Doom

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a playable experience in Doom, but the results are heavily dependent on resolution and settings. At 1080p, the combo clears the 60 FPS threshold across all tested presets, including Ultra. At 1440p, the playable range narrows to Low and Medium settings. At 4K, no preset reaches the 60 FPS playability threshold, and the best recorded average is 37 FPS on Low settings. Benchmark data confirms this is a pairing where the graphics processor is the primary limiting factor, especially as resolution increases.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS varies by resolution. At 1920x1080, the highest playable setting is Ultra, which produces an average of 64 FPS. This is the only resolution where the full visual fidelity of the Ultra preset is accessible while maintaining playable frame rates. The data shows a clear margin above the threshold, with 4 FPS to spare on average, making Ultra the recommended setting for 1080p displays.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Medium, with an average of exactly 60 FPS. This sits precisely on the playable threshold, meaning there is no headroom for frame rate dips. The recorded minimum for Medium at this resolution is 51 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target, so while the average is technically playable, users should expect occasional stutter in demanding scenes. Low settings at 1440p offer a safer average of 69 FPS, but Medium represents the highest preset that maintains the average target.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher. The best average recorded is 37 FPS on Low settings, which is far below the playability threshold. The verdict data confirms that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo, with no playable settings listed at that resolution. Users targeting 4K would need to consider a different graphics solution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded FPS data reveals a clear pattern: the Intel Arc B390 becomes the dominant bottleneck as resolution climbs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X provides sufficient processing headroom. At 1920x1080, the frame rates scale significantly with settings, from 107 FPS on Low to 64 FPS on Ultra, a difference of 43 FPS. This wide spread indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor even at 1080p, since a CPU-bound scenario would show smaller differences between presets.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern continues. Low settings produce 69 FPS, while Ultra drops to 41 FPS, a 28 FPS gap. The reduction in frame rates from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings shows the GPU workload scaling: High drops from 78 FPS to 51 FPS, Medium from 93 FPS to 60 FPS, and Low from 107 FPS to 69 FPS. These drops are proportionally larger than what a CPU bottleneck would produce, reinforcing that the graphics processor is the primary constraint.

At 3840x2160, the GPU bottleneck becomes severe. Even Low settings only reach 37 FPS, and Ultra falls to 22 FPS. The scaling from 1440p Low (69 FPS) to 4K Low (37 FPS) represents a 46% reduction in frame rate, which is consistent with the pixel count increase overwhelming the GPU. The Ryzen 5 5600X, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the limiting factor here; its benchmark scores place it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals show similar average scores, indicating ample processing capability for this title.

The CPU does play a role at lower resolutions, where higher frame rates demand more processor throughput. At 1080p Low, the 107 FPS average requires the CPU to feed frames quickly, and the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers. However, the database shows that the GPU is the binding constraint in all tested scenarios, as the frame rate consistently drops when settings or resolution increase, regardless of CPU headroom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the recorded averages are 107 FPS on Low, 93 FPS on Medium, 78 FPS on High, and 64 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has the only complete min/max data at this resolution, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. This means the Medium preset never drops below 79 FPS, providing a very consistent experience. The other presets lack min/max data in the database, but the averages alone demonstrate a smooth degradation from Low to Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 69 FPS on Low, 60 FPS on Medium, 51 FPS on High, and 41 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset again has min/max data, recording 51 FPS minimum and 69 FPS maximum. This confirms that the 60 FPS average on Medium comes with periodic dips below the playable threshold. The gap between Low and Ultra is 28 FPS, showing that visual quality demands a significant frame rate cost at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 37 FPS on Low, 33 FPS on Medium, 28 FPS on High, and 22 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has min/max data showing 28 FPS minimum and 37 FPS maximum, which means even the best-case frame rate at 4K Medium barely reaches the Low average. The spread from Low to Ultra is 15 FPS, and every preset falls well below the 60 FPS threshold. The data indicates that 4K gaming with this combo is not viable for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU and GPU combination at 3300 out of 3712 tested combos for Doom, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This low ranking is primarily driven by the Intel Arc B390, which sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 is only marginally higher than its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a 1.3% lower score, the GeForce 800M with a 1.5% lower score, the GeForce GT 625 OEM with a 2.5% lower score, and the GeForce GT 710 with a 2.7% lower score. These rivals are all entry-level or legacy graphics solutions, confirming the Arc B390's position at the low end of GPU performance.

The CPU, by contrast, is a strong performer. The Ryzen 5 5600X ranks in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 21771 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H scores 21749 (0.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U scores 21874 (0.5% higher), the Intel Core i7-11700 scores 21891 (0.5% higher), and the AMD EPYC 9554P scores 21899 (0.6% higher). This CPU is not the reason for the low combo ranking; it is the GPU that drags the overall position down.

The combination of a high-performing CPU with a low-performing GPU is reflected in the measured FPS data. The frame rates are consistently limited by the Arc B390, and the combo ranking of 3300 out of 3712 reflects this imbalance. Users considering this pairing should recognize that the GPU will cap performance in Doom, and the CPU's capabilities will go largely underutilized in this title.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Doom at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The recorded average FPS on Ultra at 1920x1080 is 64, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data confirms Ultra is a playable setting at this resolution.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: Medium is the highest playable setting at 2560x1440, with an average of 60 FPS. However, the minimum recorded FPS on Medium is 51, so dips below the threshold are possible.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combo?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 37 on Low settings, and no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The verdict data lists no playable settings at 4K.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710. All these rivals are low-end GPUs.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600X a bottleneck for this game?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, and its frame rate contribution is sufficient. The GPU is the limiting factor, as shown by the significant FPS drops when settings or resolution increase.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: Low settings average 107 FPS, while Ultra averages 64 FPS, a difference of 43 FPS. This demonstrates the GPU workload scaling with visual quality.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Arc B390 can run Doom, but only at specific resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo is fully playable across all presets, with Ultra achieving 64 FPS and Low reaching 107 FPS. This is the recommended resolution for this pairing, as it provides access to the highest visual quality while staying above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the combo is partially playable. Low settings average 69 FPS, and Medium averages exactly 60 FPS, both clearing the threshold on average. High and Ultra fall short at 51 FPS and 41 FPS respectively. The verdict data lists Low and Medium as the playable settings at this resolution, with Medium being the best option.

At 3840x2160, the combo cannot run the game at playable frame rates. The best average is 37 FPS on Low, and no preset reaches 60 FPS. The verdict data confirms no playable settings at 4K. Users with a 4K display should avoid this pairing for Doom or be prepared to play at reduced resolution.

The data is clear: this is a 1080p-focused configuration. The Ryzen 5 5600X provides excellent CPU headroom, but the Intel Arc B390 limits performance to entry-level levels. For Doom specifically, the 1080p Ultra experience is the standout result, delivering 64 FPS and a fully playable experience. At higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the hard ceiling, and users should temper expectations accordingly.