Doom

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B390: Doom Performance Analysis

The benchmark data for this system pairing in Doom presents a clear picture of a CPU that is far ahead of the GPU in capability. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, sits at the 85th percentile among all tested CPUs, while the Intel Arc B390, an integrated graphics solution, ranks at the 9th percentile for GPUs. This massive disparity defines the performance envelope across all tested resolutions and presets. The measurements, taken directly from the database, show that the system's frame rates are consistently limited by the graphics processor, making settings and resolution choices critical to achieving a playable experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates at any quality setting. The recorded data shows an average of 28 FPS at High settings, 37 FPS at Low, 33 FPS at Medium, and 22 FPS at Ultra. For the Medium preset, the specific frame range was captured as a minimum of 28 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS, which places the average at 33 FPS. None of these averages reach the 60 FPS playable threshold, indicating that 4K is not a viable option for this combination.

Moving down to 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves considerably. The Low preset delivers an average of 69 FPS, which is above the playable threshold. The Medium preset achieves an average of exactly 60 FPS, with recorded minimum and maximum values of 51 and 69 FPS respectively. High settings drop to an average of 51 FPS, and Ultra falls further to an average of 41 FPS. This resolution offers a playable experience only at Low and Medium quality presets.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system finally shows its potential. The Low preset pushes the average to 107 FPS, a highly playable result. Medium settings average 93 FPS, with a recorded range of 79 to 107 FPS. High settings average 78 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset clears the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 64 FPS. This resolution is where the combination delivers a smooth experience across all settings. The frame time data across resolutions shows a consistent pattern: performance scales directly with the number of pixels being rendered, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Arc B390 is the definitive performance bottleneck in this system for Doom. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore result of 19088 and a Passmark multithread score of 35686, place it in the top tier of processors. The GPU's sole 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it near the bottom of the GPU rankings, confirms its limited graphical throughput. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, average frame rates drop by roughly half, reflecting the GPU's difficulty in handling higher pixel counts.

At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at all presets, as evidenced by the 107 FPS at Low and 64 FPS at Ultra. The delta in performance between Low and Ultra is 43 FPS, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's workload increasing with more complex shading and effects. At 1440p, the GPU's load increases further, and the gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 28 FPS (69 FPS at Low versus 41 FPS at Ultra). This narrowing gap suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU is beginning to reach its limits. At 4K, the situation is stark: the difference between Low and Ultra is only 15 FPS (37 FPS versus 22 FPS), and all settings are below the playable threshold. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is saturated even at the lowest settings, and the CPU's performance is irrelevant to the final frame rate. The data clearly shows that for this game, the Arc B390's capabilities dictate the experience, and the Ryzen 7 7700X simply provides a stable platform without introducing any CPU-related frame drops.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is closely matched by several other processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, with an average score of 35802 and a delta of just 0.3 percent. The Intel Core 7 250H and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 are also very close, with average scores of 35728 and 35719 respectively, each showing a 0.5 percent delta. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H completes the group with an average score of 35670, a 0.7 percent delta. In practice, any of these CPUs would deliver a nearly identical experience in Doom when paired with the same GPU, as the graphics card remains the limiting factor.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B390's nearest rivals are all significantly older, lower-performance parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX has an average score of 1463, a 1.3 percent delta from the Arc B390. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M follows at 1460 (1.5 percent delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5 percent delta). The closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, with an average score of 1443 and a 2.7 percent delta. These comparisons highlight that the Arc B390, despite being a modern integrated GPU, performs at a level comparable to entry-level discrete graphics from over a decade ago. Users considering this system should expect frame rates similar to what those older GPUs would produce, which is consistent with the measured data in Doom.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, this system can run Doom, but its ability to provide a smooth experience depends entirely on resolution and settings. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system cannot reach 60 FPS at any preset, with the best average being 37 FPS at Low settings. This resolution is not playable. At 2560x1440, the system clears the threshold with two presets: Low at 69 FPS and Medium at exactly 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall short at 51 FPS and 41 FPS respectively. At 1920x1080, the system is fully playable across all four tested presets. Low averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS, High averages 78 FPS, and the most demanding Ultra preset averages 64 FPS. The verdict is clear: for a consistent 60+ FPS experience, users should play at 1080p with any settings, or at 1440p with Low or Medium settings. 4K is not a viable option for this hardware.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the database identifies the most demanding preset that still maintains an average of at least 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, there is no such preset. All settings, from Low to Ultra, fail to reach the 60 FPS target. The highest average recorded is 37 FPS at Low settings, which is below the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is Medium, which achieves an average of exactly 60 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that remains playable at this resolution. The Low preset also clears the threshold at 69 FPS, but Medium offers superior visual quality while still meeting the target.

At 1920x1080, the best playable preset is Ultra, with an average of 64 FPS. This is the maximum quality setting available in the test, and it remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. This makes 1080p the only resolution where the system can run the game at its highest visual fidelity while maintaining smooth performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's ranking of tested CPU and GPU combinations for Doom, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B390 holds the 3300th position out of 3712 total combos. This places it in the lower 11 percent of all tested systems for this game. The ranking reflects the GPU's significant performance limitation. While the CPU is a top-tier part, the integrated graphics solution severely restricts the overall system's ability to deliver high frame rates, especially at higher resolutions. The data indicates that the system is only capable of a playable experience at lower resolutions and settings, which is consistent with its low overall rank. Users comparing systems should note that this specific combination is not competitive with the majority of other tested hardware configurations for Doom, despite the strong processor.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Doom at 4K resolution?

A: No. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the average frame rate is below 60 FPS at all settings. The highest average is 37 FPS at Low, with Medium at 33 FPS and Ultra at 22 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming?

A: The best playable setting at 2560x1440 is Medium, which achieves an average of 60 FPS. Low also works at 69 FPS, but Medium provides a better visual experience while still meeting the playable threshold.

Q: At 1080p, which preset should I choose?

A: You can choose any preset at 1920x1080. All settings clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Low at 107 FPS, Medium at 93 FPS, High at 78 FPS, and Ultra at 64 FPS. For the best visuals, Ultra is recommended.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks at the 85th percentile, while the GPU ranks at the 9th percentile. Frame rates scale heavily with resolution and settings, which is typical of a GPU-bound workload.

Q: How does this system compare to other tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 3300th out of 3712 tested combos for Doom, placing it in the lower 11 percent of systems. This is due to the Intel Arc B390's low performance relative to other GPUs.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this system can produce?

A: The maximum average FPS recorded is 107, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At 1440p, the maximum is 69 FPS at Low, and at 4K, the maximum is 37 FPS at Low.