Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a playable experience across most settings in Minimum, a Third-Person Shooter from 2014. The data indicates that this combination is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, but the demands of 4K resolution push the GPU to its limits. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data to determine the optimal settings, the role of each component, and how this specific combination ranks against other tested hardware.

Settings Recommendations

Benchmark results indicate that the balance between visual fidelity and frame rate shifts significantly depending on the chosen preset. For players targeting the smoothest possible experience, the Low preset at 1920x1080 yields an average of 180 FPS. This is the highest average frame rate recorded across all tested configurations, making it ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays.

However, the data shows that the High preset at 1920x1080 still provides an excellent average of 116 FPS. This represents a substantial improvement in visual quality over Low while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold. The jump from Low to High costs 64 FPS on average, but the visual upgrade is generally worth it for a third-person shooter where environmental detail matters. The Medium preset at this resolution sits in between at 138 FPS, offering a middle ground for those who want a higher frame rate without completely sacrificing graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset remains the most balanced choice, with an average of 75 FPS. This is still comfortably playable and provides a sharper image than 1080p. The Medium preset at this resolution achieves 89 FPS, providing a buffer for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 57 FPS, which is just below the ideal 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stutters in fast-paced action. The Low preset at 1440p reaches 116 FPS, but the reduction in visual detail is pronounced.

For 4K (3840x2160), the situation changes. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently playable experience, with an average of 62 FPS. The Medium preset averages 48 FPS, which is playable but with visible frame pacing issues, as evidenced by the 41 FPS minimum. The High preset averages 40 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 31 FPS; both are below the threshold for a smooth experience in an action-oriented game. Therefore, the recommended settings are High at 1080p for the best balance, High at 1440p for a sharper image, and Low at 4K for playability at that resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the primary determinant of performance in this game, especially at higher resolutions. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The data shows that the RTX 4060 is capable of high frame rates at 1080p, but its performance scales down significantly as resolution increases, which points to the GPU becoming the limiting factor.

The GPU's boost clock of 2460 MHz, combined with its 3072 shading units, allows it to handle the game's rendering demands efficiently at lower resolutions. The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K is steep: at High settings, the average FPS drops from 116 to 40, a 65% reduction. This significant drop indicates that the GPU’s raw processing power and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is not the bottleneck here, as Minimum is a 2014 title with modest texture requirements; instead, the GPU's compute throughput and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

The RTX 4060's performance percentile places it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range part. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and the AMD Radeon 780M, have very similar average benchmark scores, with a delta of -0.2% and +0.3% respectively. This suggests that while the RTX 4060 is not a top-tier performer, it is a competent mid-range solution that is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data confirms that for Minimum, the RTX 4060 is best utilized at 1080p, where it can deliver high refresh rates, or at 1440p with a moderate settings preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for the highest frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 180 FPS, achieved with the Low preset at 1920x1080. This is the only configuration that breaks the 180 FPS mark, making it the ideal choice for maximum smoothness.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Minimum?*

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K, only the Low preset achieves a playable average frame rate of 62 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 48 FPS, and High and Ultra presets fall to 40 FPS and 31 FPS, respectively, which are not ideal for a third-person shooter.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to the High preset at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 57 FPS, which is 18 FPS lower than the High preset's 75 FPS. The Ultra preset may introduce additional visual effects, but the frame rate cost is substantial and may not be worth the performance hit.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU a bigger factor in performance at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the GPU appears to be the primary factor. The frame rate decreases by 64 FPS when moving from Low to High settings, demonstrating that the GPU's workload scales with visual fidelity. The CPU, with its high single-thread performance, is sufficient to feed the GPU at this resolution, as evidenced by the high frame rates achieved.

Q: What average frame rate can be expected with Medium settings at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides an average of 138 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. This shows a stable performance window, making it a reliable choice for consistent frame times.

*Q: How does the RTX 4060's performance in Minimum compare to its overall benchmark standing?*

A: The RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score. In Minimum, it performs well at 1080p but struggles at 4K, which is typical for a mid-range GPU. Its nearest rivals, like the AMD Radeon 780M, have nearly identical average scores, indicating that its performance in this game is consistent with its general capability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

1920x1080: At this resolution, the RTX 4060 is fully utilized. The Low preset achieves an average of 180 FPS, representing the peak performance of this combo. The Medium preset delivers 138 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. The High preset averages 116 FPS, which is a significant drop from Low but still excellent for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset averages 88 FPS, which is the most demanding setting at this resolution but remains highly playable.

2560x1440: Performance scales down as expected. The Low preset reaches 116 FPS, which is a repeat of the 1080p High preset result, indicating that resolution scaling is impacting performance. The Medium preset averages 89 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS. The High preset averages 75 FPS, which is the sweet spot for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS, falling below the ideal 60 FPS target.

3840x2160: This resolution places a heavy load on the GPU. The Low preset is the only playable option, with an average of 62 FPS. The Medium preset averages 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS, showing noticeable frame dips. The High preset averages 40 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 31 FPS, both of which result in a suboptimal experience for a fast-paced game.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a clear trend: frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings, the average FPS falls from 116 to 75, a 35% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings, the average FPS falls from 75 to 40, a 47% decrease. From 1080p to 4K at High settings, the total reduction is 65%, going from 116 FPS down to 40 FPS.

This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The frame rate drop is not linear with the increase in pixel count; instead, it is more severe at higher resolutions. This is because the GPU's fixed resources, such as its 272.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, must process a significantly larger number of pixels. The CPU, with its 14 cores and boost clock of 5.10 GHz, is not the limiting factor here, as its performance is sufficient to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions. The steep drop-off at 4K confirms that the RTX 4060's computational throughput is the primary constraint for this game at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX plays a supporting role in this game's performance. With 14 cores, 14 threads, and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, the CPU provides ample processing power for game logic and physics. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4903 and multi-core score of 34731 indicate strong performance. The data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p, where the GPU is fully saturated.

At lower resolutions, the CPU's ability to feed the GPU is evident. The high frame rates at 1080p, even on the Low preset (180 FPS), demonstrate that the CPU can handle the game's instruction throughput without limiting the GPU. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and support for DDR5 memory also contribute to overall system responsiveness. The CPU's percentile rank of 91st among all CPUs indicates that it is a high-performance part. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, has a nearly identical average score, with a delta of 0.2%, showing that the 235HX is competitive with top-tier desktop processors from a previous generation.

However, as resolution increases, the CPU's role diminishes. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The CPU's consistent performance across resolutions suggests that it is not a limiting factor in this game. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and the 3 MB per-core L2 cache help maintain high hit rates for game data, further reducing potential CPU stalls.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1752 out of 2939 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the 60th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it performs better than the majority of combinations but is not near the top of the leaderboard. This ranking is consistent with the individual component performance: the CPU is a strong performer, while the GPU is a mid-range part.

The ranking reflects the system's overall capability. It can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming with high settings, but it falls behind more powerful combos at 4K. The GPU's 61st percentile ranking among all GPUs is a primary driver of this result. Combos with higher-performing GPUs will naturally achieve better scores in Minimum, especially at 4K. The CPU's strong performance prevents it from being a significant drag on the ranking, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

The data shows that this combo is a solid mid-range performer, well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. Its rank of 1752 out of 2939 indicates that it provides a balanced experience for the majority of users, offering high frame rates at mainstream resolutions while compromising at 4K. This ranking is a direct consequence of the RTX 4060's capabilities, which are best utilized at lower resolutions.