Minimum

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Minimum with the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces 293 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops that to 189 FPS, a substantial reduction that still leaves the system well above high-refresh-rate territory. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 102 FPS, meaning the jump from 1080p to 4K at Low settings cuts frame rate by roughly 65%.

The High settings curve tells a similar story. At 1080p, the system delivers 188 FPS average. At 1440p, that falls to 121 FPS, and at 4K it reaches 65 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at High is about 36%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 46%. This accelerating decline with resolution strongly indicates that the RTX 5090 Mobile's rendering pipeline is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, rather than the CPU.

The Medium preset shows the same trend with more granular data. At 1080p, the average is 224 FPS with a minimum of 190 and maximum of 258. At 1440p, the average is 144 FPS with a minimum of 123 and maximum of 166. At 4K, the average is 78 FPS with a minimum of 66 and maximum of 89. The minimum frame rates at each resolution scale proportionally with the averages, suggesting consistent frame pacing rather than occasional CPU-driven hitches.

Ultra settings exhibit the most dramatic resolution sensitivity. The 1080p Ultra average is 143 FPS, which is already lower than the High preset at 1440p. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 92 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 50 FPS. The gap between Ultra at 1080p and Ultra at 4K represents a 65% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the highest preset pushes the GPU to its limits even at lower resolutions.

What the data reveals about the limiting component is instructive. At 1080p Low, the system produces 293 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU quickly enough to avoid becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, the fact that 1080p Ultra (143 FPS) is significantly lower than 1080p Low (293 FPS) while both use the same CPU indicates that the GPU workload, not the processor, determines the frame rate at this resolution. The 14-core Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX with a 5.10 GHz boost clock provides enough headroom to keep pace with the RTX 5090 Mobile across all tested settings.

The scaling pattern across resolutions points to a GPU that is powerful enough to deliver high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p but becomes the limiting factor at 4K, particularly with higher presets. The 4K Ultra result of 50 FPS average is the only sub-60 FPS figure in the entire dataset, and it occurs precisely where the GPU's pixel throughput is most taxed. The RTX 5090 Mobile's 24 GB of GDDR7 memory and 896.0 GB/s bandwidth are clearly sufficient for the data demands of this 2014 title, but the raw shading throughput at 4K Ultra becomes the constraint.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 293, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 224 FPS at 1080p Medium, followed by 189 FPS at 1440p Low.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX bottleneck the RTX 5090 Mobile in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 293 FPS average, which is extremely high and suggests the CPU can supply frames faster than most displays can refresh. The consistent scaling pattern from Low to Ultra at each resolution indicates the GPU is the primary performance limiter.

Q: What is the lowest FPS recorded in the dataset?

A: The lowest average FPS is 50, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is the only preset/resolution combination that falls below 60 FPS average, making it the most demanding configuration in the measured results.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for Minimum?

A: The combo ranks 814th out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 22% of all combos tested for this game. This percentile positioning reflects strong overall performance relative to the broader test pool.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 189 FPS average while Ultra settings produce 92 FPS average. This represents a 51% reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest preset at this resolution.

Q: Is there a significant frame time variance at any settings?

A: The Medium preset includes minimum and maximum FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the range spans from 190 to 258 FPS (68 FPS spread), while at 1440p Medium it spans from 123 to 166 FPS (43 FPS spread), and at 4K Medium from 66 to 89 FPS (23 FPS spread). The narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests more consistent frame delivery as the GPU becomes the limiting factor.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is a 14-core, 14-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2 family, built on Intel's Arrow Lake architecture with a 3 nm process node from TSMC. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and it carries 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's TDP is 55 W, which is modest for a processor with this core count and clock speed, indicating efficient power management in mobile form factors.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The game is a Third-Person Shooter from 2014, and its engine is unlikely to demand extensive multi-threaded processing. The 14 threads available from the 235HX are more than sufficient for the game's physics and game logic, allowing the processor to feed frames to the RTX 5090 Mobile without becoming a bottleneck. The benchmark results support this interpretation: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 293 FPS average, which is a frame rate that would require rapid draw call submission and minimal CPU overhead.

The CPU's single-thread performance is particularly relevant for older games like Minimum, which often rely heavily on a single primary thread for game logic. The 235HX scores 4903 in Cinebench R23 single-core, placing it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. This strong single-thread performance ensures that the game's main thread can execute quickly, reducing the likelihood of CPU stalls that would manifest as frame rate dips.

Multi-threaded performance is also robust. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34731 indicates that the 14 cores can handle parallel workloads effectively, though Minimum is unlikely to leverage all of them. The PassMark multithread score of 40849 further confirms the CPU's capability, but the game's performance is more directly tied to the GPU's rendering throughput as evidenced by the resolution scaling data.

The 235HX's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD EPYC 8124P with an average score of 52121 (0.1% lower than the 235HX), the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X at 51947 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i7-14700 at 52301 (0.4% lower). These small delta percentages indicate that the 235HX performs essentially on par with these desktop-class processors in aggregate benchmarks, though its mobile form factor and 55 W TDP make it more suitable for laptops.

For Minimum specifically, the CPU's clock speed and core count are more than adequate. The boost clock of 5.10 GHz provides high single-thread throughput, while the 14 cores ensure that background tasks and the operating system do not interfere with game performance. The CPU's 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests that it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general compute tasks, which bodes well for maintaining consistent frame rates even in complex game scenes.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile ranks 814th out of 3712 tested combinations for Minimum. This places the combo in the top 22% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result given the breadth of the test pool. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, where the 235HX provides sufficient processing power to keep the RTX 5090 Mobile fed with data.

Relative to the GPU's standalone performance, the RTX 5090 Mobile sits in the 84th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 45152. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT with an average score of 45384 (0.5% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti at 44795 (0.8% lower), and the Intel Arc A730M at 45592 (1% higher). These close deltas suggest that the RTX 5090 Mobile's raw compute performance is comparable to these desktop and mobile GPUs, though its 24 GB of GDDR7 memory and 896.0 GB/s bandwidth are distinctive features.

The combo's 814th rank out of 3712 means that a substantial number of combinations outperform it, likely including those with more powerful desktop CPUs or higher-tier GPUs. However, for a mobile setup, this ranking is respectable. The 235HX's 91st percentile CPU ranking combined with the GPU's 84th percentile ranking creates a system that is well above average for gaming, and the measured FPS data confirms this.

The gap between the combo's rank and the individual component percentiles suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in Minimum. The CPU could potentially drive higher frame rates if paired with a stronger GPU, but the RTX 5090 Mobile's performance ceiling is reached at 4K Ultra with 50 FPS average. At lower resolutions and settings, the combo delivers frame rates that exceed the refresh rates of most gaming monitors, making the 814th rank more a reflection of the test pool's diversity than a criticism of this specific configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and RTX 5090 Mobile depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver playable frame rates, with Low at 293 FPS, Medium at 224 FPS, High at 188 FPS, and Ultra at 143 FPS. For competitive play where maximum frame rate is paramount, the Low preset at 1080p offers the highest headroom. For visual quality at 1080p, the Ultra preset still maintains 143 FPS average, which is smooth on most displays.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot. It delivers 144 FPS average with a minimum of 123 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and matches the refresh rate of many 1440p monitors. The High preset at 121 FPS is also viable, while Ultra drops to 92 FPS, which is still playable but offers diminishing returns over High given the 29 FPS difference. The Low preset at 189 FPS is excessive for most displays and sacrifices visual fidelity unnecessarily.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It produces 78 FPS average with a minimum of 66 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for a smooth experience on 4K displays. The High preset at 65 FPS is borderline, while Ultra at 50 FPS falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stutter. The Low preset at 102 FPS is viable for players prioritizing frame rate over visuals, but the Medium preset offers the best balance of image quality and performance at 4K.

For players with high-refresh-rate 1080p displays, the High preset at 188 FPS is the best recommendation, as it provides excellent visual fidelity while still exceeding the 144 Hz refresh rate common on gaming monitors. For 1440p users with 144 Hz displays, the Medium preset at 144 FPS exactly matches the refresh rate, making it the ideal choice. For 4K users with 60 Hz displays, the Medium preset at 78 FPS provides sufficient headroom to avoid drops below the refresh rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full dataset for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile in Minimum comprises 12 measured configurations across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 293 FPS average, which is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset. The Medium preset at 1080p produces 224 FPS average with a minimum of 190 FPS and maximum of 258 FPS, indicating a 68 FPS range between the lowest and highest frame times. The High preset at 1080p delivers 188 FPS average, while the Ultra preset produces 143 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 150 FPS drop, representing a 51% reduction in frame rate when moving to the highest preset.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 189 FPS average, which is 104 FPS lower than the same preset at 1080p. The Medium preset at 1440p produces 144 FPS average with a minimum of 123 FPS and maximum of 166 FPS, a range of 43 FPS. The High preset at 1440p delivers 121 FPS average, while the Ultra preset produces 92 FPS average. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 97 FPS, representing a 51% reduction, which mirrors the scaling at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves 102 FPS average, which is the highest frame rate at 4K. The Medium preset at 4K produces 78 FPS average with a minimum of 66 FPS and maximum of 89 FPS, a range of 23 FPS that is the narrowest in the dataset. The High preset at 4K delivers 65 FPS average, while the Ultra preset produces 50 FPS average. The drop from Low to Ultra at 4K is 52 FPS, representing a 51% reduction, consistent with the scaling observed at lower resolutions.

The Medium preset is the only configuration with complete min/max data across all three resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 190-258 FPS; at 1440p, the range is 123-166 FPS; and at 4K, the range is 66-89 FPS. The narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates more consistent frame delivery, which is expected as the GPU becomes the bottleneck and frame times become more uniform under sustained load.