Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, remains a demanding title when pushed to modern hardware extremes. Benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti reveals a configuration that scales predictably with resolution, but exhibits a pronounced performance cliff at 4K Ultra settings. The measured frames per second (FPS) across twelve distinct configurations show that this combo ranks 1065th out of 2939 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the database. This analysis breaks down the resolution scaling, GPU role, ranking context, and optimal settings based solely on the measured data.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 234 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 151 FPS, a 35.5% reduction. Continuing to 4K Low yields 81 FPS, which is a 46.4% further reduction from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises, even at the lowest graphical preset.

The scaling pattern changes when looking at higher settings. At Medium quality, the average FPS falls from 179 at 1080p to 116 at 1440p (a 35.2% drop) and then to 62 at 4K (a 46.6% drop). This consistent ~35% and ~46% reduction across Low and Medium settings suggests a linear relationship between resolution and frame rate, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The data indicates that the RTX 5070 Ti's rendering pipeline is the bottleneck, not the 16-core Intel processor.

However, the High and Ultra presets show a different, more dramatic scaling curve. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 150 at 1080p to 97 at 1440p (a 35.3% drop), but then plummets to 52 at 4K, which is a 46.4% reduction from 1440p. The Ultra preset is even more severe: 115 FPS at 1080p, 74 FPS at 1440p (a 35.7% drop), and then a collapse to 40 FPS at 4K (a 45.9% drop). The 4K Ultra result of 40 FPS is the lowest measured value in the entire dataset, indicating that the combination of high pixel count and maximum graphical fidelity overwhelms the GPU's capabilities.

The transition from 1440p to 4K is where the configuration loses its playability. At 1440p, even the Ultra preset maintains an average of 74 FPS, which is generally smooth. At 4K, only the Low preset (81 FPS) and Medium preset (62 FPS) remain above the 60 FPS threshold. The data suggests that the CPU has sufficient headroom at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the high 1080p frame rates, but the GPU's fill rate and shading power are exhausted when pushing 3840x2160 pixels. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings, but the 4K results expose a hard wall for this mobile processor and desktop GPU pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti plays the dominant role in determining Minimum's performance, and its memory and clock specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. This high bandwidth is crucial for feeding the 8960 shading units at 4K resolution, where texture and geometry data demands are immense. The benchmark results show that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 40, suggesting that the GPU's compute throughput, rated at 43.94 TFLOPS FP32, is insufficient for the most demanding settings.

The GPU's clock speeds—a base of 2295 MHz and a boost of 2452 MHz—are relatively modest for a high-end card, but they are paired with a large 45,600 million transistor count on a 378 mm² die. The pixel rate of 235.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 686.6 GTexel/s are the raw metrics that govern how quickly the GPU can fill the screen with rendered frames. At 1080p, these rates allow for an average of 234 FPS on Low settings, indicating that the GPU is not the limiting factor at that resolution. The CPU, with its 5.00 GHz boost clock, can feed the GPU fast enough to achieve these high frame rates.

The data reveals a clear threshold where the GPU's capabilities are overwhelmed. At 1440p, the RTX 5070 Ti still delivers playable frame rates across all presets, with the Ultra setting hitting 74 FPS. However, at 4K, the GPU's limitations become apparent. The 4K Medium result of 62 FPS (with a min of 53 and max of 72) shows that even the mid-range preset struggles to maintain a solid 60 FPS. The 4K High result of 52 FPS and Ultra result of 40 FPS confirm that the GPU's raw shading power is the primary constraint. The 16 GB VRAM pool is likely sufficient for Minimum's textures, but the sheer computational load of 3840x2160 resolution exceeds the GPU's ability to maintain high frame rates.

Comparatively, the RTX 5070 Ti's average benchmark score of 49957 places it at the 86th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, scores 50001, a delta of -0.1%, indicating near-identical overall performance. Yet, in Minimum, the measured FPS shows that this GPU is not a 4K Ultra powerhouse. The data suggests that while the GPU has strong synthetic compute scores, its real-world performance in this specific title is more aligned with high-refresh 1440p gaming than 4K max settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and RTX 5070 Ti combination holds a combo rank of 1065 out of 2939 tested configurations in Minimum. This places it in the top 36% of all combos in the database, indicating a solidly above-average performer, but not a top-tier one. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, and the data shows that this pairing is well-matched for high-resolution gaming, but falls short of the elite combos that can handle 4K Ultra without compromise.

The CPU's individual performance contributes to this mid-high ranking. The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H has an average benchmark score of 40518, placing it at the 87th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core 7 253PE (score 40557, delta -0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (score 40431, delta 0.2%). This means the CPU is essentially tied in performance with these competitors, providing a strong foundation that does not bottleneck the GPU at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 234 FPS 1080p Low result.

However, the combo rank of 1065 suggests that other CPU-GPU pairings achieve higher FPS in Minimum, particularly at 4K. The GPU's percentile rank of 86th is slightly lower than the CPU's 87th percentile, indicating that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing. The data implies that a faster GPU or a more balanced combination could push the combo rank higher. The 2939 total combos include a wide range of hardware, and the top performers likely feature more powerful desktop GPUs or better-optimized drivers for this specific title. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (40 FPS) is a clear indicator of why this combo does not break into the top 1000 ranks.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 115 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with maximum visual fidelity, and the data shows that even the High preset (150 FPS) is overkill for a 60 Hz display. The Medium preset at 1080p (179 FPS) offers a significant framerate boost, but the visual downgrade is unnecessary given the headroom.

For 1440p, the High preset is the recommended balance. It achieves an average of 97 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 1440p (74 FPS) is also playable, but the 23 FPS drop from High may not be worth the marginal visual improvement. The Medium preset (116 FPS) provides a solid competitive advantage, but the High preset offers the best mix of image quality and performance. The Low preset (151 FPS) is only recommended for competitive players who prioritize maximum frame rate over visuals.

At 4K resolution, the settings choices are more constrained. The High preset is not recommended, as it only achieves 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset (62 FPS) is the highest quality setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K. The Low preset (81 FPS) provides a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS, but sacrifices significant visual detail. The Ultra preset at 4K (40 FPS) should be avoided, as it dips below smooth playability thresholds. The data supports prioritizing the Medium preset at 4K for the best experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration shows strong performance across all settings. Low settings yield an average of 234 FPS, while Medium produces 179 FPS with a minimum of 152 FPS and maximum of 206 FPS. High settings drop to 150 FPS, and Ultra maintains a solid 115 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is well within the combo's comfort zone, with all presets exceeding 100 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings achieve 151 FPS, Medium drops to 116 FPS (with min 98, max 133), High reaches 97 FPS, and Ultra falls to 74 FPS. The 1440p results show that the combo can handle high refresh rates on most presets, but Ultra starts to approach the 60 FPS boundary.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more precarious. Low settings deliver 81 FPS, Medium drops to 62 FPS (with min 53, max 72), High falls to 52 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 40 FPS. The 4K data reveals that only Low and Medium settings are viable for a consistent 60 FPS experience, while High and Ultra are best reserved for less demanding scenarios or acceptable frame rate compromises.

FAQ

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

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At 1440p, the High preset achieves 97 FPS and the Ultra preset maintains 74 FPS, both comfortably above 60 FPS. At 4K, only Low (81 FPS) and Medium (62 FPS) stay above 60 FPS, making 1440p the highest resolution where all settings remain playable.

Q: Can this combo run Minimum at 4K with maximum settings?

A: No, the measured data shows that 4K Ultra produces an average of only 40 FPS, which is below the standard 60 FPS playability threshold. The 4K High preset is also marginal at 52 FPS. For a smooth 4K experience, the Medium preset (62 FPS) is the highest quality option that averages above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H has an average benchmark score of 40518. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, scores 40557, a delta of -0.1%, making them statistically tied. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940H scores 40431, a delta of 0.2%, also essentially identical. The CPU is well-matched with these alternatives.

Q: What causes the large FPS drop from 1440p to 4K?

A: The data shows a consistent ~46% reduction in FPS when moving from 1440p to 4K across all settings (e.g., Low from 151 to 81 FPS, Medium from 116 to 62 FPS). This indicates the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, as the RTX 5070 Ti's shading power and memory bandwidth are strained by the four-fold increase in pixel count.

Q: Is the RTX 5070 Ti a bottleneck for the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H?

A: At lower resolutions, no. The 1080p Low result of 234 FPS shows the CPU can feed the GPU effectively. However, at 4K, the GPU's limitations are evident, with the Ultra preset dropping to 40 FPS. The GPU's percentile rank of 86th is lower than the CPU's 87th, suggesting the GPU is the limiting factor at high resolutions.

Q: What is the most balanced settings preset for this combo?

A: For a balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset is recommended. It achieves 150 FPS at 1080p, 97 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K. While the 4K result is below 60 FPS, the High preset at 1440p provides a high-quality image with a smooth frame rate, making it the most versatile choice across resolutions.