Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the top-performing combination for Minimum, securing the #1 spot out of 2,939 tested combos. This pairing delivers exceptional frame rates across all resolutions, but the scaling patterns reveal a nuanced story about where the bottleneck lies and how the hardware behaves under varying graphical loads.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable decline as resolution increases, but the rate of that decline is telling. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 430 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 277 FPS, a 35.6% reduction. Stepping up to 4K at Low settings yields 149 FPS, which is 46.2% lower than the 1440p result and 65.3% lower than the 1080p figure. This steep drop-off indicates that the GPU is being pushed progressively harder as pixel count rises, which is expected for a demanding title.

The scaling pattern shifts when examining higher settings. At High settings, the transition from 1080p (276 FPS) to 1440p (178 FPS) represents a 35.5% decrease, nearly identical to the Low settings drop. However, the 4K High result (96 FPS) is 46.1% lower than 1440p High, again mirroring the Low settings trend. This consistency suggests the GPU is the primary limiter at these resolutions, with the CPU providing ample headroom to feed the graphics card.

The most revealing data point comes from the Ultra settings. At 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 210 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 136 FPS (a 35.2% decrease), and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 73 FPS (a 46.3% drop from 1440p). The percentage reductions are remarkably uniform across all settings tiers, which indicates that the RTX 5090 D is scaling as expected with resolution, and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is not introducing any frame rate ceilings that would flatten the curve.

What this scaling data implies is that the system is well-balanced for this game. The CPU's 24 cores and 24 threads, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, are sufficient to keep up with the GPU's demands even at 1080p where CPU overhead is typically highest. The 430 FPS Low result at 1080p demonstrates that the processor can push an extraordinary number of frames, and the fact that this number drops by roughly a third at each resolution step confirms the GPU is the scaling factor. For players targeting high refresh rates, the 1440p results (178-277 FPS depending on settings) are particularly strong, while 4K remains very playable even at Ultra.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a monster of a graphics card, and its specifications align closely with the measured performance. The 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus provides 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Minimum at any resolution or settings combination. Even at 4K Ultra, where texture memory demands are highest, the 73 FPS average suggests the card is not memory-constrained. The 32 GB capacity is far beyond what this 2014 title requires, meaning VRAM is never a limiting factor in these results.

The GPU's clock speeds also tell a story. With a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, the RTX 5090 D is running at frequencies that would have been unimaginable for high-end cards a decade ago. The 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power and 1,636.8 GTexel/s texture rate translate directly to the high frame rates observed. The 176 ROPs and 680 TMUs handle pixel and texture processing efficiently, which is why even the Ultra preset at 4K manages 73 FPS.

The GPU's 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs, based on an average benchmark score of 77,712, places it firmly in the upper echelon. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database — the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (1.1% higher score), AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (-1.6%), and NVIDIA Tesla P100 variants (-2.1% and -2.4%) — are all within a narrow band, but none of these mobile or datacenter parts would deliver the same gaming experience as this desktop flagship. The 4K Medium result with a minimum FPS of 97 and maximum of 131 shows the card maintains playable frame rates even when frame times fluctuate.

With 21,760 shading units and 170 RT cores, the RTX 5090 D is built for heavy workloads, and Minimum doesn't appear to stress it to its limits. The gap between 4K Low (149 FPS) and 4K Ultra (73 FPS) — a 51% reduction — is substantial but not catastrophic, suggesting the Ultra preset introduces effects that the GPU must work significantly harder to render. The 28 Gbps effective memory speed ensures data flows quickly enough to keep the shading units fed, and the results confirm this.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Minimum?*

A: The data shows 1440p offers the best balance, with 178 FPS at High settings and 277 FPS at Low. At 1080p the frame rates are higher (276-430 FPS), but the 1440p results still exceed 136 FPS even at Ultra, making it a strong choice for high refresh rate displays.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: Across all settings, the drop is roughly 65-67%. At Low settings, 430 FPS at 1080p becomes 149 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, 210 FPS at 1080p becomes 73 FPS at 4K. The consistent percentage reduction indicates GPU-bound scaling.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D's 32 GB VRAM necessary for this game?

A: The 32 GB capacity is far beyond what Minimum requires, even at 4K Ultra. The 73 FPS result at 4K Ultra shows no signs of memory-related stuttering, meaning the VRAM headroom is not a limiting factor. The bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s is more relevant to performance.

Q: How does the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 93,785 puts it at the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the Intel Xeon 6520P, scores 93,786 (0% difference), while the AMD EPYC 4564P is 1.5% higher, the EPYC 9175F is 1.9% higher, and the EPYC 4565P is 2.1% higher. The gap is minimal.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience with some headroom for dips.

Q: Does the CPU limit performance at any resolution?

A: The scaling pattern suggests the CPU does not bottleneck at any tested resolution. The 430 FPS result at 1080p Low demonstrates the CPU can feed the GPU at very high frame rates, and the consistent percentage drops when increasing resolution point to the GPU as the limiting component.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks #1 out of 2,939 tested combos in Minimum. This is a definitive top-tier result, placing this pairing above all other configurations in the database. The rank reflects the raw performance of both components and their ability to work together effectively in this specific title.

The CPU's 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 93,785, is complemented by the GPU's 92nd percentile ranking with an average score of 77,712. Both components are near the top of their respective fields, and their combination yields the best possible result for this game. The nearest CPU rivals — the Xeon 6520P, EPYC 4564P, EPYC 9175F, and EPYC 4565P — all have average scores within 2.1% of the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, but none of those are paired with a GPU that can match the RTX 5090 D in this benchmark.

The #1 ranking out of 2,939 combos is not just about having the most powerful components; it also indicates that the system is well-matched. A weaker CPU might bottleneck the RTX 5090 D at lower resolutions, and a weaker GPU would drag down the high-resolution results. This pairing avoids both pitfalls, delivering 430 FPS at 1080p Low and 73 FPS at 4K Ultra. The margin over other combos is not detailed in the data, but the top rank confirms this is the definitive setup for Minimum.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience based on the measured FPS data, the High preset at 1440p emerges as the optimal choice. It delivers 178 FPS average, which is well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors, while the visual quality improvements over Medium are substantial. At 4K, the High preset (96 FPS) is the recommended starting point, as it provides a solid 60+ FPS experience with room to spare. If the display supports 120 Hz or higher, the Medium preset at 4K (114 FPS) is a viable alternative.

The Ultra preset at 4K produces 73 FPS, which is playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. The minimum FPS data is only available for Medium settings — 97 FPS at 4K, 180 FPS at 1440p, and 280 FPS at 1080p — but the absence of min/max data for other presets makes it harder to judge frame time consistency. The Medium preset's minimum FPS at 4K (97) is comfortably above 60, and at 1440p the minimum of 180 ensures no noticeable dips.

For competitive play where frame rate is paramount, the Low preset at 1080p (430 FPS) or 1440p (277 FPS) is the clear choice. These settings maximize responsiveness and minimize input latency, though they sacrifice visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 1080p (329 FPS) offers a compromise, with a minimum of 280 FPS ensuring consistent high frame rates. Ultimately, the High preset at 1440p is the sweet spot for most players, balancing visual quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers 12 combinations of four resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). At 1080p, the results range from 430 FPS at Low to 210 FPS at Ultra, with Medium at 329 FPS (min 280, max 379) and High at 276 FPS. The 1440p results show 277 FPS at Low, 212 FPS at Medium (min 180, max 244), 178 FPS at High, and 136 FPS at Ultra. At 4K, the frame rates drop to 149 FPS at Low, 114 FPS at Medium (min 97, max 131), 96 FPS at High, and 73 FPS at Ultra.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low is the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, and Ultra is the slowest. The gaps between settings are not uniform. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Medium is 101 FPS, between Medium and High is 53 FPS, and between High and Ultra is 66 FPS. At 4K, the gaps are 35 FPS, 18 FPS, and 23 FPS respectively. This suggests the performance cost of each settings tier varies with resolution, with the relative cost of Ultra being higher at lower resolutions.

The minimum and maximum FPS data for Medium settings shows the range narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the range is 99 FPS (280 to 379), at 1440p it's 64 FPS (180 to 244), and at 4K it's 34 FPS (97 to 131). This indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU is more consistently loaded, resulting in less frame time variance. The 4K Medium result with a 97 FPS minimum is particularly notable, showing the system can maintain high frame rates even under load.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus brings 24 cores and 24 threads to the table, a configuration that provides substantial multi-threaded capability. The base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz ensure strong single-threaded performance, which is critical for game logic and physics. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, provides fast access to frequently used data. The CPU's benchmark scores include a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,253 and a single-core score of 2,439, demonstrating its strength in both areas.

In Minimum, the CPU's role appears to be providing enough headroom to keep the RTX 5090 D fully utilized. The 430 FPS result at 1080p Low reflects the CPU's ability to process game state and issue draw calls at extremely high rates. The PassMark multi-thread score of 68,574 and single-thread score of 5,068 both rank the CPU at the 96th percentile, and the 4064 PassMark physics score suggests it handles the game's physics calculations efficiently.

The CPU's 125 W TDP and 3 nm process node from TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, indicate a modern, efficient design. The memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface ensures data flows quickly to the cores. The 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide ample bandwidth for the GPU, and the integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU is present but irrelevant for gaming when a discrete GPU is installed.

The fact that the CPU is not a bottleneck is evident from the scaling data. If the CPU were limiting performance, the frame rate would plateau at lower resolutions. Instead, the FPS continues to rise as resolution decreases, reaching 430 at 1080p Low. This indicates the CPU can handle even the most extreme frame rate scenarios, and the GPU is the definitive limiting factor throughout the tested range. The processor's 5.50 GHz boost clock is particularly important for maintaining high minimum frame rates, which the Medium settings data confirms with a 280 FPS minimum at 1080p.