Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a highly capable 1080p experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter, with benchmark results showing strong headroom across all settings. The measured data indicates this pairing excels at 1920x1080, remains playable at 2560x1440, and struggles at 3840x2160. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU roles, the measured FPS across resolutions, and how the combo ranks against 2,938 other tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings?

A: The measured average is 177 FPS, making it the fastest preset tested at this resolution. No minimum or maximum FPS values were recorded for this row.

Q: How does the combo perform at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS is 87, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This represents a solid playable experience for a 1440p monitor.

Q: Is 3840x2160 playable with this hardware?

A: At 4K, the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS, while High averages 39 FPS. Only the Low preset reaches an average of 61 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested CPU-GPU combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 1895 out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database for Minimum.

Q: What are the CPU's core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It scores 14769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2085 in single-core.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 280.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread desktop processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture and manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock runs at 3.40 GHz, boosting up to 5.00 GHz, which provides substantial single-thread performance for a game like Minimum that relies heavily on frame pacing. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core help reduce memory latency, which is critical for maintaining consistent frame times in a third-person shooter.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The PassMark single-thread score of 4516 further confirms its strength in lightly threaded workloads. These numbers position the chip at the 89th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning it outperforms a large majority of processors. The nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which scores 46030 on average (0.1% higher), and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, which scores 46098 (0.1% lower). The Ultra 5 235’s average benchmark score of 46062 sits almost exactly between these two, indicating parity with high-end laptop and desktop parts from recent generations.

For Minimum, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. With 14 threads, it handles background tasks without bottlenecking, but the game’s age means it likely uses fewer cores. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that single-threaded performance remains excellent. In practice, at 1080p with Low settings, the measured 177 FPS average suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor, as the frame rate is high enough to indicate strong headroom. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 30 FPS, but this is almost certainly a GPU limitation rather than a CPU one, as the processor’s benchmark scores are far above what a 2014 title would require.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP and Intel Socket 1851 compatibility make it a mainstream part, but its performance is anything but entry-level. The PassMark multi-thread score of 37816 and floating-point math score of 117951 highlight its computational throughput, which is overkill for Minimum. However, the fact that the combo ranks 1895 out of 2939 suggests that other CPU-GPU pairings deliver higher frame rates, likely due to the GPU being the primary constraint at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows that the Ultra 5 235 is more than capable of sustaining maximum frame rates at 1080p, where the GPU’s raw rendering power becomes the deciding factor.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. Its base clock is 2055 MHz, with a game clock of 2410 MHz and a boost clock of 2635 MHz. The GPU operates with a 176 W TDP and connects via PCIe 4.0 x8. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it becomes a limiting factor at 4K, where capacity and bandwidth are strained by higher-resolution textures and larger frame buffers.

The GPU’s PassMark G3D score is 17166, placing it at the 65th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla K40m, which scores 19885 (0.6% higher), and the AMD FirePro D300, which scores 19637 (0.7% lower). These comparisons show that the RX 6650 XT sits in a competitive mid-range tier. The Geekbench Vulkan score of 81306 and OpenCL score of 10111 indicate solid compute performance, while the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1859 provides a modern gaming metric.

In Minimum, the GPU’s role is to handle rendering, shading, and post-processing effects. At 1920x1080, the GPU delivers an average of 177 FPS on Low settings, which is a strong result for a mid-range card. The Medium preset drops to 135 FPS, High to 114 FPS, and Ultra to 87 FPS. These numbers show a clear scaling curve where each preset tier costs roughly 20-25% performance. At 2560x1440, the averages are 114 FPS (Low), 87 FPS (Medium), 73 FPS (High), and 56 FPS (Ultra). The 1440p results remain playable, but the Ultra preset dips below 60 FPS, which is a threshold many players consider minimum for smooth action.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles. The Low preset averages 61 FPS, Medium averages 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS, High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is likely the primary bottleneck here, as 4K textures can exceed 8 GB in some scenes. The memory bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s also becomes insufficient for 4K pixel throughput, leading to the steep drop-off. The pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s are adequate for 1080p but are stretched at higher resolutions. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 10.79 TFLOPS provides a baseline for shader complexity, but the game’s 2014 release date means it does not push modern compute features, so the RX 6650 XT’s raw rasterization power is more relevant than its ray tracing or tensor capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance envelope.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 177 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• Medium: 135 FPS average, 115 FPS minimum, 156 FPS maximum
• High: 114 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• Ultra: 87 FPS average (no min/max recorded)

The 1080p numbers show that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at Ultra, the 87 FPS average is above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. The jump from Medium to High costs 21 FPS, while High to Ultra costs 27 FPS, indicating diminishing returns at the highest preset.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 114 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average, 74 FPS minimum, 100 FPS maximum
• High: 73 FPS average
• Ultra: 56 FPS average

The 1440p data shows that the combo remains usable but with caveats. The Low preset is excellent at 114 FPS, but Ultra drops to 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset’s minimum of 74 FPS suggests that frame pacing remains stable, but the Ultra preset’s lack of recorded min/max values makes it difficult to assess worst-case dips.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 61 FPS average
• Medium: 47 FPS average, 40 FPS minimum, 54 FPS maximum
• High: 39 FPS average
• Ultra: 30 FPS average

The 4K results are largely unplayable for a shooter. Only Low reaches an average above 60 FPS, and even that is marginal. The Medium preset’s minimum of 40 FPS indicates notable stuttering, while Ultra’s 30 FPS average is cinematic but not competitive. The data clearly shows that this combo is not intended for 4K gaming in Minimum, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for optimal results.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1895 out of 2939 tested CPU-GPU combinations in Minimum, placing it in the 64th percentile of all configuration scores. This rank is lower than the CPU’s individual percentile (89th) and the GPU’s individual percentile (65th), suggesting that the pairing is GPU-limited in this game. The rank of 1895 means that 1044 other combos perform better, which is a significant number, but it also indicates that the combo outperforms 1894 other configurations.

The data shows that the CPU’s high benchmark scores (e.g., 14769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) do not translate into top-tier game performance because Minimum is not a CPU-intensive title. The GPU’s 65th percentile ranking is a better predictor of the combo’s in-game results. The nearest GPU rivals, such as the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (0.6% higher average benchmark score) and AMD FirePro D300 (0.7% lower), are professional or workstation cards, which highlights that the RX 6650 XT is a consumer gaming part with a different performance profile.

The combo’s rank of 1895 suggests that many other tested combinations, likely featuring higher-end GPUs or more balanced pairings, achieve better frame rates. However, the ranking does not tell the full story, as the measured FPS at 1080p are excellent. The rank likely reflects the inclusion of many high-end GPUs in the database, which skews the percentile downward. For a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU, the combo performs as expected: strong at 1080p, capable at 1440p, and weak at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is recommended for the best visual experience, as it delivers an average of 87 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 114 FPS is a good alternative for users who prioritize higher frame rates over visual fidelity. The Low preset at 177 FPS is only necessary for competitive play or very high refresh rate monitors (144 Hz or higher), as the visual downgrade is significant.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 73 FPS is the sweet spot, providing a good balance between image quality and performance. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is a better choice for users who want a higher frame rate buffer, but the visual difference between Medium and High is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is not recommended for a shooter, as frame rate dips below 60 FPS can affect aiming and reaction times.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset at 61 FPS is the only playable option, but it sacrifices visual quality significantly. The Medium preset at 47 FPS is borderline, and the High (39 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) presets are not recommended for any gameplay scenario. For 4K, users should either reduce the resolution to 1440p or accept the Low preset’s visual compromises.

The data shows that the combo’s best experience is at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, where the 87 FPS average provides a smooth, high-fidelity experience. At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice, balancing visual quality with a playable 73 FPS. The 4K resolution should be avoided unless the user is willing to play on Low settings. These recommendations are based solely on the measured FPS rows, with no consideration for external factors like driver updates or game patches.