Minimum

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Minimum reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, with the largest performance delta appearing between 1440p and 4K. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers 354 FPS average, which drops to 228 FPS at 1440p Low and further to 123 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 65% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at the lowest settings, indicating that the GPU is becoming progressively more stressed as pixel count rises.

The scaling behavior at Medium settings follows a similar trajectory, with averages of 271 FPS at 1080p, 175 FPS at 1440p, and 94 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 1440p Medium is 96 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K Medium is 81 FPS, showing that the performance penalty is not perfectly linear but remains substantial across each step. High settings demonstrate the same pattern: 228 FPS at 1080p, 147 FPS at 1440p, and 79 FPS at 4K, with the 4K figure falling below the 60 FPS threshold only at Ultra settings.

Ultra settings provide the most extreme illustration of resolution sensitivity, with 173 FPS at 1080p, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is exactly 60 FPS, which suggests the GPU is operating at its practical ceiling for this workload. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at Ultra represents a 46% performance drop, while the 1080p to 1440p drop is 35%. This asymmetric scaling indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB frame buffer and 256-bit memory interface are sufficient for 1440p but become bandwidth-limited at 4K with maximum settings.

The fact that 1080p Ultra (173 FPS) is higher than 1440p High (147 FPS) and 1440p Ultra (112 FPS) confirms that resolution is the dominant factor in this game's performance profile. The CPU's 20 cores and 20 threads, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, are clearly not the limiting factor at any resolution, as even the lowest 4K result (60 FPS at Ultra) is well above typical CPU-bound thresholds. The data suggests that users targeting 4K should expect to compromise on settings, while 1080p and 1440p provide ample headroom for high refresh rate displays.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 311 out of 3712 tested combinations in Minimum, placing it in the top 8.4% of all tested systems. This percentile positioning reflects the strong overall capability of this pairing, though it is not at the very top of the charts, indicating that there are more powerful combos available for this specific title.

The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus score of 94 confirms that the processor is among the top 6% of all CPUs tested, while the GPU's percentileVsAllGpus of 86 places it in the top 14%. The combination of these two strong components yields a rank that is slightly below what either component's individual percentile might suggest, implying that the game's engine benefits from even higher-end hardware or that other factors such as memory configuration or storage speed play a role.

In terms of CPU rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K's average benchmark score of 70879 sits within a tight cluster of competitors. The Intel Xeon 6511P scores 71051, a deltaPct of -0.2%, meaning the 265K trails by just 0.2%. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 scores 71370, a -0.7% delta, while the Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70163, putting the 265K ahead by 1%. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, with the 265K leading by 1.3%. These narrow margins indicate that the 265K is competitively positioned among high-end desktop and workstation processors.

For the GPU, the RTX 4080 SUPER's average benchmark score of 54209 is marginally ahead of the RTX 4080 at 54247, a -0.1% delta. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, placing the 4080 SUPER behind by 1.1%, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698, a -2.7% gap, and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55757, a -2.8% gap. These figures show that the 4080 SUPER is within a few percentage points of its nearest competitors, making it a strong but not dominant choice for this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K brings a substantial 20 cores and 20 threads to the test system, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This configuration, built on the Arrow Lake architecture with a 3 nm process node from TSMC, provides the kind of single-threaded and multi-threaded performance that modern game engines demand. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache, combined with 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, helps maintain high instruction throughput during gameplay.

In Minimum, a Third-Person Shooter from 2014, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic updates. The measured FPS data shows no evidence of CPU bottlenecking, as even at 1080p Low where the system reaches 354 FPS average, the CPU is able to keep pace. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35850 and single-core score of 2020 indicate robust performance, while the Geekbench multi-core score of 23085 and single-core of 2713 confirm this assessment.

The 265K's nearest CPU rivals in the benchmark database show that it holds its own against workstation-class processors. The Intel Xeon 6511P and Xeon Platinum 8270 both score within 1% of the 265K, while the Core i7-14700KF and Ryzen 7 9700F trail by 1% and 1.3% respectively. For a game like Minimum, which was released in 2014 and likely does not utilize more than a handful of cores effectively, the 265K's single-core performance is the more relevant metric, and its PassMark single-thread score of 4928 reflects strong per-core throughput.

The CPU's 125 W TDP and support for DDR5 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s provide ample memory bandwidth for this game. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes available from the CPU ensure that the GPU has a high-bandwidth connection, though the RTX 4080 SUPER's PCIe 4.0 x16 interface does not fully utilize the Gen 5 capability. Overall, the 265K contributes to the system's performance by never becoming the limiting factor, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the system delivers consistently high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 354 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 271 FPS with a minimum of 230 FPS and maximum of 312 FPS. High settings drop to 228 FPS average, while Ultra settings produce 173 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p gaming is well within the comfort zone of this hardware, with even Ultra settings providing frame rates far above typical 144 Hz monitor refresh rates.

Moving to 2560x1440 resolution, the performance remains strong but shows the expected reduction. Low settings average 228 FPS, which matches the 1080p High result. Medium settings average 175 FPS with a min of 149 and max of 201. High settings produce 147 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 112 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result of 112 FPS still provides a smooth experience for high refresh rate displays, though it represents a 35% drop from the 1080p Ultra figure.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings average 123 FPS, which is still playable but significantly lower than lower resolutions. Medium settings produce 94 FPS with a minimum of 80 and maximum of 108. High settings deliver 79 FPS, and Ultra settings exactly hit 60 FPS average. The 4K Ultra result is the only measurement at or below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that users targeting 4K should consider Medium or High settings for a more comfortable margin.

The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings grows with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (354 FPS) and Ultra (173 FPS) is 181 FPS, or a 51% reduction. At 1440p, the gap is 116 FPS (228 to 112), a 51% reduction. At 4K, the gap narrows to 63 FPS (123 to 60), a 51% reduction. This consistent percentage drop across resolutions indicates that the settings scaling is uniform, and the system's relative performance hierarchy remains stable regardless of resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS measured for this combo in Minimum?

A: The highest average FPS is 354, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 4K Ultra is exactly 60, though this leaves no headroom for demanding scenes.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Core i7-14700KF?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has an average benchmark score of 70879, which is 1% higher than the Core i7-14700KF's 70163.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 1440p at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 271 at 1080p to 175 at 1440p, a difference of 96 FPS.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the CPU's strong single-thread performance allows the GPU to reach its maximum workload at Ultra settings.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems in Minimum?

A: The combo ranks 311 out of 3712 tested combinations, placing it in the top 8.4%.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, Ultra settings at 173 FPS average provide an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, as this frame rate exceeds the refresh rate of most 144 Hz monitors. Users with 240 Hz displays may prefer High settings at 228 FPS, which is a 32% improvement over Ultra while still delivering high visual fidelity.

For 1440p resolution, High settings at 147 FPS offer the best experience for high refresh rate monitors, as this provides a comfortable margin above 144 Hz. Ultra settings at 112 FPS are also viable for 120 Hz displays, while Medium settings at 175 FPS may appeal to competitive players who prioritize frame rate over visual detail. Low settings at 228 FPS are available for those seeking maximum responsiveness, though the visual compromise is significant.

At 4K resolution, the recommendations shift toward lower settings to maintain smooth gameplay. Medium settings at 94 FPS provide the best balance, with a minimum of 80 FPS ensuring consistent performance. High settings at 79 FPS are acceptable for 60 Hz displays but leave less headroom. Ultra settings at exactly 60 FPS average are technically playable but may experience drops below 60 in demanding scenarios, making Medium the safer choice for 4K gaming. Low settings at 123 FPS are an option for users with 120 Hz 4K monitors, though the visual downgrade is substantial.

The minimum FPS data available for Medium settings shows that the system maintains a minimum of 230 FPS at 1080p, 149 FPS at 1440p, and 80 FPS at 4K. These figures confirm that Medium settings provide stable performance across all resolutions, making it the most versatile choice for users who may switch between different displays.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process node, is the primary driver of Minimum's performance at higher resolutions. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, the GPU provides 736.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which becomes increasingly critical as resolution increases. The 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs deliver the raw compute power needed for modern game rendering.

The GPU's clock speeds of 2295 MHz base and 2550 MHz boost, combined with 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores, make it a formidable performer. The FP32 compute of 52.22 TFLOPS ensures that pixel-heavy scenes at 4K are handled efficiently. The PassMark G3D score of 34245 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6600 place the GPU in the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database show tight competition. The RTX 4080 scores 54247, a -0.1% delta from the 4080 SUPER's 54209. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X and RX 6750 GRE 12 GB score higher at 54828 and 55698 respectively, though these are not direct performance peers in gaming workloads. The 16 GB VRAM capacity proves sufficient for Minimum, as no measurements indicate VRAM limitations even at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's 320 W TDP and triple-slot design require robust cooling and power delivery, with the suggested PSU of 700 W being an important consideration for system builders. The PCIe 4.0 x16 interface provides adequate bandwidth, and the display outputs of 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a support high refresh rate monitors at all tested resolutions. The GPU's role in this system is clearly dominant, with the CPU providing sufficient support to avoid becoming a bottleneck at any resolution or settings combination.