Minimum

Minimum is a 2014 third-person shooter that, on paper, should not challenge modern hardware. The data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570, however, tells a more nuanced story, revealing a configuration that is profoundly limited by its graphics card at higher resolutions. The benchmark results show a system that can deliver playable frame rates at 1080p with adjusted settings, but which collapses under the weight of 4K rendering. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and what the data implies for users of this specific combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep and predictable performance cliff as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 82 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average drops to 53 FPS, a 35% reduction. The decline continues to 3840x2160, where the average plummets to just 28 FPS, which is a 66% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern strongly indicates that the rendering resolution is the primary bottleneck.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 53 at 1080p to 34 at 1440p (a 36% drop), and then to 18 at 4K (a 66% drop from 1080p). Ultra settings follow the same trajectory: 40 FPS at 1080p, 26 at 1440p, and a nearly unplayable 14 at 4K. The consistency of the percentage drops across different quality levels suggests that the limiting factor is the sheer number of pixels being processed, not the complexity of the shaders or textures.

This data implies that the RX 570's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being overwhelmed at higher resolutions. The GPU's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely insufficient for 4K textures and pixel throughput. The fact that the FPS nearly halves from 1080p to 4K on every preset suggests a linear scaling with pixel count, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's performance is not the limiting factor here; otherwise, we would see a more consistent FPS across resolutions, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's workload increases exponentially.

The data makes it clear that this combination is not designed for 4K gaming. Even at Low settings, the 28 FPS average is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 1440p results are borderline, with Medium settings yielding 40 FPS, but the 1080p results are where this combo finds its footing.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks like Cinebench R23, it scores 32924 in multi-core and 4648 in single-core. These scores place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong processing capability. The CPU's role in Minimum appears to be largely administrative, as the game is not known for heavy simulation or AI workloads.

Given the resolution scaling data, the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck. If it were, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers at 1080p and 4K, as the CPU would be maxed out in both cases. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with resolution, confirming that the CPU has headroom to spare. The Core Ultra 5 245's high single-core performance, evidenced by its 4648 score in Cinebench R23 single-core, ensures that it can feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic without breaking a sweat, even at 1080p where the GPU is less burdened.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which have average scores within 0.5% of the Intel chip. This places the Core Ultra 5 245 in a competitive position for gaming, but its performance is effectively wasted in this configuration at higher resolutions. The data suggests that the CPU's potential is only fully utilized at 1080p with lower settings, where the GPU can keep up with the processor's output.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo achieves consistently playable frame rates. At this resolution, all settings presets except Ultra average above 40 FPS, with Low settings reaching 82 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra settings preset compare to High at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS, which is 13 FPS lower than the High preset's 53 FPS. The data indicates that the jump from High to Ultra costs a significant 25% performance, likely due to increased graphical effects.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops by 66% from 1080p to 4K on all presets, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU's synthetic benchmarks are strong, but the game's performance scales with resolution, not CPU load.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming?

A: Only with compromises. The Medium preset at 2560x1440 averages 40 FPS, which might be acceptable for some. The High preset drops to 34 FPS, and Low is 53 FPS. It is not ideal, but the data shows it is possible.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 14 at 3840x2160 with the Ultra settings preset. This is the most demanding configuration tested and is far below playable thresholds.

Q: How does the combo's performance at 1080p Low compare to 4K Low?

A: The 1080p Low preset averages 82 FPS, while the 4K Low preset averages 28 FPS. This is a 54 FPS difference, highlighting the massive impact of resolution on the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and AMD Radeon RX 570 combination ranks 2814 out of 2939 tested combos for Minimum. This places it in the bottom 5% of all configurations in the database. This ranking is a stark indicator of the combo's overall performance ceiling in this game. The low rank is primarily driven by the GPU's inability to handle higher resolutions, as the CPU itself is a high-performing part.

The rank suggests that most other tested hardware combinations deliver better average frame rates. The GPU's 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs might seem respectable, but in the context of this specific game and its release date, the RX 570's performance is not sufficient to push the combo higher. The data implies that for a game from 2014, this combo is surprisingly underpowered, likely due to the game's engine being more demanding at higher resolutions than initially expected.

The delta between the combo's rank and the CPU's individual percentile (90th) highlights a significant imbalance. The CPU is a top-tier performer, but it is paired with a mid-range GPU. This mismatch means that the CPU's potential is unrealized in most scenarios, particularly at 1440p and 4K. The rank data suggests that users seeking better performance in Minimum would need to upgrade the GPU, not the CPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the High settings preset. This combination yields an average of 53 FPS, which is smooth enough for a third-person shooter. The High preset offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, providing a significant improvement over the Medium preset's 63 FPS while still maintaining a stable frame rate.

For users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1080p is the best choice, delivering an average of 82 FPS. This ensures a very smooth experience with minimal graphical compromises. The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 63 FPS and a minimum of 53 FPS, is also a viable option for those who want a bit more visual detail without sacrificing too much performance.

The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 40 FPS, is not recommended as the visual gains over High are likely minimal, but the performance cost is substantial. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only option that approaches playability, with 53 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p, averaging 40 FPS, is borderline, and High and Ultra are not recommended. 4K should be avoided entirely, as even the Low preset only achieves 28 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: Average 82 FPS
• Medium: Average 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS
• High: Average 53 FPS
• Ultra: Average 40 FPS

At 2560x1440:

• Low: Average 53 FPS
• Medium: Average 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS
• High: Average 34 FPS
• Ultra: Average 26 FPS

At 3840x2160:

• Low: Average 28 FPS
• Medium: Average 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS
• High: Average 18 FPS
• Ultra: Average 14 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy. The 1080p results are the only ones that are consistently above the 40 FPS threshold for playability. The 1440p results are playable only on Low settings, and the 4K results are all below 30 FPS, making them unsuitable for a smooth gaming experience. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset at various resolutions shows that frame times can be inconsistent, with the 4K Medium preset dipping as low as 19 FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the clear bottleneck in this configuration. With 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1168 MHz, with a boost clock of 1244 MHz. Its 2048 shading units and 32 ROPs provide a raw compute capability of 5.095 TFLOPS. These specifications are from the Polaris 20 chip, built on a 14 nm process.

The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 880, places it at the 74th percentile of all GPUs. However, this percentile ranking is misleading in the context of Minimum. The game's engine appears to be heavily reliant on raw pixel throughput and memory bandwidth, which are the RX 570's weaknesses. The 4 GB VRAM is likely insufficient for high-resolution textures, causing the GPU to struggle at 1440p and 4K.

The data implies that the RX 570's performance is adequate for 1080p gaming, where its fill rate can keep up with the pixel count. However, at 1440p and 4K, the GPU's limitations become apparent. The FPS drops are consistent with a GPU that is running out of memory bandwidth and processing power. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6800M and the AMD Radeon RX 470, have similar average benchmark scores, suggesting that this level of performance is typical for this class of GPU, but it is not sufficient for high-resolution gaming in this title.