Minimum

Minimum is a 2014 third-person shooter, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7800M shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but capable of delivering very high frame rates at 1080p. The measured results indicate that this combination sits in the 66th percentile of tested combos for this game, meaning it outperforms roughly two-thirds of the systems in the database while remaining a mid-pack contender overall.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a mobile processor from the Core Ultra Series 1, built on Intel's 7 nm Meteor Lake architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This is a high-core-count part for a mobile chip, and its multi-threaded capability is substantial, as reflected in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14551. In single-threaded workloads, it scores 1759 in Cinebench R23, which is solid but not class-leading; the data shows its PassMark single-thread score of 3509 places it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Minimum, a game from 2014, the CPU's role is less about raw brute force and more about maintaining consistent frame pacing. The game's engine is older and typically does not scale perfectly with many cores, but the 165H's 22 threads ensure there is ample headroom for background tasks and any game logic that does leverage multiple cores. The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB L2 per core help reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for maintaining stable frame times in a fast-paced shooter. The dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for feeding the GPU, though it could be a bottleneck in scenarios with extremely high frame rates.

Compared to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, the 165H is essentially tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, showing a delta of just 0.3% in average benchmark score. It is also within 0.5% of both the AMD EPYC 4244P and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, and 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X. This indicates that in synthetic multi-threaded workloads, the 165H is a solidly mid-range performer, but its real-world gaming advantage comes from its high boost clock and modern architecture rather than a massive lead in core count. For Minimum, the CPU's 16 cores are largely overkill for the game's demands, but the high single-thread performance (boost clock of 5.00 GHz) is what matters most for maintaining high frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the limiting factor.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M is the dominant component in this pairing. This is a mobile GPU based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process with 28,100 million transistors. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock is 2335 MHz, with a game clock of 2145 MHz, and it has 3840 shading units. The 60 ray-tracing cores and 96 ROPs make it a capable part for modern games, but for a 2014 title like Minimum, the raw rasterization power is what drives performance.

The RX 7800M's PassMark G3D score of 17613 places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X (0.3% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (0.5% behind). This puts it in a performance class that is roughly equivalent to a high-end desktop GPU from a few generations ago. In Minimum, the GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is far more than the game needs, which means memory capacity is not a limiting factor at any resolution. The 432 GB/s bandwidth is also sufficient for the game's textures and effects at 4K Ultra settings.

The data confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in most scenarios. At 1440p High settings, the average FPS is 72, which drops to 39 at 4K High. This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound workload where increasing resolution demands more pixel throughput. The GPU's FP32 performance of 35.87 TFLOPS is substantial, but Minimum's engine is older and may not fully utilize the RDNA 3.0 architecture's efficiency. The card's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with modern APIs, though Minimum likely runs on DirectX 11 for maximum stability.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this combo in Minimum?

A: The highest measured average is 173 FPS at 1920x1080 on Low settings. At 1080p Medium, it drops to 133 FPS, and at 1080p High, it is 111 FPS.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K in Minimum?

A: Yes, but only on Low settings, where it averages exactly 60 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 46 FPS, so you would need to lower settings below Medium to stay above 60 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of overall benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has an average benchmark score of 34083, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and 0.4% lower than the AMD EPYC 4244P. It is effectively a statistical tie with these parts.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings yield an average of 85 FPS, while High settings yield 72 FPS. The difference is 13 FPS, which is a noticeable but not drastic reduction for a one-step increase in quality.

Q: Is the GPU's VRAM capacity a limiting factor in this game?

A: No. The RX 7800M has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is far above what Minimum requires, even at 4K Ultra settings. The game is unlikely to use more than a fraction of that capacity.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1934 out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the 66th percentile. This means it performs better than 66% of all tested systems, but there is still a significant number of faster setups.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings levels, providing a clear picture of how the system scales. At 1920x1080, the combo is capable of very high frame rates. On Low settings, it averages 173 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. Medium settings reduce this to 133 FPS, with a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS, indicating good frame pacing. High settings average 111 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 85 FPS. The step from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 26 FPS, which is a significant hit for what is often a marginal visual improvement in an older game.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain playable but start to show the GPU's workload. Low settings average 112 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 98 FPS. High settings average 72 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 55 FPS. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs 13 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 17 FPS. This indicates that the game's Ultra preset is particularly demanding, likely due to higher-quality shadows and post-processing effects.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to struggle to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average exactly 60 FPS, which is the minimum for smooth gameplay but leaves no headroom for dips. Medium settings average 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS, showing that frame times can be inconsistent. High settings average 39 FPS, and Ultra settings average 29 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming with this combo is only viable on Low settings if you require 60 FPS, and even then, the lack of a reported minimum frame rate suggests it may dip below that threshold in intense scenes.

The scaling between resolutions is consistent with a GPU-bound workload. From 1080p to 1440p on High settings, the average FPS drops from 111 to 72, a 35% reduction. From 1440p to 4K on High settings, it drops from 72 to 39, a 46% reduction. This steep decline at 4K is expected given the pixel count increase, but it highlights that the RX 7800M, while powerful, is not a 4K powerhouse for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1934 out of 2939 tested combinations places this system in the 66th percentile of all tested combos for Minimum. This means that while it is not a top-tier setup, it is firmly above average. The rank is likely held back by the CPU, which, while competent, is not a high-end desktop part. The GPU, on the other hand, performs admirably, but the overall combo ranking reflects that there are many systems with faster desktop CPUs and higher-end GPUs.

In the context of the database, this combo is not a leader but is far from a slouch. It outperforms roughly two-thirds of all tested systems, which is a strong result for a mobile platform. The data suggests that the bottleneck in this pairing is the CPU at lower resolutions, but at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The CPU's 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs is higher than the combo's 66th percentile ranking, indicating that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing. However, the GPU's 73rd percentile ranking among all GPUs is still respectable, and the overall combo rank is a reflection of how these two parts interact in this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on your resolution and target frame rate. For competitive play at 1920x1080, Low settings at 173 FPS is the clear choice, as it provides the highest frame rate with no visual penalty that matters in a fast-paced shooter. If you prefer better visuals, Medium settings at 133 FPS is a strong compromise, offering a solid balance between quality and speed. High settings at 111 FPS is also acceptable, but Ultra at 85 FPS is not recommended for competitive play, as the frame rate drop is substantial.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings at 85 FPS is the sweet spot. It provides a smooth experience with good visual quality, and the minimum of 73 FPS ensures that frame dips are not severe. Low settings at 112 FPS is the better choice if you prioritize frame rate over visuals, but the difference between Low and Medium is often less noticeable at this resolution. High settings at 72 FPS is playable, but you may notice occasional stutters, and Ultra at 55 FPS is too close to the edge of playability for a shooter.

For 4K gaming, the data is clear: stick to Low settings at 60 FPS if you want a consistent experience. Medium settings at 46 FPS is playable but not ideal for a third-person shooter where reaction time matters. High and Ultra settings are not recommended, as they dip below 40 FPS, which is too low for smooth gameplay. If you own a 4K display, you are better off running the game at 1440p with Medium or High settings for a superior experience, rather than forcing 4K with compromised settings. The 12 GB of VRAM and the GPU's raw power are sufficient for most modern games, but Minimum's 4K Ultra settings are simply too demanding for this mobile GPU to handle at acceptable frame rates.