. If the same CPU were paired with a mid-range GPU, the combo rank would likely improve by thousands of positions, as the CPU's headroom is vast.

The rank also contextualizes the measured FPS. A combo ranked 2602 out of 2939 would be expected to produce sub-60 FPS at 1080p in demanding titles, and Minimum's data confirms this with only the Low preset exceeding 60 FPS at that resolution. The fact that the combo achieves 95 FPS at 1080p Low suggests that Minimum is relatively lightweight by modern standards, but the GPU still cannot push higher settings without dropping below playable thresholds. This rank serves as a warning to potential users: this combo is suitable only for undemanding games or very low graphical presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based solely on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's target frame rate and resolution. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers the best combination of visual quality and performance, averaging 72 FPS with a reported minimum of 62 FPS. This means the frame rate never drops below 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. The High preset at 1080p averages 61 FPS, which is borderline, but the lack of a minimum FPS figure introduces uncertainty about potential dips. Low at 1080p averages 95 FPS, providing a large safety margin, but sacrifices visual fidelity.

For users who prioritize frame rate above all, 1080p Low is the clear choice, delivering 95 FPS. This is 32% faster than Medium and 56% faster than High, making it the only preset that approaches high-refresh-rate monitor territory. However, the visual difference between Low and Medium in a 2014 game may be minimal, so Medium's 72 FPS with a 62 FPS minimum is arguably the sweet spot for a balance of smoothness and appearance.

At 2560x1440, no preset achieves 60 FPS. Low averages 61 FPS, which is just above the threshold but with no minimum reported, while Medium averages 47 FPS (minimum 40 FPS) and High averages 39 FPS. The data suggests that 1440p is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the margin is thin. At 3840x2160, all presets fail to reach 30 FPS, with Low at 33 FPS being the best. The recommendation is clear: avoid 4K entirely with this combo, and treat 1440p as a Low-settings-only option. The 1080p Medium preset is the most balanced recommendation, offering a stable 72 FPS that suits the game's third-person shooter mechanics.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full dataset provides a comprehensive view of performance across all resolution and settings combinations.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 95 FPS. Medium averages 72 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS, indicating stable frame delivery. High averages 61 FPS, while Ultra averages 46 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 49 FPS, showing that settings have a significant impact at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, Low averages 61 FPS. Medium averages 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS. High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 31 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p, suggesting that resolution is beginning to overshadow settings as the primary constraint.

At 3840x2160, Low averages 33 FPS. Medium averages 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS. High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is only 17 FPS, indicating that the GPU is so saturated at 4K that changing settings yields diminishing returns. The minimum FPS figures, where reported, show that Medium at 4K can dip to 21 FPS, which is below acceptable playability.

Cross-referencing the data, the 1080p Medium preset (72 FPS) is the only configuration that combines an average above 60 FPS with a reported minimum above 60 FPS. The 1080p Low preset (95 FPS) and 1440p Low preset (61 FPS) also exceed 60 FPS on average but lack minimum figures. Every other configuration falls below 60 FPS on average, and the 4K presets all fall below 35 FPS, rendering them unplayable for a fast-paced shooter.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance, and its specifications explain why. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with a power draw of 80 W. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical peak performance is 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS for FP16 (2:1 ratio), with pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s.

Critically, this GPU uses system shared memory, meaning its memory size, type, and bus width are all labeled "System Shared," and bandwidth is "System Dependent." This architecture is typical of integrated graphics, and indeed, the GPU's slot width is listed as "IGP" with no power connectors and a bus interface of "IGP." The chip is named "Panther Lake" with an architecture of "Xe3-LPG," fabricated on a 3 nm process. This indicates that the B390 is designed for mobile or low-power integrated use, not discrete gaming.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places the B390 in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all NVIDIA parts from a decade ago, such as the GT 520MX and GT 710, which were entry-level discrete cards. This positioning explains the measured FPS: the GPU simply cannot sustain high frame rates at modern resolutions. The system shared memory architecture also means that performance is tied to the CPU's memory bandwidth, which, while substantial with DDR4/DDR5 support, still adds latency compared to dedicated VRAM.

The data implies that the B390 is a stopgap solution for basic computing, not a gaming GPU. Its 12 ray tracing cores and DirectX 12 Ultimate support are forward-looking features, but the raw throughput is insufficient. In Minimum, a 2014 title, the GPU manages 95 FPS only at 1080p Low, which is the least demanding configuration tested. Every step up in resolution or settings exposes its limitations. Users considering this combo for gaming should expect to play at 1080p with reduced settings, and even then, the experience will be modest by contemporary standards.