Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, is not a demanding title by modern standards, but the measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination reveals a clear performance hierarchy that depends heavily on resolution and settings. At 1080p, this setup is exceptionally fast, but at 4K, it struggles to maintain smooth frame rates on higher presets. The following analysis breaks down exactly what the benchmark results indicate for this specific pairing.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. This is a desktop part for the Intel Socket 1851 platform, and it features 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's average benchmark score is 36938, which places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 25891 in multi-core and 3655 in single-core tests, which demonstrates robust threading capabilities alongside excellent single-threaded speed.

For a game like Minimum, which is a decade old, the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. The data supports this: even at 1080p Low settings, the average FPS reaches 187, which is far beyond any display's refresh rate in typical use. The processor's single-core score of 4412 in PassMark is particularly relevant here, as older games often rely heavily on a single thread for game logic and physics. The 4.90 GHz boost clock ensures that any such single-threaded workload is handled with ease. The multi-threaded performance, meanwhile, is more than adequate for background tasks and any game engine overhead.

When comparing to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 225 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, with a deltaPct of 0. It is slightly behind the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D by 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 by 0.4%. It also trails the Intel Core i9-12900T by 0.5%. These differences are negligible in gaming contexts, especially in a title like Minimum where the frame rates are so high that the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU has ample headroom; the FPS drops observed at higher resolutions are attributable to the GPU, not the processor. The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 30459 and data compression score of 302811 further confirm its capability to handle diverse workloads without breaking a sweat.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the primary driver of frame rates in this pairing. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2990 MHz. With 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs, it delivers 21.43 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU's average benchmark score is 16014, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 3322, and in PassMark G3D, it scores 17631.

The GPU's performance in Minimum scales predictably with resolution. At 1080p, it easily pushes frame rates above 120 FPS on High settings, but at 4K, the average FPS on High settings drops to 42. This indicates that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become significant constraints at higher resolutions. While 8 GB is generally sufficient for older titles, the sheer pixel count at 3840x2160 demands more from the memory subsystem. The 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the data shows a sharp decline in performance, suggesting that memory bandwidth limitations are being hit.

Comparing the RX 9060 to its rivals, it is 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. It is 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon R9 370X and the AMD Radeon RX 7700, and 2.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500. These are all close scores, but in this game, the RX 9060's performance is more about its memory configuration than raw compute. The 4K Ultra preset, which likely increases texture detail and shadow quality, pushes the average FPS down to 32. This is a clear sign that the GPU is overwhelmed at that resolution and settings combination. The GPU's 59th percentile ranking means it is a mid-range part, and the data reflects that it is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Minimum.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves an average of 187 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset yields 143 FPS, and High drops to 120 FPS. Ultra at 1080p still manages a solid 92 FPS. For most users with a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, the High preset at 1080p offers the best balance, providing 120 FPS while likely improving visual fidelity over Medium. If the monitor is 240Hz, Low at 187 FPS is the only way to get close to that refresh rate, but the visual hit may not be worth it.

At 1440p, the data shows a different story. Low achieves 121 FPS, Medium 92 FPS, High 78 FPS, and Ultra 59 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p is the sweet spot, offering a playable 92 FPS while maintaining decent visuals. High is also viable at 78 FPS, but Ultra dips below 60 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced third-person shooter. For 1440p, the recommendation is to stick with Medium or High, with Medium being the safer choice for consistent frame times.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. Low settings produce 65 FPS, Medium 50 FPS, High 42 FPS, and Ultra 32 FPS. None of these are ideal for competitive play, but Low at 65 FPS is the only preset that approaches a playable level. Medium at 50 FPS is borderline, and anything above that is too slow. The data indicates that 4K gaming with this GPU requires significant compromises. For a smooth experience, 1440p Medium is the recommended setting, as it provides a high frame rate without sacrificing too much visual quality. The 4K resolution should only be used with Low settings if the user prioritizes resolution over smoothness.

FAQ

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

A: The benchmark data shows the sweet spot is 2560x1440. At Medium settings, the average FPS is 92, which is smooth and responsive. At 1920x1080, you can get higher FPS, but at 4K, the performance drops significantly, with the best average FPS being 65 on Low settings.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129. In practical terms, they perform nearly identically, so the difference in Minimum will be minimal.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a bottleneck for the RX 9060 in this game?

A: No. The CPU's average score of 36938 is in the 85th percentile, and its single-thread performance is excellent. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 187 FPS, which is far beyond what the GPU can handle at higher settings, indicating the CPU has plenty of headroom.

Q: Can this system run Minimum at 4K smoothly?

A: Only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 65. At Medium, it drops to 50 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 42 FPS and 32 FPS, respectively. For a consistently smooth experience, 1440p is a better choice.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p High and 1440p High?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 120. At 1440p High, it drops to 78 FPS. This is a 35% decrease in performance, which highlights the GPU's limitations at higher pixel counts.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM on the RX 9060 cause issues in Minimum?

A: The data suggests it is a factor at 4K, where the GPU's performance drops sharply. While the game is old, the higher resolution demands more memory bandwidth, and the 8 GB VRAM combined with the 128-bit bus appears to be a limiting factor at 3840x2160.

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

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 120 at 1920x1080 to 78 at 2560x1440, and then to 42 at 3840x2160. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. At Low settings, the progression is 187 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p, and 65 FPS at 4K. The relative drop is smaller in percentage terms at Low settings, but the absolute values are still low at 4K.

This pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior. If the CPU were the limitation, the FPS would remain relatively constant regardless of resolution. Instead, the data shows a steep decline as resolution increases. The CPU's benchmark scores, which are in the 85th percentile, support this conclusion. The GPU, with its 59th percentile ranking, is the weaker component. The memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s and the 128-bit bus are likely the specific areas where the GPU struggles at 4K. The pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s are also factors, but the memory subsystem is the most likely culprit for the steep drop at 3840x2160.

The data from the Medium preset includes min and max FPS values, which provide additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the FPS ranges from 122 to 165, with an average of 143. At 1440p Medium, the range is 79 to 106, with an average of 92. At 4K Medium, the range is 42 to 57, with an average of 50. The variance in FPS also increases at higher resolutions, indicating less consistent performance. This further confirms that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the pixel workload at higher resolutions.

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

The complete set of measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 in Minimum is as follows.

At 1920x1080, the Low settings produce an average of 187 FPS. The Medium settings average 143 FPS, with a minimum of 122 FPS and a maximum of 165 FPS. The High settings average 120 FPS, and the Ultra settings average 92 FPS. This resolution is clearly the best for high refresh rates, with all presets except Ultra exceeding 120 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low settings average 121 FPS. The Medium settings average 92 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. The High settings average 78 FPS, and the Ultra settings average 59 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance, with Medium being the most viable preset for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the Low settings average 65 FPS. The Medium settings average 50 FPS, with a minimum of 42 FPS and a maximum of 57 FPS. The High settings average 42 FPS, and the Ultra settings average 32 FPS. This resolution is only playable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is not ideal for a shooter.

The combo's overall rank in this game is 1677 out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier. This ranking reflects the GPU's mid-range performance and the CPU's strong support. The data is measured, not estimated, ensuring accuracy. For a 2014 title, this system is more than capable at 1080p and 1440p, but 4K gaming requires significant settings compromises. The benchmark results indicate that the best experience is at 1440p Medium, where the 92 FPS average provides a smooth and responsive feel without the visual sacrifices of Low settings.