Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination delivers a highly capable experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The data shows this pairing ranks in the 76th percentile of all tested configurations, with the GPU clearly acting as the primary driver of performance across all tested resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS), the role of each component, and what the scaling patterns reveal about the system's balance.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in Minimum?*

A: This specific combination ranks 705th out of 2939 tested combos in the game's benchmark database. This places it in the top 24% of all tested configurations, indicating a strong performer for this title.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved with this hardware?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 277, which was achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This represents the peak performance ceiling for this combo in the benchmark runs.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36,938. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, scores 36,945, resulting in a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is slightly behind at 37,018, a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i9-12900T is at 37,112, a -0.5% delta.

Q: What is the highest average FPS at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 96, which is achieved with Low settings. The lowest at this resolution is 47 FPS on the Ultra preset.

Q: What are the specifications of the CPU's cache and core configuration?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 features 10 cores and 10 threads. It has a cache structure comprising 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how does it influence performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has a 384-bit memory bus and a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. This high bandwidth is a key factor in maintaining high FPS at higher resolutions, as it allows the GPU to quickly access texture and frame data.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications align perfectly with the measured performance. Built on the Ampere architecture and the GA102 chip, this GPU features 10,240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 render output units. The data suggests that the GPU's raw compute power is the primary factor determining the FPS in Minimum.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1365 MHz and a boost of 1665 MHz, are complemented by 12 GB of GDDR6X memory. This memory configuration delivers a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s over a 384-bit bus. This is a substantial amount of memory bandwidth, which is often a critical factor in games. The benchmark results indicate that this bandwidth is sufficient to feed the GPU's processing units effectively, as the FPS scales predictably with resolution changes, a sign that the GPU is the bottleneck rather than the memory subsystem.

The GPU's performance is further contextualized by its benchmark scores. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 26,896 and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 15,282, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, scores 40,870, a 0.8% delta from this card's average benchmark score of 41,187. In the context of Minimum, the 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power ensures that even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, remains playable at 1080p and 1440p. The 350 W TDP and 750 W suggested PSU indicate this is a high-power component, and the data confirms it delivers high-end performance to match.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 705 out of 2939 tested configurations shows that it sits comfortably in the upper echelon of systems tested for Minimum. This rank, which places it in the 76th percentile, reflects the balance between the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the RTX 3080 Ti. While the CPU is not the top performer in its class, it provides enough processing power to avoid bottlenecking the GPU in this specific title.

The data implies that the GPU is the limiting factor for this combination. The CPU's synthetic benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25,891 and a single-core score of 3,655, are robust. However, the sheer graphical demands of Minimum at higher settings and resolutions mean that the RTX 3080 Ti's capabilities will be the deciding factor in the final frame rate. The 85th percentile ranking of the CPU against all CPUs suggests it has headroom, but the system's overall performance is capped by the GPU's output. This is a desirable trait for a gaming system, as it means the processor is not unnecessarily holding back the graphics card. The rank is a strong indicator that this pairing was well-chosen for a high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p and a smooth 60+ FPS experience at 1440p in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system performs across different resolutions and quality presets. The data is measured, not estimated, and offers a consistent set of average FPS values, with some entries also including minimum and maximum FPS for additional context.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 277 avg FPS
• Medium: 212 avg FPS, with a min of 180 and a max of 244 FPS.
• High: 178 avg FPS
• Ultra: 136 avg FPS

At 1080p, the system is clearly CPU-bound at the lower settings, with the 277 FPS on Low indicating the CPU's processing limit. The gap between Low and Medium is 65 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the first step up in quality. The gap between Medium and High is 34 FPS, and High to Ultra is 42 FPS. The minimum FPS of 180 on Medium suggests that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate remains very high.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 179 avg FPS
• Medium: 137 avg FPS, with a min of 116 and a max of 157 FPS.
• High: 115 avg FPS
• Ultra: 87 avg FPS

At 1440p, the GPU begins to take on more load. The FPS drops from the 1080p figures, but performance remains excellent. The 179 FPS on Low is still exceptionally high, and the 87 FPS on Ultra is well within the bounds of smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS of 116 on Medium shows that even the 1% lows are above the 100 FPS mark, which is a strong indicator of consistent performance.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 96 avg FPS
• Medium: 74 avg FPS, with a min of 63 and a max of 85 FPS.
• High: 62 avg FPS
• Ultra: 47 avg FPS

At 4K, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The performance drops significantly, but the system remains playable. The 96 FPS on Low is impressive for 4K, showing the power of the RTX 3080 Ti. However, the 47 FPS on Ultra falls below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The min FPS of 63 on Medium shows that this preset is the sweet spot for a locked 60 FPS experience at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate.

For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The 136 average FPS provides a fantastic experience for high-refresh-rate monitors, and the visual quality is maximized. This is the best choice for users who want the best possible image quality without sacrificing performance.

For 1440p gaming, the High preset offers the best balance. The 115 average FPS is excellent, and the visual fidelity is high. The Ultra preset at 87 FPS is also viable, but the drop to High ensures a more comfortable margin above 100 FPS. The Medium preset at 137 FPS could be chosen for esports-level competitive play, but the visual compromise is significant.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the only recommendation for a consistent 60 FPS experience. The 74 average FPS, with a minimum of 63 FPS, ensures that the frame rate stays above 60 FPS in all but the most intense scenes. The High preset at 62 FPS is borderline, and the minimum FPS data is not available, so the Medium preset is the safer choice. The Low preset at 96 FPS is an option for those prioritizing frame rate over visuals, but the Medium preset offers a much better visual experience for a minor FPS cost. The Ultra preset at 47 FPS is not recommended for 4K, as it falls below the playable threshold for most users.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor from the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This processor is not unlocked for overclocking, but its stock performance is substantial.

In Minimum, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 277 FPS. This is likely near the CPU's limit for the game's engine, as the GPU is more than capable of producing higher frame rates. The CPU's single-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655, is critical for this scenario, as many game engines rely heavily on a few threads for physics and game logic.

The CPU also has a large cache, with 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 per core. This helps reduce latency and improves performance in tasks that require frequent data access. The 65 W TDP is relatively low for a desktop processor of this performance class. The data suggests that the CPU provides a solid foundation for the RTX 3080 Ti, ensuring that it is not a bottleneck at mainstream resolutions and settings. The 0% delta in synthetic benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F confirms that this CPU is a competitive performer in its class, and its 85th percentile ranking against all CPUs shows it has the processing muscle to support a high-end GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS across all settings drops by approximately 35-40%. For instance, the High preset goes from 178 FPS at 1080p to 115 FPS at 1440p, a 35% reduction. This is a significant drop, but it is a direct consequence of the GPU having to render 78% more pixels.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced. The High preset drops from 115 FPS to 62 FPS, a 46% reduction. This is expected, as 4K has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. The fact that the FPS does not scale linearly with pixel count suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and fill rate are becoming limiting factors at 4K.

This scaling pattern confirms that the RTX 3080 Ti is the primary limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see the FPS plateau at the same level regardless of resolution, particularly at the lower settings. Instead, we see a consistent drop in FPS as resolution increases, which is a textbook sign of a GPU-limited system. The data also implies that the CPU can handle the game's logic and draw calls even at 4K, as the FPS continues to change with GPU load. The drop from 1080p Low (277 FPS) to 1440p Low (179 FPS) is a 35% decrease, which aligns more closely with the GPU's rendering load than with CPU limitations. This balance is ideal, as it shows the system is well-matched for maximizing performance at 1440p and 1080p, while 4K performance is contingent on the GPU's capabilities.