Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, is a game that scales surprisingly well with modern hardware, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile proves to be a very capable pairing for high-refresh-rate play. The benchmark data shows that this combo sits firmly in the upper half of all tested configurations, delivering excellent frame rates at mainstream resolutions, though it begins to show its limits when pushed to 4K with maximum settings. The overall performance profile indicates a system that is well-balanced for this title, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and the CPU providing ample headroom at lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile combination achieves a rank of 2029 out of 3712 tested combos in Minimum. This places it in the 54.6th percentile of all configurations, meaning it outperforms more than half of the systems tested in this game. This is a strong result for a mobile platform, indicating that this pairing is better suited for Minimum than the majority of other hardware combinations in the database. The ranking suggests a system that can handle the game with confidence, though it is not at the absolute top tier where the most demanding 4K Ultra settings become trivial.

The CPU, an Intel Core Ultra X7 368H, holds an 87th percentile ranking against all CPUs, which signals a very high-performance processor. Its average benchmark score of 40518 places it in close competition with several other high-end chips. For instance, it is only 0.1% slower than the Intel Core 7 253PE and 0.2% slower than the Intel Core 5 223PE, while being 0.2% faster than both the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H and the Intel Xeon 6507P. This indicates that the processor is not a limiting factor in this system; it provides a robust foundation for the GPU to operate. The CPU's strong performance is a key reason why the combo ranks as well as it does, as it prevents any significant CPU-side bottlenecks that could drag down frame rates.

On the graphics side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile also demonstrates solid standing, with a 73rd percentile ranking against all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 27435 is virtually identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, which shows a 0% delta, and it is just 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090. This level of performance is substantial for a mobile part, and it explains why the combo's overall rank is respectable. The data suggests that the GPU is capable of delivering high frame rates in Minimum, but its performance ceiling is what ultimately defines the maximum playable settings at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is the central component driving the gaming experience in Minimum. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game's demands, though the capacity may become a consideration at very high resolutions and ultra settings. The GPU's clock speeds are set at a base of 1395 MHz with a boost clock of 1695 MHz. These clocks, combined with 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, allow it to reach a pixel rate of 81.36 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 244.1 GTexel/s.

In the context of Minimum, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 202 FPS, which indicates that the CPU is likely able to feed the GPU with enough data to keep it busy, but the frame rate is high enough that neither component is a clear bottleneck. However, as the resolution climbs to 4K, the GPU's workload increases dramatically. The data shows a significant drop in performance at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS falls to 34. This is a clear indicator that the GPU is the limiting component at this extreme setting, as the CPU's performance would not degrade so significantly if it were the bottleneck. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is a notable factor here; while it is adequate for most scenarios, the combination of high resolution and maximum settings can push memory usage, potentially leading to the performance drops seen in the measured data.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For a standard 1080p display, the High preset offers an outstanding experience with an average of 130 FPS. This is a sweet spot, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Low, which runs at 202 FPS, while still maintaining frame rates that are well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 1080p still delivers a very playable 99 FPS, making it a viable choice for those who prioritize visual fidelity above all else.

At 1440p, the High preset continues to shine, with an average of 84 FPS. This is a great result for a higher-resolution panel, offering a good balance between image quality and performance. The Medium preset runs at 100 FPS, which is also excellent, but High provides a better visual experience for only a modest performance cost. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 64 FPS, which is still playable but begins to approach the lower limit of what is ideal for a fast-paced third-person shooter. For 4K gaming, the data suggests that users will need to make compromises. The Low preset is the only setting that achieves a high frame rate, with an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 54 FPS, is playable but not ideal for competitive play, while the High and Ultra presets, at 45 and 34 FPS respectively, are best avoided for a smooth experience. For most players, the High preset at either 1080p or 1440p provides the best overall experience, as it delivers high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how the combo performs across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system excels. With Low settings, the average FPS is 202, which is exceptionally high and indicates a significant amount of headroom. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 154 FPS, with a minimum of 131 and a maximum of 178 FPS, showing consistent performance. High settings bring the average down to 130 FPS, still an excellent result for a cinematic and responsive experience. Finally, Ultra settings yield an average of 99 FPS, which remains well above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the performance is still very strong but shows the expected scaling down from 1080p. Low settings run at an average of 130 FPS, which is identical to the 1080p High setting and demonstrates the GPU's capability. Medium settings produce an average of 100 FPS, with a minimum of 85 and a maximum of 115 FPS, indicating that the system can handle 1440p gaming with ease. High settings reduce the average to 84 FPS, which is still ideal for a high-refresh-rate monitor. Ultra settings at 1440p bring the average down to 64 FPS, which is on the edge of the ideal playable range but remains acceptable for most players.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle with the higher settings. Low settings provide an average of 70 FPS, which is a solid result for 4K and suggests that the game is well-optimized at this level. Medium settings reduce the average to 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 62 FPS, which is a playable but not ideal experience. High settings drop to an average of 45 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 34 FPS, both of which are below the smoothness threshold that most gamers prefer. This breakdown clearly illustrates that the RTX 4070 Mobile is more than capable of handling Minimum at 1080p and 1440p, but 4K gaming requires turning down the settings to Low or Medium to maintain a reasonable frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important insights about the system's bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 202 FPS. At 1440p Low, this drops to 130 FPS, a reduction of approximately 35.6%. Moving to 4K Low, the frame rate falls to 70 FPS, which is a 65.3% drop from the 1080p result. This substantial decrease in performance as resolution increases is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, which is very powerful, is not the limiting factor here; instead, the GPU's rendering workload is what causes the frame rate to plummet.

The pattern is even more pronounced at the higher settings. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 130 at 1080p, to 84 at 1440p, and then to 45 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is about 65.4%, which is very similar to the Low setting's scaling. This consistent scaling across all settings confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck when pushing the resolution higher. The CPU has enough performance headroom to feed the GPU at all resolutions, but the RTX 4070 Mobile simply cannot maintain the same level of throughput as the pixel count increases. This data suggests that for users looking to play at 4K, they should expect to significantly lower the graphical settings to achieve a playable frame rate, as the GPU's performance is the limiting factor.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of running Minimum at 4K with high settings?

A: No, the data shows that at 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 45, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at Medium settings, the average is only 54 FPS. For a playable 4K experience, users must use Low settings, which achieve an average of 70 FPS.

Q: What is the best performance-to-quality balance for this system at 1440p?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440, which yields an average of 84 FPS, provides the best balance. It offers a significant visual improvement over the Medium preset while still maintaining a frame rate that is well-suited for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Ultra preset at 64 FPS is also viable but offers diminishing returns for the performance cost.

Q: How does the CPU performance impact the gaming experience in Minimum?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a very powerful processor with an 87th percentile ranking. Its benchmark scores show it is on par with other high-end chips like the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H. In Minimum, the CPU provides enough headroom that it does not bottleneck the GPU at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the very high frame rates at 1080p. The GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM on the RTX 4070 Mobile sufficient for this game?

A: The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is generally sufficient for Minimum, as the game is from 2014 and not particularly VRAM-hungry. However, the significant performance drops at 4K Ultra settings suggest that the combination of high resolution and maximum settings may be pushing the GPU's memory and processing limits, contributing to the lower frame rates.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 99 FPS. This is a very good result, providing a smooth and highly detailed visual experience. It is a notable step down from the 130 FPS at High settings, but it remains well within the playable range for most monitors.

Q: How does this combo compare to other systems in the database?

A: The combo ranks 2029 out of 3712 tested configurations, placing it in the upper half of all results. The GPU's performance is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and just slightly behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, while the CPU is a top-tier performer, making this a well-rounded and competitive system for Minimum.