Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, shows a clear and predictable performance curve on the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile. The data indicates a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh 1080p gaming, capable at 1440p, but ultimately constrained by the mobile GPU's 8 GB VRAM at 4K. The measured results show a steady progression from a very playable 180 FPS at 1080p Low down to a demanding 31 FPS at 4K Ultra, revealing exactly where this laptop combo's limits lie.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, pointing directly at the GPU as the primary performance limiter at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 180 FPS, but moving to 1440p Low drops that to 116 FPS, a 35.6% reduction. Pushing further to 4K Low yields 62 FPS, which is a 65.6% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is typical for a mobile GPU with a 128-bit memory bus and 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth; the demand for pixel throughput and memory bandwidth outpaces the RTX 4060 Mobile's capabilities as resolution climbs.

The scaling between High and Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this. At 1080p, the gap between High (116 FPS) and Ultra (88 FPS) is 28 FPS, a significant drop for only one settings tier. At 1440p, the same comparison shows 75 FPS on High dropping to 57 FPS on Ultra, a 24% reduction. At 4K, the Ultra preset crushes performance to 31 FPS, while High manages 40 FPS. The data suggests that even at 1440p, the Ultra preset is pushing the GPU too hard, and users would be better served by sticking to High or Medium for a smoother experience.

The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU. The CPU, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, is not showing signs of bottlenecking based on the data alone. The frame rate scales almost directly with the number of pixels being rendered, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The 4K Medium result of 48 FPS with a minimum of 41 FPS and maximum of 55 FPS shows that even with lower settings, the GPU is struggling to maintain a consistent 60 FPS, indicating that the memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s is a hard ceiling for this game at that resolution.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the data, 1080p is the optimal resolution. The combo achieves 116 FPS on High and 180 FPS on Low, ensuring a smooth experience on high-refresh displays. At 1440p, performance is still respectable on Medium (89 FPS) and High (75 FPS), but 4K is not viable for consistent 60 FPS gameplay, as even Low settings only produce 62 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance hit does using the Ultra preset cause?

A: The Ultra preset is punishing. Compared to High settings, Ultra reduces the average frame rate by 24% at 1080p (from 116 to 88 FPS) and by 24% at 1440p (from 75 to 57 FPS). At 4K, the drop is steeper, with Ultra averaging 31 FPS versus 40 FPS on High, making it unplayable for most users.

Q: Is the 8 GB of VRAM on the RTX 4060 Mobile a problem for this game?

A: The data strongly suggests it is at 4K. The 4K Medium preset yields an average of 48 FPS with a minimum of 41 FPS, which is likely due to the GPU running out of memory and having to swap data. The performance cliff between 1440p and 4K is much steeper than the pixel count alone would explain, pointing to VRAM capacity as a critical factor.

Q: How does this combo perform relative to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2262 out of 3712 tested combos for this game, placing it in the 39th percentile of all systems. This indicates it's a mid-pack performer, with the mobile GPU's power and thermal constraints limiting its position despite a strong CPU.

Q: Should I prioritize a higher resolution or higher settings with this system?

A: The data suggests prioritizing settings over resolution. At 1440p, you can achieve a locked 60 FPS on Medium (89 FPS) or High (75 FPS). At 4K, you cannot hold 60 FPS even on Low (62 FPS average). Therefore, playing at 1440p with High settings will provide a better visual experience than 4K with low settings, given the frame rate advantage.

Q: What is the minimum FPS I can expect at 1080p Medium?

A: The measured data shows a minimum of 117 FPS at 1080p Medium, with an average of 138 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. This indicates that the frame time is consistent and there are no severe dips, making for a very stable gaming experience at that setting.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is the decisive component in this game's performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is the defining constraint as resolution increases. The 4K results show this clearly: the average frame rate drops from 62 FPS on Low to 31 FPS on Ultra, a 50% reduction. This is not just about raw compute power; the game is likely exceeding the 8 GB VRAM buffer at 4K, forcing the system to use slower memory pools and causing the performance collapse.

The GPU's clock speeds, a base of 1545 MHz and a boost of 1890 MHz, are modest for the Ada Lovelace architecture. The measured data shows that the GPU is not able to maintain high frame rates at 4K, indicating it is hitting its compute and bandwidth limits. The PassMark G3D score of 17469 places it at the 67th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival is the desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which has a score of 22895, a delta of -0.7%. This suggests that the mobile 4060 offers performance comparable to a previous-generation desktop card, but it is still a mobile part that throttles under sustained load.

The performance at 1440p and 1080p shows the GPU can deliver solid results when not bottlenecked by memory capacity. At 1080p High, it produces 116 FPS, and at 1440p High, 75 FPS. This demonstrates that the RTX 4060 Mobile has sufficient compute power for a smooth experience, but the frame rates are still limited by the 128-bit memory bus. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p (180 to 88 FPS) shows the GPU's raw compute is handling the workload, but the memory subsystem is the limiting factor for higher settings and resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Minimum, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile ranks 2262 out of 3712 combos. This places it in the lower half of all systems, specifically in the 39th percentile. This is a middling result for a modern laptop, and the data indicates that while the CPU is robust, the GPU holds the combo back from a higher ranking.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's performance ceiling. The RTX 4060 Mobile's average benchmark score is 22729, which is only 0.7% lower than the desktop RTX 2080 and 1.3% lower than the newer RTX 5060 Mobile. This places it in a performance tier that is capable, but certainly not top-tier. The combo's ranking suggests that many other systems, likely with desktop-class GPUs or higher-tier mobile parts, will outperform it in this specific title.

For a user, this ranking means the system is suitable for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it will not be able to compete with high-end desktops or the most powerful gaming laptops in this game. The rank of 2262 is a practical indicator that you should expect mid-range performance, and you will need to make compromises on settings or resolution to achieve your target frame rate. The 39th percentile is not a mark of failure, but it is a clear warning not to expect maximum settings at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It is a powerful mobile CPU, and its benchmark scores reflect this: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14551 and a single-core score of 1759. Its average benchmark score of 34083 places it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. This is a strong showing, and it clearly outclasses the GPU in terms of relative performance capability.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU is not the bottleneck. The frame rate scaling is almost entirely dependent on resolution and GPU load, which is the expected behavior for a game that is graphically intensive. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic, and with 22 threads, it has ample headroom. The data shows no evidence of CPU limitation, as the frame rates do not drop unexpectedly at lower resolutions where the CPU would be more likely to be the limiting factor.

The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, has an average score of 33989, which is a delta of 0.3%, making them virtually identical in performance. This indicates that the 165H is a well-positioned mid-range mobile processor. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for dual-channel DDR5 memory (89.6 GB/s) provide a solid foundation for gaming, but the game's performance is ultimately tied to the GPU. The CPU's high percentile ranking suggests that for future games or more CPU-intensive titles, this processor will provide a stable platform, but for Minimum, its contribution is to ensure a consistent frame time without stutters, allowing the GPU to work to its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: The average frame rate is 180 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh monitors.
• Medium: The average is 138 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS, showing tight frame times.
• High: The average is 116 FPS, a solid result for a high-quality setting.
• Ultra: The average drops to 88 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant cost for the highest settings.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: The average is 116 FPS, which is a 35.6% drop from 1080p Low, highlighting the GPU's bandwidth limits.
• Medium: The average is 89 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS, maintaining a good playable state.
• High: The average is 75 FPS, still smooth enough for most players.
• Ultra: The average is 57 FPS, which is at the edge of playability and may cause noticeable dips in fast-paced action.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: The average is 62 FPS, which is just at the threshold of playable, but the minimum is not reported.
• Medium: The average is 48 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS, indicating stutter and performance issues likely related to VRAM.
• High: The average is 40 FPS, which is not ideal for a smooth experience.
• Ultra: The average is 31 FPS, which is not playable for a third-person shooter.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the sweet spot, offering high frame rates at all settings. 1440p is viable but requires dropping to High or Medium to maintain 60 FPS. 4K is not a practical option for this game, as even the lowest settings produce an average below 60 FPS, and the Medium preset's minimum of 41 FPS suggests a poor experience. The jump from 1440p to 4K is disproportionately large, confirming that the 8 GB VRAM is a hard limit for this title at higher resolutions.