Minimum

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates across the three tested resolutions reveal a classic GPU-bound scenario for this title. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces an average of 79.9 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same quality preset, the average drops to 47.7 FPS, representing a 40.3% reduction in frame rate for a 77.8% increase in pixel count. This steep decline indicates that the rendering workload is scaling heavily with resolution, a hallmark of a graphics card operating near its limits.

At 3840x2160, the High preset average falls further to 28.9 FPS. The gap between 1440p and 4K is 18.8 FPS, or a 39.4% drop. The pattern is consistent: doubling the pixel density from 1080p to 4K (a 4x increase in total pixels) results in a frame rate that is roughly 36% of the original 1080p value. The data shows that this pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is heavily constrained by the GPU at higher resolutions, as the CPU's substantial compute headroom is not the limiting factor in these tests.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the spread between Low (122.7 FPS) and Ultra (57.5 FPS) is 65.2 FPS. At 1440p, the spread narrows to 35.7 FPS (75.6 to 39.9), and at 4K, it narrows to 21.6 FPS (42.0 to 20.4). This compression of the performance range at higher resolutions is indicative of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck; when the pixel fill rate is maxed out, the relative cost of individual settings diminishes. The limiting component is unequivocally the graphics card, as the frame rate ceiling is set by its 4 GB GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus interface.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB holds a rank of 1570 out of 1733 tested combos in this specific game. This places the pairing in the lower percentile of all system configurations, at roughly the 9th percentile from the top. The benchmark results indicate that this is a decidedly low-performing combination for this title, despite the inclusion of one of the most powerful consumer CPUs available.

The CPU itself, when assessed independently, sits in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79824. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7413 (score 80041, deltaPct -0.3), the Intel Core i9-14900KF (score 79245, deltaPct 0.7), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (score 79240, deltaPct 0.7). The data shows that the i9-14900K is statistically tied with these processors in synthetic tests, with deltas of less than one percent. This confirms the CPU is not a performance liability.

However, the GPU's standalone percentile is 50, and it has no measured benchmark scores or nearest rivals listed in the data. This suggests the RTX 3050 4 GB is an average-performing part on its own, but when paired with a flagship CPU, the combination's overall ranking in this game is dragged down by the graphics card. The combo rank of 1570 out of 1733 is a direct consequence of this mismatch. In essence, the system is a high-end CPU strapped to a mid-range GPU, and the game's performance metrics reflect the GPU's limitations, not the CPU's capabilities. The ranking data demonstrates that for this game, the graphics card is the sole determinant of the frame rate, relegating the powerful CPU to a minor supporting role.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is 122.7 FPS, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K a bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 20.4 FPS (Ultra) to 42.0 FPS (Low), which are low values that indicate the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the limiting component, not the CPU.

Q: How does the i9-14900K compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79824, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD EPYC 7413 (80041) and 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i9-14900KF (79245).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average frame rate on Low settings is 75.6 FPS, while on Ultra it drops to 39.9 FPS, a difference of 35.7 FPS.

Q: Does the game run at a playable frame rate at 4K with any settings?

A: At 3840x2160, the highest average is 42.0 FPS on Low settings. The Ultra preset yields only 20.4 FPS, which is below typical playability thresholds.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the benchmark database?

A: The combo ranks 1570 out of 1733 tested combinations for this game, placing it in the bottom 10% of configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rate scales from a high of 122.7 FPS on Low to 92.2 FPS on Medium, 79.9 FPS on High, and down to 57.5 FPS on Ultra. This represents a smooth, predictable degradation as visual quality increases, with the Ultra preset costing nearly half the frame rate of Low.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 75.6 FPS (Low), 61.0 FPS (Medium), 47.7 FPS (High), and 39.9 FPS (Ultra). The relative drop from Low to Ultra is 47.2%, which is slightly steeper than at 1080p, where the drop is 53.1%. This indicates that the higher resolution amplifies the cost of the Ultra preset's additional effects.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal. The Low preset averages 42.0 FPS, Medium averages 31.0 FPS, High averages 28.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 20.4 FPS. The transition from Low to Medium at 4K costs 11.0 FPS, which is a significant 26.2% reduction. The data shows that the gap between Medium and High at 4K is only 2.1 FPS, suggesting that the High preset's added features have a diminished visual return for their performance cost at this resolution. The Ultra preset is the least viable option, offering less than 25 FPS on average.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. It features 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. Its integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 770, which is irrelevant for gaming with a discrete GPU. The CPU's benchmark scores are exceptionally high, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 49872 and a single-core score of 7040.

In the context of this game, the CPU's role is to feed frames to the GPU. The measured FPS data shows that even at the lowest resolution and settings (1080p Low), the system achieves 122.7 FPS. This is a frame rate that the CPU can easily produce, given its single-thread performance. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7040 places it near the top of the charts, ensuring that game logic and draw calls are processed without delay. The average benchmark score of 79824 and its 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs support the conclusion that the processor is not the limiting factor.

The game "Minimum" is a third-person shooter released in 2014, which likely does not utilize more than a few cores. Therefore, the i9-14900K's 24 cores and 32 threads are largely underutilized. The CPU's high boost clock of 6.00 GHz is the more relevant specification for this title, as it ensures the fastest possible single-threaded response. The data suggests that the CPU is operating well below its capacity, with the GPU being the sole arbiter of performance. The passmark single-thread score of 4697 and the passmark physics score of 3140 further indicate that the CPU has ample headroom for this workload.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings for this combination depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 79.9 FPS, which is a balanced choice for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 92.2 FPS offers a slightly higher frame rate with a modest reduction in visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 57.5 FPS is playable but represents a significant 28% performance drop from High, which may not justify the visual gains. The Low preset at 122.7 FPS is the best choice for competitive play where maximum frame rate is paramount.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 61.0 FPS is the recommended starting point, as it stays above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 47.7 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced play, but the drop below 60 FPS may be noticeable. The Low preset at 75.6 FPS provides the smoothest experience at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 39.9 FPS is generally not recommended due to its sub-40 FPS average.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets provide a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset at 42.0 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, but it still falls below the 60 FPS standard. The Medium and High presets at 31.0 and 28.9 FPS, respectively, are borderline playable for cinematic experiences but not for action sequences. The Ultra preset at 20.4 FPS is not viable for gameplay. For the best experience per the measured rows, 1080p with High or Medium settings offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. If a higher resolution is required, dropping to the Low preset at 1440p is the most sensible compromise. The data clearly shows that this GPU is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p requiring significant settings compromises and 4K being largely impractical.