Minimum

Minimum is a 2014 third-person shooter whose performance profile on the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but shows surprising CPU headroom at 1080p. The measured data provides a clear picture of how this specific pairing handles the game across three resolutions and four quality presets, allowing for a methodical breakdown of where the bottlenecks lie and what settings deliver the most balanced experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting component as pixel count rises. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 150 FPS at 1920x1080 to 97 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 53 FPS, and then further down to 52 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 65% performance loss when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings, which is a substantial scaling penalty that points directly at the render pipeline being saturated by the increasing resolution.

The scaling pattern holds across other presets as well. At Medium settings, the average frame rate drops from 179 FPS at 1080p to 116 FPS at 1440p and then to 62 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is less than half of the 1440p figure, and the gap between 1440p and 4K (54 FPS) is larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p (63 FPS). This nonlinear scaling suggests that the RTX 5070 Ti's 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 256-bit bus are being taxed more heavily as the resolution approaches 4K, with the memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s becoming a more critical factor.

At Low settings, the resolution scaling is slightly more forgiving in percentage terms but still severe in absolute FPS. The 1080p Low result of 234 FPS drops to 151 FPS at 1440p and 81 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low figure is still playable, but the 153 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K Low shows that even the lowest quality preset cannot escape the GPU's resolution ceiling. The Ultra preset tells a similar story: 115 FPS at 1080p falls to 74 FPS at 1440p and 40 FPS at 4K, with the 4K Ultra result being the only measured configuration that dips below 60 FPS.

What the data indicates is that this combo is not resolution-limited by the CPU at any point. The Core Ultra 9 185H, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, has enough headroom to feed the GPU at 1080p, as evidenced by the 234 FPS Low result. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p and 4K is almost entirely attributable to GPU workload, which is the expected behavior for a game of this era running on modern hardware.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications explain the measured frame rates. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2295 MHz with a boost clock of 2452 MHz, and it is built on TSMC's 5 nm process with the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for a 2014 title but still becomes a constraint at 4K Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 40.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities are substantial: 8960 shading units, 280 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units. The FP32 performance of 43.94 TFLOPS is more than sufficient for Minimum's rendering demands, and the texture rate of 686.6 GTexel/s ensures that even high-resolution textures are processed without issue. The pixel rate of 235.4 GPixel/s is directly relevant to the 4K results, as the GPU must fill more pixels per frame at 3840x2160 than at lower resolutions.

At 1080p, the RTX 5070 Ti is clearly not the bottleneck. The 234 FPS Low result and 179 FPS Medium result show that the GPU has significant headroom, and the frame rates are likely being capped by the CPU or by the game's engine limitations rather than by GPU compute. However, at 1440p and especially 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The 4K Ultra average of 40 FPS, while below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider ideal, is still a playable result for a title from 2014, and it demonstrates that the GPU is being pushed to its limits at the highest settings.

The GPU's benchmark scores corroborate its mid-to-high-end positioning. The PassMark G3D score of 32974 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 49957 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, which scores 50001 with a deltaPct of -0.1%. This near-parity with a previous-generation flagship suggests that the RTX 5070 Ti is a capable but not class-leading GPU, and its performance in Minimum is consistent with that assessment.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti ranks 1065th out of 2939 total combos. This places it in the top 36% of all tested configurations, which is a solid but not exceptional position. The rank reflects the overall performance of the combo across all games, not just Minimum, and it suggests that this pairing is well-balanced for a wide range of titles.

The CPU's individual benchmark performance is a key factor in this ranking. The Core Ultra 9 185H has a percentile rank of 85 against all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 35670 places it just below the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, which scores 35909 with a deltaPct of -0.7%. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, scores 35719 with a deltaPct of -0.1%, indicating that the Core Ultra 9 185H is essentially on par with its closest competitors in synthetic benchmarks.

The GPU's rank is similarly positioned. The RTX 5070 Ti sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 49957 is within 1% of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (50001, deltaPct -0.1%) and the Intel Arc A550M (49737, deltaPct 0.4%). The GPU is slightly behind the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, which scores 50951 with a deltaPct of -2%, but ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, which scores 48477 with a deltaPct of 3.1%.

For Minimum specifically, the combo's rank of 1065 out of 2939 means that 1874 other combinations perform better in this game. This is a mid-pack result, and it aligns with the measured FPS data, which shows the combo delivering playable but not exceptional frame rates at 4K. The ranking reflects the fact that the RTX 5070 Ti is a strong GPU, but not the absolute fastest available, and the CPU, while capable, is not a top-tier desktop part.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 115 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience on most displays. If higher frame rates are preferred for competitive play, the High preset at 150 FPS or the Medium preset at 179 FPS are both excellent choices, with the Medium preset offering the best balance of visual quality and performance for fast-paced action.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 97 FPS, which is still comfortably above 60 FPS and provides a good visual experience. The Medium preset at 116 FPS is even smoother, and the Low preset at 151 FPS is ideal for players who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 74 FPS is playable but may exhibit occasional dips, and the lack of min/max FPS data for this settings preset makes it harder to assess consistency.

At 4K, the recommendations change significantly. The High preset at 52 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and may experience noticeable stuttering on some displays. The Medium preset at 62 FPS is the only 4K configuration that exceeds 60 FPS, making it the best choice for a smooth 4K experience. The Low preset at 81 FPS is also viable and offers even more headroom, but it sacrifices visual quality. The Ultra preset at 40 FPS is not recommended for 4K gaming, as it falls below the playability threshold for most users.

For players who want the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1440p (116 FPS) or the High preset at 1080p (150 FPS) are the sweet spots. These settings provide a good balance of visual quality and performance, and they are well within the capabilities of this combo. The 4K Medium preset is the recommended choice for 4K displays, as it is the only 4K setting that maintains a 60+ FPS average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination in Minimum is as follows:

At 3840x2160, the High preset averages 52 FPS. The Low preset averages 81 FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 40 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 97 FPS. The Low preset averages 151 FPS. The Medium preset averages 116 FPS, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 133 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 74 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 150 FPS. The Low preset averages 234 FPS. The Medium preset averages 179 FPS, with a minimum of 152 FPS and a maximum of 206 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 115 FPS.

The data shows a clear pattern: the Medium preset consistently provides the most stable frame times, as evidenced by the min and max FPS values being recorded only for this preset. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 152 FPS and maximum of 206 FPS indicate a frame time variance of 54 FPS, which is acceptable for a game of this era. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 35 FPS (98 to 133), and at 4K Medium, the range is 19 FPS (53 to 72), showing that the frame pacing becomes more consistent as resolution increases.

The Ultra preset shows the largest performance penalty across all resolutions, with a 75 FPS drop from 1080p to 4K (115 to 40). The Low preset shows the highest raw frame rates, with the 234 FPS result at 1080p being the fastest measured configuration. The High preset provides a middle ground, with strong performance at 1080p and 1440p but a significant drop at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H plays a supporting role in this combo, and its specifications reveal why it is not the bottleneck in Minimum. The CPU has 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. It is built on Intel's 7 nm process with the Meteor Lake architecture and features a 24 MB shared L3 cache. The dual-channel DDR5 memory support provides 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is sufficient for feeding the GPU at high frame rates.

The CPU's benchmark scores indicate that it is a strong performer, but not a top-tier part. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17984.5 and single-core score of 1810.5 show solid multi-threaded and single-threaded capabilities. The Geekbench multicore score of 11657 and single-core score of 1794 are comparable to other mid-range CPUs. The PassMark multithread score of 29376 and single-thread score of 3697 further confirm this positioning.

In Minimum, the CPU's role becomes apparent at 1080p, where the frame rates are high enough that the CPU's single-thread performance could become a limiting factor. The 234 FPS Low result suggests that the CPU is able to feed the GPU at this level, but the lack of higher frame rates (e.g., above 250 FPS) may indicate a CPU or engine ceiling. At 1440p and 4K, the CPU is not a concern, as the GPU is clearly the limiting component.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (avg score 35719, deltaPct -0.1%) and the Intel Core 7 250H (avg score 35728, deltaPct -0.2%). These rivals are essentially equivalent in performance, which means that swapping the CPU for one of these alternatives would have a negligible impact on Minimum's frame rates. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking against all CPUs places it in a competitive position, but it is not a class-leading part for gaming.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p with the Medium preset (116 FPS) or High preset (97 FPS) provides the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers 179 FPS, while at 4K, the Medium preset is the only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS with an average of 62 FPS.

Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K smoothly?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, which average 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS. The High preset at 4K drops to 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 40 FPS, both of which are below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Ti compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 49957, which is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (50001, deltaPct -0.1%) and the Intel Arc A550M (49737, deltaPct 0.4%). It is 2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 3.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p in Minimum?

A: The 1080p Low preset averages 234 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a significant bottleneck. However, the lack of measured frame rates above this level may indicate a CPU or engine ceiling, as the GPU has more than enough compute headroom at this resolution.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in the database?

A: This combo ranks 1065th out of 2939 total tested combinations, placing it in the top 36% of all configurations. The CPU ranks in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU ranks in the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most consistent frame times?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded min and max FPS values, showing a range of 19 FPS at 4K (53 to 72), 35 FPS at 1440p (98 to 133), and 54 FPS at 1080p (152 to 206). This indicates that Medium offers the most stable frame pacing across all resolutions.