Minimum

This combo, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, is the top-performing configuration in the database for Minimum. The data shows it holds the rank of 1 out of 2939 tested combos, meaning no other CPU-GPU pairing in the database delivers higher average frame rates in this title. This is a definitive top-tier result for a third-person shooter that was released in June 2014, demonstrating that modern high-end hardware can saturate this game's engine entirely.

How This Combo Ranks

The #1 ranking is not a marginal victory; it's a commanding lead in the aggregate measured data. When looking at the individual component standings, the CPU sits in the 94th percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 70,879. Its nearest rivals in the CPU charts are the Intel Xeon 6511P (avg score 71,051, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 (avg score 71,370, delta -0.7%), which are server-class chips. The 265K is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700KF (avg score 70,163, delta 1%) and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (avg score 69,996, delta 1.3%), confirming it's at the very top of the desktop consumer heap.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5090 D is in the 92nd percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 77,712. Interestingly, its nearest rivals in the database's aggregate GPU scores are mobile and datacenter parts: the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (avg score 76,904, delta 1.1%), AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (avg score 78,940, delta -1.6%), and NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB (avg score 79,396, delta -2.1%). The delta percentages are small, but in-game at 4K Ultra, this GPU still manages to push the combo to the top slot.

What does this ranking mean practically? For Minimum, the data indicates there is no bottleneck in this pair. The frame rates achieved are so high that they are likely limited by the game's engine logic or the CPU's single-thread performance rather than the GPU's raw fill rate. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 430 FPS average, a figure that showcases the absurd headroom this hardware has for a game from 2014. The ranking confirms that if you want the absolute maximum measurable performance in Minimum, this is the combination to beat.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and uses the GB202 chip on a 5 nm process from TSMC. It houses 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs. The card operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. This massive shader array is what drives the high frame rates in Minimum, particularly as resolution scales up.

Memory is a defining feature here. The card comes with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. For a game from 2014, this is an absurd amount of VRAM and bandwidth. The measured data shows the GPU's raw compute capability is significant: 104.8 TFLOPS for FP32 and a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s with a texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s. These specs ensure that even at 4K with ultra textures, the memory subsystem will never be a limiting factor in this title.

In the context of Minimum, the GPU's role is to push resolution. The measured FPS shows a clear trend: at 1080p High, the combo produces 276 FPS; at 1440p High, it produces 178 FPS; at 4K High, it drops to 96 FPS. This scaling suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary limiter as pixel count increases, but it's still delivering playable-to-excellent frame rates at every setting. The RTX 5090 D's performance in the database's synthetic tests—like 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 at 14,326 and Passmark G3D at 44,065—corroborates its ability to handle this load. While its nearest GPU rivals in aggregate benchmarks are mobile parts, in this game's measured FPS, the 5090 D's lead is substantial enough to secure the #1 combo spot.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-S architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It features a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The CPU has a 30 MB shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory bandwidth is crucial for feeding the GPU in a high-FPS scenario.

For a game like Minimum, the CPU's single-core performance is often more critical than multi-core, since older titles rarely scale perfectly across many threads. The 265K's benchmarks show a strong single-core result: Cinebench R23 single-core at 2,020 and Geekbench single-core at 2,713. Its multi-core scores are equally impressive (Cinebench R23 multi-core at 35,850 and Geekbench multi-core at 23,085), but the game's data suggests that the high boost clock is what enables the massive frame rates at lower resolutions.

Look at the FPS scaling: at 1080p Low, the combo hits 430 FPS. At 1080p High, it's 276 FPS. The jump from High to Low at the same resolution shows the CPU can handle the draw calls, but the GPU is still doing more work at High settings. However, the fact that the CPU scores in the 94th percentile and beats the Intel Core i7-14700KF in aggregate benchmarks (delta 1%) indicates it has the headroom to avoid bottlenecking the RTX 5090 D in this title. The Passmark single-thread score of 4,928 is particularly relevant, as older game engines often rely on a single primary thread. The 265K's performance here ensures that the frame rate is not artificially capped by CPU limitations, even when the GPU is producing over 400 FPS.

FAQ

*Q: Is this the best combo for Minimum?*

A: Yes, according to the measured data, this combo ranks #1 out of 2939 tested combinations for this game.

Q: How much faster is this CPU than its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has an average benchmark score of 70,879, which is 1% higher than the Intel Core i7-14700KF and 1.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F.

Q: What is the GPU's VRAM capacity and does it matter for this game?

A: The RTX 5090 D has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory. For Minimum, this is far more than necessary, and the data shows no memory-related performance drops even at 4K Ultra.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 430 FPS at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is still the primary limiter, as FPS drops from 430 at Low to 276 at High at 1080p, showing the GPU is doing more work. The CPU's high single-thread score (e.g., 4,928 in Passmark) prevents it from being a bottleneck.

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 73 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast, hitting 430 FPS on Low and 210 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the frame rates drop proportionally: 277 FPS on Low and 136 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the numbers fall further: 149 FPS on Low and 73 FPS on Ultra.

The percentage drops are significant. From 1080p to 1440p on Low settings, the FPS drops from 430 to 277, a reduction of roughly 36%. From 1440p to 4K on Low, it goes from 277 to 149, another 46% drop. This scaling indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU must render more pixels.

At 4K Ultra, the 73 FPS average is still respectable for a game from 2014, but it's a far cry from the triple-digit scores at lower settings. The data shows that the RTX 5090 D's raw power is being taxed by the 4K resolution, yet it still delivers a playable experience. The minimum FPS recorded in the data is 97 FPS at 4K Medium, suggesting that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate does not dip below playable thresholds. This scaling behavior confirms that for the highest refresh-rate displays, sticking to 1440p or lower will yield the most benefit, as the CPU has ample headroom to push beyond 200 FPS at those resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows for this combo provide a clear picture of how settings affect performance. At 1080p, the jump from Low to High is substantial: 430 FPS to 276 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is smaller, but still notable: 276 FPS to 210 FPS. For competitive play where high refresh rates matter, Low settings at 1080p offer the maximum frame rate, but even Ultra at 1080p provides 210 FPS, which is more than sufficient for most high-refresh monitors.

At 1440p, the data shows that High settings (178 FPS) and Medium settings (212 FPS) are the sweet spots. Ultra at 1440p drops to 136 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant 36% decrease from High. The minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium is 180 FPS, indicating that this setting maintains a very consistent frame rate, which is ideal for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, the recommendation shifts. High settings deliver 96 FPS, while Medium delivers 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS. Ultra at 4K drops to 73 FPS, which may be acceptable for a slower-paced game but is not ideal for a third-person shooter where quick camera movements are common. The data suggests that for a 4K display, High settings offer the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, as the 96 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold and the visual upgrade from Medium is typically worth the 16% FPS cost.

For the best overall experience, the data indicates that 1440p High is the optimal configuration, providing 178 FPS average with a sufficiently high minimum to avoid stutters. If you prioritize visual quality over raw speed, 4K High at 96 FPS is the most balanced choice for this hardware in Minimum.