Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT pairing delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Minimum, a third-person shooter from 2014. The benchmark data for this combination shows a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings, with the CPU providing ample headroom while the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher graphical loads and resolutions. The following analysis breaks down the measured results, component roles, and optimal settings based solely on the provided data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The processor includes 30 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Its benchmark scores place it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier processing capability. In the Cinebench R23 tests, it scores 50009 in multi-core and 7060 in single-core, while PassMark multithread scores reach 58838 and single-thread 4904. The data shows this CPU is far from being a bottleneck for the RX 6750 XT in Minimum; the measured frame rates scale directly with GPU load changes, suggesting the CPU easily feeds the graphics card.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ultra 7 265K sits within a tight performance band. It is 0.2% behind the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF and the Intel Core i9-14900KF, and 0.9% behind the Intel Core i9-14900K. It also trails the AMD EPYC 7413 by 1.2%. These sub-1% deltas mean that for gaming workloads, the choice between these processors is effectively a wash; the Ultra 7 265K's performance is statistically identical to its closest competitors. For Minimum, a game from 2014, the processor's single-threaded strength (Cinebench R23 single-core of 7060) is more relevant than its massive multi-threaded throughput. The game's engine likely relies on a few high-frequency cores, and the 5.50 GHz boost clock ensures those cores operate at maximum efficiency, allowing the GPU to run at its full potential without waiting on CPU instructions.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture using the Navi 22 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2150 MHz, a boost clock of 2600 MHz, and a game clock of 2495 MHz. It includes 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with 40 ray-tracing cores. Its compute capability is rated at 13.31 TFLOPS FP32. In PassMark G3D, it scores 20700, placing it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs. The memory configuration is particularly important for Minimum at higher resolutions; the 12 GB VRAM capacity is ample for a 2014 title, meaning the 432.0 GB/s bandwidth is the more critical factor for feeding the rendering pipeline at 4K.

The GPU's benchmark scores show it is a mid-to-high-range part. Its average benchmark score of 35327 is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5600M, 0.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile, 0.9% behind the AMD Radeon 880M, and 1.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. These small deltas indicate that the RX 6750 XT is positioned in a crowded performance tier, where generational and architectural differences yield only marginal score gaps. In Minimum, the GPU's role is dominant; the measured FPS drops significantly as settings increase from Low to Ultra at each resolution, demonstrating that the rendering load is the primary variable. The GPU's 250 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest a substantial cooling requirement, but the data shows it delivers consistent frame rates across all tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 216.1 on Low to 103.7 on Ultra, a reduction of 112.4 frames per second, indicating that Ultra settings more than halve the performance compared to the lowest preset.

Q: Does the combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only on Low settings. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 76.7 on Low, 54.9 on Medium, 46.8 on High, and 37.9 on Ultra. Therefore, 60 FPS is only attainable on the Low preset at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900K?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has an average benchmark score of 79102, which is 0.9% lower than the Intel Core i9-14900K's score of 79824. This makes the two processors nearly identical in overall performance.

Q: What is the best resolution for achieving high refresh rates (above 144 FPS)?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 216.1 FPS and Medium achieves 167.1 FPS, while High reaches 138.5 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (139.1 FPS) approaches the 144 FPS mark. Therefore, 1080p with Low or Medium settings is required for the highest refresh rates.

Q: Is the GPU's memory bandwidth sufficient for 4K gaming in this title?

A: The data suggests it is adequate, but not for high settings. The 432.0 GB/s bandwidth supports 76.7 FPS at 4K Low, but at 4K Ultra, the frame rate falls to 37.9 FPS, indicating that the memory bandwidth and compute load become limiting factors as settings increase.

Q: How many total combinations were tested, and what is this combo's rank?

A: This combo ranks 820th out of 1733 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of all possible CPU-GPU pairings for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured data provides a complete matrix of average frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo starts strong: Low settings produce an average of 216.1 FPS, Medium yields 167.1 FPS, High reaches 138.5 FPS, and Ultra drops to 103.7 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 112.4 FPS difference, representing a 52% performance penalty for the highest quality settings. The step from Low to Medium costs 49 FPS, while the step from Medium to High costs 28.6 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 34.8 FPS, showing a non-linear relationship where the largest single drop occurs at the lowest settings transition.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades predictably. Low settings average 139.1 FPS, Medium averages 105 FPS, High averages 90.2 FPS, and Ultra averages 66.3 FPS. At this resolution, the gap between Low and Ultra is 72.8 FPS. Notably, the 1440p Low result (139.1 FPS) is nearly identical to the 1080p High result (138.5 FPS), indicating that resolution scaling and quality scaling have similar performance costs. The 1440p Medium result (105 FPS) closely matches the 1080p Ultra result (103.7 FPS), further illustrating this trade-off. At 4K (3840x2160), all presets show substantial drops: Low averages 76.7 FPS, Medium 54.9 FPS, High 46.8 FPS, and Ultra 37.9 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is less than half of the 1080p Medium result, showing the severe impact of combining high resolution with maximum quality. Across all resolutions, the data shows no min or max FPS values, so only average frame rates are available for analysis.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT combination ranks 820th out of 1733 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the 47th percentile, meaning roughly 53% of all tested combinations deliver higher average performance. Given that the CPU is in the 97th percentile of all CPUs and the GPU is in the 79th percentile of all GPUs, the combo's mid-pack ranking indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor for this specific game. The CPU's high percentile score is not fully utilized because Minimum's rendering demands are primarily GPU-bound, especially at higher settings and resolutions. The rank suggests that pairing this CPU with a more powerful GPU would likely move the combo significantly higher in the rankings, whereas upgrading the CPU alone would yield minimal gains.

The combo's position relative to its component parts is informative. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14900K, perform within 0.9% of the Ultra 7 265K, so swapping among these CPUs would not change the combo's rank. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rivals, including the RTX 3080, are within 1.3% of the RX 6750 XT's average score, indicating that this combo's rank is typical for its GPU tier. The data shows that the 1733 combos span a wide range of hardware, and this specific pairing lands in the upper half, which is consistent with a high-end CPU from 2024 and a mid-range GPU from 2022. For a 2014 game, this rank reflects adequate performance, but not top-tier status, as many newer GPUs in the database would score higher.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Medium preset at 167.1 FPS offers the best balance, providing a high refresh rate experience while maintaining visual quality; the jump to High (138.5 FPS) still supports 144 Hz displays, but Ultra (103.7 FPS) falls below 120 FPS. For users with 144 Hz monitors, High is recommended, as it stays above the refresh rate threshold. For 2560x1440, the Low preset at 139.1 FPS is the only option that approaches 144 Hz, but the Medium preset at 105 FPS is better suited for 100 Hz displays. The 1440p High preset at 90.2 FPS is adequate for 90 Hz monitors, while Ultra at 66.3 FPS is playable but sacrifices smoothness. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset at 76.7 FPS maintains a playable frame rate above 60 FPS; Medium at 54.9 FPS is borderline, and High (46.8 FPS) and Ultra (37.9 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience.

The data suggests prioritizing resolution over quality for this combo. At 1080p Ultra, the frame rate (103.7 FPS) is nearly identical to 1440p Medium (105 FPS), meaning users can either have higher resolution at medium quality or lower resolution at ultra quality with similar performance. For the best overall experience, 1440p Medium appears to be the sweet spot, offering a significant resolution upgrade over 1080p while maintaining triple-digit frame rates. At 4K, the Low preset is the only viable choice, as it provides a playable 76.7 FPS, but users should accept reduced visual fidelity. Ultimately, the measured data shows that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can consistently deliver above 90 FPS across most settings, and 4K should be reserved for Low settings or users comfortable with sub-60 FPS performance.