Minimum

Minimum is a 2014 third-person shooter that still puts modern hardware through its paces, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a performance profile that is distinctly resolution-dependent. The data shows a system that can dominate at 1080p, remains highly capable at 1440p, but begins to struggle with the demands of 4K, particularly at higher settings presets. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, the role of each component, and what the numbers mean for a practical gaming experience.

Resolution Scaling

The most telling trend in the measured data is how average frame rates collapse as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High settings preset, the average FPS drops from 130 at 1080p to 84 at 1440p, a reduction of 46 FPS, and then further down to 45 at 4K. This isn't a linear decline; the jump from 1080p to 1440p is a 35% drop in performance, while moving from 1440p to 4K causes an even steeper 46% drop. This pattern strongly indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 becomes the limiting factor as pixel count increases.

The scaling behavior reveals the balance of this combo. At 1920x1080, the system is likely more balanced, with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H providing enough throughput to keep the GPU well-fed. The 202 FPS average at Low settings in 1080p suggests there's headroom in the CPU, as the frame rate is high enough to expose any bottleneck. However, as the resolution increases to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes exponentially heavier, and the frame rates drop accordingly. The Ultra preset at 4K, with a 34 FPS average, shows the RTX 4070 is firmly the constraint, as the pixel fill rate and shading demands far outpace what the CPU needs to provide.

Considering the 4K results more closely, the gap between Low and High settings is 25 FPS (70 vs 45), while the gap between High and Ultra is only 11 FPS (45 vs 34). This suggests that the most demanding settings have a compounding effect on the GPU. The 4K Medium preset, with its 54 FPS average and a minimum of 46 FPS, shows that even mid-range settings can cause noticeable dips, indicating that the GPU is working near its limits. For a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, the data suggests that only Low settings are viable, and even then, the 70 FPS average leaves little margin for demanding scenes.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal settings preset depends entirely on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 60 FPS target, the data is clear: at 1920x1080, all presets are viable, with even Ultra averaging 99 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra falls below the 60 FPS threshold with a 64 FPS average, but High (84 FPS) and Medium (100 FPS) provide comfortable margins. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset (70 FPS average) can reliably hit 60 FPS, while Medium (54 FPS) and High (45 FPS) will require compromises.

For gamers prioritizing visual fidelity at 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot. It delivers an 84 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS standard, and the jump from Medium to High only costs 16 FPS, a reasonable trade for improved visuals. Pushing to Ultra at 1440p yields a 64 FPS average, which is playable, but the 20 FPS drop from High suggests diminishing returns. At 4K, the recommendation is to stick with Low settings for a playable experience, as the 70 FPS average is respectable, but any increase in settings will push the frame rate into the 45-54 FPS range, which may feel less fluid in a fast-paced third-person shooter.

The 1080p results show a system with significant headroom. The Medium preset, with a 154 FPS average and a minimum of 131 FPS, is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, as it maintains a high floor. The Low preset, at 202 FPS, is excellent for esports-style play, but the visual trade-offs may not be worth it for a game like Minimum, which likely benefits from better draw distances and effects. The Ultra preset at 99 FPS is still very smooth, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the primary driver of the frame rates in this combo, especially at higher resolutions. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, which is sufficient for the textures and assets in a 2014 title, even at 4K. The 4K Low preset's 70 FPS average suggests that memory capacity isn't the bottleneck; rather, it's the raw compute power of the 5888 shading units and 64 ROPs that limits performance when settings are increased.

Clocks play a role in the GPU's scaling. With a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, the RTX 4070 can sustain high performance under load. However, the data shows that this boost is not enough to overcome the demands of 4K Ultra, where the 34 FPS average indicates the GPU is fully saturated. The 5 nm process node and Ada Lovelace architecture are efficient, but the 200 W TDP caps the sustained performance, and the frame rates reflect that thermal and power ceiling.

In the context of benchmark scores, the RTX 4070 sits at the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 37648. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (0.1% faster) and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% faster), which puts its raw compute power in a competitive class. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 further confirms its DirectX 12 capabilities. In Minimum, this translates to a GPU that can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease but is properly challenged at 4K, showing that the game's engine scales well with GPU load.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1562 out of 2939 tested combos in Minimum, placing it in the 53rd percentile of all systems. This is a middle-of-the-pack ranking, which might seem surprising given the strong 1080p performance. The ranking is likely dragged down by the 4K results, where the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher settings. The data suggests that while the CPU is powerful, the GPU's performance is more typical of a mid-range solution in this specific game.

The CPU's individual ranking is much stronger. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35670. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (-0.1%) and the Intel Core 7 250H (-0.2%), are nearly identical in performance, indicating that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this combo. The CPU's 16 cores and 22 threads, with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, ensure it can handle the game's logic and physics without bottlenecking the GPU at lower resolutions.

The GPU's ranking is also respectable, sitting in the 81st percentile with an average score of 37648. However, in the context of Minimum's measured FPS, the RTX 4070's performance is more modest. The combo's overall rank of 1562 suggests that many other systems, likely with more powerful GPUs, achieve better frame rates at 4K. This is a practical reminder that a high-end CPU doesn't automatically translate to top-tier gaming performance if the GPU is the bottleneck, which is precisely the case at higher resolutions in this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 are both viable for 60 FPS. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset averages 99 FPS. At 1440p, the High preset averages 84 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, both above 60. At 4K, only the Low preset (70 FPS) exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: How does the 4K performance compare to 1080p performance?

A: The drop is substantial. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 130 at 1080p to 45 at 4K, a 65% reduction. At Ultra settings, it falls from 99 at 1080p to 34 at 4K, a 66% reduction. This indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H a bottleneck in this game?

A: Based on the data, no. The CPU ranks in the 85th percentile and is within 0.7% of its nearest rivals' average scores. The frame rates scale with resolution in a way that points to the GPU as the bottleneck, especially at 4K and higher settings.

Q: What is the ideal settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The High preset provides the best balance, with an 84 FPS average. Medium is also strong at 100 FPS, but High offers better visuals for a 16 FPS cost. Ultra is playable at 64 FPS but may cause dips in demanding scenes.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming smoothly?

A: Smoothly, in the traditional 60 FPS sense, only at Low settings, which averages 70 FPS. Medium settings average 54 FPS, which is playable but may not be consistent. High and Ultra presets drop to 45 and 34 FPS, respectively, which are not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the combo's overall ranking reflect its performance?

A: It ranks 1562 out of 2939 combos, which is around the 53rd percentile. This is lower than expected given the CPU's high ranking, but it reflects the GPU's challenge at 4K, where many competing systems with stronger GPUs likely perform better.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 are as follows:

1920x1080:

• Low: 202 FPS average
• Medium: 154 FPS average, with a minimum of 131 FPS and a maximum of 178 FPS
• High: 130 FPS average
• Ultra: 99 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 130 FPS average
• Medium: 100 FPS average, with a minimum of 85 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS
• High: 84 FPS average
• Ultra: 64 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 70 FPS average
• Medium: 54 FPS average, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS
• High: 45 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

These numbers illustrate a clear hierarchy: the combo excels at 1080p, remains strong at 1440p, and only meets acceptable performance at 4K when settings are lowered to Low. The Medium presets at each resolution provide the most detailed data, showing the consistency of frame times, with the 1440p Medium preset maintaining a 30 FPS range between minimum and maximum. The 4K results, particularly the 34 FPS average at Ultra, highlight the GPU's limits, making it clear that this configuration is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming.