Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, is a surprisingly demanding title when pushed to its limits, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D produces a chart-topping performance profile. The data places this pairing at the very top of the database, ranking first out of 2,939 tested combinations for this specific game. This is a dominant position, indicating that no other hardware pairing in the current database achieves higher average frame rates in Minimum's benchmarks. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides context for how this system handles the game across various resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data is unequivocal about this combo's standing. It achieves a rank of 1 out of 2,939 tested in Minimum, placing it in the 100th percentile of all recorded configurations. This means that for this specific title, no other combination of processor and graphics card in the database has produced a higher average frame rate. The performance delta to the rest of the field is significant, as the GPU itself sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, but when paired with the Core Ultra 7 265 in this game, the synergy results in a top-tier outcome. The CPU, while powerful with a 93rd percentile ranking compared to all CPUs, is not the limiting factor here; instead, it provides a robust platform that allows the RTX 5090 D to operate at its full potential. The data suggests that this is a pairing designed for absolute maximum frame rates, with no discernible bottleneck in this title based on the measured results. While the CPU's average benchmark score of 64,640 places it near rivals like the AMD EPYC 4464P, which is only 0.3% faster, and Intel's own 265F, which is 0.3% slower, those synthetic benchmarks do not translate to a meaningful difference in Minimum's gaming workload. The gaming data shows a clear victory for this specific combo, establishing it as the reference point for maximum performance in this game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the undisputed powerhouse in this configuration, and its specifications are reflected in the high frame rates observed. Built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process, the GPU is packed with 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs. Its memory subsystem is particularly impressive, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, which yields a staggering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. This immense bandwidth is a critical factor in Minimum, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU must rapidly access large textures and geometry data. The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz, are high, but the raw throughput is what separates it from lesser cards. The FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS provides the raw compute necessary to push the frame rates seen in the data.

The GPU's performance is further contextualized by its benchmark scores. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 44,065, which is a strong indicator of gaming prowess, and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 310,674. In the database, its average benchmark score of 77,712 places it just 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, though those are mobile parts and the comparison is purely on synthetic aggregate. The RTX 5090 D's 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs underscores its elite status. With a launch MSRP of 2,299 USD, it is a top-tier investment, and the data shows it delivers top-tier results in Minimum. The GPU is clearly the primary driver of performance, as evidenced by the massive FPS swings when settings are changed, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, particularly at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 serves as the central processing unit for this combo, and while it is not the star of the show in Minimum's benchmark results, its capabilities ensure the GPU is never left waiting. This processor features 20 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that is more than sufficient for the game's engine. Its boost clock of 5.30 GHz is particularly noteworthy for gaming, as it provides the high single-thread performance that many titles, including Minimum, rely upon. The CPU's architecture is Arrow Lake-S, built on a 3 nm process, and it supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. This ensures that data can be fed to the CPU cores and subsequently to the GPU without a bottleneck.

Synthetic benchmarks for the CPU show a competent, high-end part. It scores 42,216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5,960 in single-core, indicating strong all-around performance. Its Passmark multithread score of 49,682 and single-thread score of 4,689 confirm its position in the upper echelon of processors, with a 93rd percentile ranking. The nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 4464P and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, have average scores that are within 0.3% to 0.7% of the 265, showing that the CPU is a solid, mid-range high-end choice. In gaming, however, the CPU's role is to maintain a high frame-time consistency. The data suggests it does this admirably, as the FPS figures are limited by the GPU, not the CPU, in almost all measured scenarios. For a game like Minimum, which can be CPU-intensive in certain scenes, the 5.30 GHz boost clock helps to ensure that frame rates remain high and stable, allowing the RTX 5090 D to render frames as fast as it can produce them.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets, with the RTX 5090 D showing its strengths.

At 1080p, the combo is incredibly fast, effectively removing the GPU as a bottleneck. With Low settings, the average FPS hits a remarkable 430. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 329 FPS, with a minimum of 280 FPS and a maximum of 379 FPS. High settings yield an average of 276 FPS, and even at Ultra, the system maintains an average of 210 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as the GPU has so much headroom that it can render frames far faster than the processor can issue draw calls, though the scores are still exceptionally high.

Stepping up to 1440p, the GPU begins to take on more work. The Low preset average is 277 FPS, which is still incredibly high. Medium produces an average of 212 FPS, with a min/max of 180/244 FPS. High settings average 178 FPS, and Ultra averages 136 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 141 FPS, a 51% reduction, showing the increasing load on the GPU as settings are scaled up.

At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU's true workload is revealed, and the performance remains playable but much more demanding. The Low preset averages 149 FPS, which is a solidly playable frame rate for a competitive title. Medium settings see the average drop to 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. High settings average 96 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 73 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: the higher the resolution and settings, the more the RTX 5090 D's performance is taxed, with a significant drop from 149 FPS at Low to 73 FPS at Ultra, a 51% reduction.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 bottleneck the RTX 5090 D in Minimum at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the average FPS reaches 430, which is exceptionally high. The data suggests that the CPU is the primary limiter at this resolution, as the GPU has significant headroom to render more frames than the CPU can process, but the resulting frame rates are still extremely high.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Minimum with this combo for a high refresh rate monitor?

A: For a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, the 1440p High preset, with an average of 178 FPS, or even the 1440p Ultra preset, with an average of 136 FPS, would be excellent choices. For a 240Hz monitor, the 1080p High preset at 276 FPS or the 1440p Low preset at 277 FPS are suitable.

Q: How much of a performance hit is there when moving from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 210 at 1080p Ultra to 73 at 4K Ultra. This is a decrease of 137 FPS, or roughly 65%, which is a substantial hit and indicates that 4K Ultra is a heavy load for even the RTX 5090 D.

Q: Is this combo capable of running Minimum at 4K with a high refresh rate?

A: Yes, but not at the highest settings. The 4K Low preset yields an average of 149 FPS, which is excellent for high refresh rate gaming. The 4K Medium preset, with an average of 114 FPS, is also viable. However, the 4K Ultra preset at 73 FPS is better suited for a 60Hz or 75Hz display.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its closest rival in the database based on average benchmark score?

A: The data shows the RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77,712. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, has an average score of 76,904, making the RTX 5090 D 1.1% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.6% faster, with a score of 78,940.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Core Ultra 7 265 and the Core Ultra 7 265F?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64,640, while the Core Ultra 7 265F has an average score of 64,438. This makes the 265 0.3% faster than the 265F in synthetic testing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend entirely on the target display refresh rate and resolution. For players with 4K displays, the Low preset is the clear choice for high-refresh-rate gaming, delivering an average of 149 FPS. This provides a smooth, competitive experience. If visual fidelity is more important, the Medium preset, with an average of 114 FPS and a minimum of 97 FPS, is a strong alternative that should remain fluid on most high-refresh displays. The High preset at 96 FPS is also viable for 60Hz panels, but the Ultra preset at 73 FPS is best reserved for scenarios where frame rate is secondary to image quality.

At 1440p, the story changes. The Low preset at 277 FPS is overkill for most monitors, so players can afford to increase visual quality. The High preset, with an average of 178 FPS, is the sweet spot for 144Hz and 165Hz monitors, offering a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a high frame rate. The Ultra preset at 136 FPS is also an excellent choice for 144Hz panels, providing the best visual experience while staying above the refresh rate threshold. The Medium preset at 212 FPS is a good middle ground for 240Hz monitors, though the jump to High is recommended for better visuals if the display can handle it.

For 1080p users, the performance is so high that the recommendation is to maximize settings. The Ultra preset at 210 FPS is the best experience, as it will push most high-refresh monitors to their limits while providing the highest level of visual detail. The High preset at 276 FPS is also excellent, and the Medium preset at 329 FPS is suitable for the fastest 360Hz monitors. The Low preset at 430 FPS offers no practical advantage outside of extreme competitive play. A general recommendation is to use the High or Ultra preset at 1080p and 1440p to balance visual quality with the high frame rates this hardware can deliver, and to favor the Low or Medium presets at 4K to maintain high refresh rates.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across resolutions reveals the scaling behavior of this hardware combination. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by roughly 35-40% across all settings. For example, at High settings, the average drops from 276 FPS at 1080p to 178 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 98 FPS. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 210 FPS to 136 FPS, a reduction of 74 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a bottleneck as pixel count increases, but the performance remains exceptionally high.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced. The High preset drops from 178 FPS at 1440p to 96 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 82 FPS (46%). The Low preset drops from 277 FPS to 149 FPS, a reduction of 128 FPS (46%). The Ultra preset drops from 136 FPS to 73 FPS, a reduction of 63 FPS (46%). This consistent percentage drop across all settings suggests that the performance scaling is tied directly to the pixel count, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The RTX 5090 D's memory bandwidth is being pushed to its limits as the resolution increases, and the data shows that the GPU is the primary limiting component in this configuration for Minimum. The CPU's role becomes less significant at 4K, as it is more than capable of feeding the GPU with data, allowing the graphics card to work at 100% utilization. This analysis confirms that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a perfect match for the RTX 5090 D, as it does not hinder the GPU's performance at any resolution, allowing the graphics card to be the sole determinant of frame rates.