Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile delivers a consistent, playable experience in Minimum, a 2014 third-person shooter. The data reveals a system that scales predictably with resolution, suggesting a GPU-centric bottleneck at higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions, presets, and component roles.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a classic performance curve as resolution increases, but the rate of decline reveals important insights about where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p, the system is clearly GPU-bound at higher settings, yet the large jumps when lowering quality indicate substantial headroom.

Comparing the averages across the three tested resolutions, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant but not catastrophic. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 112 at 1920x1080 to 72 at 2560x1440, a reduction of roughly 36%. Moving from 1440p to 4K (3840x2160) at the same High preset sees the average drop further to 39 FPS, another 46% reduction. This steepening curve is typical of a GPU that is being pushed past its comfortable limits.

The Low preset tells a different story. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 175 FPS. At 1440p Low, it still maintains 113 FPS. The 4K Low result is 61 FPS. The percentage drops are 35% and 46% respectively, following a similar pattern to High settings. This consistency across presets suggests that the scaling is primarily resolution-driven rather than quality-driven, indicating the RTX 5060 Mobile's raw rasterization throughput is the limiting factor.

The Medium preset provides the only rows with min/max FPS data, which offers a glimpse into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the average is 134 FPS with a minimum of 114 and maximum of 154. The 20 FPS spread suggests moderate variance. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 86 FPS with a min of 73 and max of 99, a similar 26 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the average is 46 FPS with a min of 39 and max of 53. The min-to-max spread remains proportionally similar, indicating that the frame time variance scales with resolution but does not become erratic.

What is most telling is the relationship between 4K Ultra and 4K Low. The Ultra preset yields just 30 FPS, which is borderline unplayable for a shooter. Dropping to Low at the same resolution nearly doubles the frame rate to 61 FPS. This indicates that while the GPU is stressed at 4K, it is not completely overwhelmed; there is headroom to be found in settings adjustments.

The data implies that for this 2014 title, the RTX 5060 Mobile is the primary constraint at 4K. At 1080p, the CPU's role becomes more relevant, but even at Low settings the GPU is still managing the workload effectively. The benchmark results suggest that 1440p is the sweet spot where the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are adequately utilized without being overtaxed.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Minimum?*

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 175, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is only 30, which is generally considered too low for a smooth shooter experience. However, at 4K Low, the average rises to 61 FPS, making it playable if visual fidelity is sacrificed.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 Mobile compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5060 Mobile's average benchmark score is 22435. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, scores 22549, placing the NVIDIA GPU 0.5% behind. It also trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (score 22729) by 1.3%.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance indicator?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H scores 1810.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1794 in Geekbench single-core tests. In Passmark single-thread tests, it scores 3697.

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

A: This specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks 2460 out of 3712 tested combos for this game, placing it in the lower third of the overall distribution.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics that could be used?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 128 execution units, but the benchmark data reflects the performance of the discrete RTX 5060 Mobile GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. For a game released in 2014, this represents an enormous amount of processing power that is unlikely to be a bottleneck in most scenarios.

The CPU's benchmark scores support this assessment. In Cinebench R23, it scores 17984.5 in multi-core and 1810.5 in single-core. The multi-core figure is substantial, but for gaming, the single-core score is often more relevant. A score of 1810.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core indicates strong per-thread performance that can handle the primary game logic and draw call submission.

The Passmark data shows a balanced profile. Single-thread score is 3697, while multithread score is 29376. The ratio between these two scores (roughly 8x) reflects the 16-core/22-thread configuration. The processor also scores 1956 in the Passmark physics test, which is a measure of simulation performance that can relate to in-game physics calculations.

The CPU's memory bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface. For a game from 2014, this is more than sufficient. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared, which helps with data locality. The CPU also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes for the CPU, though the GPU uses a separate PCIe 5.0 x16 interface.

In the context of Minimum, the CPU's role is likely to be secondary to the GPU. The game's graphics load, even at 1080p Low, keeps the RTX 5060 Mobile busy enough that the CPU's 22 threads are not the limiting factor. The data shows that FPS scales almost exclusively with resolution and settings, which is a GPU-centric behavior. However, the high single-core performance ensures that frame pacing remains consistent, as evidenced by the relatively tight min/max FPS spread at Medium settings.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 85th among all CPUs in the database confirms it is a high-end mobile part. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (0.1% lower average score) and the Intel Core 7 250H (0.2% lower), showing that it sits at the top of the mobile processor stack. This positioning means the CPU is unlikely to hold back the GPU in any scenario.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile ranks 2460 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the 66th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly a third of all combos tested perform better.

This ranking is surprisingly low given the individual component strengths. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 67th percentile of all GPUs. The combo's ranking in this specific game suggests that either the game is not optimized for this hardware, or that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are limiting factors in this title.

Looking at the GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks provides context. The RTX 5060 Mobile scores 22435 on average. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT scores 22549 (0.5% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile scores 22729 (1.3% higher). These are all close scores, indicating the RTX 5060 Mobile is a mid-range performer. The combo ranking of 2460 out of 3712 suggests that many systems with similar or slightly better GPUs, combined with stronger CPUs, are achieving higher frame rates.

The rank also implies that in a game like Minimum, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the bottleneck may be the GPU's memory subsystem. The 8 GB VRAM and 384.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but the 128-bit bus may struggle with the higher pixel throughput required at 4K. This is reflected in the steep FPS drops at 3840x2160.

The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming. At those resolutions, the system delivers well above 60 FPS on High settings, which is excellent for a third-person shooter. The low ranking is a function of the GPU's position in the market, not a failure of the CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system ranges from 175 FPS on Low to 85 FPS on Ultra. The High preset delivers 112 FPS, and Medium delivers 134 FPS. The Medium preset also shows a min of 114 and max of 154, indicating stable performance.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop but remain playable. Low settings yield 113 FPS, High yields 72 FPS, Medium yields 86 FPS, and Ultra yields 55 FPS. The Medium preset has a min of 73 and max of 99. These numbers suggest that 1440p High is the upper bound for a smooth 60+ FPS experience, with Ultra dipping below 60.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles more noticeably. Low settings produce 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. Medium drops to 46 FPS, High to 39 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has a min of 39 and max of 53, showing that even the average is not consistently maintained. The 4K results clearly show that this GPU is not intended for 4K gaming at high quality settings.

The progression from 1080p to 4K at each setting level shows consistent percentage drops. At Low, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35%, and from 1440p to 4K is 46%. At High, the drops are 36% and 46% respectively. At Medium, the drops are 36% and 47%. This consistency indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being scaled linearly with resolution, which is expected behavior.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with 85 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p (35% drop), and 30 FPS at 4K (45% drop). The fact that Ultra at 4K produces exactly 30 FPS suggests the frame rate is being limited by the GPU's raw compute throughput, not by any software cap.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and frame rate preference. For a third-person shooter, maintaining a minimum of 60 FPS is generally recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 1920x1080, all settings are viable for 60+ FPS. Ultra delivers 85 FPS, which is excellent. The High preset at 112 FPS offers a good balance of visual quality and performance headroom. For players who prefer maximum frame rates, Low at 175 FPS provides a competitive advantage without sacrificing playability. The Medium preset at 134 FPS is a reasonable middle ground.

At 2560x1440, the recommendations become more selective. High settings at 72 FPS are playable, but the margin above 60 FPS is thin. Medium at 86 FPS offers more headroom and is the recommended choice for a balance of visual fidelity and performance. Low at 113 FPS is suitable for competitive play. Ultra at 55 FPS dips below the 60 FPS target, which may result in noticeable stutter for some players, though it is still technically playable.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings at 61 FPS meet the 60 FPS target. This is the only 4K preset that provides a playable experience. Medium at 46 FPS and High at 39 FPS are playable but will feel less smooth. Ultra at 30 FPS is not recommended for a shooter, as the low frame rate will hinder aiming and reaction times.

The data suggests that 1440p Medium is the best overall experience for this combo. It provides 86 FPS average with a minimum of 73, ensuring consistent performance. The visual quality is noticeably better than Low, and the frame rate is high enough for responsive gameplay. For those with 1080p monitors, High or Ultra settings are the clear choice, as the GPU has ample headroom.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB206 chip. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has 3328 shading units, 104 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. Its base clock is 952 MHz with a boost clock of 1455 MHz.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark scores position it as a mid-range mobile part. Its Passmark G3D score is 18852, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3013.5. In Geekbench, it scores 96969 in OpenCL and 96451 in Vulkan. The GPU's percentile ranking is 67th among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score is 22435.

The memory configuration is a critical factor in Minimum. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this game, as it does not require massive texture pools. However, the 128-bit bus and 384.0 GB/s bandwidth become a bottleneck at 4K. The pixel rate of 69.84 GPixel/s and texture rate of 151.3 GTexel/s are modest figures that explain the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions.

The GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are all within 1.3% of its score. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is 0.5% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is 1.3% higher. This tight grouping means that in-game performance differences are more likely to come from drivers or thermal management than raw specs.

The power envelope is 45 W, which is relatively low for a discrete GPU. This suggests that the RTX 5060 Mobile is designed for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is limited. The boost clock of 1455 MHz is not particularly high, which may explain why the GPU's performance is competitive with but not superior to its predecessors.

In Minimum, the GPU's role is dominant. The FPS scaling follows the GPU's expected performance curve, and the CPU's high single-core score ensures it does not interfere. The 4K results, where even Low settings only reach 61 FPS, clearly indicate that the GPU's fill rate is the limiting factor. At 1080p, the GPU has enough headroom to maximize the CPU's capabilities, but the game's modest requirements mean the CPU is never stressed.