Minimum

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, built on a 3 nm process node. Its base clock is 2.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and it carries 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU’s benchmark scores are substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,589 and a single-core score of 2,204. In Geekbench, it posts a multi-core score of 20,795 and a single-core score of 2,458.

The role of this CPU in Minimum is foundational, though the game’s age—released in 2014—means the workload is far less demanding than modern titles. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 274 FPS, which is a clear indication that the processor is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The data shows that as resolution increases, the FPS drop is steep, which suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 47, which is a dramatic reduction from the 134 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This pattern implies that the CPU’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by its PassMark single-thread score of 4,713, is more than adequate for the game’s logic and physics, leaving the rendering load to the graphics card.

The CPU’s 24 threads are likely underutilized in Minimum, as older titles often rely on fewer cores. The benchmark results indicate that the processor’s strength lies in its peak clock speeds and per-core efficiency, which are critical for maintaining high frame rates when the GPU is not the constraint. The processor sits at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon w5-3525, scores nearly identically with a delta of -0.3%. This positioning confirms that the 275HX is a top-tier mobile processor, but its full potential is only visible in scenarios where the GPU can keep pace. In Minimum, that scenario is at 1080p, where the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU with frames is evident in the 274 FPS Low result.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 7,680 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 1750 MHz, which translates to 28 Gbps effective, and the GPU’s base clock is 975 MHz with a boost clock of 1500 MHz. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 23.04 TFLOPS, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6.

In Minimum, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings rise. At 1080p Low, the frame rate is 274 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 47 FPS. This 83% reduction in performance from the lowest stress scenario to the highest points directly to the GPU being the primary bottleneck. The RTX 5080 Mobile’s VRAM is 16 GB, which is more than sufficient for a 2014 title, even at 4K with Ultra settings. The memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s is likely not a limiting factor either, given the game’s age and texture complexity.

The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,952 and a PassMark G3D score of 27,711, indicate strong raw performance. However, its percentile rank is 81 among all GPUs, which is lower than the CPU’s 94th percentile. This suggests that in a balanced system, the GPU might be the weaker link, but in Minimum, the data shows that the GPU is still capable of high frame rates at 1080p. The nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, has an average score that is only 0.6% higher, making the 5080 Mobile effectively a peer in synthetic tests. Yet, in game, the resolution scaling shows that the GPU’s fill rate and shading power dictate the FPS ceiling at higher settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by roughly 35% across all settings. For example, at High settings, the FPS goes from 176 at 1080p to 114 at 1440p, a 35% decline. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is even steeper, with High settings falling from 114 to 61 FPS, a 46% reduction. This non-linear scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels increases geometrically, and the GPU’s rendering throughput becomes the limiting factor.

At Low settings, the 1080p result is 274 FPS, which drops to 177 at 1440p and 95 at 4K. The percentage decreases are 35% and 46%, respectively, mirroring the High settings pattern. This consistency suggests that the GPU’s workload scales predictably with resolution, independent of the settings level. The CPU’s role is more apparent at 1080p Low, where the 274 FPS figure is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame delivery capability, but even then, the GPU is still processing frames faster than 250 FPS, which is a high bar.

The most telling comparison is between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra. The average FPS falls from 134 to 47, a 65% drop. This indicates that the GPU is severely taxed at 4K with the highest settings, and the frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold. The data implies that for a smooth experience at 4K, users would need to lower settings to High, which achieves 61 FPS, or accept Medium at 73 FPS. The scaling analysis points to the GPU as the primary constraint at higher resolutions, with the CPU holding a steady performance floor that is not the limiting factor.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this combo in Minimum?*

A: The highest average FPS is 274, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the frame rate drop below 60 FPS?

A: The frame rate drops below 60 FPS only at 3840x2160 (4K) with Ultra settings, where the average FPS is 47.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile has an average benchmark score that is 0.6% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, making them statistically similar in performance.

Q: What is the CPU’s single-core performance score?

A: The CPU’s single-core score is 2,204 in Cinebench R23 and 4,713 in PassMark’s single-thread test.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 1440p Medium, the average FPS is 135, which is a 36% drop from the 1080p Medium result of 210 FPS. This drop indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU’s performance is consistent across resolutions.

Q: Does the game use more than 16 GB of VRAM at 4K?

A: The data does not specify VRAM usage, but the GPU has 16 GB of GDDR7 memory, and the game’s 2014 release date suggests it is unlikely to exceed this capacity.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the resolution target. At 1080p, all settings provide playable frame rates, with Low at 274 FPS, Medium at 210 FPS, High at 176 FPS, and Ultra at 134 FPS. For competitive play, Low settings will maximize frame rate, but for visual quality, Ultra still offers a high refresh rate experience at 134 FPS. At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers 135 FPS, which is a balanced choice, while High at 114 FPS and Ultra at 87 FPS remain viable for most displays. Low at 1440p yields 177 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh monitors.

At 4K, the best experience per the measured rows is the High preset, which achieves an average of 61 FPS, just above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium at 4K offers 73 FPS, which is smoother but with reduced visual fidelity. Ultra at 4K drops to 47 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. Low at 4K provides 95 FPS, but the visual downgrade is significant. The data suggests that for a 4K display, Medium or High is the sweet spot, depending on whether frame rate or fidelity is prioritized. For 1440p and 1080p, the Ultra preset provides the best visual experience while maintaining high frame rates, making it the recommended choice for most users.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is organized by resolution and settings, providing a detailed view of performance.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the High setting yields an average of 61 FPS. The Low setting produces 95 FPS, while Medium averages 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84. The Ultra setting drops to 47 FPS. This shows a clear progression where higher settings reduce frame rate, with Ultra being the only preset that falls below 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High setting averages 114 FPS. Low produces 177 FPS, Medium averages 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 and a maximum of 156. Ultra averages 87 FPS. The 1440p results show that even at Ultra, the frame rate remains above 60 FPS, making it a viable resolution for high-settings gaming.

At 1920x1080, the High setting averages 176 FPS. Low produces 274 FPS, Medium averages 210 FPS, with a minimum of 178 and a maximum of 241. Ultra averages 134 FPS. The 1080p results show that all settings provide frame rates well above 60 FPS, with the lowest at Ultra being 134 FPS.

The data indicates that the combo is most comfortable at 1080p and 1440p, where even Ultra settings exceed 60 FPS. At 4K, the user must make a trade-off, as only Low and Medium settings exceed 60 FPS, with High barely hitting the mark.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile ranks 1,022 out of 3,712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the 72nd percentile of all combinations, which is a strong showing. The rank indicates that this pairing is in the top third of tested systems, but not at the very top, as there are 1,021 combos that perform better in this specific game.

Given the CPU’s high percentile rank of 94 and the GPU’s rank of 81, the combo’s overall position is influenced more by the GPU’s lower standing. The game’s resolution scaling shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, which likely contributes to the combo’s rank. At 1080p, the combo’s performance is exceptional, but at 4K, the frame rates drop significantly, which could lower its standing compared to other combos with more powerful GPUs.

The rank of 1,022 suggests that while this combo is powerful, it is not the absolute best for Minimum. The data implies that a system with a higher-performing GPU, even if paired with a slightly weaker CPU, might achieve a better rank due to the game’s GPU-bound nature at higher resolutions. However, for 1080p and 1440p gaming, this combo is highly capable, and its rank reflects a well-balanced system that excels in most scenarios. The combo’s performance confirms the CPU’s strength, but the GPU’s limitations at 4K prevent it from climbing higher in the rankings.