Minimum

# Minimum with Intel Core Ultra 7 265 + AMD Radeon RX 7600

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combination delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Minimum, a Third-Person Shooter that scales dramatically across settings. Benchmark data reveals a system that excels at 1080p, remains viable at 1440p with settings adjustments, and struggles at 4K where the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, provides ample headroom even at lower resolutions, while the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus constrain performance at higher pixel counts.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance cliff as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 171 FPS at 1080p to 110 FPS at 1440p, a 36% reduction, and then further to 59 FPS at 4K. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed frames at lower pixel counts but cannot compensate for the increased pixel throughput required at 4K.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Medium settings shows a similar trend: 131 FPS drops to 84 FPS, a 36% decline. However, the jump from 1440p to 4K at Medium settings is more severe, with the average falling from 84 FPS to 45 FPS, a 46% reduction. This disproportionate drop at 4K underscores the GPU's memory bandwidth constraints — the RX 7600's 288.0 GB/s bandwidth and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory become increasingly inadequate as pixel count rises.

At High settings, the resolution scaling is even more pronounced. The 1080p average of 110 FPS falls to 71 FPS at 1440p (35% drop) and then to 38 FPS at 4K (47% drop from 1440p). The 4K High result of 38 FPS is below the 45 FPS Medium result at the same resolution, indicating that the GPU's shading units and ROPs are saturated at this load. The Ultra preset at 4K produces an average of 29 FPS, which is the lowest measured value across all configurations, confirming that this combination is not suited for maximum settings at 4K.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution tested. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most likely to bottleneck, the 171 FPS average indicates that the Core Ultra 7 265's 20 cores and 5.30 GHz boost clock provide more than enough processing power. The bottleneck shifts entirely to the GPU as resolution increases, with the 4K results showing only 29-59 FPS depending on settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5960. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache help maintain high instruction throughput, which is relevant for Minimum's gameplay logic and physics calculations.

In the context of this game, the CPU's multithreaded capabilities are more than sufficient. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42216 and PassMark multithread score of 49682 indicate that the processor can handle complex scenes with many entities, but the game's frame rates are not CPU-limited in any measured configuration. The lowest 1080p average of 84 FPS (at Ultra settings) is still well above the threshold where CPU bottlenecks typically appear, and the 171 FPS at Low settings demonstrates that the processor can sustain high frame rates when the GPU is not saturated.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface provides adequate data throughput for game assets, but this is not a constraining factor in Minimum. The processor's 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 64640, places it in the upper tier of desktop processors. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, scores 64823 (0.3% higher), while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F scores 64438 (0.3% lower), indicating that the 265 is competitively positioned within its performance class.

For Minimum, the CPU's 20 threads are likely underutilized, as the game is not designed to scale across that many cores. However, the high single-core performance ensures that the game's main thread and physics calculations run smoothly, and the processor's 65 W TDP means it can maintain boost clocks without thermal throttling in most chassis. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 32EU is irrelevant for this discrete GPU configuration, but it does provide a fallback if the RX 7600 is removed.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is a mid-range graphics card based on the Navi 33 chip, built on a 6 nm process by TSMC. With 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units, the card offers 21.75 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. Its boost clock of 2655 MHz and game clock of 2250 MHz are relatively high for the segment, but the card's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The GPU's 57th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15171, places it in the mid-range category. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, scores 15199 (0.2% higher), while the AMD Radeon Pro 560X scores 15082 (0.6% lower). This indicates that the RX 7600 is competitively positioned against its direct competitors, but its performance ceiling is firmly in the mid-range.

In Minimum, the GPU's role is dominant at 4K, where the measured frame rates are directly proportional to the card's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The 4K results show a clear hierarchy: Low (59 FPS) > Medium (45 FPS) > High (38 FPS) > Ultra (29 FPS). This 2x difference between Low and Ultra at 4K highlights the GPU's inability to handle the increased shader complexity and texture detail at higher presets, likely due to the 8 GB VRAM capacity being exceeded at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's 64 ROPs provide a pixel rate of 169.9 GPixel/s, which is adequate for 1080p and 1440p but insufficient for 4K at high settings. The 128-bit memory bus limits bandwidth to 288.0 GB/s, which is a significant constraint at 4K where texture streaming and framebuffer access multiply. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2310 confirms that the card is not designed for high-end 4K gaming, and the measured results align with this expectation.

At 1080p, the GPU performs adequately, with the Low preset achieving 171 FPS and Ultra achieving 84 FPS. The 2x scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p (171 to 84 FPS) is less severe than at 4K (59 to 29 FPS), indicating that the GPU is not as heavily taxed at lower resolutions. The 1440p results show a similar pattern, with Low at 110 FPS and Ultra at 54 FPS, a 2x difference that remains consistent with the GPU's capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RX 7600 paired with the Core Ultra 7 265 delivers a wide range of performance depending on settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 171 FPS, which is more than sufficient for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 131 FPS with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS, providing a smooth experience with a 39 FPS variance between minimum and maximum. The High preset averages 110 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 84 FPS. All 1080p configurations maintain frame rates above 60 FPS, making this resolution the sweet spot for this combination.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably but remains playable. The Low preset averages 110 FPS, which is still high enough for fast-paced gameplay. The Medium preset averages 84 FPS with a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 97 FPS, providing a 25 FPS variance that indicates some frame pacing inconsistency. The High preset averages 71 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, but the Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, which may feel less responsive in action sequences. The 1440p Medium configuration offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with the 72 FPS minimum ensuring that frame drops are unlikely to be noticeable.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, which is borderline playable but not ideal for a Third-Person Shooter that requires quick reactions. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS, indicating significant frame variance that could cause stuttering during intense scenes. The High preset averages 38 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 29 FPS, both of which are below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K results suggest that this combination is not suitable for 4K gaming in Minimum, even at Low settings, as the 59 FPS average is likely to drop below 60 FPS during demanding scenes.

The measured FPS data shows that the combination's performance scales predictably with settings. Across all resolutions, the difference between Low and Ultra is approximately 2x, with the absolute frame rates determined by the resolution's pixel count. The Medium preset consistently provides a balanced experience, with the 1080p Medium (131 FPS) and 1440p Medium (84 FPS) both offering solid performance, while the 4K Medium (45 FPS) falls short of the 60 FPS target.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combination ranks 2008 out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the 32nd percentile of all tested configurations. This ranking reflects the GPU's mid-range position, as the CPU's high performance (93rd percentile) is not sufficient to overcome the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. The combination's rank is consistent with the RX 7600's 57th percentile GPU ranking, indicating that the GPU is the primary determinant of overall gaming performance in this title.

In comparison to other tested combos, this configuration outperforms roughly 68% of all combinations, which is respectable for a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU. However, the ranking also means that 931 tested combinations deliver higher frame rates in Minimum, likely featuring more powerful GPUs that can handle 4K resolutions more effectively. The combination's rank is not surprising given the GPU's performance class, but it does highlight that the CPU's strength is largely wasted in this title at higher resolutions.

The CPU's nearest rivals — the AMD EPYC 4464P (0.3% higher average score), Intel Core Ultra 7 265F (0.3% lower), AMD EPYC 7343 (0.7% higher), and AMD EPYC 9124 (0.7% lower) — are all server-class processors that would not typically be paired with an RX 7600 in a gaming system. This suggests that the Core Ultra 7 265 is an unusual choice for this GPU pairing, as the CPU's capabilities far exceed what the GPU can utilize at 4K. The GPU's nearest rivals — the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (0.2% higher average score), AMD Radeon Pro 560X (0.6% lower), AMD Radeon 680M (0.7% higher), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (0.7% lower) — are all similarly positioned in the mid-range, confirming that the RX 7600 is competitive within its class.

The combo's 2008th rank out of 2939 combinations indicates that it is a mid-pack performer, neither exceptional nor disappointing for its component class. The data suggests that users seeking higher rankings would need to upgrade the GPU to a more powerful model, while those satisfied with 1080p or 1440p gaming will find this combination adequate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers the best balance, with an average of 131 FPS and a minimum of 111 FPS. This configuration provides a 39 FPS variance (111-150 FPS), which ensures smooth gameplay even during demanding scenes. The High preset at 110 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset's higher minimum frame rate (111 FPS vs. no recorded minimum for High) makes it the safer choice for consistent performance.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended configuration, delivering an average of 84 FPS with a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 97 FPS. The 25 FPS variance is acceptable for most players, and the 72 FPS minimum ensures that frame drops are unlikely to cause noticeable stuttering. The High preset at 71 FPS is close to the Medium preset's average but lacks the recorded minimum, making it a riskier choice. The Low preset at 110 FPS provides the highest frame rate but sacrifices visual quality, which may not be necessary given that Medium achieves 84 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the data shows that this combination is not well-suited for 4K gaming in Minimum. The Low preset's 59 FPS average is the only configuration that approaches playable frame rates, but it still falls short of the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset's 45 FPS average with a 39 FPS minimum indicates that frame drops will be noticeable during intense action. For users who must play at 4K, the Low preset is the only recommended option, but it is advisable to reduce the resolution to 1440p for a better experience. The Medium preset at 1440p provides a 84 FPS average, which is significantly better than the 4K Low preset's 59 FPS and offers superior visual quality.

For users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1440p (110 FPS) or 1080p (171 FPS) is the best choice. For those who want a balanced experience, the Medium preset at 1440p (84 FPS) or 1080p (131 FPS) is recommended. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it provides the lowest frame rates (84 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p, 29 FPS at 4K) without a proportional visual benefit over the High preset in this game. The High preset at 1440p (71 FPS) is a reasonable compromise for users who want higher visual quality than Medium but cannot tolerate the Ultra preset's frame rate drop.