Minimum

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 paired with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 produces a performance profile that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics settings in Minimum. The data indicates a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, while the processor’s substantial core and thread count provides a robust foundation for high frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all configurations, contextualizes the component roles, and offers practical settings guidance based on the empirical rows.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-limited pipeline. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo averages 76 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average to 49 FPS, a 35.5% reduction. Scaling further to 4K yields just 26 FPS on Ultra, which is a 65.8% decline from the 1080p Ultra result. This trajectory demonstrates that the Radeon RX 6600's rendering throughput is the primary constraint once pixel count rises.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced when examining the Low preset. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 156 FPS on Low. At 2560x1440, that figure falls to 100 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it drops to 54 FPS. The percentage losses are 35.9% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 46% from 1440p to 4K. This near-linear degradation with pixel count strongly suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and shading resources are saturated, rather than any CPU limitation.

The Medium preset offers a middle-ground view of this scaling. With an average of 119 FPS at 1080p, it drops to 77 FPS at 1440p (a 35.3% reduction) and then to 41 FPS at 4K (a 46.8% reduction from 1440p). Notably, the gap between Low and Medium at 4K is only 13 FPS (54 vs 41), while the gap between Medium and High at 4K is even smaller at 6 FPS (41 vs 35). This compression of frame rates at higher settings and resolutions indicates that the GPU is running out of compute headroom, and further increasing visual fidelity yields diminishing returns in performance.

The High preset follows the same trend, going from 100 FPS at 1080p to 65 FPS at 1440p (35% drop) and then to 35 FPS at 4K (46.2% drop). The consistent ~35% penalty for stepping up from 1080p to 1440p, and the ~46% penalty from 1440p to 4K, across all settings, confirms that resolution scaling is the dominant factor in performance degradation. The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU’s role remains static across these tests.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It carries 30 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 42,216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5,960 in single-core, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. These figures indicate a high-capacity processor that is unlikely to bottleneck in a game like Minimum, which is a third-person shooter from 2014.

The data supports this conclusion. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 156 FPS, which is a frame rate where CPU overhead often becomes a factor in less optimized titles. However, the fact that the frame rate scales down predictably with resolution (to 100 FPS at 1440p and 54 FPS at 4K) suggests that the CPU is feeding the GPU adequately even at the lowest settings. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS as resolution decreases, not a steady climb.

Comparing the Ultra 7 265 to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, it sits within a tight performance band. The AMD EPYC 4464P is only 0.3% faster in average score, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is 0.3% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7343 is 0.7% slower. These sub-1% deltas mean that any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Minimum. The 20 threads are more than sufficient for the game’s workload, and the 5.30 GHz boost clock ensures strong single-threaded performance for game logic and draw call submission.

Given the game’s 2014 release date, it is unlikely to utilize all 20 cores effectively, but the high single-thread score (5,960 in R23) is the more relevant metric for this title. The CPU’s role here is to remove any potential bottleneck, allowing the RX 6600 to be the sole determinant of performance. The measured FPS differences between settings at the same resolution are consistent with GPU workload changes, not CPU limitations. Therefore, the Ultra 7 265 is performing its role as a stable, high-throughput platform without introducing frame pacing issues or stalls.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip, featuring 1,792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 2491 MHz, with a game clock of 2044 MHz. The GPU’s FP32 performance is rated at 8.928 TFLOPS. In the benchmark database, it holds a 63rd percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,036.

The GPU’s role in Minimum is clearly the limiting factor as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 26 FPS, which is below playable thresholds for most users. This is a direct consequence of the GPU’s compute and memory resources being overwhelmed by the pixel count. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game’s textures, but the 128-bit memory bus and 224 GB/s bandwidth become a constraint at high resolutions, as evidenced by the sharp FPS drops.

The RX 6600’s nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark include the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 (0% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile (0.1% faster), and the NVIDIA Tesla K20m (0.3% faster). These deltas are negligible, meaning the RX 6600 performs on par with these cards in general compute. However, in Minimum, the specific rendering workload favors the RX 6600’s architecture, as it manages to deliver 100 FPS at 1080p High, which is a respectable result for a mid-range card.

The clock speeds are crucial here. The boost clock of 2491 MHz is relatively high, which helps maintain performance at 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, however, the GPU is likely hitting power or thermal limits, causing the clock to drop and further reducing FPS. The measured data shows that the GPU can handle 1440p Medium at 77 FPS, which is a smooth experience, but 4K Ultra at 26 FPS is unplayable. This indicates that the RX 6600 is best suited for 1080p gaming or 1440p with adjusted settings, and its 8 GB VRAM is adequate for the game’s demands at those resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 + AMD Radeon RX 6600 ranks 2267 out of 2939 combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU’s mid-range positioning. The CPU’s high percentile (93rd) does not boost the combo’s rank because the GPU is the performance limiter. A combo with a weaker CPU but a stronger GPU would likely rank higher in this specific game.

The ranking of 2267 out of 2939 means that roughly 77% of tested combos outperform this one in Minimum. This is not surprising given that the RX 6600 is an end-of-life product, while many other combos likely feature higher-tier GPUs. However, the combo’s performance is still respectable for its class, as it can achieve 100+ FPS at 1080p on Medium and High settings. The rank reflects the overall capability of the system, but it does not tell the full story of its suitability for specific resolutions.

When considering the CPU’s rivals, the performance deltas are minuscule, so the rank is almost entirely determined by the GPU. The RX 6600’s nearest rivals (RTX 4050 Mobile, etc.) would produce similar rankings if paired with the same CPU. The combo’s position in the lower half of the database is a direct result of the GPU’s 63rd percentile score, which is its primary weakness. For a user with a 1080p monitor, this combo ranks higher in practical terms than the raw number suggests, because the game is easily playable at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. For 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 76 FPS on average, which is smooth and playable. However, the High preset offers 100 FPS, a 31.6% improvement over Ultra, with only a modest visual downgrade. For competitive play or high refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset at 119 FPS is the best balance, offering a 56.6% FPS increase over Ultra while still maintaining good visual quality. The Low preset at 156 FPS is the maximum performance option, but it sacrifices too much visual fidelity for most users.

At 1440p, the High preset yields 65 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 77 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a 18.5% FPS boost over High while keeping visuals acceptable. The Low preset at 100 FPS is the best for high refresh rate 1440p monitors, but it significantly reduces graphical detail. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, the situation is challenging. The Low preset achieves 54 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches playability. The Medium preset drops to 41 FPS, and High falls to 35 FPS. The Ultra preset is unplayable at 26 FPS. For 4K users, the Low preset is the only viable option, but even then, the experience is marginal. The data suggests that the RX 6600 is not suitable for 4K gaming in Minimum without significant compromises.

The best overall experience per the measured rows is the Medium preset at 1080p, which provides 119 FPS with a minimum of 101 FPS. This ensures a consistent frame rate that stays above the 100 FPS mark, providing a fluid experience. For 1440p, Medium at 77 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a balance of performance and quality. The High preset at 1080p (100 FPS) is also an excellent choice if visual fidelity is prioritized over raw frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak performance. The Low preset averages 156 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. The Medium preset averages 119 FPS, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS, indicating a stable frame pacing. The High preset averages 100 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 76 FPS. The step from Medium to High costs 19 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs another 24 FPS. This shows that Ultra is disproportionately demanding.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 100 FPS, which is equal to the 1080p High result. The Medium preset averages 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS. The High preset averages 65 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 49 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 23 FPS, and between Medium and High is 12 FPS, while High to Ultra is 16 FPS. The minimum FPS for Medium (65) is above the 60 FPS threshold, but High and Ultra fall below it.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. The Low preset averages 54 FPS, which is the only setting above 50 FPS. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. The frame rate drop from 1440p to 4K is severe across all settings, with Low losing 46 FPS, Medium losing 36 FPS, High losing 30 FPS, and Ultra losing 23 FPS. This confirms that 4K is not a target resolution for this hardware.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Minimum?*

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 156, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is the maximum performance the combo can deliver.

Q: Is this combo capable of 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset averages 100 FPS, but the High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64,640. The AMD EPYC 4464P is 0.3% faster, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is 0.3% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7343 is 0.7% slower. These differences are negligible in gaming.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,036. This places it in the mid-range tier.

Q: Does the combo rank highly in the database?

A: The combo ranks 2267 out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This is primarily due to the GPU's mid-range performance, despite the CPU's high percentile ranking.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides 119 FPS average with a minimum of 101 FPS, offering the best balance of performance and visual quality. The High preset at 100 FPS is also recommended if visual fidelity is preferred.