Minimum

Minimum is a 2014 Third-Person Shooter that, despite its age, still presents an interesting scaling challenge for modern hardware. The benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reveals a configuration that is heavily optimized for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gameplay, but which begins to show its limits at 4K. The measured FPS across three resolutions and four quality presets provides a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies and how the components interact under varying loads.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 with this combo demonstrates a classic case of GPU-bound scaling, though the curve is steeper than typical due to the game's age and the CPU's strength. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 278 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 179 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36%. The jump to 4K Low yields 97 FPS, which is another 46% drop from the 1440p figure. This pattern indicates that the rendering load is scaling aggressively with pixel count, which is expected as the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor.

Looking at the High preset, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The system produces 179 FPS at 1080p, 115 FPS at 1440p, and 62 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 36%, and from 1440p to 4K it is about 46%. This consistent relative scaling across presets suggests that the game's rendering pipeline is well-behaved and that the RX 9070 XT is handling the increased resolution in a linear fashion, with no unexpected performance cliffs or CPU-related stutters at lower resolutions.

The most telling data point for identifying the limiting component comes from the Ultra preset. At 1080p Ultra, the combo produces 136 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 88 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 47 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 35% reduction, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is a 47% reduction. If the CPU were the primary bottleneck, we would expect the 1080p and 1440p numbers to be much closer together, as the CPU workload does not scale with resolution in the same way. The fact that the FPS continues to fall significantly at each resolution step indicates that the GPU is the limiting component across all tested settings.

The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system is pushing nearly 300 FPS, which is well beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. This suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU more than enough frames at this resolution. The 278 FPS figure at 1080p Low versus the 179 FPS at 1440p Low highlights that the GPU is the one being stressed as pixel count increases. The scaling factor from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is approximately 2.87x, meaning the 4K resolution requires nearly three times the GPU work to maintain the same frame rate, a clear indication that the RX 9070 XT is the bottleneck in this scenario.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications explain why it behaves as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 644.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is a substantial amount of bandwidth that is more than sufficient for a 2014 title like Minimum, which likely does not have demanding texture or geometry requirements compared to modern games. The 16 GB capacity is also far beyond what this game would need, even at 4K with Ultra settings.

The clock speeds of the RX 9070 XT are a key factor in its performance. The base clock is listed at 1660 MHz, with a boost clock of 2970 MHz and a game clock of 2400 MHz. The large difference between base and boost clocks indicates that the GPU is designed to aggressively ramp up its frequency under load, which is reflected in the high FPS numbers at 1080p. The game clock of 2400 MHz is likely the sustained frequency during typical gaming loads, and this is what drives the performance at 1440p and 4K.

The GPU's architecture, RDNA 4.0, is built on a 4 nm process node with 53,900 million transistors. The patch of 4096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs provides the raw compute power necessary to handle the pixel fill rate at 4K. The pixel rate of 380.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 760.3 GTexel/s are high enough to handle the demands of Minimum at 4K Ultra, but the measured 47 FPS at that setting suggests that the game's effects and lighting calculations are still putting a heavy load on the GPU.

The benchmark scores for the GPU place it in a specific performance tier. The Passmark G3D score is 26795, which is a strong result, but the percentileVsAllGpus is 55, meaning it sits in the middle of the pack relative to all GPUs. This is an interesting data point because it shows that while the RX 9070 XT is a modern card, its overall benchmark percentile is not top-tier. The nearest rivals in the benchmark data include the AMD Radeon HD 7770M and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, which are much older cards. This suggests that the benchmark database has a wide range of GPUs, and the RX 9070 XT's percentile is dragged down by the inclusion of many older, lower-performing cards. However, the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 7260 indicates strong modern gaming performance, which aligns with the measured FPS in Minimum.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT combination is ranked 650th out of 2939 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the top 22% of all configurations in the database, which is a strong showing. The rank of 650 means that there are 649 other combos that perform better in this specific game, but it also means that the vast majority of tested systems (2,289 combos) perform worse. This confirms the overall capability of this pairing, even though it is not at the absolute top of the charts.

The CPU's benchmark performance provides context for this ranking. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, which puts it at the 89th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 with a score of 46030 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core i9-13900HX with 46098 (-0.1% delta), and the AMD EPYC 4364P with 45970 (0.2% delta). This clustering around the 46,000 mark shows that the Ultra 5 235 is a high-performing CPU that is competitive with some of the best laptop and desktop chips available.

The GPU's rank is less impressive on a relative basis. With a percentileVsAllGpus of 55, the RX 9070 XT is just above the median in the database's GPU rankings. However, this is misleading when considering the combo's game-specific rank. The 650th rank out of 2939 combos indicates that the specific pairing of this CPU and GPU is well-optimized for Minimum. The high CPU percentile (89) likely compensates for the GPU's mid-tier percentile, allowing the combo to achieve a top-quartile ranking in this game. The data suggests that the CPU is not holding back the GPU in this title, and the combo rank reflects the effective collaboration between the two components.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, the system can handle any preset with ease. The Low preset delivers 278 FPS, Medium delivers 213 FPS, High delivers 179 FPS, and Ultra delivers 136 FPS. For a 144Hz monitor, the High preset is the best choice because it provides a significant visual upgrade over Low and Medium while still maintaining a frame rate well above the 144 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 136 FPS is also viable for 144Hz displays, as it is close enough to the refresh rate that the difference would be minimal, but High offers a safer margin.

At 2560x1440, the choices become more nuanced. The Low preset produces 179 FPS, Medium produces 137 FPS, High produces 115 FPS, and Ultra produces 88 FPS. For a 144Hz monitor, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, as it delivers 137 FPS, which is close to the refresh rate and provides decent visual quality. The Low preset would be the choice for competitive play where maximum frame rate is desired, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance. The High preset at 115 FPS is still playable on a 144Hz monitor but will not fully utilize the refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 88 FPS is best reserved for 60Hz displays or for players who prioritize visual quality over smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly GPU-limited. The Low preset delivers 97 FPS, Medium delivers 74 FPS, High delivers 62 FPS, and Ultra delivers 47 FPS. For a 60Hz display, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it provides 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target and offers good visual quality. The Medium preset at 74 FPS is also a strong option, providing a smoother experience with slightly reduced visual settings. The Ultra preset at 47 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and would result in a less fluid experience, so it is not recommended unless the player is willing to sacrifice frame rate for maximum visual quality. The Low preset at 97 FPS is suitable for players who prefer high frame rates over visual fidelity, but the Medium and High presets offer a better balance for most users.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 144 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 179 FPS, and the Ultra preset delivers 136 FPS. Only the High preset and below can reliably maintain 144 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 137 FPS, which is slightly below 144 FPS, so the Low preset at 179 FPS is the only 1440p option that exceeds 144 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance drop occurs when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 179 at 1920x1080 to 115 at 2560x1440, and then to 62 at 3840x2160. This represents a 65% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at the High preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the combo produces 47 FPS. Since the CPU workload does not scale with resolution, and the FPS drops from 136 at 1080p Ultra to 47 at 4K Ultra, the RX 9070 XT is the bottleneck.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 650th out of 2939 tested configurations for Minimum. This places it in the top 22% of all tested combos.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark percentile compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 9070 XT has a percentileVsAllGpus of 55. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark data include the AMD Radeon HD 7770M with an average score of 13536 (0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 with 13515 (0.2% delta), indicating a close grouping in the database's scoring.

Q: What is the highest FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 278, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. The Medium preset at the same resolution reaches 213 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 plays a supporting role in this configuration, but its capabilities ensure that it does not become a bottleneck, especially at lower resolutions. The CPU has 14 cores and 14 threads, which is a unique configuration that lacks hyper-threading but provides a high core count for multi-threaded workloads. The base clock is 3.40 GHz, and the boost clock is 5.00 GHz, allowing for strong single-threaded performance when needed. This is critical for Minimum, which is a 2014 game that may rely on single-threaded performance for game logic and physics.

The CPU's benchmark scores confirm its strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 14769 in multi-core and 2085 in single-core. The single-core score of 2085 is particularly important for gaming, as many titles, including older ones, are sensitive to single-threaded speed. The 5.00 GHz boost clock likely contributes to this high single-core score. The Passmark single-thread score is 4516, which is a strong result and aligns with the Cinebench numbers.

The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample cache for game data, reducing the need to access system memory frequently. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface is sufficient for feeding the GPU with data. The CPU's 89th percentile rank among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 46062 indicate that it is a high-end processor. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-13900HX, scores 46098, a delta of -0.1%, showing that the Ultra 5 235 is on par with a top-tier laptop CPU from a previous generation.

In the context of Minimum, the measured FPS at 1080p Low (278 FPS) shows that the CPU can process frames much faster than the GPU can render them at higher resolutions. The fact that the FPS scales down as resolution increases is a clear sign that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The CPU's high single-threaded performance ensures that even at 4K, where the GPU is struggling, the CPU is not causing additional frame drops or stutters. The data supports the conclusion that the Ultra 5 235 is a capable partner for the RX 9070 XT, providing enough headroom for the GPU to be the sole performance determinant.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo is presented across three resolutions and four settings, providing a complete picture of performance. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 278 FPS, Medium averages 213 FPS with a minimum of 181 and a maximum of 245, High averages 179 FPS, and Ultra averages 136 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with min and max data, showing a 64 FPS range between the minimum and maximum, which suggests some variability but still a very smooth experience overall.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low averages 179 FPS, Medium averages 137 FPS with a minimum of 117 and a maximum of 158, High averages 115 FPS, and Ultra averages 88 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a 41 FPS range between min and max, which is tighter than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is working harder and the frame pacing is more consistent. The High preset at 115 FPS is a notable drop from the 179 FPS at Low, showing the impact of increased visual effects.

At 3840x2160, the system is firmly GPU-bound. Low averages 97 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 and a maximum of 85, High averages 62 FPS, and Ultra averages 47 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K shows a 22 FPS range between min and max, which is the smallest range across all resolutions. This indicates that at high resolution, the GPU is consistently loaded, and the frame rate is more stable even if lower. The Ultra preset at 47 FPS is the only setting that dips below 60 FPS, making it unsuitable for 60Hz displays.

The data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p, the CPU can feed the GPU enough frames to reach very high frame rates, but the GPU's workload scales with resolution, causing the FPS to drop steadily. The Medium preset data points, which include min and max values, are useful for understanding frame stability. At 1080p Medium, the 181 FPS minimum ensures that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays high. At 1440p Medium, the 117 FPS minimum is still above 60 FPS, providing a smooth experience. At 4K Medium, the 63 FPS minimum is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but the average of 74 FPS shows that the system can maintain a playable frame rate at this resolution. The Ultra preset numbers, without min and max data, are still useful for understanding the ceiling of this combo's performance, with 136 FPS at 1080p, 88 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K representing the maximum visual quality achievable at each resolution.