Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile delivers a strong performance profile in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter that is clearly more demanding on the GPU than the CPU at high resolutions. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as resolution increases, while the CPU provides ample headroom at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured data to explain the scaling behavior, the combo’s standing among tested configurations, and the specific roles of the processor and graphics card.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, indicating that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is the limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 130 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average falls to 84 FPS, a reduction of 46 FPS or roughly 35%. The jump to 4K High yields just 45 FPS, which is a 65% drop from the 1080p result and a 46% drop from 1440p. This pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload increases exponentially with pixel count.

The scaling is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 99 FPS, which drops to 64 FPS at 1440p Ultra and then plummets to 34 FPS at 4K Ultra. The difference between 1440p and 4K at Ultra is 30 FPS, a 47% decrease, showing that the RTX 4070 Mobile’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings. The data suggests that 4K is only playable at Low settings, where the average is 70 FPS, but this is a significant compromise in visual fidelity.

The Low preset scaling tells a similar story, though the absolute numbers are higher. At 1080p Low, the average is 202 FPS, which drops to 130 FPS at 1440p Low and 70 FPS at 4K Low. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 72 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K drop is 60 FPS. The fact that 4K Low still only produces 70 FPS—far below the 1080p Low result—confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rate would be more consistent across resolutions at the same settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested configurations for Minimum, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile ranks 2029 out of 3712 combos. This places it in the 54.6th percentile, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of all tested systems. The rank is a composite measure of all measured FPS rows, and given the GPU’s 73rd percentile ranking among all GPUs, the overall combo rank is dragged down by the CPU’s 79th percentile standing and the specific demands of this game.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 27435 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, which scores 27425, a delta of 0%. The RTX 4070 Mobile also sits close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, which has an average score of 27565, a -0.5% delta. This suggests that in raw compute terms, the mobile GPU is comparable to a desktop-class card from the previous generation. However, in Minimum, the actual frame rates are limited by the 8 GB VRAM and the 128-bit memory bus, which is narrower than what those desktop rivals would typically have.

The combo’s rank of 2029 is not a reflection of poor absolute performance but rather the competitive field. Many combos in the database feature higher-end desktop CPUs and GPUs, and the mobile platform’s thermal and power constraints—the GPU has a TDP of 115 W—prevent it from reaching the top tier. The data indicates that this combo is a solid mid-range performer, well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it will not top charts at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process and features 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1395 MHz and a boost clock of 1695 MHz, with memory running at 2000 MHz or 16 Gbps effective. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is connected via a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. These specifications are moderate for a 40-series mobile part, and the data shows that the memory subsystem is a key constraint in Minimum.

At 1080p, the GPU is able to deliver high frame rates, with the Ultra preset averaging 99 FPS and High averaging 130 FPS. The gap between Ultra and High is 31 FPS, indicating that the extra settings in Ultra (likely higher draw distances and shadow quality) are taxing the GPU’s compute units more than its memory bandwidth. At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, and at 4K it drops to 34 FPS, showing that the 8 GB VRAM is likely being saturated at higher resolutions, causing the GPU to swap data and reducing throughput.

The GPU’s benchmark scores in other tests, such as Passmark G3D at 19587 and Geekbench Vulkan at 108367, confirm that the silicon is capable of high compute throughput. However, in Minimum, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra is only 34, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor here, as higher resolutions require more data to be moved per frame. The GPU’s pixel rate of 81.36 GPixel/s and texture rate of 244.1 GTexel/s are high enough for 1080p, but the frame rate scaling suggests that the memory interface is the bottleneck at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average is 202 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and well above the refresh rate of most monitors. Medium settings average 154 FPS, with a minimum of 131 FPS and a maximum of 178 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. High settings average 130 FPS, and Ultra settings average 99 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 103 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom at 1080p but that the Ultra preset is still playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU’s limits. Low settings average 130 FPS, which is identical to the 1080p High result, suggesting that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution. Medium settings average 100 FPS, with a minimum of 85 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS, which is a tight range. High settings average 84 FPS, and Ultra settings average 64 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is 35 FPS lower than the 1080p Ultra result, a 35% reduction, which is a steeper drop than the resolution increase alone would suggest, pointing to memory bandwidth constraints.

At 3840x2160, the performance is marginal for modern gaming standards. Low settings average 70 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. Medium settings average 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, meaning that frame rates will dip below 60 FPS during intense scenes. High settings average 45 FPS, and Ultra settings average 34 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is 65 FPS lower than the 1080p Ultra result, a 66% reduction. The data clearly shows that 4K is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the 70 FPS average is not guaranteed to be stable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 99 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset offers 130 FPS, which is beneficial for high-refresh-rate monitors, but the visual difference between High and Ultra in Minimum is likely significant enough to justify the 31 FPS trade-off. Medium settings at 154 FPS are unnecessary unless the user prioritizes maximum frame rates, but the Ultra preset provides a balanced experience.

For 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot, averaging 84 FPS. This is above 60 FPS and provides good visual fidelity. The Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes, as the minimum FPS is not recorded. The Medium preset averages 100 FPS, which is smoother, but the drop in visual quality may not be worth the 16 FPS gain over High. The Low preset at 130 FPS is excessive for most users, but it could be used for competitive play where frame rate is paramount.

For 4K, the Low preset is the only reasonable option, averaging 70 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and will result in noticeable stuttering. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they produce averages of 45 FPS and 34 FPS, respectively, which are not smooth enough for a third-person shooter. The data suggests that users should stick to 1440p or 1080p for the best experience, as 4K requires too many compromises.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor from the Meteor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. It has a 28 W TDP and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. In Minimum, the CPU is not the primary bottleneck, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling. At 1080p Low, the average is 202 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would require a capable CPU to feed the GPU. The CPU’s Passmark single-thread score of 3399 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1647.5 indicate strong per-core performance, which is crucial for a game that likely relies on a few threads for physics and game logic.

The CPU’s multi-threaded performance is also adequate, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12804.5 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 21100. This ensures that background tasks and game streaming do not interfere with frame rates. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it is above average, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and Intel Core i5-12600K, with delta percentages of -0.1% and -0.3%, respectively. This suggests that the Ultra 5 125H is competitive with desktop CPUs from a few generations ago, which is impressive for a mobile part.

In Minimum, the CPU’s role is to maintain a high minimum frame rate. The measured data shows that at 1080p Ultra, the average is 99 FPS, but the minimum is not recorded. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 85 FPS, and at 4K Medium, the minimum is 46 FPS. The fact that the minimum frame rates are close to the averages indicates that the CPU is not causing frame time spikes. The 18 MB of L3 cache is likely sufficient for the game’s data, and the dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provides enough throughput for the CPU’s operations. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.50 GHz is high enough to avoid bottlenecks in single-threaded scenarios, which is important for a game released in 2014.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this combo?*

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with High settings provides an average of 84 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 99 FPS, which is also excellent. 4K is only playable at Low settings, with an average of 70 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 Mobile compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 27435. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT scores 27425, a delta of 0%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 scores 27565, a delta of -0.5%. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell scores 27135, a delta of 1.1%.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the average frame rate is 202 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it is 99 FPS. The high frame rates and the scaling pattern indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor, not the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H.

*Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations in Minimum?*

A: The combo ranks 2029 out of 3712 total combos, placing it in the 54.6th percentile. This is a mid-range result, reflecting the mobile platform’s constraints compared to desktop systems.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 85, with an average of 100 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS. This indicates consistent frame pacing.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have, and is it sufficient for 4K?

A: The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 128-bit bus. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 34 FPS, which is below playable levels. The data suggests that 8 GB is insufficient for 4K Ultra in this game, as the memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s is also a limiting factor.