Minimum

Minimum, the 2014 third-person shooter, shows how a modern high-end mobile platform handles a title that is now over a decade old. The benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile provides a clear picture of performance across resolutions and settings. The results indicate that this combo is generally capable of excellent frame rates, but its behavior at different quality presets reveals a distinct performance ceiling that shifts depending on the resolution. The data suggests a system that can easily handle 1080p gaming with maximum settings, yet struggles to maintain smooth gameplay at 4K with the highest visual fidelity, pointing to a complex relationship between the CPU, GPU, and the game's engine.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, with a shared 18 MB L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates significant multi-threaded strength, scoring 18,911 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 13,101 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Its single-core performance is also strong, achieving 2,200.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core. This places the processor in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44,466.

Looking at its nearest rivals, the performance is tightly clustered. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average score of 44,573, which is just 0.2% higher than the Core Ultra X9 388H. Similarly, the Intel Core i9-13950HX scores 44,342, a 0.3% difference, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 44,309, a 0.4% difference. This indicates that in raw processing power, the Core Ultra X9 388H is on par with some of the best desktop and mobile chips available, making it more than sufficient for the computational demands of a game from 2014.

For a title like Minimum, which was designed for hardware of its era, the CPU's role is often to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The data from the measured FPS suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 199 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that typically requires a strong single-threaded performance. The Core Ultra X9 388H’s high boost clock and robust single-core scores (309.5 in Cinebench R15) likely contribute to this headroom. The 16 threads also ensure that background tasks and the game's engine threads have ample resources, preventing stutters that could occur from thread saturation. The CPU's performance is a solid foundation for this combo, providing enough speed to let the GPU become the primary limiting factor as resolution and settings increase.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the specific context of Minimum, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile ranks 2051 out of 3712 tested combos. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is an interesting data point when considering the high-end nature of both components. The 2051st rank out of 3712 means that while it is not a top-tier performer for this specific game, it is also far from being a weak one. This mid-pack ranking is likely influenced by the fact that the database includes many desktop systems with more powerful GPUs, as well as the specific performance characteristics of the RTX 5070 Mobile, which we will explore further.

The percentile ranking of 2051 out of 3712 indicates that the combo outperforms approximately 55% of tested systems. This is a modest position for a component pair that individually ranks in the 88th percentile (CPU) and 75th percentile (GPU). The discrepancy suggests that the game's engine and its specific demands may not scale perfectly with the latest hardware, or that the mobile GPU's performance is a limiting factor relative to its desktop-class rivals. The data shows that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the combo's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's performance in this particular title, which is a key insight when analyzing the system's capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Can this laptop play Minimum at 4K resolution with high settings?

A: Based on the measured results, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 44 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold commonly considered smooth for fast-paced shooters, so while it is playable, it may not offer the optimal experience.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for the highest frame rates?

A: The data shows that the highest average FPS recorded is 199, which is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the measured data that approaches the 200 FPS mark, offering the most responsive gameplay for competitive scenarios.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Mobile compare to the RTX 3070 Ti based on the data?

A: The average benchmark score for the RTX 5070 Mobile is 29,928, while the RTX 3070 Ti has an average score of 29,945. This makes the RTX 5070 Mobile 0.1% slower than the RTX 3070 Ti, indicating that they offer virtually identical raw performance in synthetic tests.

Q: Is there a significant performance difference between Medium and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, the difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers an average of 98 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 63 FPS. This is a 35 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset has a considerable performance cost.

Q: Does the CPU benchmark score suggest it can handle this game well?

A: Yes. The CPU has an average benchmark score of 44,466, placing it in the 88th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, is only 0.2% faster, and the Intel Core i9-13950HX is 0.3% slower, indicating it has more than enough processing power for Minimum's CPU demands.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo in the game?

A: The lowest average FPS measured is 34, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset. This is the most demanding configuration tested and the only one that falls below the 40 FPS mark.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the system is extremely fast. The Low preset yields an average of 199 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 152 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 175 FPS. The High preset averages 128 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 97 FPS. This shows a clear linear progression of performance cost as settings increase, with the system maintaining high frame rates even at the highest quality.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's load. The Low preset averages 128 FPS. The Medium preset averages 98 FPS, with a minimum of 83 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS. The High preset averages 82 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 63 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at the Low setting is from 199 to 128 FPS, a 71 FPS reduction, which is a significant change that indicates the GPU is becoming a larger factor. At the Ultra setting, the drop is from 97 to 63 FPS, a 34 FPS reduction.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, which is the highest 4K result. The Medium preset averages 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61. The High preset averages 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 34 FPS. None of the 4K configurations reach an average of 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls below 40 FPS, indicating that this resolution is only suitable for lower quality settings if a playable frame rate is desired. The data shows a consistent pattern: the performance cost per setting level increases with resolution.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and the GB206 chip, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 907 MHz and a boost clock of 1425 MHz. It contains 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines. Its synthetic benchmark performance is solid, with a Passmark G3D score of 20,355 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 122,238, placing it in the 75th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, which has an average score of 29,945, a 0.1% difference from the RTX 5070 Mobile's score of 29,928. The RTX 2080 Ti is 0.5% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 is 0.6% faster. This places the RTX 5070 Mobile in the same performance tier as these previous-generation desktop cards. However, the measured FPS in Minimum shows that the GPU struggles at 4K, particularly with higher settings. The 8 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for this older title, but the GPU's compute power, while strong, is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra, where it averages only 34 FPS. The data suggests that the RTX 5070 Mobile is a powerful mid-range mobile GPU, but it is not a 4K powerhouse for this game.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 97 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides an excellent visual experience. The High preset at 128 FPS is also a very good option for those who prefer higher frame rates, but the Ultra preset's 97 FPS average is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay, making it the recommended choice for 1080p.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 63 FPS, which is playable but close to the edge of what is considered smooth. The High preset, at 82 FPS, offers a better balance between visual quality and performance, providing a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS. For the best experience at 1440p, the High preset is recommended, as it maintains a high level of visual fidelity without compromising on frame rate consistency. The Medium preset at 98 FPS is an alternative for those who prioritize frame rate above all else.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that provides a consistently playable frame rate. The Medium preset averages 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the Low preset is the recommended choice, as it is the only one that allows for a smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets at 44 and 34 FPS respectively, are not recommended for this game at this resolution due to their low frame rates. The data clearly shows that to get a good experience at 4K, users must significantly lower the graphical settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The scaling of performance from 1080p to 4K provides insight into which component is the primary bottleneck. At the Low settings preset, the average FPS drops from 199 at 1080p to 128 at 1440p and finally to 69 at 4K. This represents a 35.7% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 46.1% drop from 1440p to 4K. This steep decline as resolution increases is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU is capable of producing high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering workload becomes the limiting factor as the pixel count increases.

This trend is even more pronounced at the Ultra settings preset. The average FPS drops from 97 at 1080p to 63 at 1440p and finally to 34 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35.1%, and from 1440p to 4K it is 46.0%. The consistent percentage drops across different settings presets indicate that the GPU is the sole limiting component in this configuration. The CPU has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates, but it is the GPU that determines the final output. The data shows that for this game, the RTX 5070 Mobile is the primary bottleneck, and its performance scales predictably with resolution, confirming that it is the component that dictates the system's overall gaming capability.